Franco Rodríguez Viau
Co-founder & CEO, Satellites on Fire
Franco Rodríguez Viau is the co-founder and CEO of Satellites on Fire, a platform that integrates satellite imagery, cameras, and proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms for the early detection, monitoring, and prediction of wildfires. He started at age 16 after witnessing fire devastate homes and ecosystems without anyone finding out in time. Today, the company operates in 21 countries across five continents, protects over 92 million hectares, and detects fire hotspots before NASA does. In 2025, it helped coordinate the response to more than 600 fires. The company has received over USD 3.6 million in investment and funding from MIT, the United Nations, Tim Draper, and Techstars.