Vape Guardian
Vape Guardian is a UK-based sensor technology company founded in 2022 that sells smart air-quality sensors and a subscription monitoring platform for real-time detection of vaping, THC, Spice, and tobacco smoke, primarily serving over 430 schools across 14+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSouthampton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vape Guardian does
Vape Guardian is a UK-based private company, founded in June 2022 by Simon and Jean Hassett and headquartered in Southampton, that designs and sells smart sensor hardware for the real-time detection of vaping and related substances in indoor environments. The core product is a wall/ceiling-mounted air quality sensor, available in Wi-Fi, 4G SIM, and Power-over-Ethernet variants, that applies a proprietary 10-point chemical and particulate detection algorithm developed by PhD scientists to identify vaping aerosol, THC, Spice, and cigarette smoke, with secondary capabilities for over-occupancy, noise, and fire detection. Sensors are sold at approximately $336 USD per unit with a recurring £16.99/month monitoring subscription covering the cloud platform, real-time mobile and email alerts, analytics, and over-the-air firmware updates, backed by a 100-day money-back guarantee and 12-month warranty.
The company's primary customer segment is education: Vape Guardian currently protects over 430 schools (2,400+ sensors installed), generating approximately 14,540 weekly alerts, and has been named on all new UK Department for Education tenders requiring vape detection. Secondary segments include leisure and retail (cinemas, gyms, shopping centres), offices and communal workspaces, with stated plans to expand into aerospace. The company distributes via direct e-commerce on six country-specific websites, a structured reseller/partner program, and direct enterprise sales, with active operations across 14+ countries including the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Singapore. Revenue model combines one-time hardware sales with recurring software subscriptions, and the company closed a £350,000 seed round from Angel Investment Network in February 2026, with management forecasting revenues of £97 million by 2029.
Vape Guardian firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vape Guardian
- Legal name
- SMF Systems Ltd
- Website
- https://vapeguardian.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vape Guardian is a UK-based sensor technology company founded in 2022 that sells smart air-quality sensors and a subscription monitoring platform for real-time detection of vaping, THC, Spice, and tobacco smoke, primarily serving over 430 schools across 14+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vape Guardian industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vape Detection Sensors
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5) (HSAHAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Smart Air Quality Sensors, Purifiers & Humidifier/Dehumidifier Integration (HSAOANAH)
Keywords
Where Vape Guardian is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southampton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vape Guardian business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Vape Guardian sells its smart vape sensors as a one-time hardware purchase. Sensors are available in Wi-Fi, 4G SIM, and PoE (Power over Ethernet) variants. The product page lists sensors at approximately $336 USD per unit. Hardware sales are the primary revenue driver alongside a recurring software/monitoring subscription.
- Software/Subscription (Monitoring & Alerts): Vape Guardian charges a monthly subscription fee for its monitoring and alerting platform. The website states a fee of £16.99 per month for all sensors when purchased upfront. This covers the cloud platform, real-time alerts via app/email/SMS, data analytics, and firmware updates over the air. The subscription model provides recurring revenue from the installed base.
- Reseller/Partner Revenue: Vape Guardian generates revenue through a reseller partner program where third-party resellers purchase sensors and subscriptions to sell to end customers. The company offers competitive reseller margins, access to a reseller portal, sales tools, and marketing resources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Smart Vape Sensor - Wi-Fi variant |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 100-Day Money-Back Guarantee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | 12-Month Limited Warranty |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vape Guardian product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vape Guardian designs, manufactures, and sells smart vape detection sensors that continuously monitor air quality every second using a proprietary 10-point formula developed by PhD scientists. The sensors detect vaping, THC, Spice, and cigarette smoke, and also deliver over-occupancy, noise, and fire detection, sending real-time alerts via mobile app, email, SMS, or on-site alarms. The system is sold primarily as hardware (available in Wi-Fi, SIMLink 4G, and PoE variants) bundled with a monthly cloud monitoring subscription, and is targeted at schools, offices, leisure venues, and aviation environments across 14+ countries.
Product overview
Vape Guardian offers a comprehensive vape detection ecosystem comprising smart sensor hardware, monitoring software, and educational support materials. The core product is the Vape Guardian Smart Vape Sensor line, available in three connectivity variants: Wi-Fi, SIMLink 4G (cellular), and PoE (Power over Ethernet). These sensors work in conjunction with the Vape Guardian Mobile App (iOS/Android) and Web Dashboard to deliver real-time alerts and analytics. The ecosystem is complemented by the Education Hub providing safeguarding resources, lesson plans, and parent handouts, plus a Reseller Programme for partners. The Impact Report documents demonstrated effectiveness of the system in reducing school vaping incidents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vape Guardian Smart Vape Sensor Smart ceiling-mounted vape detection sensor for schools, offices, leisure venues, and aviation facilities. Monitors air quality every second using a proprietary 10-point formula to detect vaping, THC, Spice, and cigarette smoke, with additional over-occupancy, noise, and fire detection. Connects via Wi-Fi, 4G SIM, or Power over Ethernet and sends real-time alerts to staff via mobile app, email, SMS, or on-site alarms.
