Rebuilding After the Burn: How Mast Reforestation is Scaling Post-Fire Recovery
Feb 13, 2026
Every year, over 70,000 wildfires strike the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the last decade alone, these fires have consumed 70 million acres of land. The scale of the destruction is immense, and traditionally, reforestation has been a slow, manual process that can take decades to show results.
Enter Mast Reforestation, a Techstars 2016 alum that is fundamentally changing how we restore our forests.
From Drones to End-to-End Restoration
Founded by CEO Grant Canary, the company was originally known as DroneSeed. While they began by using drones to reseed burned areas, Grant quickly realized that technology alone wasn’t enough. True reforestation requires a comprehensive approach.
To build the first tech-driven, end-to-end reforestation company, Mast acquired Silvaseed and Cal Forest Nurseries.
Today, they handle every stage of the process:
Seedling Cultivation: Growing the next generation of resilient forests.
Drone Deployment: Using advanced tech for efficient distribution.
Full Restoration: Managing the entire recovery lifecycle.
What typically takes decades, Mast can achieve in just 6 to 12 months.
Restoring Forests at No Cost to Landowners
One of Mast’s most innovative features is its business model. They help landowners restore their forests at no cost to them. The projects are funded through high-quality carbon removal credits.
The process is as scientific as it is sustainable: Mast buries dead, fire-killed trees in clay-rich pits to prevent decay and permanently trap carbon. These carbon removals are then sold as credits, creating a self-sustaining cycle that funds further reforestation efforts.
Scaling for the Future
The impact is already being felt on the ground. As of 2023, Mast has planted over 600,000 seedlings, with an additional 20,000 acres in its pipeline. Investors are taking notice as well; just this year, the company raised $25 million to continue building the future of post-fire recovery.
Mast Reforestation isn't just planting trees; they are rebuilding what fire destroyed, doing it faster, smarter, and at a scale that matches the urgency of the climate crisis.