Sound-Powered Fire Protection Startup Secures $15M to Prevent Catastrophic Fires

A startup named Sonic Fire Tech is developing a sound-powered fire protection system that aims to snuff out fires within seconds, sparing properties from water and chemical damage. The Ohio-based company announced on Monday it has raised a $15 million round led by The O.H.I.O. Fund with participation from Khosla Ventures. The funding will help hire more employees and expedite the testing process to earn approval from the National Fire Protection Association. Co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder expects the approval process to be 'significantly shorter than three years' due to the system's clean-up advantage in lab tests. The system is particularly promising for commercial kitchens, where cleanup and restoration following a fire can take months, leading to 75% of them not reopening. Sonic Fire Tech's acoustic fire suppression system uses a sound generator to pump inaudible sound through PVC pipes in the ceiling, which bombards flames when sensors detect a fire. The system has potential applications in lithium-ion battery fires and for safeguarding homes in wildfire country. The startup is also working on systems for commercial buildings, kitchens, and homes, both for new construction and retrofits.