INVENT 2024 Finalist Profile: e-breathe

Founders name: Dr. David McLaughlin

What is your background?

David studied chemistry at St. Andrews, followed by a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry at QUB and an MBA from Ulster. He has a track record of building businesses, creating world-class products and developing high performing teams.

What problem are you solving?

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is widely used in healthcare especially during labour, however its release into the atmosphere has significant environmental impact. By persisting for over 100 years in the upper atmosphere, nitrous oxide results in ~300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide and is responsible for ~2% of the NHS direct carbon footprint.

N2O Clear converts exhaled nitrous oxide into environmentally benign molecules nitrogen and oxygen. Better for mum, midwife and mother nature.

Who and where are your potential customers?

Customers are global - any hospital that uses nitrous oxide.

What do you think is the potential for your business?

There are approximately 3,000 delivery room beds in the UK alone. Scale that up across the globe and you get a market size well over £1Billion.

Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?

In 5 years we would love to have this product available in major markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas - that would make a real difference to the climate impact of healthcare.

Check out e-breathe’s website and follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.