Transforming Air-Quality Tracking into a SaaS Service: A Founder’s Approach

Maggie Stamets
Aug 9, 2022
45 min

Welcome back to Found, where we get the stories behind the startups. This week, Darrell and Jordan talked with Davida Herzl, the co-founder and CEO of Aclima.

We all have a right to clean air, but chances are you aren’t getting accurate air quality data — Aclima is looking to change that. In this episode, she talks with Jordan and Darrell about the struggles she faced trying to start a climate company right after the clean tech bubble burst, how she’s stayed laser-focused on her mission, and how working with state governments is paramount for her company and measuring air quality at scale.

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Davida Herzl: The Struggles of Starting a Climate Company

Davida Herzl, the co-founder and CEO of Aclima, shares her journey with Darrell and Jordan. “After the clean tech bubble burst in 2008,” she says, “building a climate company was no easy task.” She recalls how the rapid pace of innovation in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies made it difficult to sustain long-term funding and focus.

“Aclima had to pivot quickly,” she adds, “from researching alternative energy sources to developing air quality monitoring systems.” The early stages were challenging, but Herzl attributes much of their success to her unwavering commitment to mission. “Our team was always driven by a singular purpose: making clean air accessible to everyone.”

Scaling Air Quality Monitoring

As Aclima grew, the company faced new challenges. “Air quality monitoring at scale requires significant infrastructure investment,” Herzl explains. “We had to partner with state governments to secure permits and comply with regulations.” These efforts were met with both support and resistance.

“Some jurisdictions were hesitant to adopt air quality standards due to concerns about privacy and public perception,” Herzl admits. “But we couldn’t build trust without transparency in our data collection methods.”

To address these issues, Aclima introduced open-source tools that allowed users to access real-time air quality data. “By empowering the public with accurate information, we hoped to drive collective action,” Herzl says.

The Future of Air Quality Tracking

Aclima’s success has opened doors for other startups in the sustainability space. “We’ve seen a surge in demand for air quality tracking devices and software,” Herzl notes. “This reflects a growing awareness of environmental issues and their impact on daily life.”

As the company scales, Herzl remains focused on innovation. “We’re exploring new technologies to enhance our platform’s capabilities,” she says. “Our goal is to make air quality monitoring as intuitive and accessible as it is impactful.”

The Aclima Experience

Davida Herzl’s journey from a clean tech startup founder to the CEO of Aclima is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. “It wasn’t easy,” she admits. “But every challenge was an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Aclima continues to make strides in its mission to provide reliable air quality data. With a growing team, expanding partnerships, and a focus on innovation, the company is poised for continued success.

This concludes our interview with Davida Herzl. Stay tuned for more stories from Found’s audio archive. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and share it with your network.