I first became interested in indoor air quality when my best friend fainted in a makerspace due to toxic gas exposure from machines like 3D printers and laser cutters. As we researched solutions, we discovered that conventional air purifiers don’t actually remove most harmful gases like formaldehyde and benzene. However, NASA studies showed that plants could. So, I dove deep into phytoremediation, built my own air-purifying towers, and spent 2 years testing different systems to boost the rate of air cleaning using nature.

I founded Greenairy to bring this research to life. We now install modular, smart plant towers in offices to remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds), CO₂, and humidity 100 times faster, while saving energy.

Along the way, we also noticed that kids loved our towers and wanted to grow their own plants. However, I also realized that there was also a deep disconnect - many children believed that food “comes from the supermarket.” This led us to build Greenairy Supergreens, a microgreen farming education program with modular towers and a gamified app.

Through both projects, we improve indoor air and spark sustainability mindsets in the next generation :)

I have:

1. Designed modular air-purifying plant towers that remove 50% of VOCs and 20% of CO2
2. Integrated AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) sensors to track and optimize indoor air quality
3. Conducted over 15 sustainability and urban farming workshops for children
4. Built a gamified app that teaches environmental topics like food waste, water scarcity, and biodiversity
5. Used design-for-disassembly and recyclable materials in our prototypes
6. Partnered with schools to integrate sustainability into classrooms

One challenge is that many people don’t realize that indoor air can be toxic. We tackled this lack of awareness by installing real-time air quality monitors in offices, which helped people see the problem.

Another obstacle is that hardware is very expensive to develop. To raise funds, we bootstrapped, won grants, and joined programs like UNDP Youth Co:Lab.

In terms of manufacturing, prototyping sustainable and scalable towers in Singapore was slow. As such, we explored partnerships in China and India to speed up production.

Teachers are also overwhelmed with their work. Taking this into account, we simplified our classroom farming program to be plug-and-play, with optional workshops and digital support.

I'm proud of creating something that both children and adults connect with.

We have tested air quality in over 30 pilots, and the data always gives relief to employees who have been feeling sick or lethargic in certain rooms.
Additionally, over 200 students have grown their own microgreens through our program, and many have told me that it changed how they think about food and the environment (not "food comes from the supermarket").

Impact is motivating.