Flox Intelligence, a Sweden-based AI spinoff from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, has raised €2.5M ($2.9M) in Seed funding led by Tilia Impact Ventures. The startup deploys autonomous edge devices and a cloud platform that use bioacoustics and computer vision to detect and deter wildlife from infrastructure like airports and railways in real time. The capital will accelerate U.S. market entry with offices in Syracuse, NY, and Half Moon Bay, CA, while scaling deployments for clients including Alstom and the Swedish Transport Administration.
Collision Costs Fuel Deterrence Funding
The raise arrives as U.S. wildlife-vehicle collisions exceed 1M incidents yearly, costing over $10B. Aviation bird strikes add $1-1.5B in global damages annually. Nobify, a bird-focused deterrence startup, raised over $1M in Seed funding previously. Flox Intelligence targets multi-species conflicts across infrastructure with adaptive AI that prevents habituation, unlike single-method competitors.
$10B U.S. Collisions Escalate Conflicts
Human-wildlife conflicts inflict $10B+ in U.S. vehicle damages alone each year, with collisions every 30 seconds on average. Airports face $1-1.5B in bird strike losses, prompting regulatory mandates for prevention. Traditional fences and pyrotechnics fail due to habituation and high maintenance costs, leaving operators like railways and farms vulnerable to disruptions and safety risks.
Edge AI Delivers Species-Specific Deterrence
Flox Edge, a battery-powered pod, runs onboard AI to identify 27+ species via audio and vision, then emits tailored bioacoustic signals that mimic predators or alarms. This autonomous system logs over 60,000 events in deployments at Mora Airport, achieving strong bird deterrence after six months. Unlike laser systems from Agrilaser or radar from Robin Radar Systems, Flox adapts in real time to prevent animals from returning.
The cloud-based Wildlife Management Platform provides operators with live analytics, remote controls, and compliance reports for ESG requirements.
As CEO Sára Nožková noted:
"The future of infrastructure safety will include wildlife intelligence by default… what if we could communicate with them instead?"
Impact Investors Back Physical AI Scale
Tilia Impact Ventures led the round, joined by Satgana, GENIUS NY, J.O.S.S., Unconventional Ventures, and Almi Invest, following a prior $1M seed. This mix signals conviction in AI moving from digital to physical applications for sustainability. Investors highlight Flox's pilots with USDA, WWF, and Boliden as proof of scalable impact over mission-only grants.
Conservation Market Hits $33B TAM
The environment, conservation, and wildlife organizations market stands at $33B in 2026, growing at 7% CAGR through 2035. Wildlife tracking systems project 14.2% CAGR amid AI adoption. Competitors like HabitatSense remain early-stage without disclosed funding, while TrailGuard AI relies on grants from Global Conservation. Rising urbanization and climate-driven migrations intensify conflicts, channeling capital into proactive tech like Flox.
Drone AI Veterans Lead Tech Push
CTO Tomas Becklin scaled AI computer vision at Zeitview (formerly DroneBase), processing aerial imagery for infrastructure. Scientific Advisor Marco Moletta pursues a KTH PhD in robotics perception, with experience at acquired UAV firm Inkonova. CEO Sára Nožková, recipient of H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf's Young Pioneer Award, brings mobility infrastructure expertise from Kista Science City. Recent hires include CRO Sarah Longley for U.S. revenue scaling.
U.S. Expansion Targets Airports Rails
Flox plans North American growth via new hires in AI and sales, plus deployments with GRR Airport into its second year. Partnerships with Alstom signal rail scaling, while the $3M total raised enables 10x deployment increases. InfraAwards 2025 win validates harsh-environment performance from -30°C to +60°C.