Molekule, the Nanotech Air Purifier, Raises $10.1M in Funding

Molekule is not just another air purifier brand.

The San Francisco-based science and clean technology company has developed a fundamentally new approach to cleaning air. While current air purifiers try to catch pollutants in filters, Molekule uses nanotechnology to break down and completely eliminate pollutants on a molecular level.

Allergens, bacteria, viruses, mold and airborne chemicals are converted into harmless elements that are meant to be in the air. The technology has been developed over the past 20 years at the University of Florida, funded by the US EPA and Department of Defense and is now becoming available to the consumer.

The device is an allergen and air pollutant particle destroyer that uses Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) and nanotechnology. The unique process breaks down pollutants on a molecular level and eliminates the full spectrum of indoor air pollutants, even those those 1000x smaller than what a traditional HEPA filter can catch.

After launching in May 2016, all pre-ordered Molekule devices sold-out in 10 days. The company is now opening up general public sales. Today, Molekule announced $10.1 million in Series A funding led by Crosslink Capital with participation from SoftTech VC, Translink Capital and Foxconn, to scale production, expand its team and build out the product pipeline.

Eric Chin at Crosslink said of his investment, “Molekule’s technology is game-changing. The technology behind the HEPA filters we use today was originally created for The Manhattan Project in the 1940s. The market opportunity is outsized, and we’re thrilled to lead the Series A to help scale and bring the product to more people across the world.”

Distinct from all other devices on the market, Molekule:

· Has the ability to completely purify—and replace—the air in a 600 square foot room without the use of a high-powered fan, making it energy efficient and ultra quiet.
· Connects to Wi-Fi and uses machine learning to respond to the individual needs of each household, and can be controlled through an accompanying iPhone app.
· Has a clean and modern design, made from machined aluminum to fit seamlessly into any home, standing at 23 inches tall.

As America’s general air quality rapidly declines, one in four allergy and asthma sufferers in the U.S. are compromised along with the general population also breathing in poor air quality. (Molekule’s blog shares tips on improving home air quality on its blog.)

The product took two decades to develop by Dr. Yogi Goswami and is the first PECO air purifier confirmed to eradicate microorganisms like mold, viruses, bacteria and harmful pathogens such as E.Coli.

Dr. Goswami, a professor and the Director of the Clean Energy Research Center at the University of South Florida, has over 40 years of experience in education and research in the clean energy space, but his inspiration and motivation for creating Molekule were personal.

“Having watched my son Dilip suffer from asthma as a child, I know firsthand the devastating effect these conditions can have for parents and sufferers,” stated Dr. Goswami.

“Existing solutions were not working to alleviate his symptoms, yet no one was trying to create something better. I developed PECO technology for Dilip and others like him in mind. After seeing how dramatically Molekule improved his quality of life, I’m excited to share this breakthrough with everyone in need of relief from chronic allergies and asthma.”

Extensive testing has shown “that allergy sufferers experience dramatic, statistically significant, sustained symptom reduction within a week of use.”

In a beta tester testimonial released on YouTube, Katrina Klauer, a lifelong asthma sufferer, turned to Molekule to alleviate her son’s debilitating respiratory issues and save him from a lifetime of medications. Now her son can run, play, and sleep through the night without the help of medication or treatments.

Another tester, Ross Newman, suffered from allergies and adult onset asthma for 8 years until he found Molekule. “From the second you plug Molekule in, you can tell there’s a difference,” he said.

“On the first day, I could really feel the air quality changing and by week two, it completely changed the environment in my house. Since we’ve been using Molekule, symptoms are gone. The red eyes don’t exist. Having to use a rescue inhaler? It just doesn’t happen anymore.”

Molekule retails at $799.00, with filters automatically mailed to consumers on an annual subscription basis for $99.00. It’s a revolution in the making for those whose lives depend on breathing freely.

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