BreezoMeter: measuring the air, for a better future

Air pollution

In a world where air pollution has become an invisible plague, an Israeli startup decided to make it visible — and, above all, understandable. Founded in Haifa in 2014 by an environmental engineer and a data science expert, BreezoMeter was born from a simple idea: if we can map road traffic in real time, why not air quality?

By combining satellite data, urban sensors, and artificial intelligence, BreezoMeter succeeded in creating an ultra-precise predictive model of air quality, now covering more than 90 countries. Its clear interface and integrations into smartphones, cars, and smartwatches have made it a key player in the global green tech industry.

“The air we breathe has a direct impact on our health, our sleep, our mood, and even our cognitive performance,” explained co-founder Ran Korber, an engineer by training. “Our mission is to turn this data into actionable insights — when to go for a run, air out your home, or protect your children.”

BreezoMeter’s success quickly extended beyond Israel’s borders. In 2022, the company was acquired by Google, drawn by the accuracy of its algorithms and the quality of its environmental data. The acquisition placed Israel at the heart of the digital green revolution, at the intersection of climate science and big data.

Since then, the Haifa-based team has continued to develop tools capable of monitoring not only air pollution but also risks related to pollen, wildfires, and local climate changes. This information is now integrated into Google Maps and voice search, allowing hundreds of millions of users to know, in real time, whether the air they breathe is safe.

Beyond its technological achievement, BreezoMeter embodies the Israeli spirit of useful innovation — the kind born from concrete needs. In a country regularly hit by forest fires and extreme heat waves, environmental awareness has become a national priority.

“Ecology in Israel is no longer a Western luxury — it’s a matter of survival,” says Eyal Ben-Dor, a climatologist at Tel Aviv University.

Around BreezoMeter, a new ecosystem of startups is emerging, dedicated to monitoring water, soil, and clean energy. In Be’er Sheva, Watergen transforms air into drinking water. In Beit Yanai, HomeBiogas develops household systems for recycling organic gas. These initiatives are part of a broader vision: turning Israel into a model of climate innovation. The government has even incorporated ecological transition into its national resilience strategy, with funds dedicated to green tech and sustainable infrastructure.

BreezoMeter’s bet, beyond algorithms, is also a cultural one: bringing air quality back to the center of public health. In Israel, as elsewhere, breathing is becoming an act of awareness. And if the desert nation can learn to tame wind and dust through science, it’s because it has long understood that air is not just a vital element — it’s a resource to protect, measure, and share.

Caroline Haïat