What if your senses of taste, smell, and enjoyment of life are taken away by the very air you breathe? Growing up in Delhi, Ravi Kaushik had to deal with this harsh reality when his senses were taken away by chronic sinus problems brought on by air pollution. Instead of giving up, he turned his hardship into a calling, becoming an entrepreneur and aerosol scientist dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to clean air. Ravi explains the hidden science of air purification, his mistakes and successes, and how his team created a ground-breaking technology that transforms regular air conditioners into clean air systems in this stirring speech. His journey demonstrates how personal loss can lead to solutions that transform the way the world functions. It is a tale of tenacity, empathy, and inventiveness. Ravi Kaushik is the co-founder and CEO of Airth, a pioneering Indian startup that transforms ordinary air conditioners into advanced air purifiers. An alumnus of NIT Kurukshetra and IIT Bombay, specializing in environmental and aerosol engineering, Ravi was inspired by his mother’s struggle with asthma and India’s escalating air pollution crisis. His innovative, water-based purification technology offers an affordable and sustainable solution for clean indoor air. Featured on Shark Tank India (2025), Ravi and Airth gained national recognition for their mission to make healthy air accessible to all. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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