Our World Deserves to Breathe Clean Air: Burt Hamner of OxiFab - Founders Live Conversations

In a recent Founders Live Conversations, Nick Hughes, CEO of Founders Live, spoke with Burt Hamner, founder and CEO of OxiFab and winner of the March 2025 Founders Live Bellevue competition.

Hamner, a marine biologist with an MBA and a master's in environmental studies, shared his extensive background in sustainable business consulting worldwide, which eventually led him to entrepreneurship. After previous ventures in hydropower, he pivoted to address the critical issue of indoor air pollution, especially in light of increasing wildfire smoke. OxiFab's core product is an innovative, low-cost air cleaner using a special cotton fabric filter and a simple table fan, a technology that won an EPA award and is significantly more accessible than existing solutions.

Hamner's vision for OxiFab is to provide affordable air purification to the billions globally who lack it, particularly in developing countries where imported purifiers and proprietary filters are unfeasible. He aims for local production in a thousand cities worldwide, leveraging readily available materials like cotton fabric and table fans. He also discussed the company's growth strategy, exploring options like direct-to-consumer sales, partnerships with air pollution control agencies, or even government contracts. Hamner emphasized the importance of a "centipede" approach to business, with multiple support systems, rather than a fragile "three-legged stool." He also highlighted the value of the Founders Live experience, particularly the 99-second pitch format, as a crucial tool for founders to succinctly convey their message and secure follow-up meetings. His ultimate goal is to scale OxiFab to be acquired by a global company with existing distribution networks, ensuring the widespread impact of his invention in combating the escalating global air pollution crisis.