More or Less Stuart Landesberg's Plan to Save the American West from Wildfires
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Oct 31, 2025 Stuart Landesberg, Founder and CEO of Seneca, bridges technology and ecology with his startup that deploys autonomous firefighting drones. He discusses the staggering economic impact of wildfires, costing the U.S. nearly a trillion dollars annually. Landesberg explains how five-drone strike teams can suppress fires before they escalate, covering vast areas in under ten minutes. He delves into the advantages of night operations, the importance of early detection, and Seneca's commitment to sustainable long-term solutions over fleeting tech trends.
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Founder Motivation From Personal Risk
- Stuart built Seneca after leading Grove because he wanted to solve a personal, urgent wildfire problem where he lives.
- He transitioned from finance to operator to founder to tackle long-term mission-driven engineering.
Wildfires Are A Trillion-Dollar Problem
- Wildfires now cost the U.S. nearly a trillion dollars annually according to a Senate committee.
- Stuart stresses this economic scale makes wildfire resilience a national priority.
Prescribed Burns Need Better Support
- Seneca sees prescribed burns as the most important prevention spend but notes logistical, cost, and safety barriers.
- Their tech aims to make prescribed burns cheaper, safer, and more politically feasible.
