Founders on Fire: with Dr Will Hicks from Air Aware Labs

In this episode of the Founders on Fire series by the Tech Trailblazers Awards, host Rose Ross is joined by Dr Will Hicks, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Air Aware Labs—winners of the Sustainability Trailblazer Award.Rooted in Dr Hicks' PhD research at Imperial College London measuring roadside and indoor emissions, Air Aware Labs has developed the AirTrack Engine. This platform delivers real-time, hyperlocal air quality modelling to reveal individual exposure levels, empowering users to make informed route choices, protect respiratory health, and meet corporate sustainability targets.In this episode, we cover: The AirTrack Engine: Why generic city-wide monitoring stations fail to reflect what individuals are actually breathing on a street-by-street level. The Science of Exposure: Insights from Dr Hicks' research on vehicle traffic, non-tailpipe emissions from heavier electric vehicles, and indoor air pollution risks. Enterprise & Clinical Applications: How employers can use AirTrack Enterprise to safeguard commuting staff, and how clinicians use hyper-local data to help asthma and COPD patients manage symptom triggers. Major Sporting Partnerships: Air Aware Labs’ experience providing real-time air quality data for elite runners and spectators at major events like the London Marathon, the UK Athletics Diamond League, and upcoming European Championships. Global Scaling & Wearables Integration: How new API developments enable global hyperlocal coverage, integration with health wearables, and supply chain insights for environmental and nature conservation.