Bufaga

About Bufaga

Bufaga S.R.L., a cleantech firm founded in Rome, Italy, in 2022, is focused on developing and deploying air purification technologies. The company originated when CEO Serena Mignucci, an environmental engineer, developed the initial concept during a university hackathon focused on air pollution. She later connected with her co-founders—Simone Cingolani, Giuseppe Spinelli, Federico Roviglioni, and Francesco Gaudiano—at the Dock3 startup lab, an incubator at Roma Tre University. None of the founders had prior business experience, but they united around the mission of creating tangible environmental solutions and secured an initial investment of €300,000 within six months.

Bufaga's business model centers on capturing, measuring, and recycling airborne pollutants for clients in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, and urban management. The company generates revenue by selling its hardware devices and charging an annual subscription fee that covers maintenance and real-time data reporting. This data allows clients to transparently include certified metrics in their sustainability reports. Bufaga targets companies seeking to meet ESG (Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance) goals and reduce the environmental impact of their operations. The firm has established pilot programs and partnerships, including one with the car-sharing company Enjoy and collaborations with Aeroporti di Roma and Arpinge Group for installations in parking lots.

The company offers two primary products. The 'Hi-Bufaga' is a device designed to be mounted on vehicles, using the vehicle's motion to capture particulate matter. The company claims it can absorb more than 40 grams of particulate matter every 11,000 kilometers. The 'E-Bufaga' is a stationary unit designed for high-pollution areas like parking garages or industrial zones, capable of purifying up to 130,000 cubic meters of air daily with over 90% efficiency in removing pollutant particles. A key feature of Bufaga's system is the integrated IoT platform that collects and analyzes real-time data on the pollution removed. This dual capability of pollution removal and data monitoring is a primary differentiator from competitors like Mann+Hummel and Parker Hannifin. While initially using third-party filters to accelerate market entry, Bufaga is developing its own proprietary filtration system.