EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoH2O, manufacturer of the most efficient and cost effective reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for seawater desalination, is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a finalist for Red Herring 's Top 100 North America award, a prestigious list honoring the year's most promising private technology. Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world's best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums.

"The finalist list confirms the excellent choices made by entrepreneurs and VCs and the start-ups' solid roots in corporate America, embracing their innovations. By all metrics, it emphasizes the United States' entrepreneurial excellence," said Alex Vieux , publisher and CEO of Red Herring .

Finalists for the Red Herring Top 100 are evaluated individually from a pool of hundreds of candidates based on twenty criteria including market size, intellectual property, financial stability, customer acquisition, trailing revenues and management strength.

"It is an honor for us to be included with other promising innovators," said Jeff Green , CEO of NanoH2O. "To be recognized by Red Herring is a testament to our commercial success in developing an innovative product that delivers real economic value to our customers. Our breakthrough nanocomposite membrane technology has gained rapid acceptance within the desalination market place because of its potential to significantly lower the cost of seawater desalination. Addressing global water scarcity is at the heart of what we do, and we are honored to be recognized for our ongoing efforts."

Winners of the Red Herring Top 100 will be announced at the Red Herring North America Forum in Monterey, California, May 21 – 23, 2013.