Berlin-based Dryad Networks, a startup that focuses on preventing wildfires and protecting forests, announced that it has received an equity investment from the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good.
The startup says it will use the investment to address wildfires’ escalating costs and environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss and health issues due to poor air quality.
“We are delighted to receive the investment from the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good,” CEO Carsten Brinkschulte says.
According to him, the funding will be crucial in expanding the company’s “ultra-early wildfire detection technology” and significantly tackling “the escalating wildfire risk”.
The executive adds that by deploying its wireless sensor network, the startup aims to safeguard vital ecosystems and prevent billions of tons of CO2 emissions.
“Together with TELUS, we are committed to addressing the critical issue of wildfires and building more resilient communities,” says Brinkschulte.
“TELUS recognises that there is an urgent need to scale innovative wildfire detection technologies,” TELUS Pollinator Fund managing partner Blair Miller says. “That’s why the Pollinator Fund is investing in Dryad.”
According to Miller, over 10 million hectares, approximately three times the size of Belgium, have already been affected by wildfires in Canada this year. He warns that fire protection costs have exceeded $1B (€912M) for six out of the last ten years.
Miller believes Dryad sensors help reduce economic losses and significantly combat climate change. He explains that the sensors also provide early alerts to first responders, potentially saving human lives within minutes of wildfire ignition.
With an initial investment of $100M , the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is a corporate social impact fund that supports developing solutions to transform healthcare, environmental care, responsible agriculture, and building inclusive communities.
Dryad’s Silvanet Suite
Dryad Networks offers an innovative solution to the pressing issue of wildfire detection and prevention, the Silvanet Suite. It is a network of devices installed in a forest and a set of browser and smartphone apps connected to the Silvanet network through the Silvanet Cloud.
The Silvanet Suite comprises several components that provide advanced wildfire detection capabilities — Silvanet sensors, Silvanet Mesh Gateways, Silvanet Border Gateways, and Silvanet Cloud platform.
The Silvanet Wildfire Sensor is specifically engineered to detect forest fires rapidly. It can identify fires even during their early smouldering stage, reducing the likelihood of uncontrolled fire spreading.
The sensor keeps track of the forest’s microclimate, gauging temperature, humidity, and air pressure. The sensor employs ultra-low-power air quality and precise gas sensing to detect hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gases at the ppm level. It also incorporates built-in artificial intelligence to ensure reliable fire detection and avoid false alarms.
The Silvanet Mesh Gateways are another crucial component of the suite. It extends the Silvanet Network to allow for large-scale deployments of Silvanet sensors. The Silvanet Border Gateways connect the Silvanet Mesh Network and the Silvanet Cloud. It enables seamless data transfer between the devices and the cloud platform.
The Silvanet Cloud platform is the central hub of the Silvanet Suite. It receives messages via the internet from the Silvanet devices deployed in the forest and connects to the Silvanet Suite apps.
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/telus-pollinator-fund-backs-dryad/
