From A Backyard Pool to Shark Tank to the Front Lines: The Mompreneur Behind FireFighter1.

In an era where the destructiveness and unpredictability of wildfires are growing and becoming more life-threatening, homeowners across the U.S. are looking for quicker, more intelligent ways to protect their families and properties. The National Interagency Fire Center states that wildfires in recent years have burned over 7.6 million acres a year, with climate change fueling longer and hotter fire seasons.

Amid these frightening statistics, one company stands out by introducing a revolutionary solution that taps into an underutilized but common household resource: the swimming pool. This is FireFighter1— an idea molded into reality by sheer dedication and commitment to creating safe communities, and founded by Iranian American mompreneur and Shark Tank alumna, who turned a family-inspired idea into a life-saving innovation.

The Fire Within: A Heritage And Legacy of Problem-Solving.

Being a mompreneur—raising children while developing a mission-oriented business—takes unrelenting passion, an ability to pivot, and a whole lot of grit and resilience. For Bianca, the founder of FireFighter1, entrepreneurship is woven into her DNA. Inspired by the actions of her father Edward Mayelian, a polyglot self-made immigrant who overcame immense challenges after fleeing his home country Iran during the 1979 revolution, her journey reflects the creative resilience passed down through generations.

Edward didn’t just build businesses; he curated livelihoods, establishing dry cleaners, pizza and printing shops, and a lot more in the pursuit of creating value that serves others, helping local communities and helping his extended family settle in the States.

Equally influential and instrumental was her mother, who successfully ran an art gallery for over 35 years, managing clients and operations all while also raising a family herself. Watching and observing both parents juggle the entrepreneurial landscape and family life with faith and grace laid the foundations for FireFighter1—a business venture rooted in purpose, persistence, and practicality.

“Both of my parents were self-made. They didn't just build businesses—they built opportunities for others. Watching them both gave me my earliest lessons in business.” – Bianca.

At the end of the day, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?

The Spark: How A Backyard Firefighting Hack Became a Life-Saving Innovation.

The idea behind FireFighter1 was brought to life from personal experience. During the devastating 1993 Laguna Canyon fires, Edward instantly used the family’s SoCal home’s pool pump and a hose to drench the roof and surrounding property without prior plans to do so. With this, a preliminary and initial prototype system for FF1 was created, mainly for personal use.

Fast-forward several years later, when a wildfire broke out near her own Northern California home, Bianca realized there were no such firefighting hose systems anywhere on the market. Thus, FireFighter1 was conceived—a hose system that taps into the water already available in your pool to help protect your home and loved ones during emergencies.

While juggling raising four young children and pursuing an MBA degree in Entrepreneurship and Global Leadership at the California State University, Sacramento, she entered and pitched her idea to multiple pitch competitions, where she consistently and continually got placed in the top three. It was clear that there is potential behind the product and an untapped market to help protect.

Her final thesis project later became FireFighter1 and its Go-To-Market strategy. With help and guidance from professors and support from local manufacturers, she soon began designing, testing and prototyping the device and system with her husband Erik. Together, they experimented with their own pool and tested materials, storage options, and hose densities, consulting with pool professionals, CAL FIRE and other fire departments to ensure optimal safety and usability using an extremely user-friendly design system for quick and easy deployment with all grade A components. The couple also performed ride-alongs with fire departments to make sure they as well fully utilize the system.

Smart Design, Smarter Implementation.

FireFighter1 isn't just about having a hose; it's about rapid deployment, user-friendly setup, and instant and seamless integrations with your already-existing pool system. The goal was always to build a high-quality, effective and powerful solution that empowers homeowners without any compromise on safety. Fire departments have always stressed the importance of using FireFighter1 only when evacuation is not yet mandatory or required—reminding users that protecting lives always comes first.

Once the design was captured and perfected, she then tackled the daunting and challenging task of patenting the innovative invention using her MBA skills, and expertise gained from founding several other business lines. With limited funds, she was forced to study the entire patent process herself, spending late nights on the USPTO website and consulting with attorneys. The patent remains open as the company continues to innovate, signaling recently signed contracts with new system expansions like suction hoses and roof-mounted sprayers in development.

Shark Tank: A Game-Changer.

