# 20-year-old dropout raises $31M to protect AI cooling systems Omen AI develops sensors to monitor liquid cooling in data centers - **Source:** [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-22 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/eaebec39-f825-470a-a4ad-dd7066756e6c ## A young entrepreneur's success story Zach Laberge, a 20-year-old high school dropout, raised $31 million for his company Omen AI, which develops sensors to monitor liquid cooling systems in AI data centers. Laberge has been launching entrepreneurial projects since childhood. ## Critical cooling solution for AI As powerful AI chips generate more heat, data centers are shifting from air cooling to liquid cooling. However, coolant degradation or contamination can cause major problems. Omen AI's sensors aim to detect these issues in real time. ## Preventing million-dollar failures While traditional coolant analysis takes days, Omen AI's technology provides instant data. This allows potential failures to be detected early. A data center shutdown can result in millions of dollars in lost computing time. ## The company's interesting background Omen AI was initially founded to develop sensors for excavators in the construction industry. Laberge pivoted after realizing the technology was far more valuable for data centers. The company now offers solutions for both industrial machines and data centers. ## Backed by prominent investors The $31 million Series A round was led by Nava Ventures. Investors included CRV, Sheryl Sandberg, and executives from AI cloud company TensorWave. To date, the company has raised $41.5 million in total funding. ## Critical technology for AI infrastructure Omen AI's solution is vital for the growth of the AI industry. The technology, developed particularly for neo-cloud providers and large cloud companies, will increase data center efficiency and ensure uninterrupted AI computations. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.businessinsider.com/omen-ai-raises-31-m-data-center-cooling-pitch-deck-2026-7 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._