FireDrone gets €161K from Venture Kick for heat-resistant drones

FireDrone receives €161K from Venture Kick for heat-resistant drone development

Swiss startup FireDrone, a spin-off from Empa, has secured €161,000 (CHF 150,000) in funding from Venture Kick to advance its technology for autonomous heat-resistant drones capable of operating in extreme environments.

Enhancing emergency and industrial safety

The company develops drones engineered to support emergency response and industrial inspections, aiming to protect people, infrastructure, and the environment while improving safety during high-risk operations worldwide.

Overcoming extreme conditions

Firefighters and industrial safety teams often face dangerous conditions such as extreme heat, structural instability, and toxic smoke when inspecting sites like burning buildings or industrial furnaces. Conventional drones typically fail under such conditions, restricting reliable real-time awareness.

Innovative technology

FireDrone’s drones are built to endure temperatures around 200°C, integrating thermal insulation and a cooling system to support continuous operation. These drones deliver real-time hazard detection where traditional systems cannot function, helping teams make more informed and safer operational decisions.

Market focus

The company targets two key segments: high-temperature industrial inspection and public safety. Its initial markets include cement, steel, aluminium, waste-to-energy, fertiliser, and glass production industries, along with first-responder operations restricted by heat and smoke.

“Our platform enables safer, faster assessments in conditions that would compromise human safety,” said a representative of FireDrone.

Summary

FireDrone secures funding to develop drones that can withstand high heat, aiming to improve safety for industrial and emergency missions in extreme conditions.

Tech.eu — 2025-11-04