Technology
Agnes Czako is co-founder and managing director of Airex, an award winning cleantech company producing a smart ventilation control. Airex is the 2018 Cleantech Startup Of The Year for the Business Green Technology Awards and Agnes was awarded the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award in 2019. The Airex intelligent air brick with inbuilt sensors, to monitor conditions and regulate air flow aims to reduce fuel poverty in social housing and make an impact in climate action. Highlights: Importance of grant funding Inspired to reduce fuel poverty and climate change Balancing thermal efficiency and air exchange in a sustainable smart way Working with the most pioneering companies How was Airex founded and the support from being part of the Sustainable Ventures Getting the right type of investor The great benefits of the funding mechanisms in place in the UK today The importance of building a great team and the ability to learn as you go Useful links: Airex - https://www.airex.tech/ Sustainable Ventures - https://www.sustainableventures.co.uk/ Green Angel Syndicate - https://greenangelsyndicate.com/ Agnes Czako's Linkedin - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/agnes-czako-9476453b Time Stamp: [01:05] An introduction to Agnes Czako and her role [02:10] What inspired Agnes to get into sustainability? [03:10] The beginning of Airex and their funding journey [04:00] Recognising the problem with air bricks and working towards a solution [05:30] The features of the intelligent air brick [07:05] How creating traction can be challenging at the very early stages of business development [10:30] The benefits of investor experience and networking, not just financial support [11:00] The efficiency of events when pitching to investors [13:50] Having an inspiring team at the core of a business [16:25] Being motivated by sustainable and social issues [19:40] What Agnes would like Airex to achieve in the next 10 years For more information go to Green Add Venture (https://greenaddventure.com/) This episode is hosted by Jake Woodhouse - connect with Jake on Linkedin (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jakewoodhouse) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/jakewoodhous) This episode is produced by Woon Tan of Podcast Publishing (http://podcastpublishing.help/) Designs are made by Joshua Barnes of Forage Studio (https://www.forage.studio/)