Innovative air purification company Molekule recently announced a new partnership with Sourcenext, Japan’s largest creator and distributor of hardware, software, and IoT products. This agreement denotes Molekule’s global expansion and entry into APAC, an important part of the company’s next stage of growth. Sourcenext has invested $10 million in Molekule’s innovative technology. This investment will be used for growth initiatives as Molekule rises to meet the growing global demand for effective air purification solutions.

What Is Sourcenext?

Sourcenext is known for launching major brands in Japan such as Evernote, Fitbit, Dropbox, Rosetta Stone and Owl Labs. Sourcenext has abundant experience in B2B and B2C channels, servicing almost 15 percent of Japan’s population. Since 1996, Sourcenext has been helping companies sell their apps and software products in the Japanese market of millions of consumers. Sourcenext is trusted by retailers, partners, and consumers around the world thanks to its expertise in marketing, customer support, and user experience. Sourcenext also offers its own products, such as Pocketalk™, a voice-to-voice translation device.

The Japanese Air Purification Market: A Molekule Review

About two million air purifiers are sold in Japan every year, making its air purifier market valued at around $500 million annually. “Molekule’s breakthrough and patented PECO technology is unique in the marketplace, offering a proficient solution that both captures and destroys air pollutants,” says founder and CEO of Sourcenext, Nori Matsuda. “We find Molekule to be on the cutting edge of air purification, leading with significant technological solutions, hardware design, and software offerings, and we are excited to bring their products into the Japanese marketplace for the Japanese to experience a whole new approach to air purification.”

The partnership with Sourcenext suits Molekule well. Japan is the third largest economy in the world. Sitting at the intersection of software and hardware solutions, Sourcenext is well positioned to help Molekule bring groundbreaking air purification technology to Japan’s local market, furthering Molekule’s mission to provide clean air for all.

Growing Air Quality Concerns Fuel Interest in Molekule Air Purification Technologies

With the emergence of the airborne COVID-19 viral pandemic and worsening global air quality concerns, there’s been an increased international interest in Molekule and air purification. Molekule products meet all of the performance criteria outlined in the U.S. FDA guidelines for devices that help reduce the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in healthcare settings during the current public health emergency. Molekule air purifiers are at the forefront of air purification technology and help meet the need for cleaner air through trailblazing technological solutions.

Molekule Air Mini+ Japanese Launch

The first Molekule product that Sourcenext will launch in Japan is the Air Mini+ with app connectivity. This device features enhanced tech features that include a particle sensor and Auto Protect mode. Additional product releases will follow. The Air Mini+ is now available for pre-sale orders in Japan from molekule.jp web site and sourcenext.com, with retail stores to follow.

The Air Mini+ is Molekule’s latest release and features advanced tech specs not yet available in other Molekule products. Developed due to high customer demand, the Air Mini+ includes a particle sensor and Auto Protect Mode, which work together to provide better insight into your indoor air quality while guaranteeing the most efficient device operation. Here’s how it works: The particle sensor detects the amount of particulate matter in the room, and with Auto Protect mode enabled, the Air Mini+ automatically adjusts its fan speed according to how much particulate matter it senses in the air. This feature allows the Air Mini+ to respond to real-time air particle concentrations.

If the Air Mini+ senses high amounts of particulate matter, it will run at a higher fan speed. The fan speeds correlate with a color-coded light at the top of the air purifier that indicates the level of particle concentrations in the room in which it’s operating. A red light indicates a high level of particles in the room, and a green light indicates a low level of particles. There are a total of five fan speeds: silent, low, medium, high, and boost.

The Air Mini+ is equipped with Molekule’s breakthrough, patented photo electrochemical oxidation (PECO) air purifying technology, which works at the molecular level to destroy pollutants such as VOCs, viruses, bacteria, mold, dust, and more. PECO filtration can destroy microscopic pollutants at .1 nanometers without producing any harmful byproducts such as ozone. A low-energy UV-A light inside the Air Mini+ shines on a nanocatalyst-coated filter, which initiates an oxidation reaction that produces hydroxyl molecules. These hydroxyl molecules safely destroy pollutants on the filter’s surface as air passes through.

Designed for rooms of up to 250 square feet, it’s the perfect device for bedrooms, nurseries, and small home offices. Featuring a sleek, modern design and a vegan leather handle, and weighing just over seven pounds, the Air Mini+ is easily portable, so you can bring cleaner air with you room to room. Like all Molekule air purifiers, the Air Mini+ is app-enabled, allowing you to check particulate matter levels, adjust fan speeds, and check the filter status easily from your phone.

Sourcenext Introduces Molekule to Tokyo Office

With an eye for innovation, Sourcenext is prioritizing providing breakthrough air purification solutions to its staff. As Sourcenext employees re-enter the workplace after sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Molekule has become a key upgrade for its Tokyo office. Known for its enterprising office setups, Sourcenext will use Molekule devices throughout its local headquarters facility. This is one of the many enhancements offered at the Sourcenext Tokyo office.

About Molekule

Molekule believes in providing clean indoor air to everyone, everywhere. Molekule’s patented and revolutionary PECO technology is based on more than two decades of research and development and can destroy a wide range of microscopic pollutants, including VOCs, bacteria, viruses, mold, and allergens. Molekule proudly uses science to revolutionize air purification in ways never before seen by the industry. PECO sits at the core of Molekule’s air purification technology and has been rigorously and continuously tested and validated by both internal and third-party labs.

Molekule understands that air pollution is one of the world’s greatest challenges, responsible for seven million premature deaths a year, according to the World Health Organization. Continuous exposure to indoor air pollutants can lead to adverse health effects, such as headaches; fatigue; eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory illnesses; and more. Indoor air pollutants such as pet dander, mold, and dust mites can trigger or worsen chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma. According to the EPA, indoor air pollutants can be found in concentrations two to five times higher than outdoor air pollutants. In a recent test conducted by the University of Minnesota the Molekule Air Mini showed an inactivation of two coronavirus strains (porcine/ bovine) and H1N1 particles at a rate of up to 99.99 percent in four hours.  The Molekule team is dedicated to fighting for clean air by working with doctors, scientists, policymakers, and sufferers to pioneer new approaches to air purification.

The latest Molekule device to join the lineup of effective PECO air purifiers in Japan is the Molekule Air Pro. The Molekule Air Pro features two Auto-Protect modes and an advanced particle sensor for a deeper understanding of the air around you. It's the perfect choice for commercial businesses or other large spaces up to 1000 square feet.

For more information about Molekule devices, visit https://molekule.com.

Through its partnership with Sourcenext, Molekule is thrilled to bring its cutting-edge PECO-technology-powered air purifiers to the Japanese market, expanding the company’s global impact and reach. The $10 million investment for growth initiatives will help further Molekule’s mission to make clean air possible for people globally and signals trust and belief in Molekule’s inventive and science-forward approach to air purification.