TECH-STARTUP NOMESTIC

The technology stands, the solution works. Nomestic holds the key to measuring, visualising and improving air quality everywhere. Now it's a matter of going further and conquering the world. To take that next step, a strong network is indispensable and that is exactly where UPALMERE! comes in. The startup and scale-up program of the Municipality of Almere, stood at the cradle of Nomestic and offers the promising startup a stage to roll out their clean air technology widely.

Engelbert Pelster and Mayank Shah are the owners of Nomestic. Both entrepreneurs met years ago through UPALMERE! and complement each other perfectly. Engelbert has a broad background as a business developer, marketer and entrepreneurial coach. He particularly focuses on the commercial side of things. Tech pioneer Mayank is the creative and technical brain behind Nomestic. With his experience in Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and product development, he knows exactly what needs to be done to build a safe, future-proof and sustainable platform.

Smart deep tech from Almere

The idea behind Nomestic can certainly be called innovative. The platform ensures a healthy and comfortable indoor space through smart monitoring and AI-driven insights. If the air is too hot, cold, humid or dry, the system provides instant signals and recommendations or controls ventilation and filtration via integration with HVAC and building management systems. This keeps the air quality optimal, with less energy waste and lower CO₂ emissions - fully automatically and without you having to think about it yourself.

Engelbert: "The idea for Nomestic came from Mayank, who founded the company in 2023. I joined in 2024. I was immediately sold because I trained daily in a stuffy, stale gym and immediately envisioned how Nomestic would provide a fresh and healthy environment there. That's exactly what we developed our solution for. Meanwhile, we already have several gyms in use as pilot locations. They are perfect places to collect a lot of data and make our AI algorithms smarter.

From startup to scale-up

Nomestic is still in the startup phase, but the first milestones have already been achieved: thousands of CO₂ meters have now been sold in the Benelux and the self-developed AI software that translates measurement data into clear, interactive dashboards is ready. And that is only the beginning. The next challenge and at the same time the big promise is actually improving air quality. With targeted solutions for different markets, Nomestic is taking an exciting step towards a healthier and more sustainable living environment.

Mayank: "For the private market, we have developed an affordable interactive app that allows residents to better understand the air quality in and around their homes and receive targeted tips to improve it. In time, the app can also be linked to the heating and ventilation system, so that comfort and health go hand in hand. But the biggest growth opportunities for Nomestic lie in the business market, especially in education, healthcare, retail and offices. There too, we are pushing hard".

International opportunities

There is no shortage of ambition at Nomestic. Engelbert: "We are one of the few startups focusing on improving air quality through the use of AI and integration with HVAC systems, so we see opportunities for our solution worldwide. In many countries, the issue of air quality is more prevalent than here. That is why we are also explicitly focusing on foreign countries.

For instance, we are implementing a project on the health and well-being of the elderly in Switzerland, and are exploring collaborations in Australia, Canada and China. At the same time, pressure from legislation and regulations on air quality and energy efficiency is also rising sharply in the Netherlands and Europe. The Building Decree has always set strict requirements for buildings, but with the BENG standards and the European Green Deal, the bar is being raised even higher. This offers new opportunities here too."

Almere as a natural partner

Against this background, Almere is a logical base for Nomestic. Mayank: "Because I live in Almere, it was natural for me to settle here as an entrepreneur. Moreover, the city is a natural partner for us. Almere has joined the Clean Air Agreement and the plans for new districts create plenty of starting points. Nomestic offers the solution to build both sustainably, cost-efficiently and cleanly. We are therefore happy to work with the municipality to realise our joint ambitions and support Almere in its pioneering role towards a healthy and sustainable living environment.

From July 2025, for instance, schools will be required by law to structurally measure CO₂ and air quality. For me, this is not an abstract rule: my daughter goes to school in Almere and I notice how fresh air in the classroom is not always taken for granted. With Nomestic, we can help schools not only comply with the rules, but also save energy. And why stop at schools? We can also make town halls, hospitals, community centres and other public buildings healthier and more energy-efficient. For startups like us, there are plenty of opportunities in Almere. So I would say: bring it on."

Collaboration with UPALMERE!

As a startup, Nomestic is part of the municipality's action program for Tech-driven startups. Engelbert: "UPALMERE! asked me to coach Mayank Shah for an earlier project. When we started working with Nomestic, it was natural for us to contact UPALMERE! again. The program gives us access to a valuable network, all kinds of events and media coverage. This helps us validate our solution and get direct feedback from the market.

For instance, we participated in the Startup Hero Journey. This has given us many new contacts. A concrete example is our collaboration with Carolina Riffi Ollit. With Nomestic, we now work at her office one day a week to make use of each other's expertise. This way we strengthen each other and together we create great opportunities for the future".

Prominent pilot in the Hortus

Another key partner of Nomestic is the Green Innovation Hub (GIH). The Green Innovation Hub drives technological innovation and economic growth in the region. From a physical incubator and three program lines, they bring together government, businesses and knowledge institutions to realise innovative solutions. Mayank: "Thanks to GIH, we are part of the open innovation ecosystem the Hortus in Almere, and are taking part in a pilot in which we are collaborating with VDL, Vodafone and the municipality of Almere. With our sensors, we collect real-time data on air quality and energy consumption. We then make this data available via a dashboard or app. In this way, we help policymakers to build a residential area that is truly healthy and future-proof, and we give residents and businesses control over their living environment. With our app, they can monitor live air quality in the neighbourhood. This fits perfectly with Almere's ambition to become a smart city. It creates transparency, awareness and a stronger connection between citizens and the municipality."

Share your entrepreneurial story too? Tell us at info@onderneeminalmere.nl/en.

Stay up to date with the latest news, interesting developments for you as a (potential) entrepreneur and upcoming events? Follow us on LinkedIn or sign up for the newsletter here.