Pano AI Raises $44M Series B to Protect 30M Acres with AI Wildfire Detection

As climate change intensifies and wildfires become more frequent and devastating, early detection has never been more critical. Enter Pano AI, a pioneering company using artificial intelligence to detect wildfires before they spread. With a newly secured $44 million Series B funding round, Pano AI is scaling its operations and now monitors nearly 30 million acres across the United States, Canada, and Australia, supporting over 250 public agencies and fire departments.

What Is Pano AI?

Pano AI is an advanced climate tech company focused on preventing catastrophic wildfires using a combination of AI, computer vision, and high-definition cameras mounted on towers and mountaintops. Its platform provides real-time intelligence to first responders, enabling faster, more accurate wildfire response and significantly reducing loss to life, property, and nature.

Company Snapshot

• Founded: 2019 (incorporated 2020) by Sonia Kastner (CEO), Arvind Satyam (Chief Commercial Officer) and others
• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
• Team size: ~110 employees
• Core mission: Detect wildfires early using AI-powered panoramic cameras, enabling real-time alerts and actionable situational intelligence.

💰 Funding & Valuation History

• Total funding: ~$89M
• Contracts under management: Over $100M

🛠️ Product & Services

Pano Rapid Detect is the flagship platform, offering:

1. 360° HD panoramic camera stations
2. Deep-learning AI to identify smoke and heat in real time
3. Human-in-the-loop vetting to reduce false positives
4. Integrated alerts & dashboards with zoomable imagery, satellite/weather data, and geo-coordinates

Deployment footprint:

• Nearly 30 million acres monitored
• 250+ public safety & utility agencies across:
  • 10 U.S. states (including CA, CO, OR, WA, ID, MT)
  • 5 Australian states (NSW, QLD, + soon more)
  • British Columbia (Canada)
• Key clients: Xcel Energy, Arizona Public Service, Portland General Electric, PacifiCorp, ski resorts, forestry agencies, county fire departments & more

📊 Market Context & Opportunity

• Market need: In North America alone, tens of millions of acres burn annually; 2023 saw 66,000+ wildfires in the U.S. with ~$20B in damages (global estimate)
• Tech advantage: AI cameras outperform human spotters ~33% of the time, especially beneficial during night and remote conditions
• Revenue model: ~$50K per station/year covers hardware, software, maintenance, alerts—Pano claims coverage of ~20M–30M acres and almost 100K fire events

👥 Leadership & People

• Sonia Kastner – Co‑founder & CEO, former Nest, Pax Labs, Juul supply chain specialist
• Arvind Satyam – Co‑founder & CCO, former utility tech leader (Colorado deployments noted)
• Ryan White – VP Engineering, joined July 2023 from roles leading AI/ML at Amazon/Meta
• Michael Golub – VP Finance, ex‑DoorDash & Sunbasket
• Lina Rizzo – Head of Talent, ex‑Apple, Square, Nest

🔮 Future Plans

• Geographic expansion: Rolling out in additional U.S. states, expanding further into Australia; mid‑term targets: Europe & South America by 2026
• Tech improvements: Enhancing AI accuracy and reducing false positives with larger image datasets (~300M images trained)
• Ecosystem integrations: Tighter workflows with insurance, utilities, forestry, satellites & weather feeds
• Government partnerships: Strengthening sales via newly built government affairs team—mirroring defense-tech models

🌍 Real-World Impact

• Jackson Road Fire (WA, summer 2023): Pano alerted state fire division 20+ minutes faster, helping confine the blaze to 23 acres
• Orange County, CA (Dec 2024): AI cameras detected blaze at 2 a.m., preventing residential damage

📈 Valuation, Business Sustainability & Investor Confidence

• Valuation progression: ~$90M post‑Series A → Series B raises imply valuation at least in the few‑hundred‑million range
• Revenue runway: $100M+ in contracts backed with recurring license revenue per station, providing a stable, subscription-like model
• Investor alignment: Heavyweights including Salesforce, Liberty Mutual, MassMutual, T‑Mobile, Initialized, Congruent, Valor Equity, Giant Ventures — spanning strategic sectors like insurance, connectivity, and climate adaptation

🧭 Outlook: Scaling Resilience with Real-Time Intelligence

Navigating rising wildfire risks driven by climate change, Pano AI is positioned at the nexus of advanced AI, public safety, and environmental resilience. Its blend of hardware, software, and human-verified algorithms makes it a viable alternative to satellite or observer-based methods, delivering real-time, on-the-ground detection.

With sustained funding, accelerating deployments, strategic partnerships, and validated customer outcomes, Pano AI is not only scaling wildfire detection—it is transforming how governments and organizations proactively respond to climate-driven emergencies.

Key Achievements and Reach

• 30 million+ acres monitored
• 250+ agency partnerships, including fire departments, utilities, and government agencies
• Operating across three continents: North America and Australia
• AI platform detects wildfires within minutes of ignition, day or night
• Integration with public safety workflows and emergency alert systems

How Pano AI Works

Pano AI uses a multi-tiered approach:

• 360° high-definition cameras installed on towers
• AI-based smoke and flame detection algorithms
• Satellite imagery and weather data integration
• Real-time alerts sent to emergency response teams
• Cloud-based dashboards with situational awareness for command centers

This end-to-end detection system allows agencies to pinpoint fires early, allocate resources efficiently, and protect both urban and wildland areas.

The Urgent Need for AI-Powered Wildfire Detection

With wildfires growing in frequency and intensity, especially due to climate change, traditional detection methods are proving too slow. According to recent data:

• The US alone experienced over 66,000 wildfires in 2023.
• Wildfires caused $20B+ in damages annually, globally.
• Human and infrastructure losses continue to rise.

Pano AI offers a proactive solution, moving the world from reactive fire response to real-time detection and prevention.

Future Outlook

Pano AI plans to:

• Expand to more countries, including wildfire-prone regions in Europe and South America.
• Improve AI detection speed and accuracy using machine learning from real fire events.
• Collaborate with insurance, forestry, and utility sectors for integrated risk management.

By continuing to combine technology with environmental resilience, Pano AI is not just detecting wildfires—it’s redefining how we respond to climate-driven disasters.

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