David Carel

Poor classroom air quality is one of the most solvable drivers of education inequity. For just a few dollars per student per year, air filters can boost cognitive performance, cut absenteeism, and improve long-term health, yet most schools lack them, especially in low-income communities. We're building the infrastructure for nationwide deployment, funding R&D to ensure lasting adoption, and incubating the organizations needed to solve this problem for good.

Helped lead new pandemic prevention philanthropy focused on accelerating innovation in preventing airborne disease. Oversaw organizational strategy, growth, and prioritization. Helped direct and support programs in far-UVC germicidal light, pandemic-proof respirators, and novel airborne transmission suppression technologies.

Helped create and lead non-profit focused on early grade literacy and numeracy in South Africa. Partnered with the national and provincial governments to design evidence-based interventions at scale, including teacher coaching programs, children's literature design and rollout, and structured learning materials that demonstrated significant learning gains in randomized controlled trials.

Co-founded Y Combinator-backed data analytics platform that transformed how schools understand student success and stakeholder engagement. Panorama helps educators track social-emotional learning, school climate, and student outcomes in tens of thousands of schools in all 50 states.