Our Vision:  A world in which safe air is provided as routinely as water from a faucet. For now, there’s no such thing as a fresh air faucet. Until there is, there’s Taza Aya. 

Our Mission: Preventing exposure to unsafe air by deploying groundbreaking non-thermal plasma air treatment modules in wearables, in-room air purifiers, and HVAC systems.

Herek Clack

Dr. Herek Clack is an associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan, and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Taza Aya. Herek holds an S.B. degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has 25+ years of research experience in air quality engineering, with about 10 years spent focusing on biological air contaminants such as airborne viruses and bacteria.

“I often promote engineering to students by playing up the rivalry between scientists and engineers. Theodore von Karman, a noted scientist, said ‘Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been.’ “

Michael Drake

Michael Drake is Executive Director of Research Relations for the University of Michigan College of Engineering, and Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Taza Aya. Michael is a board member at Applied Dynamics International and served in the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan for two years. He holds a B.S. degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University.

“From serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyztan to building partnerships at the University of Michigan for the past two decades, solving problems and creating impact are central themes for me. My time growing up in upstate New York and attending Cornell University established a great foundation for serving as a change agent.”

Alberto Elli  

Alberto Elli is Chief Executive Officer of Taza Aya.  Alberto offers a unique set of leadership skills necessary to guide Taza Aya through early-stage development and fundraising. This assignment permits Alberto to continue his career coaching engagements, as well as advising other startups and VC funds in idea generation, validation, and commercial traction..

“When in 2020 I met Taza Aya co-founders, Herek and Mike, I was intrigued by their unique technology and the significant potential to develop commercial applications. When Taza Aya won a sizable grant from JLabs, we were excited about developing a wearable visor to protect wearers from airborne pathogens. Now with technology transfer from the University of Michigan executed, a strong suite of patents, and a $1 million grant from the USDA, it was time to join the team as CEO. We have a clear path in terms of product development, product fit to several markets, and early adopters. The opportunity to build a fast-growing business that solves life-changing problems and creates a strong, diverse, and motivated Team is incredibly motivating.”

In the 21st century, how can there not be a better overall solution than face masks? 

Despite the protection they provide, we all know the frustrations of wearing masks:

• Can’t eat or drink wearing them
• Can’t share facial expressions wearing them
• Harder to breathe through them
• Harder to be heard clearly through them
• Skin irritation or sore ears after wearing them
• Glasses and goggles fog up wearing them

Some people have stopped wearing masks. However,  others with one or more of the following risk factors don’t have that luxury:

• compromised or suppressed immune system
• heart disease
• diabetes
• chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD)
• high blood pressure
• obesity
• depression
• more than 50 years old

We should have something better.

Taza Aya is building something better.