Trellis Air

High-Level Overview

Trellis Air is a startup developing membrane-based dehumidifiers that dramatically cut energy use in air conditioning by separating water vapor from air more efficiently than traditional methods. Founded in 2024, it targets the buildings sector, aiming to replace energy-intensive desiccant wheels with 80% less energy, standalone dehumidifiers with 50% less, and eliminate reheat energy in HVAC systems.[1][2] The company serves building owners and HVAC operators facing high cooling costs in humid environments, solving the problem of excessive energy waste—about 30% of AC energy goes to handling water vapor rather than cooling air—through a superior membrane and compact vacuum pump.[1][2]

Backed by $1 million in pre-seed funding from Pillar VC, Trellis Air built a working 200cfm prototype in 2024 and plans a $5 million seed round to develop products, secure test sites, and prove commercial viability.[1][2][5]

Origin Story

Trellis Air emerged from a meeting between founder and CEO Russ Wilcox—previously founder of E Ink—and Harvard University's licensing office, which introduced a novel membrane technology for efficient dehumidification.[1] Wilcox, drawing on his experience in innovative materials, recognized its potential to address AC inefficiencies: traditional systems chill entire room air to condense moisture, wasting energy, while Trellis Air's membrane selectively extracts water vapor using a small vacuum pump.[1]

The company, spun out from Harvard tech, was formally founded in 2024 with Wilcox as CEO, Guy Danner as CTO, JD Albert as VP Engineering, and J Manning as Head of Applications.[2] A pivotal moment came that year with the completion of a functional prototype, validating the "trellis" membrane design—named for its kite-like tiles—and a pump "the size of a mouse."[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Breakthrough Membrane Technology: Uses a high-function, low-cost membrane that excels at separating water vapor from nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases, unlike prior membranes that underperformed; acts like a "coffee filter" for air.[1][2][4]
• Compact, Efficient Vacuum Pump: Shrinks pump size dramatically (from "house" to "mouse"), enabling viability where past designs failed, slashing energy by 50-80% vs. competitors.[1][2]
• Broad Energy Savings: Targets desiccant wheels (80% less energy), standalone dehumidifiers (50% less), and reheat elimination, making it first commercially viable for membrane dehumidification.[2]
• Proven Prototype: 200cfm working model built in 2024, positioning it for rapid productization and building tests.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Trellis Air rides the surging demand for efficient cooling amid climate-driven heatwaves, where AC use is projected to explode as global temperatures rise.[4] Timing aligns with regulatory pushes for energy-efficient buildings and HVAC retrofits, especially in humid regions, amplified by market forces like rising electricity costs and decarbonization mandates.[1][2] By tackling dehumidification—a hidden 30% energy drain in AC—it influences the ecosystem by enabling greener buildings, reducing grid strain, and complementing electrification trends without massive infrastructure overhauls.[1]

As a Harvard spinout backed by Pillar VC, it exemplifies deep-tech manufacturing innovation in climate tech, bridging lab breakthroughs to market amid a "commercial valley of death" for similar ventures.[5][6]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Trellis Air's prototype success and seed fundraising plans signal strong near-term momentum toward product launches and pilot deployments in real buildings.[1] Rising extreme heat and efficiency regulations will propel adoption, potentially expanding to HVAC-as-a-service models in high-humidity markets like the U.S. South or tropics.[1][2] Its membrane-pump combo could redefine standards, influencing rivals and accelerating low-energy cooling ecosystem-wide—watch for Series A scaling commercial plants by 2026-2027, cementing Wilcox's track record from E Ink into climate impact.[1][5] This positions Trellis Air as a quiet revolution in everyday comfort, turning humid headaches into energy wins.