Why PHILTER?
Because it’s not YOU, it’s your SMOKE.
Our mission is to eliminate secondhand smoke while enhancing the lives of cannabis and nicotine users.
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FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING ON orders of $30 or more!
FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING ON orders of $30 or more!
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Creating a better world
one exhale at a time.
Because it’s not YOU, it’s your SMOKE.
Our mission is to eliminate secondhand smoke while enhancing the lives of cannabis and nicotine users.
PHILTER products represent a new paradigm for people who vape and smoke. No longer is there a need to isolate for fear of uncontrollable clouds of secondhand smoke that could indiscriminately intrude upon everyone around them.
Adult vapers and non-vapers can now socially co-exist with our exciting new technology, all while eliminating secondhand smoke and protecting their personal right to vape or smoke.
Additionally, reduced emissions result in cleaner air thus contributing to a healthier environment.
Clean Air, Clean Earth
all without sacrificing your lifestyle.
MISSION: Launched in April 2020, The PHILTER Project is our social advocacy division dedicated to leveraging our cutting-edge technology through strategic partnerships to support personal rights and clean air for a more harmonious world.
Whether it’s planting a tree for every PHILTER purchased or donating free products to veterans and medical cannabis patients for more dignified consumption, together, we can achieve so much more.
We are a fast-growing tech startup based in beautiful San Diego, CA where personal freedoms and environmental consciousness are highly valued. As vaping and cannabis consumption exploded into mainstream markets, we foresaw a problem that would not only plague our city but the multi-billion dollar industry as a whole: secondhand vapor and smoke. So, we invented a solution: PHILTER.
Our team of world-class scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs worked their magic to produce the patented Zero-5™ Technology, a five-step filtration process that eliminates secondhand emissions and destroys any possible airborne particulates, pollutants or VOC’s.
The result? Smokers and vapers can now consume in a dignified manner without bothering others or drawing negative attention, regardless of the setting!
Christos Nicolaidis
Co-Founder, CEO
Serial entrepreneur, avid athlete and wake surfer who lives to defy the norm, Christos Nicolaidis knows just how to bring game-changing technology to the market. Over the course of his 20-year career, Nicolaidis has co-founded numerous, successful technology and internet ventures and led them to and through liquidity events. As a business leader in the creation of third-party entertainment gift card programs and the founder of Spend Smart Payments Company, Inc., a publicly traded company that reached a market cap of $120 million during his tenure, Nicolaidis is no stranger to breakthrough ideas that turn into groundbreaking ventures. In fact, you’ll recognize Nicolaidis as the one who rolled out the first patent-pending multimedia gift card, and ultimately operated the American Idol gift card program in North America.
“Philter is solving a major problem that has a global impact, and advocating for new laws that protect our citizens, the children of the future, and planet Earth.”
John Grimm
Co-Founder, CTO
(22+ years inventing and designing medical devices, holds 60 patents, http://www.johngrimmdesign.com/contact-us.html)
Detail-oriented and inspired by good design, John Grimm has upended the vaping industry through his innovative medical device expertise. His contribution? Sophisticated personal filtration products that reduce secondhand emissions. Grimm applied the same level of rigorous accuracy that goes into creating a medical device into inventing new technology that captures and dissolves pollutants, particulates and VOCS from secondhand vape and smoke emissions. Grimm’s consumer-centric solutions serve as a catalyst for necessary and impactful social and environmental change.
“Philter Labs is an innovative company that has pioneered technology capable of dramatically reducing secondhand emissions which, personally, I’m very proud of.”
Amanda Byrd
CMO
With an instinctive ability to craft precise brand narratives and architect strategic roadmaps for both legacy brands and technology startups, Amanda Byrd is known for building and nurturing recognizable brands. Media companies, technology startups and consumer electronics innovators have excelled through her leadership in smart sales strategies, IP licensing and creative brand messaging. Earlier in her career, Byrd was the brand manager and merchandising director responsible for the successful global rollout of the Hustler Hollywood retail chain as well as building a profitable licensing program for PENTHOUSE Magazine following its bankruptcy. Byrd is known for her expertise in developing a company’s core strengths, identifying areas of growth and tailoring brand messages that significantly impact consumer behavior.
“What excited me about Philter is that by reducing the tell-tale vapor cloud, we can finally start to balance the social scales when it comes to acceptance of those who choose to vape while still respecting those who choose not to.”
