Today we’d like to introduce you to Serena Allen.
Hi Serena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m CEO and Cofounder of AirVitalize Innovations, where we provide outdoor air pollution capture and purification technologies. It’s funny how when you’re going through life, everything seems chaotic and unclear, but looking back, the roads all aligned to bring me where I am today.
Since I was a child, I loved to create. I recently went through a box of childhood objects at my parents’ house and found a notebook with invention ideas, such as designs for a go-kart made from a trash can and a mini hot air balloon. Following some drawings, there was always a list of what I needed to achieve the project I had in mind. On every list, I wrote, “Be smarter”. And, in the end, I never made that trash can go-kart or any of the other concepts on the list (although I did give the mini hot air balloon a try and may have started a small fire, but that’s a story for another time). I started focusing my energy on ways I could help others. When I told my mom about this interview, she recalled how I ran a lemonade stand to buy a Christmas gift for a child in need. I wasn’t creating anything new, but I was able to make a positive impact in my community.
After I received a full tuition scholarship to the University of Southern California, I decided to study public policy to create forward-thinking systems that make the lives of others better. I worked for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Southern California Edison, and Los Angeles County Economic and Workforce Development. As I crafted plans to improve our world, I quickly realized policy isn’t able to move fast enough to solve urgent issues (particularly those surrounding climate change).
So, I finally pivoted back to my inventor mindset, but this time with the intention of making something that would help people and the environment. Now I’m running a full company! We’re launching our first pilot soon, and I couldn’t be more excited.
The big turning point for me was realizing I’ll never be smart enough to do anything alone. And I don’t have to be! I try to surround myself with kind folks who care deeply about niche subjects. When I need help, there’s someone I can call. That makes all the difference.
I’ve just turned 25, and when I stop and reflect on my life so far, it’s hard to believe how many incredible opportunities I’ve had. I cannot put words to the gratitude I feel for those who have supported me. To my parents who sacrificed so much, my partner who is my constant sounding board, my teachers who guided me personally and professionally, and everyone else who has been a part of my story so far — thank you.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. Starting a company has extreme ups and downs. I’ll talk about two of the main ones we’ve overcome. I try to approach each hurdle we face as a way to practice for the next one. When I pretend I’m “practicing” to solve a problem, it feels less daunting. I don’t need to have all the answers right away if I’m practicing, and I can often take the time to seek out help from mentors, books, TED Talks, etc.
We’re an entirely grant and pitch competition-funded organization, so money has always been tight. After graduating college, I moved back in with my parents to continue this venture. Then, we realized no one wanted the product we were making at the time. From my childhood bedroom, I decided to leave all the hard work over the past year behind. The company pivoted to our current solution to better meet the needs of our problem and customers. After making this decision, all the pieces began falling into place. We were winning more competitions and developing working prototypes quickly.
Our newfound progress led to technical development I couldn’t keep up with. As a non-engineer, I struggled to keep up with the complex calculus, physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics we needed to work on, and I realized I no longer had the capabilities to lead the technical side of the company. For months, I interviewed candidates to fill a CTO role, but none of them stuck. Then, by complete chance, I met and befriended my now business partner, Emily-Jane Roos. She is a very talented engineer, and since she joined me in this venture, we’ve catapulted our progress. Unfortunately, she recently moved on from the company for personal reasons.
I’m sure the road will continue to be bumpy. We’re working on a climate and impact-focused DeepTech hardware company. Even saying that sentence is hard! But in the end, all of the challenges have made AirVitalize stronger. I feel that if I keep learning, surround myself with people smarter than me, and stay humble, my team can overcome any problem.
As you know, we’re big fans of AirVitalize Innovations. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
AirVitalize is creating an outdoor air pollution capture device to create a healthy air radius of two football fields of the device (which is approximately 5 ft x 5 ft x 4ft). Our company focuses on Fairbanks, Alaska, and Los Angeles – two cities with the highest levels of air pollution in the country. In Los Angeles, we’re looking for an outdoor athletic center to partner with us and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator to pilot our technology.
According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the global population breathes unhealthy air. Outdoor air pollution contributes to 1 in 9 premature deaths worldwide, expedites glacial melt, destroys our waterways, affects plant growth, and increases the acidity of rain. Since the invention of the catalytic converter in the 70s, no new technologies have been able to decrease outdoor air pollution.
Last year, we passed a key benchmark: with temperatures hitting the “point of no return,” global warming 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark for the first day in history. Unfortunately, looking only at renewable energy sources and electric vehicles is no longer enough. We need to start looking at climate resilience technologies in addition to renewable energy. That means finding ways we, as a society, survive fluctuations in temperature, rising sea levels, and an almost certain increase in air pollution.
At AirVitalize, we see a future where society can continue to flourish in changing environmental conditions. We view healthy air as a human right, constantly seeking ways to equitably deploy our solution. We’re the only American company working on outdoor air quality right now. Our filterless, electricity-efficient, affordable, and compact technology is a paradigm-shifting climate resiliency technology.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I really love what I do. Every day, I’m learning something new. There’s never a dull moment!
Outside of work, I love talking with the next generation of inventors and problem-solvers! It’s wonderful to be at a pitch competition where young folks come out to share their game-changing ideas. AirVitalize is co-located in Los Angeles and Fairbanks, Alaska. I’ve recently been invited to teach a class for young inventors in Alaska this summer and am really looking forward to the opportunity.
To relax, I like to spend my time in nature, playing board games, reading, hammocking, and spending time with my dog.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.airvitalize.tech
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/serenaal
Image Credits
Arctic Innovation Competition
RevIthaca Startup Works
