What The Hazmat Guys does

The Hazmat Guys is a hazardous materials education and training company founded in 2015 by FDNY veterans Bobby Salvesen (CEO) and Mike Monaco (COO). The company operates a multi-format learning ecosystem built around a flagship free podcast distributed across all major platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, Blubrry), which serves as the top-of-funnel demand engine for the broader business. The audience consists primarily of first responders, firefighters, hazmat technicians, and industrial emergency response personnel who convert from free podcast listeners into paying course students, premium subscribers, merchandise buyers, and in-person training clients.

The product portfolio is built on a proprietary Learning Management System called E-University, which delivers online courses with nano-learning modules, interactive quizzes, and certificate-bearing instruction across topics such as lithium-ion battery response, metering and detection, chemical and physical properties, radiation response, and HAZWOPER. The company augments its online catalog with hands-on in-person training delivered at client fire departments across 17+ US states and Canada, taught by an extended network of 10+ specialist trainers. Additional product lines include a premium subscription ($8/month or $85/year) unlocking exclusive content and monthly community calls, a portfolio of four books and a tabletop exercise game (NERHD franchise), branded merchandise, and a Battery Resource Center targeting the emerging lithium-ion response vertical. Five sub-branded podcasts (Hazard Class, The Newsletter Podcast, Industrial Strength, After Action Report, and the THMG Roundtable show) extend audience reach into adjacent segments.

The business model combines professional services (in-person training at negotiated enterprise contracts), recurring subscription revenue (premium membership and E-University subscriptions), transactional e-commerce (courses, books, merchandise), and advertising/sponsorship revenue from hazmat equipment manufacturers (FLIR, 908 Devices, Rigaku, Labelmaster, Mirion, HAIX, IEC) through tiered Silver/Gold/Platinum/Diamond packages. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: the free podcast and active conference presence at FDIC, IAFC, and state-level events generate demand that funnels into paid offerings. The company is privately held, bootstrapped with no disclosed external investment, and operates with a 1-10 person core team supplemented by contractor trainers and staff writers.

Name

The Hazmat Guys

Legal name

The HazMat Guys

Website

https://thehazmatguys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Hazmat Guys is a hazardous materials education company founded in 2015 by FDNY veterans, providing podcasts, online courses, in-person training, books, and subscription content for first responders, firefighters, and industrial hazmat technicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Response Training

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Handling & Response Training (EDAOAMAL)

Keywords

• Hazardous materials training
• Emergency response education
• First responder training
• Hazmat certification courses
• Lithium battery response training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Training Services: In-person training courses delivered at client departments and public venues across the US. Topics include Lithium-Ion Battery, Chemical & Physical Properties, Modular Metering, Radiation Response, Decon Specialist, and more. Online training through E-University portal.
2. Online Course Sales: Individual course purchases through E-University platform. Courses range from free (908 Devices unboxing) to $300 (24-Hour HazMat Operations). Subscription option at $8/month or $85/year for premium access.
3. Merchandise & Products: Online store selling apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, hats), drinkware (mugs, tumblers, pint glasses), knowledge base materials (NERHD books at $45, Building a HazMat Team at $49.99), and games (NERHD The Game at $39.99).
4. Sponsorship & Advertising: Podcast and event sponsorships with tiered packages (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond). Sponsors include hazmat equipment manufacturers (FLIR, 908 Devices, Rigaku, Labelmaster). Downloadable advertising menu available.
5. Premium Membership: Premium subscription offering Instructor’s Corner access, full episode archive, HazMat Happy Hour monthly calls, early releases, store discounts (20% off), and course discounts (10% off). Priced at $8/month or $85/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The HazMat Guys is a hazardous materials education company that delivers a multi-format learning ecosystem for first responders. Its offering spans a flagship podcast, in-person training courses, an online learning management system (E-University) with interactive modules, premium subscription content, printed books, and a tabletop-exercise game, all developed by FDNY veteran founders.

