Sonic Fire Tech

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Sonic Fire Tech is a fire technology company founded in 2019 that develops patented fire suppression solutions using infrasound. The company's co-founder and CEO, Geoff Bruder, is a former NASA research engineer with expertise in heat and acoustics. His background includes work on thermoacoustic stirling heat engines and leading the design for the Glenn Extreme Environment Rig at NASA Glenn Research Center. Bruder teamed up with board chairman Michael Thomas to develop a prototype after realizing that previous attempts at acoustic fire suppression with audible frequencies were potentially harmful to human hearing. They pivoted to using infrasound—low-frequency sound waves below the range of human hearing—to create a silent and safe system.

Sonic Fire Tech's core technology uses acoustic waves to disrupt combustion, offering a waterless, chemical-free, and damage-free alternative to traditional fire suppression methods. This approach is designed to prevent ignition before flames can start and is safe for both humans and pets. The system works by using a large reciprocating piston to generate infrasound waves, which neutralize early-stage fire conditions. Current prototypes can extinguish flames from up to 25 feet away, with the potential for larger systems to reach 330 feet.

The company serves homeowners, public agencies, first responders, and critical infrastructure sectors like data centers and utilities. Its product lines include a Home Defense System, a portable Sonic Backpack for wildland firefighters, and High-Value Asset Protection solutions. The business model involves selling and installing these systems, with a projected cost for a home system at around 2% of the property's value. Sonic Fire Tech is also collaborating with utility companies like PG&E and Southern California Edison for home demonstrations and is in discussions with insurance providers to qualify the technology, potentially leading to premium discounts for homeowners. In late Q2 2025, the company secured $3.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by Khosla Ventures, Third Sphere, and AirAngels to scale its solutions. The funds will be used for product certifications, scaling domestic manufacturing with a goal of 500 units by Q2 2026, and launching 50 pilot installations by Q1 2026.

Keywords: acoustic fire suppression, infrasound technology, wildfire protection, waterless fire suppression, chemical-free firefighting, asset protection, fire prevention, NASA-inspired technology, home defense systems, portable fire extinguisher, emergency response technology, utility infrastructure protection, cleantech, property technology, public safety, risk management, sustainable fire solutions, damage-free suppression, climate tech, early ignition prevention