TELUS yesterday announced that TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is making an equity investment into Series A financing of Dryad, a German startup that provides ultra-early wildfire detection through large-scale IoT networks and sensors that can detect fires as early as their smoldering phase. This greatly reduces the risk of fires spreading out of control, and can help prevent the escalating costs and environmental impacts of wildfires, including biodiversity loss and health issues related to poor air quality. With the amount of forest burned by wildfire that is projected to double by 2050, the Pollinator Fund’s investment will contribute to address this growing environmental emergency by accelerating the deployment of Dryad’s technology to protect forests and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from wildfires.
Dryad’s technology uses gas sensors that are trained to detect smoke and it sends alerts once gas is detected, giving first responders critical time to get to the fire before it spirals out of control. Dryad’s solution is capable of operating in remote regions and uses IoT technology to extend the mobile network coverage areas. The solution is already deployed with private and public clients in Europe, South America and the US and the Pollinator Fund’s investment will help the startup further scale in the US and into Canada. Dryad’s goal by 2030 is to deploy 120 million sensors around the world and to protect nearly 4 million hectares of forest.
Blair Miller, Managing Partner, TELUS Pollinator Fund
TELUS recognizes that there is an urgent need to scale innovative wildfire detection technologies and that’s why the Pollinator Fund is investing in Dryad. More than 10 million hectares -- an area about three times the size of Belgium -- have already burned this year in Canada alone, and the annual national cost of fire protection exceeded $1 billion for six of the last 10 years. Not only can Dryad sensors limit economic losses, but they also have a significant impact in the fight against climate change. They protect vital ecosystems and can even save human lives by alerting first responders within minutes of a wildfire starting.
Carsten Brinkschulte, Co-founder and CEO at Dryad Networks
We are delighted to receive the investment from the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good. This funding will support us to scale our ultra-early wildfire detection technology and make a significant impact in combating the escalating wildfire risk. By deploying our wireless sensor network, we aim to protect vital ecosystems, and prevent massive CO2 emissions driving climate change. Together with TELUS, we are committed to addressing the critical issue of wildfires and building more resilient communities.