Product overview

The HazMat Guys is a hazardous materials training and education company offering a multi-format learning ecosystem. The core portfolio consists of: (1) The HazMat Guys flagship podcast - the primary free content channel hosted by FDNY veterans; (2) E-University Online Learning Management System - a digital course platform with interactive nano-learning modules and quizzes covering metering, chemistry, PPE, battery response, and spectroscopy; (3) In-Person Training - hands-on courses led by experienced hazmat professionals from Operations Level to Radiation Specialist; (4) Premium Subscription - a paid membership unlocking Vance Bennett Instructor's Corner, full episode archives, HazMat Happy Hour, and discounts; (5) Sub-branded podcasts including Hazard Class, The Newsletter Podcast, Industrial Strength Podcast, After Action Report Podcast, and THMG Roundtable; (6) Publications including National Emergency Response Hazmat Drills (NERHD) books, NERHD The Game gamification tool, Building a HazMat Team, and You Suck at Teaching HazMat; (7) Battery Resource Center with Battery Destroyers Club and shared resources; (8) THMG Store and Hazard Class Store featuring branded merchandise and apparel. The ecosystem is held together by free podcast content that drives enrollment to paid courses and premium memberships, with in-person training serving as the premium hands-on complement to online learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hazard Class: A THMG podcast that engages listeners by providing a place where curiosity about firefighting, hazmat, and emergency services is met with expert knowledge. Tagline: 'Ask stupid questions to smart people.'
• The Newsletter Podcast (TNLP)
• Industrial Strength Podcast
• THMG University
• Battery Destroyers Club
• Vance Bennett Memorial Instructor's Corner

Products and services

• In-Person Training Hands-on and classroom hazmat training delivered at client fire departments and conference venues nationwide, led by FDNY-veteran instructors and a network of elite emergency response professionals. Covers topics from Operations Level to Radiation Specialist.
• E-University Online Learning Management System Self-service online LMS for hazmat continuing education featuring interactive nano-learning modules, video lessons, quizzes, and completion certificates. Hosts courses on metering, chemistry, PPE, battery response, and specialized detection technology.
• Premium Subscription Paid subscription membership priced at $8/month or $85/year that unlocks exclusive premium content including Instructor's Corner drills, full podcast archive, monthly HazMat Happy Hour calls, early episode releases, and 10-20% discounts on courses and store merchandise.
• 24-Hour HazMat Operations Course Comprehensive 24-hour online hazmat operations certification training priced at $300, structured into 10 chapters with quizzes, covering all aspects of operations-level hazmat response for first responders.
• Basic Metering Series Foundational online metering course priced at $115 covering essential detection and measurement concepts including electrochemical sensors, photoionization detectors, catalytic bead sensors, thermal imaging, and data interpretation for hazmat response.
• Advanced Metering Series Advanced online metering course covering specialized detection technologies including Flame Ionization Detection, FTIR, Raman Spectroscopy, and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) for experienced hazmat technicians.
• 4-Hour Operations Refresher Condensed 4-hour online refresher course priced at $75 covering the APIE-T process, Emergency Response Guidebook, NIOSH Pocket Guide, and PPE selection for operations-level responders needing certification renewal.
• Lithium-Ion Battery Training Course Specialized hazmat course teaching first responders to safely handle, mitigate, and extinguish lithium-ion battery incidents, including hands-on exercises and chemical choreography education. Available as 4-hour Operations and 8-hour Technician formats.
• Modular Metering Course Comprehensive in-person metering course covering various detection and measurement technologies used in hazmat response situations.
• Chemical & Physical Properties Course In-depth training course on understanding the chemical and physical properties essential for sound hazmat response decision-making.
• National Emergency Response Hazmat Drills (NERHD2) Second-edition book (NERHD2) priced at $45 containing 52 hazmat-related training exercises gathered from instructors worldwide to enhance department training sessions and tabletop drills.
• Building a HazMat Team Book priced at $49.99 providing a blueprint for building hazmat teams, drawing on insights, experiences, and hard truths from expert hazmat responders across the country.
• You Suck at Teaching HazMat Book priced at $45.99 serving as a practical guide for teaching challenging, technical, or monotonous material to adult learners, based on thousands of real-world classes taught to first responders, police, firefighters, and military groups.
• NERHD The Game Gamification training tool priced at $39.99 with over 1 million potential hazmat scenarios generated from 75 unique cards covering materials, quantities, locations, and variables for tabletop exercises.
• THMG Store Merchandise Online store selling branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, hats), drinkware (mugs, tumblers, pint glasses), gifts, and the THMG Trucker Hat, alongside the 'Make HazMat Cool Again' and HMAF clothing collections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Makes training engaging instead of monotonous
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FLIR (Teledyne FLIR)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFLIR is a premier sponsor of The HazMat Guys podcast and events. THMG creates unboxing and training content for FLIR products including the R425 Underwater camera. The partnership provides FLIR with direct access to the target hazmat responder audience through branded content and sponsor recognition.
• 908 DevicescoreGTM or Marketing Partner908 Devices is a major sponsor of THMG content. THMG produces unboxing and educational content for 908 Devices products including the MX908 and XplorIR. The partnership includes sponsored podcast segments and sponsor recognition across platforms.
• RigakuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRigaku sponsors The HazMat Guys podcast, appearing in sponsor sections and advertising materials. Focuses on handheld Raman technology products.
• Labelmaster (Obexion FR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabelmaster's Obexion FR product is featured in THMG's Battery Resource Center. THMG provides product recommendations and referral links for Obexion FR, a lithium-ion battery thermal runaway mitigation solution.
• IEC (International Equipment Supply)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIEC is listed as a sponsor of The HazMat Guys podcast, appearing in sponsor recognition sections on the website.
• HAIXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHAIX is a sponsor of the Hazard Class podcast, providing footwear sponsorship for the secondary podcast brand.
• Mirion TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTHMG produces unboxing content for Mirion Technologies detection and monitoring equipment, featuring the products in their online course library.
• Patriot CigarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatriot Cigars appears as a sponsor of The HazMat Guys, representing a lifestyle/cultural brand partnership.
• Fire Suppression Solutions (TRF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTHMG's Battery Resource Center features TRF (Thermal Runaway Fluid) from Fire Suppression Solutions as a recommended product. THMG provides product recommendations and referral links.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Emergency Film Group: Emergency Film Group produces training videos and materials for first responders covering hazmat, WMD, and incident command. Comparable niche overlap with THMG's video courses and educational training content, though more focused on video library sales than podcasts or LMS.
• Firefighter Nation: Firefighter Nation is an online community and content hub for firefighters covering tactics, training, and equipment, with active forums and video content. Overlaps with THMG's community-led, content-driven model targeting the same fire service audience with educational engagement.
• Safety Training Resources: Safety Training Resources delivers OSHA-aligned hazmat, HAZWOPER, and confined space training to industrial and responder audiences. Directly comparable niche to THMG's compliance-focused courses and on-site training delivery model, with similar small-business operating profile.

