Who We Are
Our story
Inspiration
In 2015, Matthieu Gaston, a curious and creative young man with cystic fibrosis, imagined with his friend Alexandre to develop “a super protective mask”, which would allow everyone to evolve more freely in polluted environments. He initiated the project and worked on the design, but he passed away in 2016.
His father Vincent Gaston decided to make the project a reality and create the mask born from his son’s dreams.
He then teamed up with the most advanced skills, particularly in the field of technical textiles from the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, the true birthplace of AIRXÔM.
Research and development
Birth
In January 2019, before the SARS-CoV-2 / Covid-19 crisis, the company AIRXÔM was born.
Over three years, research and development of the mask were carried out in particular in partnership with INSA and its Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics. The scientists conducted research focusing above all on breathability and efficiency, with the aim of achieving the widest possible field of protection.
Steps
All stages of research and development have been carried out with the fundamental concern of guaranteeing maximum protection. The priority was therefore to carry out precise, rigorous and verified measurements and tests, to develop the purification device, before designing the design.
Researchers have worked by integrating as many technologies as possible to guarantee optimal air treatment and infallible safety. Optimizing comfort, size and portability was also an important concern in order to provide a protective and easy-to-use solution.
After 24 months of Research & Development, the prototype of the AIRXÔM mask is developed in 2021.
Innovation
AIRXÔM innovation is protected by 2 patents as well as by exclusive industrial know-how. Also benefiting from the expertise of the local textile (technical fabrics) and plastics (composite materials) sectors, the AIRXÔM respiratory protection device is entirely manufactured in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.
AIRXÔM has been selected by Business France as one of the twenty most innovative French start-ups to represent French Tech at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023. The AIRXÔM mask was presented there in a world exclusive and was one of the most remarkable technological innovations.
Our team
An ensemble of complementary talents
Vincent Gaston
Founder – General Coordination
President
After more than 30 years of experience, Vincent Gaston puts his multiple skills, including coordination and management, and his abilities for dialogue and human contact at the service of AIRXÔM. He graduated from Lyon III, Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, IAE -Université Lille I, and New-York University Law School.
Yves Hervieu-Causse
Financial director
Diplômé des Facultés de droit de l’Université de Genève et de New York University, diplômé de l’Institut des Hautes Études Internationales à Genève et admis au barreau de Genève.
Dai Nguyen Trong
Technical director
He founded 3DRAION in 2015, and helps implement FabLabs in collaboration with African universities (in Chad, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria) while managing the networking of these centers.
Olivier Molin
Sales Director France
Commercial Director of French subsidiaries, satellites of companies belonging to international groups such as VIRGIN or RICOH. Expert in multi-channel business creation and development.
Graduated in commerce from ICAD Paris accompanied by training in law at PARIS XIII.