My First Month as a Co-Founder at FiSci
The Spark of an Idea
While I can't claim the idea of FiSci as my own—it was Matt, with his background as a volunteer firefighter in the RFS, who conceived it—the mission and values of the company are something I wholeheartedly support. We recognize the urgent need to transform wildfire management and assist the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect us from the ever-present threat of wildfires.
Matt and I had worked together at Hivery for nearly two years, finding our interactions to be both rewarding and a safe space for expressing our honest opinions. So, when the opportunity arose for us to co-found FiSci, it felt perfectly natural.
Setting the Foundation
From the outset, our mission was clear: everything we develop must augment, not replace, the experience, knowledge, and intuition of those who have spent decades combating the increasing frequency of wildfires. These qualities cannot be replaced by AI. However, we can make a significant impact in the Firetech space by leveraging AI's strengths, such as predictive fire spread modelling, optimal resource management, and prescriptive decision support, like hazard reduction scheduling.
The early days have been fast-paced and challenging. My background as a project manager has been invaluable in keeping Matt and me focused, but I'm constantly stepping into new territory and feeling out of my depth, even after 20 years in my career. Need a CRM? Sure, let me set that up. Need to draft the company’s legal documents? I'll reach out to my legal contacts and get started.
Navigating the Firetech Industry
Entering a new industry always brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty about how we, as newcomers, will be received. Both Matt and I have been blown away by the generosity and support of everyone we've met in the Firetech community. Whether imparting their knowledge, introducing us to peers, or simply liking our posts on LinkedIn, the sense of a shared mission has been a refreshing change from other industries I've worked in.
Developing Our First Products
Our initial idea was to launch FiSci Contain, a product designed to optimize heavy plant planning for the efficient construction of containment lines. However, just a week into this project, we realized our ambitions extended beyond managing active wildfires. We wanted to help mitigate wildfire risks before they occurred.
This led to the creation of FiSci Mitigate, our hazard reduction planner. FiSci Mitigate leverages prescribed burns and mechanical intervention to reduce the risk of devastating, uncontrolled wildfires. Our goal is to make a tangible difference in preventing wildfires, not just managing them when they happen.
Looking Forward
As we look ahead, the next few weeks and months promise to be both challenging and exhilarating for FiSci and me. Our immediate focus is on refining our core products, Contain and Mitigate. We’re collaborating closely with wildfire management experts to ensure our tools provide the most effective support possible. This means plenty of testing, gathering feedback, and iterating on our designs to make them even better.
We’re also gearing up for a series of meetings with potential partners and stakeholders. These interactions are crucial as we seek to build strong relationships within the wildfire management community and secure the support necessary to scale our solutions. I’ll be preparing presentations, and honing our pitch to clearly communicate the value FiSci can bring to the table.
On a personal level, the learning curve continues to be steep. I’m expanding my network within the Firetech industry, attending conferences (See you at AFAC 2024), and consuming research papers, social media posts and industry body updates to keep on top of the latest developments. Overall, the road ahead is filled with opportunities to grow, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. While there are challenges to overcome, the sense of purpose and the support from our community make this journey incredibly rewarding.
