Alex
A QUICK INTRODUCTION ABOUT WHAT YOUR COMPANY DOES/YOUR VALUES/MISSION.
IUVOX is a health and wellness company revolutionizing the way we combat airborne pathogens. The company has developed Novo, a cutting-edge portable light-based shield that helps reduce the transmission of respiratory infections by promptly disinfecting the air between two parties.
Our mission is to make respiratory infections a thing of the past so that people live healthier, safer lives. We are dedicated to continuous innovation, customer satisfaction, and social responsibility, and we strive to be the trusted partner for anyone seeking to protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers of airborne pathogens.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’m an international student from Mexico living in Vancouver, Canada. I’m pursing my BBA at Simon Fraser University concentrating in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Since I was a kid I was always keen on buying and reselling things, helping others, and developing creative solutions to my back-in-the-day problems. When I was 18, I paid myself a 6-month Eurotrip, mostly by selling apples stew in chilli sauce to my classmates and by tutoring 6th grade kids in my neighbourhood. After one year of travelling, I moved to Vancouver to pursue my business career as an entrepreneur.
In January of 2021, I co-founded IUVOX along six other classmates and since then, I have dedicated myself to build and grow the venture. I leverage my expertise in leadership and business development to drive the company’s operations, handle public relations, and steer its long-term strategy.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME A YEAR OR TWO, WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF?
Don’t rush and be patient. The journey is long and uncertain.
WHAT PROBLEM DOES YOUR BUSINESS SOLVE?
According to the World Health Organization, lower respiratory infections are the world’s most deadly communicable disease, ranked as the 4th leading cause of death globally. We are particularly aiming to help immunocompromised individuals prone to loneliness and social isolation be safer and more secure during social activities.
WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR BUSINESS?
Back in 2020, six classmates and I started a project called IUVOX as part of an entrepreneurship program at our university. Our primary goal was to help people improve their quality of life, that is why we named our project IUVOX: ‘Iuvo’ in Latin means to help, to aid, or to assist, while the ‘X’ in the tech industry is a symbol of disruption and change; the future.
Since our intention was to create a problem-driven solution with high impact, we came to realize that the biggest problem facing humanity at the time was airborne disease transmission. Therefore, we decided to develop a smart air disinfection device that could reduce viral load in indoor spaces at 99.9% efficacy; hence, drastically reducing the risk of disease transmission among occupants.
WHAT IS YOUR MAGIC SAUCE?
Novo, our portable light-based shield, is powered by far-UVC technology. Far-UVC technology has been recently proven to be effective at killing pathogens without causing harm to humans or other living organisms, making it a unique and valuable solution for consumers and businesses looking to reduce the risk of infections and promote health and wellness in their environments.
Novo is unique in that it incorporates an optical filter that makes the light safe for human exposure, a feature that sets us apart from the competition in the far-UVC space. Through a strategic partnership with USHIO, we have secured global access to the IP for this filter, giving us a competitive advantage in the market.
Moreover, unlike conventional methods of protection such as social distancing, mask wearing, and vaccination, Novo offers a practical and sustainable approach to reducing the risk of illness. While these traditional measures are important, they often rely on consistent adherence, which is challenging for many people to maintain over a prolonged period of time.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?
We aim to eliminate the threat of airborne pathogens in occupied spaces to prevent future health and financial crises caused by widespread airborne infections, as well as helping people safely coming together with their friends and loved ones.
By 2028, we hope to be the global leader in promoting health and wellness through innovative solutions for airborne pathogen control. Novo can have a positive world-wide impact, potentially saving millions from disease!
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED SO FAR?
One of the biggest challenges IUVOX has faced so far is the high cost of the groundbreaking far-UVC technology. This has made it unaffordable for many people, limiting the widespread adoption of the technology. Additionally, as with any new technology, there is also a challenge in educating the market and gaining widespread recognition and acceptance of the benefits and effectiveness of the technology.
To overcome this challenge, IUVOX’s strategy to penetrate the market is to start with a high-low pricing strategy, hence, by appealing to socially responsible high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who value health and wellness. As the company establishes itself in the market and increases production, we will begin to drive down market by increasing unit volume with each successive model, hence targeting a wider range of consumers. This strategy will enable IUVOX to gradually increase its market share and grow its customer base while optimizing production and reducing costs.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED/BUY INTO YOUR VISION?
We are looking for introductions to potential customers, partners, and investors. Please feel free to reach out to me at mdelao@iuvoxtech.com for further details on how to help/collaborate.
Besides, we would deeply appreciate if you can help us gather valuable insights by participating in our 5-minute survey and sharing it your network. Your input will play a crucial role in shaping the future of IUVOX. We thank you for your support!
Survey link: https://forms.gle/ePKC21Ktzq61xRhH7
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