Simon Walmsley on Scaling Finnish Cleantech Pioneer DECX in India

Airborne pathogens, resistant microbes, and a rising demand for contamination control are once again putting public health in the spotlight. From hospitals to defense zones, the conversation around clean air and safe spaces has never felt more urgent. That’s why our chat with Simon Walmsley, Co-Founder & Joint MD of DECX Technology, couldn’t be more timely.

DECX is leading India’s bio-decontamination space with cutting-edge hydrogen peroxide vapor (vH₂O₂) solutions, delivered through global partnerships with Finland’s Cleamix and Halton. From healthcare and pharma to high-security environments, they’re on a mission to redefine how India tackles surface and air decontamination.

Q: What inspired you to start DECX Technology? How did your international experience influence the decision to bring advanced Finnish tech into India’s decontamination space?

It was one of those coincidental "alignment of the stars" moments, mixed with the COVID-19 period. I was in lockdown and came across Cleamix technology after seeing a LinkedIn post via a colleague from 20 years ago, who is now the CEO. Something clicked - I thought, there has to be an application for this in India, a market I already had experience in from my FinTech days.

Q: For those hearing about it for the first time - what exactly is hydrogen peroxide vapor (vH₂O₂) technology? What makes it more effective (and safer) than traditional disinfection methods?

Hydrogen peroxide was first discovered in 1818 by Louis Jacques Thénard, known as "oxygenated water," and has been used in various forms for bleaching and antiseptic purposes ever since. Fun fact: in 1909, Eugène Schueller used hydrogen peroxide in a modern hair colorant - marking the beginning of L’Oréal.

In liquid form, it's typically not used in concentrations above 5% because it can damage skin. But when vaporized- heated and transformed into a gaseous state - we can use 35% to 50% concentrations. This creates hundreds of parts-per-million of vH₂O₂ molecules that are free from gravity, roaming around and destroying organisms and their spores present on surfaces, in air-conditioning ducts-pretty much anywhere.

We can eliminate everything from anthrax and Vx nerve agent to TB, superbugs (like MRSA and C. diff), and coronavirus (COVID-19).

Q: Do you think COVID changed the way institutions think about air safety and sterilization - for good? Are you seeing more interest from unexpected sectors like schools, coworking spaces, or hospitality?

Unfortunately not. At the tail end of COVID, we began promoting this in healthcare, which continues to use outdated infection prevention protocols-such as wiping, spraying, and fumigation (foggers). These often use biocides, including low-concentration H₂O₂, with limited results and long aeration times needed for the wet, sometimes irritant and hazardous residue to dry.

Q: Tell us more about Cleamix and Halton. Why did you choose them, and how do these partnerships work? Are there any upcoming collaborations in the pipeline - maybe with government bodies or smart city projects in India?

Since we had made little headway in healthcare, we pivoted to the pharma industry, where this technology is widely used for aseptic manufacturing - requiring bio-decontamination of equipment after every production cycle. There are only four other suppliers in India, so we began promoting the innovation that our Finnish tech brings to the table.

I can’t name the pharma companies we’ve sold to or are currently working with, but I can say some are top-tier giants - and we’re quite pleased with the results after just two years.

Q: What makes DECX different from legacy players in sterilization and biosecurity? India is a cost-conscious market. How do you strike a balance between high-end global tech and local scalability?

First of all, the Finns have developed incredibly innovative technology. Our system provides one of the fastest decontamination cycles available, which is crucial in pharma production - where each batch might be worth €1 million. Faster turnaround equals better productivity and cost savings.

That said, we're also very price-competitive - generally undercutting American competitors and matching European ones. And we have further plans in the pipeline.

Q: With the rise of hybrid work, telemedicine, and automation, how is DECX staying ahead of the curve? What’s your growth vision over the next 3–5 years, both in India and across emerging markets?

Part of the plan is to begin manufacturing in India - helping us avoid import tariffs, leverage lower costs, and reduce pricing significantly. We're ramping up our sales team in India for pharma and, despite the slow sales cycle, trying to convince the healthcare sector to adopt this technology.

One barrier to entry is cost. The mid- to high-range machines are priced between ₹50 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, so we’re exploring a service model where clients pay per treatment (e.g., of an Operating Theatre), and we provide both the equipment and trained operators.

Q: What’s been your biggest leadership challenge (and lesson) while working in such a specialized space? What advice would you give to entrepreneurs building bold, future-ready health-tech or safety-tech solutions?

The biggest challenge is time. Not just in India - pharma projects, in general, have very long timelines. We’re only now seeing the results of work started 2–3 years ago.

My advice: take your time and choose your people carefully. Avoid CVs filled with job-hoppers - especially among millennials who switch every two years. We want to hire great people, motivate them, and keep them - not train them for someone else’s gain.

Q: What has your experience been like building a company in India as a foreign founder? Have there been unique challenges or surprising advantages to operating in India’s rapidly evolving health-tech sector?

It’s been a very positive experience. I have an Indian friend and co-founder I trust, and we share the same mindset and goals. Add to that the right professional team - accounting, legal, etc. - and so far, things have gone smoothly.