In a move set to accelerate innovation in wildfire prevention and suppression, Berlin-based Dryad Networks has secured €6.3 million in new funding, aiming to advance its early-stage wildfire detection and suppression technology. The funding includes a €3.8 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), provided through the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), and an additional €2.5 million investment from climate-tech investor First Imagine! Ventures. This latest boost brings Dryad’s total funding from its April financing round to €8.9 million, underscoring the increasing demand for advanced, proactive wildfire solutions.
Dryad Networks is known for its Silvanet platform, a solar-powered, AI-driven network of sensors that detect wildfires at the earliest stages. Building on this technology, Dryad's new project, “Florian,” aims to take wildfire management further by introducing an autonomous drone-based suppression system. Florian’s drones are designed to respond rapidly to emerging fires, with plans to incorporate fire suppression tools such as acoustic waves to halt flames in their tracks. These drones will be stationed in high-risk forest areas, poised for swift response to limit fire spread and mitigate damage.
Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder of Dryad Networks, expressed optimism about the new funding: “This substantial support from ILB and the added investment from First Imagine Ventures will significantly advance our Florian project. We are well-positioned to bring a new era of wildfire management that combines ultra-early detection with immediate suppression, protecting communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure on a global scale.”
First Imagine! Ventures’ Boris Dorin echoed Brinkschulte’s vision, stating, “Dryad’s approach to wildfire detection and suppression exemplifies the kind of transformative technology essential in the face of intensifying climate challenges. Scalable, proactive solutions like Florian are urgently needed, and we are thrilled to support Dryad in their mission to safeguard ecosystems and promote resilience.”
The Florian project represents a significant evolution from traditional wildfire management approaches, pairing Dryad’s proven detection capabilities with immediate action. Leveraging the experience gained through Silvanet deployments—currently active in over twenty countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia with 20,000 sensors shipped—Dryad’s technology aims to address wildfires both before and after ignition. This dual approach is expected to reduce the financial and ecological toll of extreme wildfires, which have increasingly caused billions of euros in damage worldwide.
Adding to its momentum, Dryad Networks is a finalist in the XPRIZE Wildfire Competition with its Florian project. This recognition highlights the urgency and potential impact of their technology in addressing the global wildfire crisis. With the new funding, Dryad plans to scale its operations, expand its sensor network, and pursue strategic partnerships to solidify its position as a leader in wildfire management and resilience solutions.
As the frequency and severity of wildfires continue to rise, Dryad Networks’ combination of AI-driven detection and autonomous suppression offers a proactive and scalable response to one of the planet's most pressing environmental threats.
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