HEN Technologies, founded by Sunny Sethi in June 2020, is making significant strides in firefighting technology from its base in Hayward, California. For the company, the commitment goes beyond the need for more effective, efficient fire suppression to enhance safety. In doing so, they’ve developed the world’s smartest fire nozzles that can triple suppression rates while using 67% less water. This two-pronged approach seeks to increase the effectiveness of firefighting while responding to growing environmental concerns.
Sunny obtained his PhD from the University of Akron, where he worked on surface modification for adhesion. He is the founder of ADAP Nanotech. Under his leadership, ADAP Nanotech developed a novel portfolio of products grounded in carbon nanotubes. They received grants from the Air Force Research Lab, a testament to Sethi’s know-how about advanced materials and technology.
HEN Technologies’ firefighting nozzles quickly and conveniently connect with existing fire engines and hydrants. This affordability and flexibility makes them an attractive option for fire departments looking to upgrade their equipment without having to make large investments in new infrastructure. The small company has since built up a large customer pipeline, with nearly 1,500 fire department customers in the US.
On a financial note, HEN Technologies saw $1.6 million in revenues in 2024 and $5.2 million last year. The tiny company has set an ambitious revenue goal themselves this year — $20 million. This ambitious goal is made easier by its wide-reaching network of 120 distributors and its qualification for General Services Administration (GSA) contracts.
HEN Technologies has gone pretty far with protecting intellectual property. To date, they’ve filed 20 patent applications, and about half a dozen of those have already issued. This deep patent portfolio not only protects the company’s competitive edge in the marketplace, but proves its dedication to developing exciting new ideas.
HEN Technologies is working with a predictive analytics platform to improve emergency response strategies. The platform will leverage data created by the platform’s unique hardware to provide actionable insights specifically designed for fire departments. This strategy helps the company establish a new source of recurring revenue.
Person from HEN Technologies Sethi underscores how crucial it is to build the right team to realize HEN Technologies’ vision. While he is honest about his own limitations in getting into the technical weeds, he’s confident about the expertise his team brings to bear.
“If you ask me technical questions, I would not be able to answer everything,” – Sunny Sethi
“But I have such good teams that [it] has been a blessing.” – Sunny Sethi
The company’s commitment to innovation is evident not only in its product design but in its approach to team building. Sethi describes a formative experience where someone encouraged him to start acting like a professional scientist.
“She’s like, ‘Dude, you need to fix this, otherwise you’re not a real scientist.’” – Sunny Sethi
HEN Technologies is primed to make a revolutionary impact on firefighting with their products and data-informed solutions. We’re happy to see that the company is continuing down a productive path toward advancing public safety. Simultaneously, it is out in front addressing issues of environmental sustainability.