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§ Private Profile · Calgary, Canada
Environmental technology company developing portable field-based sensors for rapid water quality detection of PFAS and contaminants for industries.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, FREDsense develops portable, field-based biosensors and testing kits for rapid water quality detection, specializing in identifying PFAS and other chemical contaminants. The organization provides on-site analysis solutions that deliver actionable results in hours rather than weeks, serving municipalities, utilities, and industrial operations across the energy and mining sectors. Operating with a dedicated team of approximately 25 employees, the business generates under $5 million in annual revenue through the sale of its proprietary hardware and rapid lab analysis services. FREDsense recently secured $7 million in Series A funding backed by prominent institutional investors, including lead backer HG Ventures and Emerald Technology Ventures. The enterprise has also received strategic financial support from the federal Build in Canada Innovation Program to deploy its commercial PFAS detectors for environmental consulting firms. The company was officially founded in 2014.
FREDsense has raised $9.5M across 2 funding rounds.
FREDsense has raised $9.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
FREDsense has raised $9.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
FREDsense's investors include HG Ventures, Clayton MacDougald, Matt Stanley.
FREDsense has raised $9.5M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Series A in September 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2025 | $7M Series A | HG Ventures | Clayton Macdougald | Announced |
| Jul 7, 2021 | $2.5M Venture Round | Matt Stanley | — | Announced |
FREDsense Technologies Corp. is a Calgary-based biotechnology company developing field-deployable sensors for rapid water quality testing, replacing slow lab-based methods with portable, fast, and accurate solutions.[1][2][3] Its flagship product, FRED-PFAS™, is the first commercially available field-based detector for PFAS ("forever chemicals"), serving industries like environmental consulting, water treatment, energy, mining, and remediation by enabling same-day results for contamination detection, cleanup verification, and regulatory compliance.[1][2][4] This addresses the multi-billion-dollar PFAS crisis, with early adoption and a $7M Series A funding round in 2023 led by HG Ventures and Emerald Technology Ventures, signaling strong growth momentum.[2]
FREDsense emerged from the University of Toronto's entrepreneurship ecosystem, founded by a multidisciplinary team of water scientists, biologists, and engineers focused on innovative water analysis.[4][6] The idea stemmed from the need to overcome limitations of centralized labs—slow, expensive testing—by creating mobile, bacteria-based biosensors for real-time detection of hard-to-measure chemicals.[3][4] Early traction included pilot projects, such as a 2020 partnership with the Port of San Diego for a portable five-in-one sensor detecting metals like aluminum, copper, and lead in stormwater, validating the technology across mining, remediation, and water sectors.[6] Pivotal moments include expanding the sensor suite for PFAS, nutrients, marine toxins, and even SARS-CoV-2, alongside securing investments from BDC Capital and others to commercialize field-ready tools.[3][2][6]
FREDsense rides the wave of environmental tech (EnvTech) and regulatory urgency around PFAS contamination, human health risks, and water security, amid global enforcement and a multi-billion-dollar remediation market.[2] Timing is ideal: rising regulations demand faster testing, while climate pressures amplify needs for real-time monitoring in stormwater, wastewater, and industrial ops—FREDsense's portable biotech bridges lab innovation to field application.[1][6][7] It influences the ecosystem by enabling utilities and industries (e.g., via partnerships like Port of San Diego) to achieve efficiency, compliance, and sustainability, positioning biotech sensors as standard tools in water management.[6]
FREDsense is primed to scale production of FRED-PFAS™ and custom sensors, targeting expanded adoption in PFAS-heavy sectors and new analytes like nutrients and toxins, fueled by its Series A and investor backing.[2][5] Trends like stricter global PFAS bans, AI-driven water analytics, and CCS (carbon capture) monitoring will propel growth, evolving its role from niche innovator to essential infrastructure player.[2][6] With first-mover advantage and proven pilots, expect deeper market penetration and potential exits, transforming water testing from reactive to proactive—delivering cleaner water faster, as its mission promises.[2]