Munich Startup: What does Caurus do? What problem do you solve?
Caurus Technologies: Caurus Technologies develops a modular Forest fire fighting system from the air, which combines digital technology with innovative extinguishing approaches. The aim is to increase drop precision and thus more efficient water use, as well as improve safety for emergency services and reduce CO2emissions.
The system comprises two elements: a sensor platform with software for collecting and evaluating ground, fire, and water response data, and a dispersion extinguishing module based on an aerosol-water cloud. The data enables more precise delivery of extinguishing water during operations and simultaneously measures the extinguishing effect. The aerosol-water cloud has the potential to extinguish fires up to ten times more effectively.
The Caurus sensor is already being used in test flights as part of fire drills and commercial external cargo flights. The dispersion extinguishing system is still in the laboratory stage. We are currently focusing our resources on bringing the Caurus sensor and the underlying AI to full market readiness so that we can begin pre-production.
Gap in the system: What makes Caurus better than drones and satellites
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Caurus Technologies: Indeed, there are numerous innovations that aim to improve wildfire fighting using data. For example, drones and satellites collect data and transmit it to fire commanders, who can use it to make operational decisions.
However, forest fire operations are complex processes that require the coordination of various emergency services. Firefighting aircraft or helicopters are often deployed alongside the ground forces. And once helicopters are flying with extinguishing agent containers, drones are no longer allowed in the same area to eliminate the risk of collision. At the same time, satellites – with very high investments – only provide images every two to three hours, and not in real time. And ultimately, neither satellites nor drones carry extinguishing agents. This means that interfaces are always needed, and valuable time is lost before the fire can be extinguished.
This is where the Caurus system fills a gap essential to mission success. The Caurus sensor can be easily and quickly hung between the helicopter and the extinguishing agent tank. From there, it transmits virtually real-time images of the current fire situation as well as of the actions of the extinguishing agent tank below the aircraft, such as the water discharge. Crucially, it not only generates images but also measures the effect of the water on the fire on the ground. This allows incident commanders to truly assess whether it is safe to deploy ground forces or whether additional air missions must be flown first. This optimizes the use of all available resources and also increases the safety of the emergency responders.
And as a next step, we plan to further develop the system with a water tank that can be dropped and extinguished only above or in the fire source using an aerosol water cloud. This doesn't exist yet.
From holiday experience to innovation
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Caurus Technologies: The company was founded in 2022 by a team of engineers, managers and financial experts from the fields of aerospace, defense technology, corporate development and finance.
The idea for the innovative, integrated system for fighting forest fires from the air arose from a personal experience while on vacation in the South of France. Caurus Technologies CEO Philippe Telle observed helicopters repeatedly dropping their loads of water over the treetops of the forest fires raging near his vacation spot, seemingly without any visible effect. Philippe then wondered if there weren't more effective firefighting methods: closer to the source of the fire, where extinguishing would be most effective. Improving operational precision and increasing safety for personnel in the air and on the ground also played a key role. Many expert interviews later, the idea of digitizing the extinguishing process emerged, giving the water digital "eyes" and developing a different form of water application from the air.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Caurus Technologies: Like any technology, you start with a vision that seems relatively obvious. The devil is in the details, whether it's sourcing and testing the right equipment or developing the analysis software. We're currently focusing on training the AI to evaluate and analyze the images produced by the HD and IR cameras. We knew that developing the AI would be challenging and would require collecting a lot of data over many hours of flight time. We need to train the AI behind the software to recognize exactly what's happening on the ground beneath the helicopter. So, we need to find plenty of flight partners and work on improving the software here and there.
And of course, we still need capital, users and, again and again, technical cooperation partners with whom we can develop the next phases.
Vision for the future: Market leader in forest fire protection
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Caurus Technologies: We want to be the leading provider for customers in the private and public sectors involved in forest protection from the air. This includes disaster management, forest owners, and insurance companies interested in a system that protects valuable forests and reduces CO2Emissions and economic damage can be avoided. Extreme climates, droughts, and thus water shortages are increasing worldwide. It's time for innovation in firefighting technology. And of course, there are also possibilities to use the sensor and its software to more precisely determine other external load operations for a helicopter. Or even to use it in unmanned carrier systems or aircraft.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Caurus Technologies: The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for disaster management, has been investing for some time in solutions for air support for firefighting in regions that are sometimes difficult to access and at risk from fire. We quickly found a receptive audience for our ideas. The ministry works closely with state fire schools, such as the one in Würzburg. Among other things, these schools organize training courses and use equipment relevant to our area of expertise. Both organizations are very open to innovation and interested in solutions that make forest firefighting more effective and safer. We received a lot of encouragement and feedback.
In general, Bavaria and Munich have a great startup environment, with organizations and authorities that actively promote platforms and forums for networking and bringing together new technologies and investors. And, of course, access to knowledge, research, and collaboration at universities and research institutes, as well as their accelerators. Examples include TUM with its Aerospace Lab or the Fraunhofer Institute with its Ahead program for young startups. Munich and Bavaria are, so to speak, the launching pad for us, from which we hope to find partners beyond Bavaria who are ready to tackle a global challenge with our technology and digitalization approach.
Long-term mission
Munich Startup: Quick exit or long breath?
Caurus Technologies: We're a technology startup, which means it's in the nature of things that we need development time to implement and develop complex and technologically sophisticated modules. And the issue of forest fires will also occupy us more rather than less in the long term, as climate change causes more drought and heat. The danger that forest fires will increase and rage more violently is very real and has been documented by numerous studies worldwide. However, given its potential for damage, it is currently receiving little public discussion. For example, who knows that carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires are almost as high as those of the entire transport sector? We must therefore prepare ourselves for the fact that this issue will continue to occupy us for a very long time to come. And that we must raise awareness of it among broad circles. Therefore: patience!
