WHILE working at Hospital Provincial de Rosario in Argentina, Jamaican Eugenie Addison witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of air pollution on public health. The deadly effects of airborne diseases became painfully personal when she lost both her father and aunt to chronic respiratory illnesses and COVID-19.

Fuelled by professional insight and personal grief, Addison made it her mission to reduce fatalities and hospitalisations caused by toxic gases and airborne pathogens.

That mission led to the creation of Senzi.Me, a pioneering start-up harnessing proprietary technology to tackle air quality challenges head-on. Having recently completed the Catalyst Accelerator programme offered by Novamed’s subsidiary, Catalyst — which is sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Jamaica — Addison is confident that this experience will empower Senzi.Me to become a driving force in showcasing the life-saving potential of air quality innovation.

“The Catalyst Accelerator programme provided Senzi.Me with the critical resources and strategic guidance we needed to refine our business model and plan for scalable growth. It’s an excellent initiative for entrepreneurs who are either new to business or need support to take their ventures to the next level,” said Addison.

Senzi.Me, which started in 2019, provides a patented, AI-powered, indoor air quality monitoring system. Their system can detect specific pathogens, bacteria, and gases like Type A influenza, Legionella bacteria, and formaldehyde within minutes. Addison has secured patents in several countries and continues to increase her company’s footprint worldwide.

Dr Samantha Johnson, general manager at Catalyst, outlined the strategic guidance for Senzi.Me.

“Senzi.Me’s global vision was at the heart of the strategic guidance provided through the Catalyst Accelerator programme. During her time in the programme, Addison gained invaluable insights from respected industry leaders, including Dr David Walcott, Rhodes Scholar and managing director of Novamed; Romario Sterling of Victoria Mutual Wealth Management; and representatives from Rock Health — a prominent health-care venture capital firm supporting health-tech start-ups who has partnered with Novamed. The speaker line-up also featured Melvyn Lubega, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and accomplished technology entrepreneur and investor best known for founding Go1 – one of the first South African unicorn.”

The mentorship and hands-on experience gained through the Catalyst Accelerator further steered Addison’s selection to exhibit and speak at the Arab World Health Expo 2025 in Dubai, where she hopes to tap into the United Arab Emirates market.

“Senzi.Me is more than just a health-tech innovation, it’s a company with a unique value proposition that made it an ideal fit for the Catalyst Accelerator programme,” explained Dr Johnson. “We’re proud to have supported Addison with strategic guidance aligned with her vision.”

Addison explains that more doors are opening for her company, including a successful raise of over $40 million for her venture. Currently, she is participating in the Build in Tulsa Techstars Accelerator—a prestigious United States (US)-based programme supporting high-growth, scalable start-ups led by diverse founders.

“We are getting so much traction in such a short time, and there are opportunities for more investment and partnership in the US with their wide, rich network, which can help us with necessary resources to scale across the US,” she stated.

Addison emphasised the need for greater support for Caribbean health start-ups, and highlighted the ongoing reliance on international markets to access critical resources and funding.

“Most Caribbean-founded start-ups in the health-tech space face significant challenges accessing the resources needed to scale their businesses. Many are forced to seek funding and support from international markets to achieve profitability. Jamaica is rich in talent and innovation, but there is a critical need for greater access to resources and investment networks,” she said.

At the Arab World Expo, one of the largest health-care exhibitions in the Middle East, Addison presented to a diverse audience. The event is known for showcasing cutting-edge advancements in global health care.

Senzi.Me’s participation in this global event gave the company unparalleled exposure to international markets, potential partnerships with health-care providers, and opportunities to further refine its product for broader adoption.

“By securing a place in Techstars and earning a spot at the Arab World Health Expo, Senzi.Me is not just putting its technology on the global stage, it’s also paving the way for more Caribbean-founded start-ups to break into international markets,” Dr Johnson said.