HEN Technologies raises $22M to develop an operating system for fire defence

by Breaking NewsFire Suppression

Financing targets faster extinguishment and lower water use

HEN Technologies has closed an oversubscribed $20 million Series A round plus $2 million in venture debt to accelerate deployment of its Fluid-IQ predictive AI platform built on advanced fluid dynamics hardware.

The company said the financing was announced on Thursday 18 December 2025 and takes its total capital raised to over $30 million.

O’Neil Strategic Capital led the round, with participation from NSFO, Tanas Capital and z21 Ventures.

Silicon Valley Bank provided the venture debt.

Fluid-IQ and HEN Technologies data approach

HEN Technologies said the capital will fund expansion of its IoT-enabled hardware infrastructure as it works to capture what it described as the industry’s first comprehensive operational fire dataset.

Alex Garden, Managing Partner of O’Neil Strategic Capital, said: “We’re proud to lead this round and back HEN’s vision to create an entirely new category: the intelligent operating system for fire defense.”

“Their hardware-first approach has already proven transformative in the field with more than 1,000 organizations globally.

“By building the data infrastructure that enables predictive AI, HEN is positioned to become the essential platform for how the world fights fires.

“This is how category-defining companies are built.”

Wildfire context and technical claims

HEN Technologies linked the announcement to increasing wildfire costs and fire behaviour, including a claim that the Palisades fire in Los Angeles caused over $50 billion in damages.

Dr. Sunny Sethi, CEO of HEN Technologies, said: “Wildfires are more frequent, and modern structures burn eight times faster than legacy structures.

“Incremental changes cannot keep up.

“That’s why we are building transformational technology using Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and AI-powered decision support.

“We are moving beyond optimizing tools to optimizing strategy.

“This is essential infrastructure for climate resilience and national security.”

The company said its IoT-enabled systems deliver three-times faster extinguishment and reduce water usage by 67% while capturing data on flow, pressure and pattern performance.

Partner network and scaling priorities

Akshay Thakor, COO of HEN Technologies, said: “We are capitalizing on our momentum by scaling three critical areas: partner enablement, customer experience and technical operations.

“We are investing heavily in our distributor platform to empower our partners and increase our field presence to ensure agencies can experience our products in action.

“To sustain this growth, we are scaling our sales, operations and technical teams to maintain the highest level of execution as we deploy worldwide.”

HEN Technologies said its footprint includes over 100 distributors operating in 20 countries.

The company said it is scaling a team of more than 100 product demonstration specialists to support hands-on evaluation of its technology.

Raj Singh, Managing Partner at z21 Ventures, said: “Their proprietary fluid dynamics and AI platform don’t just improve efficiency; they deliver a paradigm shift in firefighting capabilities.

“This investment reflects our strong conviction in their technology, their exceptional team and the profound impact they will have on public safety globally.”

What HEN Technologies’ new Foundation means for firefighter wellbeing

by Americas - Breaking NewsBreaking NewsHealth and Safety

HEN Technologies launches HEN Foundation to strengthen firefighter safety

Initiative to empower US fire departments

HEN Technologies has announced the launch of the HEN Foundation, a nonprofit organisation aimed at supporting fire departments across the United States.

According to the company, the Foundation will provide equipment, resources and training designed to improve firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.

The initiative builds on HEN Technologies’ ongoing work in fire suppression and safety innovation.

Sunny Sethi, Chief Executive Officer of HEN Technologies, said that the Foundation marks the next step in the company’s commitment to those serving on the front line.

Board members bring decades of service experience

The HEN Foundation’s Board of Directors includes Ray McCormack, Frank Leeb and Tonya Hoover, all retired senior leaders from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA).

The company said their combined experience will guide the Foundation’s three strategic pillars of work – equipment, education and renewal.

Through its Equipment programme, the Foundation will supply National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-compliant gear to departments identified as needing safety upgrades.

Under the Education pillar, departments will have access to research-based, practical training focused on confidence and performance on the fireground.

Frank Leeb, national fire service leader and Foundation training advisor, said: “Education and training are essential for the fire service.

“It also allows us to provide world-class instruction to departments nationwide through the HEN Foundation, which is incredible.”

Supporting families through renewal

The Renewal pillar will provide funded retreats for the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

Each experience, including travel, lodging and meals, will be covered in full through Foundation funding.

Tonya Hoover, national fire service advocate, said: “Left behind with the loss of a fallen hero is a family whose world is forever changed.

“Renewal is our promise to help those families find peace, support, and space to work through the journey of healing.”

Funding and mission outlook

The Foundation is supported through donations from individuals and organisations committed to improving firefighter safety and community resilience.

According to The Wjo Foundation and the O’Neil family, an initial grant of $1.5 million will fund early programmes and outreach.

The donors said: “We are proud to make a $1,500,000 foundational grant to the HEN Foundation to help advance its mission of service and protection.

“We’re honoured to support the efforts of firefighters across America who work every day to make our communities safer.

“We believe in translating innovation into lifesaving impact and strengthening the resilience of communities everywhere.”

Ray McCormack, President of the HEN Foundation, said: “Now more than ever, the fire service needs access to safe, reliable and modern tools.

“We established the Foundation to ensure every department, regardless of size or budget, has the equipment and education necessary to protect their firefighters and the communities they serve.”

According to the Foundation, its goal is to equip, educate and renew the fire service so every firefighter and family can access the support they need both on and off the fireground.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The creation of the HEN Foundation offers practical value for fire chiefs, training officers and procurement managers across the United States.

Its Equipment programme could assist departments with limited budgets by providing NFPA-compliant gear and resources that meet national safety standards.

For training officers, the Education pillar introduces structured, research-informed instruction intended to enhance operational performance during emergency response.

The Renewal programme also addresses the long-term impact of firefighter fatalities, offering structured support to bereaved families within the fire service community.

These developments align with current efforts to reduce firefighter risk exposure while strengthening national preparedness through shared training and equipment access.