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Biofire is a technology company.
Biofire Technologies develops biometric-secured firearms, specifically a smart handgun that utilizes integrated fingerprint and 3D facial recognition to ensure only authorized users can operate the weapon. This proprietary Guardian Biometric Engine is designed to prevent unauthorized access and unintentional discharge, making firearms safer. The company focuses on integrating advanced sensor technology with traditional firearm mechanics to enhance safety without compromising functionality.
The company was founded in 2016 by Kai Kloepfer, who serves as CEO. Kloepfer began developing smart gun technology at a young age, driven by the critical insight that preventing unauthorized use of firearms could significantly reduce accidental shootings and misuse. His early work and dedication to this challenge eventually led him to establish Biofire, formalizing his long-standing mission to introduce a new standard of firearm safety.
Biofire's product caters to gun owners seeking enhanced safety features for their personal firearms. The company’s vision is to provide tools that give gun owners greater control and peace of mind, ultimately working towards a future where preventable firearm injuries and deaths, particularly among children, are dramatically reduced. Biofire aims to establish a new paradigm for firearm ownership centered on responsible access and secure usage.
Biofire has raised $30.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Biofire has raised $30.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Biofire has raised $30.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Biofire's investors include Founders Fund, 14W, 20VC, Adjacent, Afore Capital, Also Capital, Anthemis Group, CapitalX, Countdown Capital, Matt Ocko, Dreamers VC, Elkstone.
# Biofire: Two Companies, One Name
The search results reveal an important clarification: "Biofire" actually refers to two distinct companies operating in completely different industries. This distinction is critical for understanding what "Biofire" means as a technology company.
Biofire Technologies is a firearms safety startup founded in 2016 and headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado[2][3]. The company develops biometrically-authenticated handguns designed to prevent unauthorized use, accidental discharge, and firearm-related injuries and deaths, particularly among children and teens[3]. With approximately 38 employees and $31 million in total funding, Biofire Technologies operates in the emerging "smart gun" market, positioning itself as a mission-driven company addressing a critical public safety gap[2][3].
The other "Biofire" entity—BioFire Diagnostics—is a molecular diagnostics company with a completely different trajectory. Originally founded as Idaho Technology, Inc. in 1990, it was acquired by bioMérieux in 2014 and has since been rebranded as part of the bioMérieux product portfolio as of January 2022[1][5]. This company manufactures the FilmArray system for infectious disease diagnostics and is no longer operating under the Biofire brand independently[1][5].
Biofire Technologies emerged from a team of experienced engineers and gun owners who previously worked on satellites, medical devices, autonomous weapons systems, and supersonic jets[2]. The company was founded in 2016 with a specific mission: to create firearms that combine instant biometric authentication with reliable access for authorized users[3]. The founding team, led by CEO Kai, identified a gap in the market where gun owners wanted built-in safety features without sacrificing reliability or speed of access[3].
The company gained significant momentum in May 2022 when it raised $17 million—described as "the largest private investment in a firearm technology startup in history"—to bring its biometrically-authenticated handgun to market[2]. This funding round validated both the technology and the market demand for innovative firearm safety solutions.
Biofire Technologies operates at the intersection of public health innovation, consumer hardware, and a traditionally non-tech industry. The company is riding several converging trends:
Biofire's ability to attract significant venture capital and talent to a traditionally non-tech industry demonstrates how technology entrepreneurship is expanding into unexpected domains.
Biofire Technologies represents a fascinating case study in mission-driven hardware innovation in a polarized market. The company's continued funding success—including the $7 million extension announced in April 2025—suggests that investors believe biometric firearm safety has genuine commercial potential beyond ideological positioning.
The key challenge ahead is manufacturing scale and market adoption. Smart gun technology has been promised for decades without widespread deployment. Biofire's differentiation lies in its engineering credibility and its ability to position the technology as enhancing rather than restricting gun ownership. If the company can successfully bring its biometric handgun to market at scale and prove reliability in real-world conditions, it could reshape how the firearms industry approaches safety—potentially influencing broader conversations about technology's role in public health.
Biofire has raised $30.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Series A in February 2024.