Greg Garner
Corporate Strategy, CFO
35+ years in institutional investment management
and consulting with start-ups
He founded Equity Analytics after 20 years as an institutional investment manager to apply the parameters of corporate success in advising start-ups on strategic business planning, financial management, valuation analysis, and investor communications. He has guided several companies in strategy formulation, document preparation and investor communications, resulting in over $120 million in capital raises for start-ups. Previously he managed $350 million in investment funds at Noroian Capital Management and Millennium Asset Management, achieving top decile performance in all cap, hedge fund and micro/small cap funds. Previously, he consulted with equity analysts and M&A personnel at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Paine Weber, Solomon Brothers, EF Hutton, Aetna, and consulted with competitive analysis and corporate planning personnel at Xerox, Union Carbide, General Electric, and Eaton. He has a BS in Microbiology from Michigan State University, an MBA from Oakland University, and is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, CFA
Rachel Mills
Director of Social
Media and Brand
Content
Rachel is a UC San Diego graduate with 10 years of digital marketing and social media management experience. She kick-started her social media career in the automotive industry after being recruited by brands like BMW, Toyota, and Michelin to help them appropriately and effectively market to their female audience via Instagram. From there she went on to build steady, organic social media growth for global nonprofits and managed the most expensive digital campaign (at the time) in the history of California politics. She believes the formula for successful social media presence is: quality content, clear messaging, creativity, and inclusivity. When it comes to social media marketing, Rachel has worked with a wide range of companies in many different industries, but she is most excited to be working for PHILTER and looks forward to what the future holds.
Stephanie Fichter
Director of Finance and Operations
Stephanie is a San Diego State University graduate with 20+ years of business and management experience. She started her career in the construction trucking industry where she evolved from performing daily accounting functions to managing the logistics to then overseeing and managing the multi-million dollar a year company that she spent 22 years with. She then moved into another facet of business and took on the Corporate Tax and Accounting industry where she creates and implements tax planning and accounting practices for all types of corporate businesses. Stephanie works with shareholders and employees of these companies directly to assure all plans are implemented and maximum results are attained. She credits her success to learning businesses from the bottom up to fully understand the needs and intricacies of each industry she works with.
Yuval Shenkel
Co-Founder, Board
Chairman
A 30-year veteran of industrial design and mechanical engineering, Mr. Shenkal is the founder and president of ID+M Inc., an internationally recognized, multifaceted product development firm with offices in USA, Hong-Kong and Israel, where his company has provided uniquely innovative design and application solutions for industry leaders and start-ups in area of consumer products, medical devices industrial, electronic, wireless and personal care products. Additionally, Mr. Shenkal is the active CEO of three companies and serves on the board of directors of seven other companies, respectively. Mr. Shenkal is a widely respected innovator who holds dozens of utility and design patents in various fields.
Mr. Shenkal holds a degree in Design Engineering from San Diego State University and an advanced degree in Industrial Design from ACCD in Pasadena. He is married, resides in north San Diego County and is very active in variety of local and international organizations.
Steve Davis
Corporate Counsel
Steve Davis has practiced in the areas of corporate and business law since 1992. During this time, Davis has lead several multi-million dollar securities transactions for a range of industries including software and technology, biotech, consumer products, finance and real estate. He also served on the Board of Directors and Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees of Telanetix, Inc., a publicly traded telecommunications company, for eight years before its sale to Intermedia (an Oak Hill Capital portfolio company) where he was the Chairman of the Special Committee in the sale transaction. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Theragene Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mr. Davis is licensed to practice law in California, the District of Columbia, and Minnesota and his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1992. He received his B.A. in Political Science, Cum Laude, from Arizona State University in 1988.
Dr. Willie J. McKinney
Dr. Willie J. McKinney has held several roles with Altria and JUUL. In 1998 Dr. McKinney joined the Altria family of companies and held a number of academic and research roles before joining the Executive Leadership Team as Vice President of Regulatory Sciences. His time at Altria was followed by serving as Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs for JUUL labs in San Francisco.
Dr. McKinney served on FDA’s Tobacco Product Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). Board Certified as a Toxicologist by the American Board of Toxicology in 2004, Dr. McKinney holds a Ph.D., in Environmental Toxicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and M.S., in Biology, from North Carolina Central University, and a B.S., in Biology from Xavier University in New Orleans.
