Company Overview
Water Strider Inc. is an innovative aerospace and technology company specializing in advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions for wildfire suppression. Our semi-autonomous heavy-haul UAV fleet is designed to rapidly deploy, operate 24/7, and combat wildfires efficiently. With proprietary technology, we offer cost-effective, high-performance aerial firefighting systems that outperform traditional methods.
We aim to disrupt the conventional aerial firefighting industry, leveraging cutting-edge UAVs, automation, and artificial intelligence to minimize economic, environmental, and human impact of wildfires.
Our Solution: Water Strider UAV Fleet
The Problem: Wildfire Suppression Challenges
- Increasing wildfire frequency & severity: In 2023 alone, wildfires scorched 20 million hectares (~50 million acres), releasing over 1,000 megatonnes of CO2.
- High operational costs of conventional aircraft: Piloted firefighting aircraft cost between $4,000-$10,000 per flight hour.
- Limited operational hours: Traditional aircraft are restricted by visibility and safety concerns.
- Environmental & economic damage: The total cost of wildfire destruction in Canada and the U.S. exceeds $400 billion annually, impacting infrastructure, natural resources, and communities.
Our Advantage
Water Strider’s Heavy-Haul UAVs (M3-HH series) deliver a game-changing approach:
- High-speed water delivery: 180 KM/hr (95 knots)
- Long-range operations: 100+ KM operational radius
- Large payload: 1,000L water/foam/retardant capacity per UAV
- 24/7 autonomous operations, including night missions
- AI & Machine Learning-driven targeting for precision accuracy
- Significantly lower cost: 45%+ reduced operational cost compared to conventional aerial firefighting
- 75% staff reduction due to automation and remote control
Technology & Intellectual Property
- Heavy-Haul UAVs: Large-capacity, fully autonomous UAVs with rapid deployment.
- AI & Swarm Technology: Multi-UAV coordinated operations with AI-based flight control and Command and Attack™ operating system.
- Launch System: Enabling short-distance takeoffs and precision landing zones.
- Integrated Command Centers: Remote-controlled UAV fleet operations with real-time data analytics.
Water Strider holds multiple pending patents covering UAV technology, autonomous swarm control, and heavy-haul UAV deployment systems.
Market Opportunity
Global Wildfire Response Market
- 2023 Market Value: ~$9 billion USD
- Projected Growth: $16.2 billion by 2032, at a 6.3% CAGR
- Annual Firefighting Budgets (2023):
- Canada: $1.4 billion CAD
- USA: $2.9 billion USD
- Europe: €2.2 billion
- Global: $9 billion+
Target Customers
Our core customers include:
1. Government Agencies
- State & Provincial Wildfire Management Agencies
- Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC)
- Municipalities & Local Governments
- US Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
2. Large Corporations with Wildfire Exposure
- Utilities & Infrastructure Companies
- Forestry & Natural Resource Companies
- Insurance Companies & Risk Mitigation Firms
Contract Revenue Model
- Recurring revenue model
- Projected Annual Contract Value (ACV): $8.9M–$17.8M per system per year
- Less than 2-year payback period per system.
Business Model & Financials
Revenue Model
- High-margin, recurring revenue from government contracts.
- Lower capital costs compared to conventional solutions.
- Scalability: UAV fleets can be rapidly expanded across wildfire-prone regions.
Investment & Funding
Current Seed Round: $2.25M
Future Series A Round: $5M+ (2026-2027)
Projected to generate revenue by Year 3, achieving positive cash flow and high ROI.
Leadership Team
Water Strider is led by experienced executives, engineers, and industry veterans, including:
- Matt Gowanlock (CEO): Former CEO of Cleantek Industries (TSX-V: CTEK), where he successfully led the company’s restructuring and took it public in 2021. A seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits from companies he founded.
- Eric Lawson (CFO): CPA with deep expertise in financial strategy & capital markets.
- Hugues Wanlin (CTO): Design engineer with multiple patents in mechanical technology.
- Andrew Hicks- IP Strategy: Over 30 years in intellectual property law; led key patent development.
- Jon Kennedy – Chairman: Current CEO of Rextag, former President & CEO of Glacier Media Inc. (1998-2023), where he grew the company to $210M in revenue and 1,400 staff, leading business development, M&A, and capital raising initiatives across multiple industries.
- Jason Wuin - Director: Former SVP & COO of Pembina Pipeline Corporation, leading 700 staff, $2B EBITDA, and $1B in capital projects annually, with expertise in strategy, business development, and M&A transactions.
- Engineering & Design Team: Diverse team of Aeronautical engineers, propulsion specialists, and UAV flight control experts.
Why Now?
Wildfires are worsening globally. Increasing government budgets demand innovative, cost-effective solutions.
Traditional aerial firefighting is outdated & expensive. Governments & corporations are looking for scalable alternatives.
Water Strider’s technology is ready for deployment. We have proven concepts, patents, and industry engagement, making this the ideal time to invest.
Why Invest in Water Strider?
- Disruptive technology in a high-demand market.
- High-margin, recurring revenue model with government contracts.
- Global expansion potential, targeting North America first.
- Experienced leadership team with finance, and technology expertise.
- Scalable UAV fleet with applications beyond firefighting, including disaster response & infrastructure protection.
- Strong IP portfolio securing market leadership.
Water Strider is raising $2.25M in our seed round.
If you’re interested in learning more, let’s connect!
Team Strider!
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