Rebuilding Earth's Atmosphere | Angad Daryani | TEDxDJSCE

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Personal Background and Motivations

The speaker grew up witnessing climate change and pollution, which fueled their frustration with the lack of action to address these issues.
They dropped out of school to pursue their interests, such as building 3D printers, valuing autonomy and learning beyond traditional education.

The speaker studied electrical engineering at Georgia Tech, working on projects related to electric vehicles, battery storage, and radar defense systems.
During their sophomore year, they initiated the project that became Pran, focusing on air purification.
Recognizing the inadequacy of existing air pollution solutions, they developed a filterless air purification system prototype, gaining media attention and attracting volunteers.
Pran grew from a two-person startup to a multi-million dollar valuation.

After graduating, the speaker returned to India and faced pandemic-related obstacles, including a lost venture capital deal and limited job opportunities.
They adapted their approach to the Indian ecosystem, leveraging volunteers' skills and experiences to continue building Pran.

Pran was founded with less than $15,000 and later secured funding from top venture capitalists, including Social Impact Capital.
Fundraising required persistence, with the initial funding taking 24 months to secure, but subsequent rounds were faster.
Despite funding, hiring talent proved challenging due to a shortage of engineers.
The company employed interns and fresh graduates, forming a diverse team of "misfits" with varied backgrounds.

Pran's vision is to rebuild the atmosphere by tackling air pollution in both the lower and upper atmosphere.
They developed an advanced measurement and simulation platform, filterless technology, and an AI platform called Edith to address air pollution in large spaces.
These solutions are available for purchase online and have been successfully implemented by customers.

The speaker highlights the challenges of manufacturing high-quality products in India, especially for early-stage startups with limited resources.
They emphasize the importance of building a reliable supply chain with direct oversight to ensure material safety, responsible chemical disposal, and cost-effectiveness.
The speaker showcases their product, the Hive, an air purifier with superior performance compared to existing market options.
They describe their journey from having no manufacturing knowledge in 2022 to achieving mass manufacturing by the end of 2023.

The Hive has been successfully installed in various settings, including steel factories, offices, schools, and hospitals, improving air quality and working conditions.
The company developed an auto solver using AI to optimize air purification solutions for numerous sites, reducing manual calculation time.
The speaker expresses their intent to venture into direct CO2 capture, recognizing its significance as a challenging problem for humanity.
They emphasize the driving force of intent and mission in their progress, acknowledging the contributions of over 400 individuals, investors, corporate partners, and mentors.
The speaker encourages their generation to tackle challenging problems, emphasizing the value of gained skills and experiences even in the face of failure.
They conclude by highlighting their significant impact in transforming an entire industry, regardless of their ultimate success.