The O.H.I.O. Fund Announces Lead Investment in Sonic Fire Tech’s Seed Round; Khosla Ventures Reinvests, Capping Cleveland Startup’s Seed Funding at $15M

Investment Fuels Domestic Manufacturing And Ohio-Based Engineering Jobs As Sonic Fire Tech's Infrasound-Based Suppression Technology Moves Toward Commercial Deployment

The O.H.I.O. Fund, a private fund investment adviser seeking to generate strong returns for investors while creating economic growth in Ohio, today announced it is leading a new round of funding in Sonic Fire Tech, a NASA-inspired fire tech startup developing infrasound-based fire defense systems. Khosla Ventures, one of the company's original lead investors, is doubling down, and existing backers Third Sphere and AirAngels continue to support the company. This round closes out Sonic Fire Tech's seed financing at $15 million, one of the largest in Ohio history.

The investment is the latest deep tech investment from The O.H.I.O. Fund, pairing its statewide network and Ohio's advanced manufacturing relationships with Khosla Ventures' continued conviction in Sonic Fire Tech's revolutionary acoustic-based fire defense solutions. It also underscores a broader narrative taking shape across the state: Ohio's unmatched ability to execute and build, converging advanced manufacturing, aerospace research, development talent, and venture capital to create the next generation of American hardware and manufacturing companies.

Sonic Fire Tech was founded by a team with roots in aerospace engineering and NASA-inspired research, and has built its engineering base in Cleveland, leveraging proximity to NASA's Glenn Research Center and the region's deep bench of aerospace and advanced manufacturing talent. As the company scales production and pursues national certification, that in-state talent pipeline and manufacturing infrastructure are central to its ability to build, test, and ship in the U.S.

"The most valuable industrial companies of the next decade will pair breakthrough innovation with the ability to manufacture and scale," said Ray Leach, Co-Founder and President of The O.H.I.O. Fund. "Sonic Fire Tech is building that future in Ohio. The O.H.I.O. Fund was established to support companies with the potential to transform industries and create long-term economic value."

"The O.H.I.O. Fund and Khosla Ventures aren't just writing a check; they're betting on Ohio as the place to build the future of fire safety," said Geoff Bruder, CEO and co-founder of Sonic Fire Tech. "This capping off our seed round lets us do what we've been building toward since day one: scale U.S.-based manufacturing, expand our install partner network, and continue hiring the engineers here in Ohio who are making this technology real. We're putting this funding directly into accelerating our certification and compliance work, because certification unlocks the next phase of deployment, from homes and first responders to utilities and commercial properties."

"When we first backed Sonic Fire Tech, we saw a team capable of reinventing fire suppression from first principles. A year later, we're excited about the technical progress, the certification path, and the industry traction we're seeing," said Rajesh Swaminathan, partner at Khosla Ventures.

"Our progress over the past 12 months has been extraordinary. We've seen fire industry experts shift from skeptics to advocates through live demos and ongoing rigorous testing, as the technology continues to prove itself," said Remington Hotchkis, Chief Commercialization Officer of Sonic Fire Tech. "From fire risk in modern homes and lithium-ion batteries to data centers, manufacturing, and wildfires, tomorrow's fire challenges demand a new generation of fire protection. This renewed investment accelerates our mission to protect the industries and communities of tomorrow."

Traction and Milestones
Since closing its initial seed round in October 2025, Sonic Fire Tech has moved quickly from prototype to field validation with the Fire Service and to residential and commercialization in California.

• UL validation: Sonic Fire Tech's Home Defense System is in the process of completing its UL validation testing for a range of residential and industrial applications.
• NFPA 13D equivalency: Testing by third-party-certified fire protection engineers has established that Sonic Fire Tech's infrasound suppression performs equivalently to residential water sprinkler systems under NFPA 13D, the mandated standard governing fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family homes in over 500 jurisdictions.
• PCI 3D-printed home demonstration: Sonic Fire Tech's system is being installed and demonstrated in a 3D-printed home built by PCI Builders in the Eaton fire zone in Altadena, Calif., demonstrating the technology's compatibility with next-generation home construction.