Flox Intelligence Harnesses AI to Safeguard Wildlife and

Flox Intelligence, a startup emerging from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, is pioneering an AI-driven solution to mitigate the escalating issue of wildlife collisions with critical infrastructure. Unveiled as a finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the company's innovative edge devices are designed to identify animals and deter them using species-specific sounds, aiming to safeguard both lives and operational continuity across railways, airports, and roadways globally.

Such encounters are far from rare, inflicting significant financial and operational burdens worldwide. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration estimates wildlife strikes have cost American civil aviation an average of $272 million annually between 1990 and 2025. France's national rail operator, SNCF, reports that wandering animals affect over 8,000 trains each year, ranking among its top five causes of delays, with one region alone experiencing 120 collisions in 2023, causing over 15,000 minutes of disruptions.

A New Approach to Wildlife Deterrence

Inspired by these widespread impacts, Flox co-founder Sara Nozkova sought a more nuanced approach than traditional deterrents like loud sirens or fences. Her 13 years in transportation and autonomous vehicles revealed how quickly complex machine systems fail when confronting nature's unpredictability. Nozkova noted that while machines excel in controlled environments, they "go blind" in the messy, alive outdoors.

This realization led Nozkova to the AI lab at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where she developed a system capable of adapting its deterrent responses based on specific animal behavior. This foundational work culminated in the 2020 spin-off of Flox Intelligence, now showcasing its advancements as a prominent finalist in the Startup Battlefield 200 pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt.

How Flox's AI Works

Flox's core innovation lies in its battery-operated edge devices, which process data on-site, eschewing cloud reliance. These units employ sophisticated perception systems, trained on wildlife behavior, to monitor surroundings. A motion sensor triggers a camera upon detecting movement, with on-device AI models precisely identifying the animal. Subsequently, the device emits species-appropriate sounds, designed to safely deter the animal without causing harm.

Crucially, the system is designed to learn from each interaction, continuously refining its responses and varying its signals to prevent animal habituation. Complementing its hardware, Flox offers a comprehensive software platform, providing clients with real-time insights into device deployment, ground-level activity, and generating reports vital for regulatory compliance and biodiversity monitoring.

Deployment and Business Momentum

Approximately 150 Flox devices are currently operational across North America, Europe, and Australia. Their deployments span diverse critical areas, including airfields, airport perimeters, road and rail corridors (especially at fence ends and crossings), national parks, agricultural zones, urban areas, and sensitive infrastructure like mining sites and electrical substations.

The company's business model involves an initial sale of its edge units, followed by an annual software and AI subscription fee. Flox also engages in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnerships, integrating its software directly into vehicles like trains, notably with manufacturer Alstom. Flox Intelligence anticipates closing 2026 with estimated revenues reaching $1.5 million, underscoring its growing market presence.

Competitive Edge and Future Vision

While Flox operates in a competitive landscape—facing companies like Robin Radar's Scarecrow, which uses distress calls for birds, and iCHASE, which deploys laser deterrence—Nozkova asserts Flox's unique advantage. Her company’s moat stems from the comprehensive breadth of its system and its extensive collection of proprietary field data, offering "ground truth" on effectively deterring a wide range of animals, from birds to grizzly bears.

Nozkova envisions a future where "physical AI" understands nature as an essential layer for perception systems in all outdoor machinery—including trains, trucks, and drones. Flox Intelligence has successfully raised about $5 million across its pre-seed and seed funding rounds, backed by investors such as Unconventional Ventures and Tilia Impact Ventures. The company is now pursuing a $10 million Series A round to dramatically scale its deployments to several thousand units and expand its underlying system to even broader wildlife use cases.

FAQ

Q: What problem does Flox Intelligence aim to solve?

A: Flox Intelligence addresses the significant problem of wildlife collisions with critical infrastructure such as trains, airports, and roads, which cause substantial financial losses, operational delays, and harm to animals.

Q: How does Flox's AI-powered system work?

A: Flox deploys edge devices equipped with perception systems that use motion sensors and cameras to detect and identify nearby animals. Utilizing on-device AI models, the system then emits species-appropriate sounds, varying its responses to deter animals effectively and prevent habituation.

Q: Where are Flox devices currently deployed, and what are the company's future plans?

A: Approximately 150 Flox devices are active across North America, Europe, and Australia, in locations including airfields, rail corridors, national parks, and agricultural land. The company plans to scale to several thousand units and expand its "nature intelligence" software to other outdoor machines like trains, cars, and drones, supported by an ongoing $10 million Series A funding round.