If you ever dial 911 from a location that’s hard to reach, there’s a growing chance a drone may arrive before a patrol car—and it might just be one built by Brinc Drones. The Seattle-based startup, founded in 2017 by then-teenager Blake Resnick, has just secured $75 million in fresh funding, with Index Ventures leading the round.
At only 25, Resnick is already reshaping public safety tech. After dropping out of college, he built Brinc with a clear vision: speed up emergency response using domestically manufactured drones. Now, with a total funding pool of $157.2 million, Brinc is soaring into the next phase of growth.
Backed by Big Names in Tech and Security
Brinc’s journey began with backing from notable early supporters—including OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman. The latest funding round also includes a strategic investment from Motorola Solutions, a powerhouse in U.S. public safety communications. Through this partnership, Brinc drones will be integrated into Motorola’s 911 call center systems. Once approved by Motorola’s AI, drones can be dispatched immediately to specific emergency scenes, potentially shaving minutes off response times.
This move strengthens Brinc’s positioning in a sector increasingly moving away from Chinese-made drone systems. In fact, Resnick had a brief internship at Chinese drone giant DJI before starting Brinc, giving him early insight into the industry’s gaps and opportunities.
Built for First Responders—and Built in the U.S.
Brinc isn’t just another drone company. Its lineup includes rugged, mission-specific drones capable of breaking windows and delivering critical medical supplies directly to those in need. These are tailored for police departments and emergency responders, filling a critical need for faster, safer, and smarter field support.
The company is riding the wave of a broader U.S. push to develop domestically-produced drone solutions, especially as regulations continue to tighten against Chinese manufacturers.
Facing Fierce Competition but Eyeing Massive Opportunity
Despite the progress, Brinc operates in a competitive field. Rivals like Flock Safety and Skydio have gained traction fast, boasting multibillion-dollar valuations. Flock, for instance, recently raised funds at a stunning $7.5 billion valuation, while Skydio was last valued at $2.2 billion in 2023.
Still, Resnick remains confident. In a statement, he emphasized that the demand for U.S.-made drone systems is massive—and still growing. “There’s room for everyone,” he noted, underscoring Brinc’s edge in specialized features and key integrations like the Motorola alliance.
While Brinc hasn’t revealed its current valuation, sources confirm this round marks an “up-round” from its $300 million valuation last year, as reported by Bloomberg.
