If you find yourself calling 911 from a difficult-to-reach location, you might soon hear the buzz of a drone overhead long before the arrival of emergency vehicles. Chances are good that drone will be built by Brinc Drones, a Seattle-based startup led by 25-year-old founder Blake Resnick, who left college to pursue his rapidly growing venture.
Today, Brinc announced it has secured $75 million in new funding, spearheaded by prominent venture capital firm Index Ventures. The latest capital infusion brings the company’s cumulative funding to $157.2 million. Although Brinc has not publicly confirmed its exact valuation following this round, Resnick did confirm that it’s an increase from the previous valuation of $300 million recorded in 2023 following a Series B round of $55 million.
Founded in 2017, Brinc specializes in drones specifically tailored for law enforcement and public safety use, part of a growing domestic drone sector driven by tightening regulatory restrictions targeting Chinese drone manufacturers, who have historically dominated the market. Notably, the fledgling drone startup found an early supporter in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who was among its first seed investors. Interestingly, Resnick himself interned at DJI, the largest drone firm from China, before establishing Brinc.
As part of its latest funding round, Brinc is forming a strategic partnership with Motorola Solutions, which has also contributed as an investor in this round. Motorola Solutions, widely recognized for its software that powers many U.S. 911 communication centers, plans to integrate Brinc’s drone solutions into emergency response protocols. This collaboration will enable dispatchers, guided by Motorola’s AI-powered decision-making software, to deploy drones directly to scenes selected by the system, enhancing rapid emergency response in critical situations.
Brinc is not alone in targeting this lucrative niche. It faces competition from fellow domestic drone providers including Skydio, valued at approximately $2.2 billion as recently as 2023, and Flock Safety, whose latest valuation reached $7.5 billion just last month. Nevertheless, Resnick remains optimistic, noting a significant market demand that leaves ample growth room for multiple major U.S. players in the space currently largely occupied by Chinese competitors.
To distinguish itself in the crowded market, Brinc promotes uniquely specialized features within its drones, such as their capabilities to break windows during critical police operations or deliver crucial emergency medical supplies directly into situations that require immediate intervention—further underscoring its competitive advantage as it expands its significant partnerships and technological footprint.
