How Brinc Drones Got Funded: A $300 Million Startup Story

From Dining Room to $300 Million Valuation

Brinc, a startup founded by Blake Resnick when he was just 18, creates drones designed for 911 emergencies. These drones can provide live footage of dangerous scenes and deliver essential aid like epinephrine and naloxone. The company has raised $82 million and is valued at over $300 million.

Drones for Emergency Response

Brinc’s newest drone can connect to the 911 system, delivering live footage within 70 seconds of a call. This technology is set to roll out in cities like Hawthorne, California, and Schenectady, New York, with talks ongoing with 150 more cities.

The Journey to Success

Starting in his parents’ dining room, Resnick faced many challenges, even with a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. Struggling to attract investors, a chance encounter on a Zoom call led to funding from Sam Altman of OpenAI, who wrote a $2 million check, and Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang, who added another $200,000, reports Forbes. This credibility boost led to further investments, including a $25 million Series A and a $55 million Series B from firms like Index Ventures and Next Play Ventures.

“Having Sam and Alex involved just made me and the company much more credible,” Resnick said. “There will be moments where you think you’re done, the company won’t be successful, but it’s extraordinary how you can get yourself out of those situations if you just have the persistence.”

Manufacturing Nerd Turned Entrepreneur

Resnick, who interned at McLaren Automotive, Tesla, and DJI, turned his attention to public safety after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department became his first customer, helping him refine his initial drone.

“I looked up the phone number of Vegas Metro SWAT and called them. Surprisingly, they agreed to meet with 18-year-old me,” he recalls.

Dominating the Market

Brinc’s first drone was remote-controlled, designed to navigate small spaces. Now, the company boasts 500 active contracts across its product range. Resnick follows Peter Thiel’s strategy of dominating a small market before expanding, positioning Brinc for continued growth.

“Peter Thiel talks a lot about this idea of taking a really small market, totally dominating that market and then moving to larger and larger adjacent markets from a position of strength,” Resnick says. “We’re following that strategy.”

DroneXL’s Take

Brinc’s story is a testament to persistence and the power of innovative technology in public safety. With significant funding and a clear market strategy, Brinc is poised to revolutionize emergency response, demonstrating the potential for drones to save lives and improve safety.