Direct peers

• Roco Rescue: Roco Rescue provides hands-on technical rescue and hazmat training courses at its own facilities and on-site at client departments. Directly comparable to THMG's in-person training arm, particularly for confined space, rescue, and hazardous materials technician-level content.
• Vector Solutions (TargetSolutions): Vector Solutions operates the TargetSolutions online training platform widely used by fire and EMS departments for compliance and recertification tracking. Directly comparable to THMG's E-University LMS and department-wide enrollment model for hazmat/OSHA compliance courses.
• FireRescue1 / Lexipol: FireRescue1 is a leading digital media and training resource for fire and EMS professionals, with sister brands across PoliceOne, EMS1, and Corrections1 under Lexipol. Overlaps with THMG on online training content, sponsored content, and audience-building through articles, videos, and webinars targeted at the same first-responder persona.
• Firehouse.com: Firehouse.com is a major fire service publication offering news, training content, product reviews, and conference coverage (Firehouse Expo). Overlaps with THMG's mix of editorial-style content, training supplements, and equipment-focused coverage for the fire/hazmat responder audience.
• Fire Engineering Magazine / Clarion Events: Fire Engineering is a long-standing fire service media brand producing training videos, books, conferences, and certifications. Competes with THMG in both content and instructor-led training, especially around hazmat response curricula aimed at the same firefighter audience.

Broad incumbents

• UL Solutions Fire Safety / UL's Fire Service Training: UL Fire Safety provides certification, testing, and training resources for fire service and hazmat response. Overlaps with THMG on certifying training content and adjacent to its testing/standards advisory positioning, though UL operates at much greater scale and breadth.
• IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs): IAFC is the largest fire service membership association and runs conferences, training programs, and credentialing widely attended by hazmat teams. Comparable to THMG in the conference/training space, but at greater scale, broader scope, and as a non-profit rather than commercial media business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thehazmatguys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/thehazmatguys
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHazMatGuys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thehazmatguys
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehazmatguys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hazmat Guys