From Teen Tinkerer to Public Safety Pioneer: Blake Resnick’s Brinc Raises $75M to Equip First Responders with Lifesaving Drones

The world of high-stakes technology often seems dominated by seasoned veterans. But Blake Resnick, the founder and CEO of drone technology company Brinc, is rewriting that narrative. Still in his early twenties, Resnick recently secured a massive $75 million funding round, bringing Brinc’s total funding to approximately $157 million. His company isn’t building the next social media app or delivery service; it’s creating sophisticated drones designed to be the crucial “eyes and ears” for first responders in the most dangerous situations imaginable.

In a recent interview with Forbes’ Zoya Hasan, Resnick revealed the unique blend of lifelong passion and pivotal tragedy that led him down this path. “I’ve always loved aerospace,” Resnick shared, citing inspirations from Iron Man to Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works division. While building advanced aircraft was out of reach as a teen, drones were accessible. He even built a fusion reactor in his garage – a project that, while alarming neighbors, honed his engineering skills.

However, his focus dramatically shifted after the harrowing October 1st mass shooting in his hometown of Las Vegas. “I knew people that were along the strip during the October 1st shooting,” Resnick explained. “I never conceptualized before that, building technology for first responders. But that event definitely pushed me in that direction.”

Bridging the Gap with Technology

Driven by this new purpose, an 18-year-old Resnick reached out to the Las Vegas Metro SWAT team. In a foundational meeting with their SWAT commander, the conversation evolved from the specifics of the shooting to the broader challenges faced by tactical teams – executing high-risk warrants, dealing with barricaded subjects, and complex hostage rescue missions.

The critical insight emerged: first responders desperately needed a way to gather intelligence and communicate in volatile environments without putting officers directly in harm’s way. “If they just had a way to get eyes and ears in dangerous places… that would be a life-saving capability,” Resnick realized. Drones, with their ability to fly, hover, and navigate complex spaces, became the obvious platform.

Brinc’s Innovative Edge

Brinc’s technology goes far beyond typical consumer drones. Resnick highlighted several key features:

1. Interior Tactical Drones: Designed for indoor operations, these drones feature robust two-way audio systems for negotiation and de-escalation.
2. Glass Breaker: A unique capability allowing the drone to shatter windows and gain entry into structures.
3. Self-Righting System: If knocked over during an operation, the drone can use its rotors to flip itself back upright and continue the mission – a feature born from direct feedback after a SWAT officer literally swatted a prototype out of the air during an early demo.
4. Thermal Imaging: Essential for seeing through smoke, identifying heat signatures (like people or fire hotspots), and operating in low light.
5. Drone as First Responder (DFrR) Network: A city-wide system integrating with 911 Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD). When a call comes in, the system automatically dispatches the nearest drone from strategically placed rooftop recharging stations, often arriving minutes before human responders.
6. Payload Delivery: Drones capable of carrying and delivering critical supplies like Narcan, EpiPens, defibrillators, and even personal flotation devices for drowning incidents.
7. AI Integration: Brinc utilizes AI and machine learning for advanced navigation (visual inertial odometry when GPS is unavailable), object recognition (searching video feeds for descriptions like “white bag” or specific license plates), and enhancing situational awareness.

From Pitch Fails to Funding Success: Building the Brinc Business

Resnick’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. Starting college exceptionally early at 14 and later dropping out of Northwestern with a Thiel Fellowship, he faced initial skepticism during fundraising. “I had failed to fundraise several times,” Resnick admitted. The breakthrough came via an unexpected route: a friend introduced him to a TikTok influencer manager venturing into startup investing. This connection led to further introductions, crucially including Sam Altman’s ex-boyfriend, who facilitated a meeting with the then-President of Y Combinator himself.

The pitch to Altman was memorable. “He joins maybe seven, eight minutes later… shirtless, in bed, with another dude, for my pitch meeting,” Resnick recounted with a laugh. Despite the unconventional setting and being cut short mid-pitch for Altman to take a call with Elon Musk, the interaction proved pivotal. Altman followed up via email with just four questions. “I answer the four questions, and then his reply was, ‘Okay, I’ll take your seed round’,” Resnick shared. This $2 million seed investment led by Altman was Brinc’s first, providing not just capital but invaluable credibility. “Having Altman and Alex Wang [founder of Scale AI, who also participated in the seed round] behind us… all of those things were unbelievably beneficial and powerful,” Resnick noted, explaining how this early backing helped pave the way for their later $25 million Series A round led by Index Ventures.

Building a company in the sensitive public safety and defense-adjacent space also brings unique hurdles. Brinc operates under strict NDAA compliance, necessitating a supply chain decoupled from China – a move that protects against geopolitical risks but increases costs compared to competitors like DJI. Despite being personally sanctioned twice by China (along with the company),

Resnick remains committed to Brinc’s mission. “We really do sell exclusively to public safety,” he affirmed. “It’s a community I care a lot about, it’s a mission that I passionately love.”

The Future is Autonomous (and Transparent)

Looking ahead, while Brinc’s interior drones rely on skilled pilots, the DFrR system leverages full autonomy for navigating complex cityscapes, avoiding obstacles like cell towers and manned aircraft using ADS-B and ground-based radar integration. Transparency is also key; Brinc offers a public portal allowing citizens to see drone flight paths and the general purpose of deployments (e.g., responding to a structure fire), building trust within the communities they serve.

Blake Resnick’s Brinc is a compelling example of applying cutting-edge digital trends – advanced robotics, AI, mesh networking – to solve critical real-world problems. From an 18-year-old inspired by tragedy to the leader of a rapidly growing company reshaping emergency response, Brinc’s trajectory demonstrates the profound impact technology can have when driven by a clear and vital mission: making communities safer.

More on Brinc robotic drones? Check their Informative Website