FireDome nets $4.5 million to transform autonomous wildfire defense
FireDome nets $4.5 million to transform autonomous wildfire defense
The company was inspired by the country’s Iron Dome missile defense system to apply the same technology to autonomously detect and suppress wildfires.
FireDome, an Israeli startup inspired by the country’s Iron Dome system, has emerged from stealth with $4.5 million to help pioneer autonomous wildfire defense. The company has completed a $3 million pre-seed round led by climate-tech investors including U.S.-based Third Sphere and Israel’s Gravity. Additional investment came from Germany’s Caesar Fund, Atooro Fund, and Vertex Ventures. Earlier this year, the company had received a $1.5 million grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority to accelerate R&D efforts.
"Global warming has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires, making it more challenging and complex than ever to protect communities and fight these fires," says Gadi Benjamini, CEO of FireDome. "Rising wildfire risks have also caused insurance premiums to skyrocket in recent years, placing a heavy burden on property owners. By combining precision hardware, computer vision, and advanced algorithms, FireDome offers proactive defense solutions to meet these new challenges. Our vision is to forge partnerships within the climate tech ecosystem to create end-to-end solutions that will help communities adapt to global warming and strengthen resilience to wildfires."
In 2023, wildfires devastated more than one billion acres and emitted 1.8 gigatons of Carbo Dioxide. Inspired by the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system, FireDome provides an AI-assisted solution to detect and suppress wildfires automatically.
The protection methodology is designed to complement and assist firefighters when fighting fires using a patent-pending two-tiered approach. First, a mechanical launcher accurately deploys capsules containing eco-friendly fire retardant to create a protective barrier blocking the direct path of encroaching wildfires. Then the system, which leverages computer vision, actively detects and extinguishes spot fires caused by airborne embers that bypass the primary barrier.
The system is equipped with multiple redundancies for reliable performance and the fire retardant used remains effective for weeks, providing extensive protection across diverse conditions.
FireDome was co-founded by Benjamini and Dr. Adi Naor Pomerantz, who bring extensive experience in defense strategies and R&D. The startup is advised by Pinchas (Pini) Yungman, one of the founding fathers of Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems. Its initial deployments are scheduled for the 2025 fire season in the western United States.
