Our mission is to turn clean air into an incentive.

Our initiative was inspired by the story of Ella Kissi-Debrah, who was the first person to have air pollution listed as a cause of death. We want to create a future where air pollution is not only managed by mere guidelines, but with effective solutions. There can be no safe level of air pollution, and our aim is to create devices making it easier for everyone to adopt filtration solutions.

We spend 90% of our lives indoors, where air quality can be 5 times worse than outdoors. 2.3 Million people die every year due to indoor pollution and even more are affected by various serious diseases.

Despite the well-documented dangers of particulate matter, the absence of stringent legislation is conspicuous . Most countries lack adequate measures, often settling for mere guidelines rather than actionable standards.

The technology to filter particulate matter and ensure the cleanest possible air already exists. However, the lack of industry incentives and high energy costs associated with current filter media based technology, makes it difficult for higher grade filtration to become the norm.

Better filtration quality typically comes with higher upfront as well as operational and maintenance costs. 80% of a filter’s lifetime cost comes from its energy usage and only 20% from its upfront cost. This creates a difficult balance between good indoor air quality and energy usage, where less cost is typically preferred.

At Vox Aeris, we're dedicated to turning particulate matter reduction into an incentive by minimizing the operational costs associated with filters.

Our focus is on developing air filtration technology that aligns with these urgent needs, offering solutions that prioritize health without sacrificing efficiency or increasing maintenance costs.

Team

Selene Sarı

Founder, CEO/ CTO

Selene Sarı is an aerodynamicist and design engineer from Turkey. She blends engineering precision with creative design.

She received her degree in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA, where she initiated and created the Formula SAE team’s first aerodynamic package and team. She optimized electric vehicle aerodynamics and HVAC systems in Los Angeles, intertwining external design with engineering function.

Recieving two master’s degrees in Innovation Design Engineering from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, with distinction, further shaped her interdisciplinary approach.

Selene had previously co-founded an ERDF-backed millifluidics company and an interdisciplinary design studio in London. She recently started Vox Aeris which has been recognized with several awards and grants, with a vision to bring clean air to as many people as possible.

Thomas Calcagno

Business Development

Thomas graduated with an MSc in Finance from Imperial College London, bringing with him previous experience in investment banking and working with early stage startups. His growing interest in entrepreneurship and the unique challenges faced by early-stage startups led him to join Vox Aeris.

At Vox Aeris, Thomas is taking on significant responsibilities across critical areas, including customer discovery and go-to-market strategy, allowing him to develop invaluable skills while contributing meaningfully to the company's mission.

Drawn to Vox Aeris for its innovative approach to tackling the serious issue of indoor air pollution, Thomas is excited to work alongside the visionary founder, Selene, in developing groundbreaking air purification technology that sets new standards for clean indoor air and energy efficiency.

Advisors

  • Sam Stacey

    Advisor

    Chairman of SustainCRE and CEO of Stacx International. Sam is a Chartered Structural Engineer, former Director of Innovation, Industrialisation and Business Improvement at Skanska UK, Challenge Director at Transforming Construction at UKRI.

  • Dr. Sermet Sezigen

    Advisor

    Dr. Sezigen is an associate professor at the University of Health Sciences in Turkey, under the Department. of Medical Defense advising on the suppression of air pollutants.

  • Tushar Narula

    Business Advisor

    Tushar has a background in management and holds a master’s degree from the Imperial College Business School. He recently joined the team as an advisor to help guide the business plan and marketing for Vox Aeris.

  • Dr. Neil Harris

    FFF Grant Mentor

    Professor Harris is a Professor of Atmospheric Informatics Cranfield Environment Centre. He is a mentor as part of the Future Frontiers Fund grant given by Cranfield until October 2024.

Previous projects

The VA1 is a patent-pending, home-grade portable purifier prototype that marked the start of Vox Aeris’ journey.

You can find more detailed articles about the technology on our press page.

We are no longer pursuing this concept and have shifted our R&D efforts to commercial and industrial applications, where we believe the impact will be far greater.