Sydney Univ. graduates invent pollutants-blocking face masks

Sydney Univ. graduates invent pollutants-blocking face masks
01 / 03 / 2020
By Marwa Nassar - -

China’s high level air pollution combined with Australia bushfire inspired two graduates of the Sydney University to launch an innovative face mask that protects users from harmful pollutants.

The reusable masks, which feature a washable skin and botanical filters, passed preliminary P2 and KN95 testing and block over 97 percent of PM2.5 – fine particle matter often included in air quality reports.

“The market is dominated by products that focus on pure utility, but we want to allow people to express themselves while wearing a mask that’s comfortable and extremely breathable,” said Elias Honor – one of the founders of the project.   Therefore, the mask was developed to be in different sizes to properly fit any face.

Brothers Elias and Isaac Honor acted upon  public concern about the health impacts of air pollution rising in Australia and around the globe as the World Health Organization  warned that air pollution was a top threat to global health in 2020.

How the Sydney University graduates started their project:

Brothers Elias and Isaac Honor co-founded their company AusAir with childhood friend Jack Graham in 2017 while studying at the University of Sydney Business School and launched presales of the masks via Kickstarter earlier this month.

A year after founding an anti-pollution startup, Isaac Honor joined the University of Sydney’s flagship Genesis Startup Program, winning the ‘Most Scalable Business in South East Asia’ award.

“By including specialists in topics ranging from validation, segmentation, product roadmapping and business models, the program does a fantastic job in bridging the gap between theory and pragmatism,” said Isaac Honor.

The company went from strength to strength and later that year won the $10,000 Student Innovation Challenge Award during Innovation Week.

“We are thrilled to see AusAir’s success propel since participating in Sydney Genesis. The program plays a key role in the startup community in Sydney, having supported more than 1,000 alumni, student and staff accelerate their startup ideas,” said Professor Leanne Cutcher, Head of the Disicipline of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Business School, which facilitates Sydney Genesis.

“Isaac and the AusAir team are testament to our students’ outstanding potential to help solve real-world problems.”

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