Dr. Michael S. Werley
Dr. Michael S. Werley spent over two decades at Philip Morris/Altria, most recently serving in the capacity of Principal Scientist. He has authored numerous research studies on tobacco, nicotine, toxicity, inhalation, exposure, and harm reduction. Dr. Werley earned a Ph.D., in Pharmacology/Toxicology from Temple University School of Pharmacy and a Master of Science (MS) from Temple University School of Medicine.
Jeff Kendig
Jeff founded Bravos Capital in early 2018 in order to focus on partnering with family offices and high net worth individuals to pursue private investment opportunities. Jeff has over 14 years of direct investment experience, including growth equity as well as venture capital. In his current role, he leads the evaluation of investment opportunities, structures transactions and works with management teams to develop and execute operational and growth strategies.
He has extensive responsibilities for day-to-day portfolio company management, including crafting long-term strategy, analyzing threats & opportunities, identifying operating improvements, cash flow management, and other general management roles. He is a current or former board member of seven different companies in a variety of industries but has particularly deep experience in business services, technology services and consumer products.
Jeff received his M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was a Venture Fellow, and his B.A., cum laude, in Economics and Italian from Middlebury College.
Mitch Mulanix
(25+ years in politics and advocacy, https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mulanix-9925812/ )
After 25 years of working inside politics in both the public and private sectors, Mitch Mulanix has the experience and track record to influence a movement. He has advised top officials at the federal, state and local levels, and got his political start on Capitol Hill as Chief of Staff to a member of Congress in 1988. After leaving public service, he partnered with legendary political consultant George Gorton, a member of the American Political Hall of Fame. Together, they established Gorton & Mulanix, a California-based government relations firm that as provided winning political strategies for Fortune 500 clients such as Sprint Wireless, Koch Industries and Lucent Technologies. He has also headed significantly successful political campaigns for several initiatives including the San Diego Padres and California Workers Comp Reform. He worked exclusively for Arnold Schwarzenegger for five years guiding his transition from actor to political activist prior to running Arnold’s first campaign for Governor. “Philter is a driving force behind a social movement to create more socially acceptable vaping practices – potentially leading to new legislation and laws around vaping.”
Jenny Diggles
Jenny Diggles is an entrepreneurial leader that is passionate about building businesses on the edge of emerging industries. Over the past 20 years, her career has spanned apparel, tech startups, digital agencies and most recently the cannabis industry.
Jenny’s curiosities have led her to raise over $20M for startups, build and exit a digital agency to Deloitte Digital, and she was selected by Apple to participate in their first ever TV show about app creators. Her career started with developing consumer insights and data modeling for a clothing company with $500M in revenue, but without proper data to validate decisions on products, pricing or volumes. These efforts led to the development of a research team, better inventory management and reduced guesswork when it came to deciding what products to manufacture.
In 2014 Jenny entered the cannabis space after personally discovering the medical power of cannabis. After learning how undercapitalized cannabis businesses were, Jenny built cannabis funds and invested into ancillary businesses. In 2018, she joined Cura Cannabis and helped guide the company through international development of their CBD products, new product launches and an acquisition by Cura Leaf, a publicly traded company.
Jenny holds an MBA from the University of Washington and lives in Aspen, Colorado with her husband Benjamin and two dogs.
David Denberg
David is a culture maven who builds community through immersive events and transformational experiences. David is a Founder of Trailblazers, a leadership gathering for the cannabis and hemp industry. He has founded and produced six notable communities lending his expertise in branding, programming, curation and communication strategies across sustainability, social innovation and entrepreneurship. This includes: EQ Planet Home, Summit, Trailblazers, Blockchain Unbound, Roundglass and his latest passion project, Open Circles.
In addition, David has spent eight years as Lead Curator and Partner at Summit, a preeminent leadership conference for top-tier entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers. In this role, David was responsible for seeking out the top business innovators and movement builders to shape company culture.
In 2013, Summit purchased Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah to house its community of leaders and build a residential real estate development.
Mark Sandson
Mark Sandson is a strategic advisor to early-stage technology companies. He performs in an advisory role regarding clients’ strategic planning, fund raising, and exit planning events, and has helped clients achieve successful fund raising campaigns and exits. He previously acted as a sell-side M&A intermediary. He has had executive and director roles in successful privately-held companies and established public firms. He has directed consulting, operations, and marketing in a wide range of information technology applications, including internet-based systems, enterprise and scientific software development, aerospace and defense, infrastructure management, and outsourcing, and has advised firms in life sciences, consumer products, payment systems, mobile marketing, automotive safety, water conservation, and others.
