via TechCrunch
Omen AI’s Plan to Optimize Data Centers Is All Wet
As AI-driven demand for compute power intensifies, data centers are under pressure to squeeze every last drop of performance from their GPU racks. By 2026, this trend shows no signs of slowing, with hyperscalers and edge operators alike seeking higher thermal efficiency. But one unexpected consequence is emerging: bacterial outbreaks in liquid cooling systems.
Liquid cooling for chips relies on a mix of water and a biocide to prevent microbial growth. To run chips hotter—boosting performance—operators can increase the water ratio, which improves heat absorption. However, this also creates a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to contamination that clogs fluid pathways. The typical fix? Flushing the system, which can take five to six hours per rack and cost millions in lost uptime.
Enter Omen AI, a startup with a slick solution: a tiny spectrometer that monitors fluid health in real time, catching bacterial growth before it becomes a crisis. “You’re not risking huge amounts of downtime because you have no insight into what’s going on chemically,” explains CEO and founder Zach Laberge.
Today, Omen AI announced a $31 million Series A funding round, led by Nava Ventures with participation from CRV, Vanderbilt University, Mann+Hummel, Starhill Holdings, Hard Launch Capital, and personal investments from executives at Bridgestone, GM, Johnson Controls, and TensorWave.
Laberge founded his first company in 2020 at age 14, raising $3 million to embed sensors in construction equipment before dropping out of high school—a move supported by his parents, including his mother, a former Ontario Minister of Education. After that venture folded, he launched Omen in 2024, initially focused on fluid systems for smart construction machinery. The goal was to replace tedious sample extraction and lab testing with continuous, real-time insight. Beyond bacteria, Omen’s sensor can detect wear in pumps (via copper or chromium particles) or seal degradation (via silicon traces).
Caterpillar dealerships were key early customers for Omen’s heavy vehicle business. But Cat also supplies gas-powered turbines and generators for on-premises data center power. It didn’t take long for Omen to read the writing on the wall. “That was kind of the transition,” Laberge told TechCrunch. About six months ago, “a lot of the dealerships were saying, ‘Hey, we’re starting to put sensors on our turbines, can you guys do anything on the building side of things?’”
Omen discovered those buildings are brimming with fluid—from HVAC systems to chip cooling loops. Spotting a fast-growing customer base, the company pivoted to focus on data centers. “It’s rare to see such a young founder who has the respect of established, large corporations in a space that moves a bit more slowly,” said Cory Rellas, a partner at Nava Ventures and Omen board member. “For Omen in particular, much of our diligence came through our introductions with large customers which quickly validated their approach.”
To date, Omen has raised $40 million since its 2024 founding and is working with a dozen data center clients to refine its offering, including TensorWave, which is building an AI compute cloud on AMD chips. “The fluid running through these massive systems is a critical variable that most of the industry is flying blind on,” noted Piot... as the article concludes.
With AI compute demands only rising, Omen’s real-time fluid monitoring could be the key to keeping data centers cool—and operational.