FireDrone receives CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop heat-resistant drones for extreme environments
03.11.2025
FireDrone has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to roll out temperature-resilient drones. The engineering startup is setting new safety standards in emergency response and industrial inspection, deploying drones that protect lives, infrastructure, and the environment while working to make high-risk operations safer worldwide.
 |
 |
Firefighters and industrial safety teams face significant risks when assessing high-temperature environments such as burning buildings or industrial furnaces. These conditions expose workers to hazards including toxic smoke, structural collapse, and extreme heat. Conventional drones cannot operate under such circumstances, leaving first responders and inspection teams without real-time situational awareness when it is needed most.
The Empa spin-off FireDrone develops heat-resistant autonomous drones capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 200°C, delivering real-time hazard detection in environments where standard technologies fail. Using advanced thermal insulation and cooling systems, the drones enhance safety, reduce operational downtime, and improve decision-making in critical situations.
FireDrone targets two main markets: high-temperature industrial inspections and public safety. Together, these areas represent an estimated market size of USD 12.1 billion—USD 6.45 billion in industrial inspection and USD 5.65 billion in firefighting. The company’s initial addressable market of about USD 1.0 billion includes industries such as cement, steel and aluminum, waste-to-energy, fertilizer, and glass production, as well as first responder operations where conventional drones cannot function due to heat and smoke. These sectors share core needs: minimizing downtime, ensuring worker safety, and meeting regulatory standards—challenges FireDrone’s technology addresses through real-time monitoring in extreme environments.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will accelerate its go-to-market efforts by expanding the business development team, onboarding distribution and maintenance partners, advancing product certification, and converting pilot projects into pre-orders across its target industries.
The founding team unites robotics, materials, and aeronautical knowledge, with Dr. Fabian Wiesemüller and David Häusermann bringing extensive research and field experience in drone design and autonomous systems, while their deep understanding of industrial safety positions the startup to deliver innovative solutions for operations in extreme heat.
“Venture Kick has been fantastic for us,” highlights Co-Founder Fabian Wiesemüller. “It helped turn an ambitious idea into a venture, sharpened our business case with expert feedback, and opened doors to partners and investors. The program doesn’t just provide seed capital – it brings visibility, structure and momentum that fuel FireDrone’s ongoing growth.”
FireDrone Co-Founders Dr. Fabian Wiesemüller and David Häusermann
The Empa spin-off FireDrone develops heat-resistant autonomous drones capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 200°C, delivering real-time hazard detection in environments where standard technologies fail. Using advanced thermal insulation and cooling systems, the drones enhance safety, reduce operational downtime, and improve decision-making in critical situations.
FireDrone targets two main markets: high-temperature industrial inspections and public safety. Together, these areas represent an estimated market size of USD 12.1 billion—USD 6.45 billion in industrial inspection and USD 5.65 billion in firefighting. The company’s initial addressable market of about USD 1.0 billion includes industries such as cement, steel and aluminum, waste-to-energy, fertilizer, and glass production, as well as first responder operations where conventional drones cannot function due to heat and smoke. These sectors share core needs: minimizing downtime, ensuring worker safety, and meeting regulatory standards—challenges FireDrone’s technology addresses through real-time monitoring in extreme environments.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will accelerate its go-to-market efforts by expanding the business development team, onboarding distribution and maintenance partners, advancing product certification, and converting pilot projects into pre-orders across its target industries.
The founding team unites robotics, materials, and aeronautical knowledge, with Dr. Fabian Wiesemüller and David Häusermann bringing extensive research and field experience in drone design and autonomous systems, while their deep understanding of industrial safety positions the startup to deliver innovative solutions for operations in extreme heat.
“Venture Kick has been fantastic for us,” highlights Co-Founder Fabian Wiesemüller. “It helped turn an ambitious idea into a venture, sharpened our business case with expert feedback, and opened doors to partners and investors. The program doesn’t just provide seed capital – it brings visibility, structure and momentum that fuel FireDrone’s ongoing growth.”
FireDrone Co-Founders Dr. Fabian Wiesemüller and David Häusermann