He has been an officer of four privately held businesses, each of which had successful exit events and a vice president of two NASDAQ-listed firms. He has served as member of the board of fifteen firms and president, CEO, and chairman of his own business. He has been a director, and Interim CEO and Interim Chairman of a publicly traded firm. He has served as a consultant to the World Bank. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and has done graduate work at George Washington University.
Aaron Gaeir
Mr. Gaeir has been a serial and successful entrepreneur for over 20 years both as a partner and founder within health care and advertising industries. Mr. Gaeir has a solid track record of developing businesses from concept to liquidity which he has achieved four times, garnering in excess of $140M.
In 1998, Aaron was a Founding Member of Transit America Outdoor Advertising company based in Las Vegas that sold to the largest outdoor asset owner in North America, Lamar Outdoor, with over $4 billion in annual sales.
In 1999, Aaron was a Founding Member of Taxi Tops, the largest taxi advertising company in North America that then sold to Clear Channel Media with annual sales of $7 billion in both Radio and Out of Home.
In 2003, Aaron founded Elite Media Partners in the managed healthcare space before selling to Great West Health, a division of Cigna, in 2008.
In 2008, Aaron founded Grandesign Media, a service company in the outdoor advertising space that became the second largest independent buyer of outdoor media in the U.S. and was the largest grossing, privately-held advertising agency in San Diego. Aaron achieved liquidity in 2019 to Talon Outdoor, the largest individual-owned OOH media company in the world.
Today Aaron is the founder and CEO of GDX Studios: a full-service experiential agency with a current client portfolio that includes Paramount, TBS, Disney, AB and Amazon.
Aaron’s ability to create clear-cut competitive advantages, proof of concept and scale has enabled him to build a successful model in helping companies achieve liquidity. Moreover, his ability in recognizing and cultivating PLU’s (People Like Us) with his “bucket” training process (personal, professional and financial) is his true passion and greatest strength. “Each morning when my feet hit the floor, I set an intention to always pursue my passion to cultivate and motivate those that are the most talented professionals in the Out of Home industry today. As the owner and CEO of GDX, I focus on enhancing company culture and driving business development.”
Aaron lives in San Diego with his wife Kim and their four children living the quintessential Southern California life.
Richard B. Hollis
Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Richard Hollis has over three decades of experience ranging in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and digital technology.
Hollis’ career is filled with extraordinary challenges, visions, and accomplishments. He has received recognition and business awards and has been featured in multiple news outlets, including CNN, CNBC, Power Lunch, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Pharmaceutical Executive, Bio People, Genetic Engineering News, Business Week, 60 Minutes, and NASDAQ Opening Bell, amongst others. He has been invited to the White House and has been asked to speak several times at congressional hearings on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry’s role in emergency preparedness response to acts of terrorism from nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare.
Hollis began his career in product sales with Baxter Travenol (today Baxter International), where he specialized in launching and marketing the world’s first parenteral, enteral and intravenous solutions to the healthcare industry. Hollis later joined Imed Corporation, a world leader in drug delivery devices, in the 1980s. Imed was acquired by Warner-Lambert (today part of Pfizer Inc.). After leaving Warner-Lambert, Hollis joined Genetech and was instrumental in the launch of two blockbuster pharmaceutical products. Following the success of those product launches, Hollis joined Instromedix, a manufacturer of cardiac monitoring devices, where Hollis launched the world's first telemedicine cardiac event monitor called the King of Hearts. Hollis then joined Bioject and launched the world’s first portable needless drug injector. Thereafter, Hollis acted on his vision of founding a new pharmaceutical company in 1992, initially self-funded and successfully brought public in 1997. The company was called Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and was the world's first pharmaceutical company to develop a "Hormone Signaling Technology Platform" based on the Hypothalamus Adrenal Axis.
During the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, with the collapse of the stock market, Hollis re-evaluated the state of the economy and the world at large. During Hollis’ extensive research of the Internet with his son, Hayden Hollis, a business graduate from San Diego State University, they formulated a vision of creating the world’s first fully integrated platform, predicated on the understanding and principles of holons in the digital sphere, named it Holonis, Inc.
Richard B. Hollis founded Holonis, Inc. in February of 2010 and currently serves as Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
With PHILTER,
it’s one less thing to worry about.