R-PUR: a mask that protects motorcycle and scooter drivers from air pollution

Air pollution is the third leading cause of death in France after smoking and alcohol and the leading cause in the Ile-de-France region. Our mask finally gives people who are exposed to intense concentrations of air pollution a way to protect themselves when they drive their motorcycles or scooters.

The finer the air particles, the more dangerous they are. Until now there was no effective way to protect yourself. We now offer a high-end solution for users of urban two-wheeled vehicles which protects them from this extremely dangerous source of pollution.

We launched a crowdfunding campaign in which we were hoping to raise € 15,000 and ended up raising that amount in a single day! We ended up collecting €180,000, which demonstrated the importance of the market need we intended to address with an efficient high-end product.

Wearing a mask is not yet part of people’s habits. Our customers are 2-wheelers who are exposed to intense levels of air pollution and who are already used to putting on equipment. Like helmets and gloves, masks are becoming a mandatory accessory for urban two-wheel drivers, especially since we now know that the air pollution kills more people than road accidents. This kind of pollution is invisible and odorless. It only becomes visible when the particles are large enough, meaning when there is smog. In France this happens rarely but alerts people to the presence of pollution that otherwise goes unnoticed.

We offer an immediate solution to this problem, but our goal is also to raise awareness, to change mentalities and incorporate wearing a mask into people’s everyday activities in order to reduce mortality rates associated with air pollution.

Tell me about what’s innovative about your masks.

The first level of innovation is at the ergonomic and textile level. We use very high quality materials that allow you to comfortably position the mask on your face. Ours is the only antipollution mask that can fit under a full motorcycle helmet.

We also developed a filtration technology that filters fine particles to the nanometer. We worked with doctors and the WHO, who have helped us to find the best solution for filtering this type of particle that cause cardiovascular disease and brain diseases.

Lastly, we use Big data algorithms to generate and make use of air pollution data in real time, which lets us warn users via an app when they need to change their filters. Depending on air pollution levels, the filters wear out more or less quickly. Thanks to partnerships with AirParif and the CNRS, which produce measurements of pollution levels, we are able to determine the wear and tear rates of our filters. This rate changes based on how you use it: a cyclist or a runner breathes 15 times more intensely than a person on a scooter. So the various ways you use your mask figure into how we calculate wear and tear for the filters.

For now it’s difficult to imagine pedestrians wearing your masks...

Yes, for the moment our mask covers almost the entire face, which is why it is intended for the drivers of two-wheeled vehicles. This segment of the population is particularly at risk because the intensity of exposure is very high when you’re in the middle of road traffic surrounded by diesel cars. Pedestrians are less affected by air pollution than motorcyclists or bicyclists.

Are you going to demonstrate your masks at Viva Technology?

 Yes, you will be able to try them out and even place an order on the internet, since we are actually almost out of stock of all our products. We are relaunching a production cycle for delivery in September.

Our masks are entirely made in France, which presents huge challenges for a technical product including hardware and textiles. We want to continue to work within a French ecosystem since doing so reflects our values ​​and that allows us to position ourselves as a high-end product that involves genuine know-how.

What do you expect to get from being at Viva Technology at the ENGIE Lab?

First and foremost contacts with potential customers, teams from ENGIE or other major groups, partners, investors, etc. Also:

·         Finding synergies and ways to work with ENGIE or other large companies on the development of new projects. Combining the speed and flexibility of a startup with the resources of large companies for R&D and networking allows you to move faster. We got in touch with ENGIE at the CES in Las Vegas based on your interest in protecting your workers in the field. Our product is fully customizable and can be adapted to all types of uses and trades. We are working on prototypes in which we have integrated telecommunication technologies that allow workers to communicate with each other while remaining protected.

·         Meet other startups, on the Lab and outside.

·         Raise awareness among the general public about the problem of air pollution.

·         Our anti-pollution mask responds to a worldwide need. We’ve sold our mask in more than 30 countries worldwide and seen an international passion for a high-end French product. We want to reinforce this trend in and after 2018, and for that we are looking for partners who are willing to help us get there. We plan to raise some capital in late 2018 to allow us to accelerate our commercial development.

Do you have a slogan?

The slogan we used for our crowdfunding campaign is "Breathe better, Live longer".

Lastly, for you the future will be ...

The future will (finally) be breathable!

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