VodaSafe
VodaSafe is a private hardware company that sells the AquaEye line of ML-powered handheld sonar devices and Command Hub coordination software to government first responders — fire departments, dive teams, lifeguards, and search and rescue units — across nine countries for drowning victim detection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What VodaSafe does
VodaSafe Inc. is a Vancouver, Canada-based private company (legal entity in the USA) that develops and sells the AquaEye line of handheld sonar devices for water rescue operations. Its core technology combines a purpose-built sonar transducer with machine learning trained to interpret underwater acoustic signatures, detect drowning victims, and output distance and direction in real time; the device is marketed as the only handheld sonar specifically engineered for first responders rather than adapted from fishing or military equipment. The company sells three products: AquaEye Pro (the flagship handheld unit with a 180-degree by 165-foot search footprint), AquaEye Lite (a streamlined version), and Command Hub (a 2025-launched software module that aggregates multiple AquaEye units into a unified command-level operational picture).
VodaSafe generates revenue through direct enterprise hardware sales to government and public safety buyers — primarily fire departments, law enforcement dive teams, lifeguard services, and search and rescue organizations — across nine countries: Canada, the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Turkey, India, Indonesia, and Japan. The company reports a single funding round of $1.4M in July 2020 led by Vanedge Capital with participation from BDC Venture Capital and Creative Destruction Lab, and is led by founder and CEO Carlyn Loncaric. The company maintains category-defining customer logos including Boston Fire Department, LAFD, Baltimore Fire Department, San Diego Fire Department, and Germany's DLRG, with no disclosed pricing, no recurring software revenue component, and no institutional channel partners in the available data. The AquaEye brand and Command Hub sub-brand are registered trademarks.
The business operates with 11-50 employees and pursues a field-led enterprise sales motion supported by digital marketing channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, newsletters, webinars, and customer storytelling) targeted at first responder procurement decision-makers. The company cites customer outcomes including 90% search time reduction, dive call response times reduced from 4+ hours to 20-60 minutes, and the ability to search a swim area in 45 seconds, though these figures are self-reported and unaudited in the input data.
VodaSafe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VodaSafe
- Legal name
- VodaSafe Inc.
- Website
- https://vodasafe.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VodaSafe is a private hardware company that sells the AquaEye line of ML-powered handheld sonar devices and Command Hub coordination software to government first responders — fire departments, dive teams, lifeguards, and search and rescue units — across nine countries for drowning victim detection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VodaSafe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Rescue Sonar Equipment
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)
Keywords
Where VodaSafe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
VodaSafe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - AquaEye Devices: Sale of proprietary handheld sonar devices (AquaEye Pro, AquaEye Lite) and Command Hub coordination systems to first responder agencies. Hardware is purpose-built for water rescue operations and sold directly to government/institutional buyers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
VodaSafe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VodaSafe designs and sells the AquaEye line of handheld sonar devices that use machine learning to locate drowning victims in the water, providing first responders with rapid distance and direction data. The portfolio includes the AquaEye Pro flagship device, a streamlined AquaEye Lite variant, and the Command Hub software for coordinating multiple units during search operations. The products are sold directly to government agencies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, lifeguard services, and search and rescue teams.
Product overview
VodaSafe offers a portfolio of water rescue technology centered on the AquaEye handheld sonar system. The core offering consists of AquaEye Pro and AquaEye Lite handheld sonar devices, which use machine learning to detect and locate drowning victims underwater. Command Hub is a companion software module that enables command-level coordination by allowing operators to view multiple AquaEye units simultaneously and integrate their findings into unified search operations. Together, these products form an end-to-end water rescue intelligence solution ranging from field deployment to command center coordination.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AquaEye Pro: Handheld sonar device designed specifically for water rescue teams
- AquaEye Lite
- Command Hub
Products and services
- AquaEye Pro The flagship handheld sonar device designed specifically for water rescue teams. Uses machine learning to interpret sonar data and rapidly indicate distance and direction to drowning victims, with a 180-degree by 165-foot search coverage area and instant-on activation when placed in water. Differentiates human targets from other underwater structures to reduce false positives.