FireFighter1 launched officially in 2021 through collective grassroots efforts and some local home shows with overwhelming positive reviews. Then came a pivotal moment into the FF1 history book: Shark Tank. After applying and undergoing a rigorous screening process, Bianca and FF1 appeared and pitched on Season 14, Episode 8—only 6 months after applying—where she struck and secured a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner after 30 minutes of intensive and challenging business questions. This exposure tripled FF1’s annual sales the year the episode aired and catalyzed and propelled an overall 50x growth over the following three years.

Today, FireFighter1 partners with over 250 contractors across the U.S., Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Australia (Learn more here). The goal here is to make FireFighter1 a standard part and component of every new pool installation—especially in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas, where the risk of fire is significantly higher and more serious. With 10.1 million homes located in WUI zones in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the need for accessible and affordable firefighting solutions has never been greater.

Building A Family Business, Literally.

Staying true to the spirit of her upbringing, FireFighter1 is a family-run business venture and operation. Bianca’s sister Satina manages all partner accounts and contractor relationships, her daughter at college runs the social media accounts, while her teenagers help with packing manuals and marketing materials, kit assembly and general logistics. They even helped convert the family garage into FF1’s first warehouse. As demand surged though, they transitioned to a dedicated warehouse facility and began hiring locally, including her son's high school friends - planting the entrepreneurial seed in them from a young age.

“It is a great relationship because they are learning the value of the dollar, getting more acquainted with the business, and are spending quality time at home with the family. Everyone is getting work, helping run the family business and staying connected to the mission behind it.” – Bianca.

The business is ongoingly expanding its offerings to now include fire gel applicators, gas-powered pump systems, and eventually rooftop sprayer units further down the line. By partnering with experts in fire prevention and home safety, FireFighter1 is becoming an all-inclusive comprehensive solution for fire preparedness.

A Mission Beyond Business.

While FireFighter1 did not continue on with the deal established on Shark Tank, the brand gained invaluable exposure, mentorship, connections and a once-in-a-lifetime organic opportunity to grow FireFighter1. More importantly, this exposure validated the mission they’ve always held dear to their hearts; to provide homeowners with the right tools to safeguard their homes and families when time and resources are at a premium.

Fires are no longer seasonal; they are a constant, with record-breaking blazes occurring even during the winter months. The Los Angeles wildfires of early 2025 are just one of many examples of how unpredictable the landscape has become with climate change. Homeowners need to be ready year-round, and the idea behind FireFighter1 offers a flexible, scalable, powerful and immediate solution to the problem, only assembling and building systems based on demands to maintain highest quality performance.

Weekly Fact-Drop: 

Did you know that:

• One in six mothers are interested in starting a business.
• Over 60% of women with children are exploring some form of entrepreneurship, according to Create & Cultivate.
• A surge in female entrepreneurship is correlated with pandemic-related disruptions.
• 49% of new business owners were women in 2021, compared to just 29% before the pandemic, according to a survey from Gusto.
• A large percentage of mompreneurs (around 88%) spend less than 3-4 hours a week on hobbies, according to Entrepreneur.
• Around 71% of mompreneurs are still the primary childcare providers in their families.
• Around 57% of mompreneurs are 40 years or older according to Entrepreneur.
• A large percentage of moms start businesses after their children are in school, with the average age of the child when the business is launched being around six years old, according to The Mogul Mom.

*Bianca with Friends and Fam visiting the ABC studios, posing in front of the Shark Tank studio.*

A Focus On What Matters Most.

FireFighter1 is more than just a fire hose system. It's a symbol and testament to what happens when vision meets purpose. It's about empowering families, safeguarding homes, and honoring a legacy of resilience, self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. The urgency and necessity for homeowner-driven fire solutions has never been more apparent as climate conditions worsen and the threat of wildfires increases.

Built on the foundation of family, faith, and community, FireFighter1 offers not just a product—but a peace of mind. For any homeowner living near fire-prone areas, this is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. And thanks to one mompreneur’s relentless drive and her supporting team, it's finally within reach.

“Our story is one of generations of innovation, determination, and heart. From my father’s backyard inventions to a nationally recognized fire safety solution, FireFighter1 is a legacy—of family, resilience, and purpose.” – Bianca.

Let this inspire you to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within you to eternalize your family’s mission and legacy.

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Learn more about how the mission of FireFighter1 can help you defend your home and community.