Rhizome Launches AI-Driven Wildfire Prevention Tool
Rhizome is building AI-powered software at the intersection of climate risk and the power grid.
Rhizome, a climate resilience planning platform, has launched gridFIRM, an AI-powered tool aimed at reducing wildfire risks for utilities. This initiative is backed by a $1 million investment from Convective Capital, a venture firm dedicated to wildfire solutions. GridFIRM, which stands for Fire Ignition Reduction and Mitigation, utilizes machine learning to analyze geographic and historical data, helping utilities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia identify and mitigate potential wildfire hazards from their assets. This tool stands out by focusing on prevention, offering utilities tailored recommendations on whether to insulate conductors or underground cables, thereby optimizing investments based on forecasted impacts of extreme weather events on infrastructure.
The market for AI-driven wildfire prevention is heating up and Rhizome previously raised $2.5 million in pre-seed capital, leverages data from partners like Seattle City Light and Vermont Electric Power Company to refine its prevention-focused platform. CEO Mishal Thadani underscores the tool’s unique approach in addressing the root causes of wildfires linked to utility assets, aiming to "quench a wildfire even before it starts." This strategic investment is positioned to accelerate Rhizome's market expansion ahead of a planned Series A round.
Read more in Latitude Media.