- Vape Guardian Mobile App iOS and Android mobile application for receiving real-time vape detection alerts, monitoring air quality reports, managing staff accounts, and configuring room and alert settings. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Vape Guardian Web Dashboard Web-based administration portal (smf.systems) for managing Vape Guardian sensors, staff accounts, rooms, receiving alerts, and accessing detailed analytics and reporting on vaping and air quality incidents.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% reduction in on-site vaping incidents within 5 weeks (from 100 weekly alerts to 3 verified incidents)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Vape Guardian
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vape Guardian technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
Vape Guardian partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BAM ConstructioncoreBAM Construction is the construction partner for the Department for Education-funded school rebuild at Byrchall School. Vape Guardian worked with BAM to integrate vape detection sensors into the new school building, with sensors installed in every one of 47 individual toilet cubicles. This partnership demonstrates Vape Guardian's ability to be specified in new construction projects from the outset.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vape Guardian competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ADT: ADT is a major incumbent in monitored security and alarm services for commercial and education customers, with adjacent capability in environmental and air-quality monitoring through partnerships and integrated offerings.
- Securitas: Securitas is a global security services provider whose portfolio increasingly includes remote monitoring and environmental sensing for commercial and institutional sites, partially overlapping Vape Guardian's workplace and leisure use cases.
- Alertus Technologies: Alertus is an established emergency notification and mass-alerting vendor whose portfolio includes vape detection modules integrated into broader school safety systems — overlapping use case, broader portfolio.
- Verkada: Verkada is a large-scale cloud security camera and environmental sensor platform used in schools and enterprises. Its environmental/air-quality sensors partially overlap with Vape Guardian's air monitoring capability, though Verkada's core focus is video.
- Ava Security: Ava Security provides cloud-managed video and physical security solutions for schools and enterprises. While focused on video, its broader smart-building safety portfolio overlaps with Vape Guardian's facility-monitoring positioning.
Direct peers
- Triton Sensors: Triton Sensors offers 3D-sensor-based vape detection units for schools and public facilities, competing in the same primary education vertical with overlapping functionality.
- Zeptive: Zeptive is a US-based vape detection sensor company selling Wi-Fi and cellular sensors primarily into K-12 schools, the same core customer and product category as Vape Guardian.
- Halo Smart Sensor (IPVideo Corporation): IPVideo's Halo Smart Sensor is a ceiling-mounted environmental sensor detecting vaping, THC and abnormal noise levels in schools and commercial buildings — a directly competing product in the same niche.
- Soter Technologies (FlySense): Soter Technologies sells FlySense vape detection sensors targeted at K-12 schools, addressing the same hidden-vaping-in-toilets problem with comparable hardware-and-alerting solutions.
Others
- Genetec: Genetec is a unified physical security platform (video, access control, intrusion) commonly used in education and enterprise; an enabling/ecosystem player rather than a direct vape-detection competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vape Guardian social profiles
Digital presenceVape Guardian financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vape Guardian leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Vape Guardian funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vape Guardian 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 Vape Guardian
What does Vape Guardian do?
Vape Guardian designs, manufactures, and sells smart vape detection sensors that continuously monitor air quality every second using a proprietary 10-point formula developed by PhD scientists. The sensors detect vaping, THC, Spice, and cigarette smoke, and also deliver over-occupancy, noise, and fire detection, sending real-time alerts via mobile app, email, SMS, or on-site alarms. The system is sold primarily as hardware (available in Wi-Fi, SIMLink 4G, and PoE variants) bundled with a monthly cloud monitoring subscription, and is targeted at schools, offices, leisure venues, and aviation environments across 14+ countries.
Is Vape Guardian a public or private company?
Vape Guardian is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vape Guardian founded?
Vape Guardian was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vape Guardian based?
Vape Guardian is headquartered in Southampton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Vape Guardian make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software/Subscription (Monitoring & Alerts) and reseller/Partner Revenue.
Who are Vape Guardian's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ADT, Securitas, Alertus Technologies, Verkada and Ava Security. Direct peers are Triton Sensors, Zeptive, Halo Smart Sensor (IPVideo Corporation) and Soter Technologies (FlySense). Genetec is listed as an others.
Does Vape Guardian have an API?
Yes. Vape Guardian offers an API available for custom Building Management System (BMS) integrations. The API allows organisations to integrate vape detection alerts and data into their existing BMS infrastructure.
What industry is Vape Guardian in?
Vape Guardian's product category is Vape Detection Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAHAGAG, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5), with a secondary code of HSAOANAH, Smart Air Quality Sensors, Purifiers & Humidifier/Dehumidifier Integration. Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3822.