Clearing the Air

A Bhubaneswar-based start-up is using a mix of specialised AI models and advanced sensor technology to provide hyperlocal air-quality insights and help communities breathe easy

- Ashutosh Mishra

Breathing clean air was something Akanksha Priyadarshini took for granted in a childhood spent in military cantonments. It was when she visited other parts of the country that she noticed the difference: fresh, breathable air versus toxic smog.

These experiences, coupled with her mother being diagnosed with asthma, left a lasting impact. Years later, trained as an engineer at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Priyadarshini joined the dots: real-time air-quality data that measured particulate matter, greenhouse gases and ambient parameters was scarce in India, making it challenging for people to take measures to protect themselves.

Her answer was Aurassure, a Bhubaneswar-based start-up that she co-founded in 2022 with Vamsi Krishna, Raviteja Cherukuri and Omprakash Patra to transform air-quality monitoring through advanced internet of things (IoT) and AI-driven solutions.

Tailored to Indian Needs

Aurassure started with support from the Start-up India scheme. In 2023, it secured a seed round from venture-capital firm Unicorn India Ventures, raising Rs 4 crore.

The company’s growth since then has been steady, with a revenue of Rs 1 crore in the financial year 2023 and a projected Rs 10 crore for the current financial year. The start-up turned profitable last year, recording a profit of Rs 65 lakh.

"We saw a gap in reliable air-quality data and that drove us to develop an affordable and scalable solution," says the 31-year-old, who is also chief executive.