Seneca, a resilience technology and infrastructure company, has launched publicly with a $60 million financing round aimed at transforming how the world combats wildfires. The funding round, led by Caffeinated Capital and Convective Capital with participation from major investors including First Round Capital, Transition VC, Advance Venture Partners, Nextview Ventures, Bullpen Capital, Stepstone Group, DCVC, Offline Ventures, Roar Capital, and Slow Ventures, is believed to be the most significant venture capital investment in fire technology to date.
Founded to address the growing crisis of wildfire devastation, Seneca builds autonomous aerial systems designed to detect, target, and suppress fires before they spread. Fire intensity in the United States has more than doubled over the past two decades, inflicting an estimated $1 trillion in economic losses annually and endangering more than 115 million Americans. According to experts, 2025 is on track to become the most destructive and costly wildfire year in U.S. history. The damage from these events extends beyond burned structures, threatening air quality, water systems, and natural ecosystems.
Seneca’s technology represents a significant leap forward in fire response. The company has developed the world’s first autonomous suppression system capable of launching instantly, carrying over 100 pounds of payload, and operating at pressures above 100 PSI. Powered by artificial intelligence, these autonomous drones can identify fire origins, navigate complex terrains, and knock down fires within minutes. The systems can be deployed remotely from virtually any location, responding to approximate coordinates within ten minutes. In addition to emergency suppression, the technology supports prescribed burns and fuel reduction programs to mitigate long-term fire risks across communities.
The company’s innovation has been developed alongside leading U.S. fire departments and safety agencies, including San Bernardino County Fire and the Aspen Fire Department. Seneca’s advisory board features prominent leaders such as Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former U.S. Fire Administrator; John Mills, Founder and CEO of Watch Duty; and Rick Balentine, Chief of the Aspen Fire Department. Together, these advisors are helping shape Seneca’s deployment strategy and ensure its solutions align with the needs of frontline responders.
Seneca’s mission is to empower firefighters with advanced tools that make suppression operations safer, faster, and more effective. The company believes technology can help bridge the widening gap between the scale of wildfires and the resources available to combat them. Fire chiefs and industry experts agree that improving early detection and rapid suppression is essential to reducing the size, cost, and human toll of these disasters.
How the funding will be used: The funding will be used to strengthen Seneca’s technology, increase production capacity, and prepare for a full operational rollout ahead of the 2026 fire season. The company aims to bring its autonomous systems to the field, where they can help protect lives, property, and natural resources.
KEY QUOTES:
“Firefighters are heroes who run into burning buildings and fly helicopters into hurricane-force winds to protect lives and property. Our hope is to empower firefighters in situations that were previously impossible, unsafe, or inefficient. The American way of life has always been about pioneering. Technology is how we will protect communities, preserve our environment, and create a more resilient civilization.”
Stuart Landesberg, Founder and CEO, Seneca
“Rapid initial attack is the best chance we have to save money, property, and lives. In San Bernardino County we have a vision of keeping wildfire 100 square feet or less… this is a far departure from the industry standard of 10 acres or less. We can only achieve this ambitious goal with an ambitious vision. Seneca is a huge part of that vision.”
Dan Munsey, Fire Chief, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and Chairperson, International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Council
“A century of neglect and mismanagement has primed our forests and communities for catastrophic wildfire, meaning if we don’t catch fire quickly in adverse conditions we can rarely catch it at all. Seneca’s vision for rapid, drone-based response is a critical missing capability that allows firefighters to conduct suppression operations when it is still feasible to do so. This should be considered essential for stakeholders ranging from fire agencies to utilities, to municipalities; the opportunity for impact is enormous.”
Bill Clerico, Managing Partner, Convective Capital
