Sonic Fire Tech raises $3.5M Seed Round to bring NASA-inspired infrasound fire defense to market
Image: Sonic Fire Tech
Cleveland-based Sonic Fire Tech has raised $3.5 million in seed funding to scale what it calls the world’s first infrasound fire defense system—a zero-damage, waterless suppression technology designed to prevent ignition before flames start.
The round was co-led by Khosla Ventures, Third Sphere, and AirAngels, with participation from several mission-aligned angel investors. The company plans to use the funding to secure safety certifications, expand domestic manufacturing, and launch 50 pilot installations across high-risk zones by early 2026.
“Climate conditions have changed, but fire defense has not,” said Geoff Bruder, CEO and co-founder of Sonic Fire Tech. “We aim to advance fire protection with efficient, environmentally responsible solutions for homes and communities, developed with NASA-inspired technologies. This funding accelerates our mission.”
Why it matters
As wildfires intensify across North America—driven by rising temperatures, longer droughts, and urban encroachment—traditional suppression systems remain reactive, costly, and often environmentally harmful. Sonic Fire Tech’s approach uses infrasound, or low-frequency sound waves below human hearing, to neutralize early-stage fire conditions without water, chemicals, or PFAS.
“Traditional fire suppression tools weren’t built for the wildfire reality we face today,” said Rajesh Swaminathan, partner at Khosla Ventures.
The details
Funding use: Certification with FM Global, UL, and public safety agencies; build manufacturing and install partner networks to produce 500 units by Q2 2026; expand grant and insurance partnerships.
Product lineup:
Home Defense System: Protection for high-risk homes and estates.
Sonic Backpack: Portable suppression unit for wildland firefighters.
High-Value Asset Protection: Automated defense for data centers, utilities, and communications infrastructure.
Deployment goals: 50 pilot installations by Q1 2026 across residential, enterprise, and public-sector partners.
The big picture
Founded by a team with NASA roots, Sonic Fire Tech is part of a new generation of firetech startups applying aerospace and AI-era innovation to one of the planet’s oldest threats. Its Cleveland headquarters position it within Ohio’s growing ecosystem of deeptech and climate resilience ventures, underscoring how Midwestern ingenuity is increasingly shaping frontier technologies once reserved for Silicon Valley.