In the ever-evolving and fast-growing landscape of air quality monitoring, TELLUS stands out by providing affordable, clear, and actionable data on air quality. This blog post, a segment of the Empowering Startup Innovation series, delves into the narrative of the startup and the significant part US Ignite has played in its growth.
The Business Opportunity
TELLUS recognized two significant challenges in the air quality monitoring industry: the high cost of air quality monitoring equipment and the limited communication of environmental data to affected communities. Traditional high-accuracy air quality sensors are expensive and provide only a single data point. This creates barriers to widespread adoption and use. Additionally, the information often fails to reach or resonate with marginalized communities, such as median-income and immigrant populations, which are typically more vulnerable to air quality issues.
To address these gaps, TELLUS offers low-cost equipment that delivers high-quality data and focuses on making the data collected reliable and easy to understand. By employing data corrections and visualizations that use color scales, icons, and regional heat maps, TELLUS reduces the need for users to interpret raw and often confusing data. This approach pushes air quality monitoring to become more affordable, accessible, and impactful for communities that need it most.
US Ignite’s Impact
TELLUS, formerly known as Tetrad Sensor Network Solutions, LLC, started with faculty and students from the University of Utah developing and deploying a real-time air pollution monitoring sensor network. This National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project aimed to create a low-cost network of sensors to capture air quality measurements in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In 2021, US Ignite secured a $250,000 grant from NSF to administer a “Replicating Success Grant” with the goal of replicating successful smart city applications in new US Ignite Communities. US Ignite selected TELLUS as a partner to help bring its air quality visualization application to four grantees: Chattanooga, TN; Cleveland, OH; Kansas City, MO; and Springfield, MA. Each community recipient received a set of 50 monitors, a dedicated website that reports sensor measurements, and service support from TELLUS.
Within that cohort, community leaders openly shared resources, data modeling techniques, and best practices through monthly virtual meetings. Soon, more communities concerned about air quality joined the monthly calls.
“We let the US Ignite Air Quality Working Group members see under the hood,” said TELLUS’ VP Business Development, Carl Luft. “This helped us establish ourselves as experts in the field and show off our low-cost monitors and clear and customizable data visualizations to a passionate group.”
TELLUS not only shared their knowledge with the group, but the open discussions with the group members helped them fine-tune and improve their products and services. Today, the working group continues to meet on the second Friday of the month through the Air Quality Action Seminar.
Look Ahead
TELLUS continues to reach growth milestones indicative of a highly successful startup. In November 2023, the company launched the AirU Pro, a new modular platform-based monitor that can be customized to fit users’ needs. Designed with direct input from the market, AirU Pro met immediate success. In addition to new products and software-based features, TELLUS has also welcomed new team members, expanded their office space, and is seeking Series A funding.
At the national level, the movement for adequate air quality is gaining traction. Luft shares that there are signs that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could tighten regulations on industrial operations polluting the air for the surrounding communities. This shift, coupled with growing community demand for clean air, underscores the fact that TELLUS’s work has shaped and will continue to shape this ecosystem.
When asked if there is anything TELLUS should have done differently, the vice president of business development, Carl Luft, replies, “We would not change the approach. We’re lucky to have found US Ignite at an early stage.”
TELLUS’ journey shows how influential US Ignite’s network can be for a startup. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories collected in the Empowering Startup Innovation blog series by signing up here to receive them directly to your inbox.
