Meet Jamie Mitri, the Founder and CEO of Moss Pure who embodies a commitment to sustainability and innovation that has propelled her to the forefront of environmental entrepreneurship. Jamie Mitri journey began with the creation of Moss Pure, a revolutionary product born out of her participation in the MIT Lebanon Challenge, where it clinched first place in the health, energy, and waste management track. Moss Pure stands as the pioneer of live moss air filters and stress relief devices, leveraging award-winning and patent-pending science to redefine air purification.
Since its inception, Moss Pure has garnered recognition and momentum, with Jamie Mitri participation in prestigious programs like the MIT Accelerator Program and the UN Youth Leadership Programme for Social Innovation. Under her leadership, Moss Pure officially launched in March 2021 and has continued to expand its reach and impact.
Jamie Mitri academic background in Chemical Engineering and Biology from the University of Rhode Island laid the groundwork for her multifaceted career spanning two decades. Jamie Mitri expertise in biotechnology has seen her contribute to the development of products and medicines for diagnosing and treating rare diseases, while her role as an Environmental Engineer has involved overseeing live bacteria in large-scale bioreactors to purify wastewater of cancer-causing and toxic compounds.
Jamie Mitri experience encompasses air filtration and pollution compliance, waste management, and recycling initiatives, underscoring her holistic approach to environmental stewardship. Through Moss Pure, Jamie has seamlessly merged her diverse skill set and passion for sustainability to create a product that not only addresses environmental challenges but also promotes health and well-being.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you share some pivotal moments or experiences from your career that have shaped your approach to business and entrepreneurship?
Even though I have such a strong science background, I’ve always had a passion for and skillset in interior and fashion design. During my career developing medical devices and products used to cure and diagnose diseases, the companies that I worked for would bring in physicians and surgeons to provide feedback on our prototypes. I started to see a trend in that the doctors that we would bring in liked the more aesthetically pleasing prototype that we were developing. I brought this to management, and their thought was that merging science and aesthetics would be too innovative. Since then, I knew that if I ever had the chance to create my own product and company, I would merge my two passions and create an aesthetically pleasing scientific device.
What inspired you to establish this company? How does this initiative reflect your life purpose and vision for making a positive difference?
I created Moss Pure during a competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Lebanon Challenge) in June 2020, where it won First Place Startup. It then went on to participate in the United Nations Development Programme, where it won Top 10 Startup in August 2020. During the MIT competition, I realized that the moss wall market was in demand. But there was a gap. No other company was using live moss. Most moss companies use preserved moss or dried moss, which are no longer living. The big gap was that customers wanted live moss decor without needing to water or maintain it. No other company is able to keep live moss sustainable for more than a few days and without needing constant watering. No other company is able to use moss as an effective air filter. I used my expertise in biology and engineering and created Moss Pure with patent pending technology: A new, innovative moss air filter and stress relief device that doesn’t need watering or sunlight.
How do you measure the impact of your work, both personally and through your company, in supporting individuals to actualize their potential and become their best selves?
I am always looking for feedback and continuous improvement. For example, during the MIT Accelerator Program, I was able to work with 450 customers worldwide, with 150 being in the U.S. I conducted prototype testing with the customers in the U.S., received feedback, and iterated our designs to the final products you see today. It’s our customers that confirmed our products don’t need watering or maintenance, and it’s our customers that drove the high aesthetics you see in our products as well.
With Moss Pure, I am constantly learning and pivoting. I hold myself and others accountable while collaborating as a team. If a mistake is made, we learn from it and move on as a team. Being vulnerable at times is necessary, and practicing empathy is also necessary as a leader.
How do you integrate character development with the acquisition of soft and technical skills in your framework?
I am a very hands-on CEO. Especially with our custom moss wall art projects. Custom live moss walls are luxury and exclusive decor that require a great deal of biology, engineering, and design on my end. I work with our customers to turn their designs into reality using creativity, technical expertise, and innovation. I am proactive and communicative, and I show the customers our progress to get feedback during the creation process. It’s amazing to get their positive feedback and to see their reaction as their moss wall art comes together.
It’s our science that allows our product to work. You can’t just add live moss to a décor piece because it won’t survive, and it will need excessive watering. So, we are not just adding moss to a décor piece. And we are not using the moss you see in your garden or lawn. Our patent pending and award-winning science makes the following possible:
Live Moss With No Watering: I developed and designed a living environment for our live moss within our product design using proprietary biology and engineering. Because of our science, the live moss in our environment survives indefinitely without needing watering, maintenance, or sunlight.
Air filter: Moss Pure’s science works with our moss to create the ultimate air filter. I designed Moss Pure to target the following pollutants:
- Carbon dioxide
- Particulate matter includes dust, pet dander, allergens, and toxic gases.
- Metals
- Bacteria
- Viruses
Our patent pending science allows moss to take in moisture and the bad chemicals in your air as it’s food and nutrient source. Because of our science, the live moss is able to survive all while being an air filter and improving your air quality.
Stress relief device: While developing Moss Pure, I noticed a gap in biophilic design. Biophilic design shows that having the visual sight of nature in your space reduces stress and anxiety. But biophilic design only focuses on the sense of vision. It doesn’t use your other senses. So I created the MossPure Method for stress and anxiety relief. Our patent pending science and art engage not only your vision but also your other senses, such as touch and smell, to decrease stress and anxiety and increase your productivity.
What are your long-term goals, and how do you envision its evolution in the coming years?
The goal is to continue elevating our customers’ spaces with unique and custom pieces. This includes collaborating with the following:
- Luxury and Modern Homes
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Office Buildings and Lobbies
- Doctor’s offices, etc.
If you are reading this article and are interested in an innovative and stunning decor piece for your space, please reach out to me or visit www.mosspure.com so that we can collaborate!
Looking back on your career journey, what advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders who are navigating their own paths?
Don’t let fear hold you back. This includes fear of success and fear of failure. Also, never give up. Being an entrepreneur has daily challenges, and your role is to put out the fires with grace. There’s a reason why not many people choose entrepreneurship, and it’s because it’s incredibly difficult. But as long as you keep going, making mistakes, and learning from them, you will be fine.
On a personal level, what brings you the greatest fulfillment and satisfaction in your work and mentoring others?
I’ve learned such a great deal about myself and about entrepreneurship, even when I’m mentoring others. I’m like a sponge for knowledge. I have the biggest fulfillment when I’m learning, being innovative, and being able to share my expertise and creativity with the world.
Website: mosspure.com
