Tech for Good: How machine learning and rich data can help prevent pollution

As part of a regular series powered by IBM, BetaKit interviews Canadian tech leaders using innovation for the greater good. In the environmental tech space, common missions revolve around reducing pollution, fixing destroyed habitats, or making the environment better. Less commonly will you find a startup that wants the world to spend less money on solutions, but that's exactly what Ambience Data hopes to do. The company's internet-of-things (IoT) sensors provide hyperlocal air quality data and, through machine-learning algorithms on the cloud, aid in urban development strategy. Instead of trying to fix environmental problems, co-founder and CEO Nisha Sarveswaran hopes that Ambience Data can turn the conversation to investing in prevention.