Convective Capital

Exciting news! The highly anticipated second annual Red Sky Summit is just five weeks away! Due to overwhelming interest, we’re increasing the number of available tickets. Join us in San Francisco to hear from utility executives, insurance and firetech innovators, and leaders from the fire service. Apply to attend now! https://lnkd.in/gimncr8T

Today's Heatmap News article by Katie Brigham precisely encapsulates why we're so excited about the support Convective Capital provides us and other technology companies fighting wildfire. The nature of wildfires is changing, and emerging tech is one of the best tools we have to reduce these impacts. "Rhizome aims to build the 'connective tissue' between a utility’s disparate data systems, then combine that with other geographic datasets on climate, weather, and vegetation. From there, the company uses its machine learning models to assess the likelihood of extreme weather events and their subsequent impacts. Ultimately, this allows utilities to provide regulators with more quantifiable information on their plans to improve grid resiliency and prevent wildfires, beyond just citing a figure for how much money they want to spend." Bill Clerico Jay Ribakove AiDash Overstory BurnBot, Inc. Pano AI Gridware Overstory

Firetech isn't just for startups, governments, and utilities— and preparedness goes beyond detection and prevention. At Convective Capital, we've invested in amazing companies like Rhizome, OnSight Technology, Pano AI, BurnBot, Inc., Overstory, Treeswift, Gridware, Fire Aside, and Rain, all focused on preparedness. But tackling the wildfire crisis requires more than just startups, so it's great to see Amazon launch its first Wildfire Disaster Relief Hub in Southern California, a facility designed to quickly deliver essential firefighting and personal supplies to communities impacted by wildfires.

We're excited to share that Pano AI has been chosen as one of The Generalist's Future 50! This award recognizes companies that are shaping the future of their industries through innovative technology and impactful solutions. Our selection highlights our AI-driven approach to wildfire detection and our dedication to protecting first responders, communities, and the environment. You can find more information about this honor and the other groundbreaking companies featured here: ?? LINK https://ow.ly/fv4m50SXN5V #Future50 #AI #WildfireDetection

Last month, our team had the opportunity to spend time in Washington DC with a group of Firetech CEOs discussing how policy can accelerate technology adoption in addressing catastrophic wildfire. With the serious start to fire season, Congress is focused on implementing stronger policy. We met with several legislators, including Alaska Senator John Boozman and California Senator Alex Padilla. Our agenda focused on advocating for the Fix Our Forests Act, Wildfire Intelligence Center, and wildfire innovation budgeting. Special thanks to the Megafire Action team for organizing and the six companies who shared their perspective on the power of critical mitigation and resilience technologies. We believe extreme wildfire can be solved and are grateful that Senators, members of Congress, and White House officials are recognizing the urgent need to accelerate efforts. Office of U.S. Senator John Boozman Alex Padilla Matt W. Jason Brooks Fire Aside Sonia Kastner Pano AI Timothy Barat Gridware Jonny Dyer Gregory Smirin Muon Space Erica Goldman Federation of American Scientists Scott Conway Vibrant Planet Bryan Spear Technosylva Reed Van Beveren Bill Clerico

Join Us Tomorrow for a virtual launch event to celebrate the Launch of the Fire Grand Challenge! The Fire Grand Challenge is calling innovators from around the globe to submit solutions to transform how we manage and live with fire. The first round focuses on Western North America, offering over $630,000 in prizes and support to scale innovations that blend cutting-edge technology with Indigenous, rural, and place-based knowledge. Featuring: - Marion Adeney, Director of Fire and Fire Programs at Conservation X Labs - Bill Clerico, Founder & Managing Partner at Convective Capital - Beth Rose Middleton, Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at University of California, Davis - Andrew Revkin, Environmental Journalist and Author of “The Burning Season” Our panel of speakers will delve into the impact of fire on people and biodiversity, exploring current efforts, challenges, and opportunities in fire management. We are excited to pioneer new solutions to destructive fires and have you with us for the official start. ??? Thursday, August 8, 2024 ? 2:00 PM ET ?? Zoom Webinar: https://lnkd.in/eGifsqpz Join us as we launch a challenge to reimagine how we live and thrive with fire.

Venture markets and emerging technologies have a role to play in building a more resilient world that is resistant to the damage of wildfires. ?? Panel host Jay Ribakove threw out this question to a panel of senior leaders working across all parts of the #wildfire protection stack: As a fairly nascent category, what do you wish VCs understood about this space? ?? Kevin Stein of Delos Insurance Solutions painted the big picture. “Wildfire is a solvable problem. We can learn to live, and we can adapt as a society—as a human race—to live in this world. We have to.” ?? Sonia Kastner of Pano AI laid out a set of key takeaways including, “When you’re solving literally a hair-on-fire problem, even in a downturned recession this won’t be the first thing to be cut.” ?? Maxwell Brodie from Rain pointed out a knowledge gap, "From my experience in engaging with investors, very, very few investors understand how to interpret what progress looks like in a government sales cycle. It is a huge opportunity for the investors that figure out how to interpret those signals." Thank you to Munich Re Ventures' Ben Bergsma and Convective Capital's Jay Ribakove for hosting a lively conversation. Keep your eyes out for one more short take from this fireside chat about the scale of the wildfire problem and potential solutions. #firetech #climate #venturecapital

I'm happy to announce our investment in OnSight Technology! OnSight’s robotics platform helps solar operators scale without additional headcount; improves operations, maintenance and safety; and stops fires before they happen! Feedback from their customers is among the best I’ve ever heard ???? Some of the macro tailwinds that make this timely:? ?? Utility-Scale Solar: Large-scale projects, often spanning hundreds of acres, are becoming a cornerstone of renewable energy strategies worldwide. In the US, utility-scale solar grew by over 20% in 2023, and there is a massive backlog of new projects planned or waiting for grid connection. ?? Commercial/Rooftop Solar: On the smaller scale, businesses are increasingly adopting solar panels. This reduces energy bills and contributes to a greener planet. The dirty secret is that many business turn off their rooftop solar because of the threat of fire and business interruption. OnSight’s OWL fixes this. ?? Growth in Thermal Events: With the rapid expansion of solar farms, there has also been an uptick in "thermal events," or fires. These incidents destroy infrastructure and threaten nearby communities. ??♂? Labor Challenges: Like so many other industries, the solar industry is facing labor challenges. The availability and quality of skilled workers is crucial to maintaining and expanding solar infrastructure. Additionally, workers often have to operate in extremely hot environments, which can impact productivity and safety (hi, OSHA). Derek Chase Doug Matlack John Shepard, PhD Graham Ryland Jeff Struhm Jeff Olyniec Rick Spencer Bill Clerico Aiden Cathcart?

With the rapid growth of the solar industry, operators are struggling to scale at a sustainable rate leaving sites vulnerable to fire. OnSight Technology uses AI and robotics to provide inspection services, offering unparalleled precision and reliability in inspecting critical infrastructure. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Technology Companies to Watch, we are proud to announce our investment and partnership with Derek Chase and the OnSight team. Learn more about Onsight Technologies:?www.onsightops.com https://lnkd.in/gg_YVQED