For over a century, fire protection has been limited to water and chemicals. And while they can prevent catastrophic fires, the cleanup bills can be significant.
But maybe not for long. Sonic Fire Tech is testing a sound-powered fire protection system, which it says snuffs out fires within seconds while also sparing properties from messy water and chemical damage. The company announced Monday that it has raised a $15 million round led by The O.H.I.O. Fund with participation from Khosla Ventures. The startup previously raised a $3.5 million seed in October.
The fresh funding will help the Ohio-based startup hire more employees and run the battery of tests needed to earn approval from the National Fire Protection Association, which writes model codes adopted by fire departments around the country.
This article first appeared in TechCrunch on August 17, 2026.