Investment
Illinois Ventures Invests in Ascent Integrated Technologies
Illinois Ventures is excited to announce an investment in Ascent Integrated Tech. Ascent is building human performance technology to augment operators in hazardous environments with actionable insights that improve safety and productivity. Hazardous respirators are worn by firefighters, industrial operators, and avionic mechanics. These respirators can cost up to $10,000 per unit but currently have less sensor technology than a $100 smartwatch.
According to a 2020 study by the National Fire Protection Association, “64% of all injuries and 6% of all associated deaths are caused by preventable measures that can be tackled using proper monitoring, GPS tracking, and communication.” Ascent’s technology platform enhances the interoperability and survivability of firefighters and other extreme operators.
Ascent’s approach is agnostic to the respirator, industry, and OEM, and we integrate into existing solutions and brands that these operators know and trust. The Company’s technology enables reliable communication, interchangeable and wireless components, optical, environmental, and biometric sensors, and can monitor the locations and movements of the operators. All this is done without changing the fundamental functionality, gasket, or respiration function of the equipment.
The Company is currently running pilots with 20 major metropolitan fire departments across 17 states this summer to test our product in simulated structural fires and begin the regulatory approval process.
“We are thrilled to support Ascent in this round. The company has a skilled team and a promising product that improves health and safety for workers who put their life on the line to help others,” noted Illinois Ventures CEO and Managing Director, Nancy Sullivan. “We are excited to add them to our portfolio and for their growing success.”
Ascent recently closed a $400k round joined by strategic partners like MHUB, Dipalo Ventures, Fox Ventures, Illinois Ventures, and the Darley Company, one of the largest global fire equipment distributors. Chicago hardtech and manufacturing innovation center mHUB recently named Ascent one of nine high-growth startups to Chicago to participate in the premiere cohort of its Accelerated Incubation, a six-month, hands-on accelerator focused on hardtech product development and commercialization. The nine selected teams were chosen from a pool of nearly 500 applicants, 27% of whom were international teams.