What Is Torch?
We've worked at Microsoft. We've taught at UC Berkeley. We've led startups worth $300 million
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Torch is the most important project of our lifetimes.
Founding team
Michael Buckwald
Chief Executive Officer
Torch isn’t the first sensor product for Michael. While CEO of hand-tracking sensor technology Leap Motion, Michael led the startup to become valued at $300 million – with 100+ employees. Michael’s entrepreneurship expertise has been recognized in Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 – Technology list. For half a decade, Michael has faced the challenge of building a hardware device for fire detection. By tapping into his leadership, fundraising and recruiting expertise, Michael has been a keystone element in Torch's business.
Michael Buckwald
Chief Executive Officer
Torch isn’t the first sensor product for Michael. While CEO of hand-tracking sensor technology Leap Motion, Michael led the startup to become valued at $300 million – with 100+ employees. Michael’s entrepreneurship expertise has been recognized in Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 – Technology list. For half a decade, Michael has faced the challenge of building a hardware device for fire detection. By tapping into his leadership, fundraising and recruiting expertise, Michael has been a keystone element in Torch's business.
Michael Buckwald
Chief Executive Officer
Torch isn’t the first sensor product for Michael. While CEO of hand-tracking sensor technology Leap Motion, Michael led the startup to become valued at $300 million – with 100+ employees. Michael’s entrepreneurship expertise has been recognized in Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 – Technology list. For half a decade, Michael has faced the challenge of building a hardware device for fire detection. By tapping into his leadership, fundraising and recruiting expertise, Michael has been a keystone element in Torch's business.
Timeline
We felt shocked and helpless during the destructive Northern California firestorm… that’s when the idea for Torch was born.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as almost post-apocalyptic.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as almost post-apocalyptic.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael observed similarly chilling scenes: 2 weeks of pitch black darkness in daytime San Francisco. Horrific air pollution for months. An atmosphere he describes as “almost post-apocalyptic”.
Let’s finally reducethe dangerous impactof outdoor fires on the climate
Torch’s mission is clear: Create the first distributed approach to outdoor fire detection – at an affordable price.
We are driven by the climate crisis – every year, forest fires release around 6.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, around 20% of CO2 emissions worldwide are caused by unwanted wildfires.
