In 2024, Henry Putney ’24 won the Powers Pitch Competition at the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business with his business, Filter Fox. The competition helped him transform his idea into a real business.
Filter Fox is a smart monitoring system designed to help people stay on top of air filter changes and improve indoor air quality. The device alerts users when it’s time to change their HVAC filters and provides helpful insights through a mobile app.
Putney’s idea behind Filter Fox was inspired by his time as a business management student at Clemson. While renting a place to stay for school, Putney came down with pneumonia. When he went to the doctor, he suggested checking the air filters at the rental property. Putney went home and what he found was alarming.
“When I checked the air filters, I was shocked at how absolutely filthy they were,” Putney says. “There was no telling when they had last been changed, if ever. It was clear that the property hadn’t been maintained properly. And honestly, it made sense because filters are out of sight and out of mind for a lot of people.”
As Putney began to research, he found that nearly 30% of American homeowners have never changed their HVAC filters, mostly due to them being hidden away.
From this experience, Putney began to think of ways he could solve this issue. As a private pilot, he drew a parallel to something familiar: the pitot tube, a simple device used in aviation to measure airspeed by detecting airflow. “In aviation, you know right away if airflow is restricted or failing because it’s built into the system,” he says. “I started wondering, why don’t we have something like that in our homes? Something that could sense when airflow drops and tell us when our filters are dirty?”
This question started his entrepreneurial journey. He spoke with many professors at Clemson, including Chad Navis, Spiro Professor of Entrepreneurship; Tom Dodd, lecturer of environmental engineering and earth sciences; and Bill DiNardo, management lecturer. Putney also joined the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, where he continued to work on his idea and, eventually, was encouraged to enter the Powers Pitch Competition.
“It gave me confidence. Facing the Powers Pitch Competition felt like going through fire but that experience prepared me,” Putney says. “Now, when I talk with investors and that same anxiety comes up, I remind myself: I’ve done hard things before.”
After winning, Putney was motivated to enter other pitch competitions as well, using the feedback to improve his business and figure out the next steps. With the competition winnings, he was able to cover the cost of a utility patent.
“The Powers Pitch Competition was the first time I had ever pitched Filter Fox. Because of it, I now have the confidence to stand in front of any room and share what I’m building. The nerves don’t go away, but when you keep showing up and taking on challenges, you start to grow, and that’s what matters most.”
As a recent graduate in 2024, Putney’s work has brought on a team of engineers, raised early capital and has been gaining momentum.
“Entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also tough,” he says. “There are a lot of unknowns, and you have to push through setbacks. But I believe in Filter Fox and the difference it can make in people’s homes and health, and that belief is what keeps me going.”
As he continues building his team and scaling the business, Putney is learning, listening and doing everything he can to bring Filter Fox to life.
About the Department of Management
The Department of Management at Clemson University is a connected and inclusive community of thought leaders dedicated to delivering knowledge, creating innovative experiences, and fostering meaningful relationships. Through these efforts, the department provides exceptional value to evolving communities, marketplaces, and the global economy.
Recognized for its top-rated General Management program, the department offers multiple areas of emphasis that allow students to tailor their degrees for specialized expertise and career success. These emphasis areas include Entrepreneurship, Business Analytics, Operations, Human Resources, Information Systems, Supply Chain, General Management, and International Management.
At the graduate level, the department provides several degree options, including a joint master’s degree in Data Science and Analytics, launched in collaboration with the College of Science in 2020 and ranked #5 by Fortune. Faculty also play a vital role in Clemson’s nationally recognized MBA program and support executive education through programs designed to enhance strategic and leadership potential. The department’s recently introduced Ph.D. in Executive Leadership is a distinctive offering aimed at experienced professionals seeking to expand their impact.
About the Powers Pitch Competition
The Powers Pitch Competition, hosted by the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, is an annual spring challenge to support students’ entrepreneurial pursuits. The competition has two rounds:
Round 1: Initial pitches, judging, and feedback. All students chosen to compete will present to a panel of judges and get coaching on their pitches and proposed efforts. Judges in this round will decide on the teams that advance to the next round.
Round 2: Main competition day. Finalists will participate in an interactive trade show and pitch to a new set of judges for the chance to win cash prizes.
The 2025 Powers Pitch Competition is on April 10th this year. To learn more, visit the Powers Pitch Competition website.
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