Meet Sebastien Burkhardt | Co- Founder & CEO of Clore

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sebastien Burkhardt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sebastien, what makes you happy? Why?
What makes me happiest is being out in the field, actively working with homeowners to protect their home either before or during a wildfire, knowing that every step we take could make the difference between the loss or the protection of the home. There’s a deep sense of purpose that comes from applying our product in real time, standing side by side with homeowners and partners as the fire nears. Seeing those same homes still standing after the flames pass through is an indescribable feeling, it is a mix pride, relief, and validation all at once. At the end of the day, I’m happiest when we’ve helped protect what matters most, using science, grit, and purpose to face the fire head-on. Overall, I am extremely proud of what Clore has accomplished so far, and every day spent working toward our mission brings us real happiness.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Clore is a wildfire defense company we started back in high school. The goal was pretty straightforward: build something that could actually help protect homes when people face wildfires. What makes us different is that we’re not just building chemical solutions, but we are working to get it in the hands of those who need it most.

Getting to this point definitely wasn’t easy. We were young, and convincing people to take us seriously was a big challenge in the early days. But we kept showing up, running real-world tests, working with private fire departments, and just learning by doing. I think the biggest lesson has been to stay focused on the mission and your clients, even when things get hard. At the end of the day, we’re proud that Clore has actually helped homes survive wildfires, and even better is that we’re just getting started.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a good friend was visiting, I’d definitely keep it laid-back and outdoors-focused. I love spending time outside, so we’d plan the week around that, maybe start with some hikes, nothing too specific, just depending on how up for it they are. There’s something for everyone, whether it’s a chill coastal walk or a tougher trail with real elevation, which is my personal favorite. We’d grab food at taco trucks as that is something that sets California’s cuisine apart!

I also really enjoy slow afternoons, so going to the beach and watching the waves from some of the prettiest coasts is another thing I would do!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a big shoutout to Barrett Deng, my cofounder and close friend, for being there from the very beginning of Clore. Building Clore together from the ground up, especially while still in high school took a mix of late nights, problem-solving, and belief in something bigger than ourselves. There is next to zero chance I could have done this without him. I also owe so much to my family for their constant support, encouragement, and for pushing us to keep going even when things got tough. They stood by us as we balanced school, prototyping, and real-world challenges most teenagers never face. Their belief in us gave Clore its foundation and helped us push through our struggles.

Website: https://clorefr.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clorefr/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clorefr/