- AquaEye Lite A streamlined/compact version of the AquaEye handheld sonar device for water rescue operations, targeting the same first responder use cases as the Pro variant in a lighter form factor.
- Command Hub Command-and-control software that enables viewing multiple AquaEye units simultaneously. Allows commanders to integrate findings from multiple devices into a coordinated search operation and view the larger tactical picture for multi-unit rescue deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces search times by 90%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use VodaSafe
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
VodaSafe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
VodaSafe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
VodaSafe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Garmin: Garmin is a major marine electronics brand offering handheld and boat-mounted sonar/fishfinding devices with strong consumer and prosumer distribution. Comparable in handheld sonar hardware category, though Garmin's distribution and brand create a potential competitive threat.
- Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime is a large provider of marine sonar, navigation, and underwater detection systems for naval, commercial, and offshore use. Relevant as a broad incumbent whose sonar portfolio could be adapted to the first-responder rescue segment AquaEye targets.
- NORBIT Subsea: NORBIT designs and supplies multibeam sonars and subsea acoustic sensors for survey, inspection, and underwater mapping applications. Comparable in sonar hardware engineering and underwater detection capabilities, though it targets commercial survey markets.
- Lowrance: Lowrance produces marine sonar and fishfinding equipment including portable and handheld units. Comparable as a handheld-sonar manufacturer serving water users, though its product positioning is recreational fishing rather than rescue.
- Tritech (Teledyne): Tritech, part of Teledyne, manufactures sonar and imaging sensors for ROVs and diver applications. Serves underwater search and survey markets broadly, with established defense and commercial channels that overlap AquaEye's first-responder positioning.
Direct peers
- JW Fishers: JW Fishers produces underwater search equipment including handheld sonar, side-scan sonar, and metal detectors used by law enforcement dive teams and search-and-recovery professionals. Comparable to VodaSafe in the underwater detection-for-rescue use case and target customer base.
- Blueprint Subsea: Blueprint Subsea designs and manufactures sonar systems and acoustic positioning products for subsea applications including search, inspection, and diver support. Comparable in sonar hardware design and acoustic detection technology for underwater search operations.
- Shark Marine Technologies: Shark Marine Technologies manufactures underwater search and dive equipment, including handheld and diver-held sonar systems for search and recovery operations. Directly comparable to VodaSafe in serving water rescue and dive teams with handheld detection hardware.
- Deep Trekker: Deep Trekker builds remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and diver-held systems used for search, inspection, and recovery by first responders and public-safety agencies. Overlaps with VodaSafe in underwater search hardware sold to rescue and dive teams.
Emerging players
- SonarMite: SonarMite produces compact, portable single-beam echosounders and underwater survey equipment used in shallow-water search and hydrography. Relevant as a niche underwater acoustic detection hardware maker with overlapping use cases in water rescue and recovery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VodaSafe social profiles
Digital presenceVodaSafe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VodaSafe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
VodaSafe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VodaSafe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VodaSafe
What does VodaSafe do?
VodaSafe designs and sells the AquaEye line of handheld sonar devices that use machine learning to locate drowning victims in the water, providing first responders with rapid distance and direction data. The portfolio includes the AquaEye Pro flagship device, a streamlined AquaEye Lite variant, and the Command Hub software for coordinating multiple units during search operations. The products are sold directly to government agencies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, lifeguard services, and search and rescue teams.
Is VodaSafe a public or private company?
VodaSafe is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was VodaSafe founded?
VodaSafe was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VodaSafe based?
VodaSafe is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does VodaSafe make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales - AquaEye Devices.
Who are VodaSafe's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Garmin, Kongsberg Maritime, NORBIT Subsea, Lowrance and Tritech (Teledyne). Direct peers are JW Fishers, Blueprint Subsea, Shark Marine Technologies and Deep Trekker. SonarMite is listed as an emerging player.
Does VodaSafe have an API?
No public API is recorded for VodaSafe.
What industry is VodaSafe in?
VodaSafe's product category is Water Rescue Sonar Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAD, Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.