Scott Stonham, the founder of wellthatsinteresting.tech, is an Independent Technology Analyst, Content Writer and Connector of interesting people. This week at Connected Britain Scott took some time to interview Julia Mcnally, the founder of Airscan:
Scott Stonham (Scott): Hello Julia, thank you for being here with us today.
Julia McNally (Julia): It's a pleasure, Scott. Thank you for having me.
Scott: Let's dive right in, Julia. Can you tell us about the journey that brought you to where you are today?
Julia: Certainly. The Airscan journey started as a passion for connecting things. About five years ago, we embarked on a project with Colas, attaching units to the M3 motorway, and scanning MAC addresses in cars. This allowed us to provide motorists with average speed and congestion time data when they were diverted off the motorway, and it was incredibly successful. However, the turning point came when someone suggested integrating environmental monitoring sensors into the same device. We secured an Innovate UK grant to pursue this idea, and that's how Airscan was born. Today, we have Airscan units in Luxembourg, New York, and West Sussex and many other local authorities. We're also expanding our product range to include indoor air quality monitors and personal PM2.5 monitors for real-time particulate matter data.
Scott: Fascinating journey, Julia. Now, let's talk about the environmental impact. What goals are you aiming to achieve with your products and strategy?
Julia: Our primary goal is to reduce healthcare costs by creating affordable products for air pollution monitoring. We want consumers, building owners, and workers to have access to accurate data, enabling them to make informed decisions that minimize their exposure to pollutants and reduce emissions.
Scott: That's a noble mission, Julia. What about the social impact? How do you see your products benefiting society?
Julia: By keeping costs low and data accuracy high, we aim to establish networks across the UK and globally. Our vision is to make these networks accessible to everyone. Imagine a low-cost PM2.5 monitor, akin to a Ring doorbell, available to all. That's the kind of social impact we're striving for – democratizing air quality data.
Scott: Impressive, Julia. Now, let's peek into the future. Where is Airscan headed in terms of business development? Are you seeking investments, acquisitions, or growth?
Julia: It's a bit of everything, really. We've been fortunate to secure Angel investments that have propelled us to the next stage. After self-funding for several years, we're now actively seeking growth investments. Our products have global potential, and there's no reason why we couldn't be present in every country across the world. So, expansion is definitely on the horizon.
Scott: Thank you, Julia, for sharing your inspiring journey and the vision behind Airscan. It's evident that your company is making significant strides in improving air quality monitoring, and your dedication to reducing healthcare costs and fostering social change is truly commendable. We look forward to seeing Airscan's continued growth and impact on a global scale.
In a world increasingly concerned about air quality and its impact on health, companies like Airscan offer hope and solutions. Julia McNally and her team are on a mission to empower individuals and communities with the tools they need to breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives. With their innovative products and a commitment to affordability and accessibility, Airscan is poised to make a lasting difference in the fight for cleaner air and better health for all.
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