Rhiannon Black, the 17-year-old founder of Airflowy, is helping COVID sufferers breathe easier

Airflowy is an intelligent spirometry organization that was established in 2019 with the goal of making lung function testing simpler for children with chronic lung disorders. Spirometry is a test that measures the quantity of air expelled in a single forceful breath to assist, diagnose, and evaluate lung function. Millions of people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis, and now COVID-19 has been added to the list. Asthma is the most prevalent chronic illness of children, affecting approximately 300 million individuals globally. COVID’s current epidemic has impacted many families across the globe, resulting in long-term health issues. The number of tests required to identify the degree of lung injury in an increasing number of COVID-19 patients is on the rise today.

Airflowy is developed with younger patients in mind, since the main emphasis is on youngsters. A wireless, pocket-sized spirometer with an LED display and haptic stimulation gives immediate feedback on whether or not the test was successful. The reading is shown in real time through a child-friendly smartphone app. To keep youngsters interested and involved, the design features are colourful and entertaining, replicating the experience of gaming.

The emphasis on smart spirometry started as a means to better precisely and easily assess lung health in youngsters. However, since then, the Coronavirus epidemic has swept the world, and it’s become clear that individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 are seeing long-term effects on lung function. As soon as cases began to decline, a newer, more infectious Delta strain emerged as the prevalent variation.  The market for lung health testing will only increase in significance in the future. As a result of the epidemic, the people are witnessing a surge in telemedicine, where physicians provide treatment to patients without having to visit their offices. Airflowy will be able to fulfill these shifting requirements since it enables individuals to test their own lung health at any time and share the findings with healthcare professionals through their app.

Founder Rhiannon Black credits her mother as one of her greatest sources of motivation, both as an entrepreneur and as a woman in business. Rhiannon recalls seeing her develop a little company from the ground up into a live entity when she was just a child. But she never intended to be an entrepreneur herself. It all started as a passion project about a topic that touched her personally, and it simply expanded from there.

Rhiannon says the most beneficial characteristics to starting your own business is naivete and failure. The first is self-evident, and perhaps why entrepreneurs so often tend to be young. She says one of the greatest business lessons she’s ever had was failing a lot as you learn something from it every time. Rhiannon says, “When I was first starting out as a struggling business, being naive really benefited me. I don’t feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the job when I don’t see the whole picture.”

What distinguishes great businesses is their willingness to take aggressive action on occasion. Many individuals consider what they would want to do. They then devote a significant amount of effort to planning it. You’ll have a lot more success if you just do instead of plan, plan, plan. It will be stressful and unpleasant at times, particularly in the beginning. Sure, there will be days when you feel as if it’s all too much. You’ll succeed if you learn from your mistakes and have the perseverance to keep trying.

Rhiannon claims that every day in business is like playing a game, with a fresh set of difficulties and issues to overcome. She says that after a time, she discovered how much she loved it and how excellent she was at it. Rhiannon quips, “It’s difficult for me to see myself doing anything else these days. Unless, of course, the rap game chooses to call, haha.”

When asked where her passion for rap came from, she said it has always been a favourite of hers since she was a kid. First she just jotted down rhymes in a notebook, like writing poetry. After then, it was time to mix intros, hooks, and verses. She loves analysing the structure, rhythm, and delivery of songs. Rhiannon says, “It’s also fun to watch people’s reactions when they hear me with a microphone in my hand. I don’t expect it to turn into a profession or anything, but I’m going to have some fun with it on the side.”

As a senior in high school, many of her classmates are always discussing their college plans for the next year. As a result, Rhiannon had to devote a significant amount of time to determining what she wants to do with her future and what her next steps would be. She’s in high school, but also as a CEO of a rapidly expanding start-up pursuing the American dream. At the same time, she has an inquisitive mind and a desire to study, thus obtaining an education is important to her. She is looking for a college that encourages young women to pursue their goals — a place where she can study and develop as a person and as an entrepreneur.