From Vision to Revolution: How Blake Resnick’s BRINC Drones is Transforming Emergency Response

In the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, 18-year-old Blake Resnick found himself asking a question that would ultimately reshape emergency response: “What if there was a better way to get eyes and ears on a situation without putting first responders or innocent people in harm’s way?”

This moment of clarity in his hometown sparked what would become BRINC Drones, a company now valued at more than $300 million that’s fundamentally reimagining how technology and public safety intersect.

“That event hit incredibly close to home,” Resnick recalls. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how technology could play a role in preventing or responding to tragedies like that.”

The self-described “manufacturing nerd,” whose resume already included internships at McLaren Automotive, Tesla, and DJI, saw a critical gap in the market: drone technology existed but wasn’t being applied to save lives in emergency situations. With this insight, Resnick secured a pivotal meeting with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who not only helped refine his first drone but also became his first customer.

Persistence Through Early Challenges 

Despite being a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and receiving $100,000 from Peter Thiel’s fellowship program for young entrepreneurs, Resnick’s path wasn’t without obstacles. For two years, he struggled to secure additional funding, facing rejection after rejection from potential investors.

The breakthrough came unexpectedly during a Zoom call with a TikTok influencer manager who had invited other participants. Among them was someone connected to OpenAI’s Sam Altman, who quickly wrote Resnick a $2 million check. Scale AI’s Alexander Wang added another $200,000, which led to a $25 million Series A and eventually a $55 million Series B from firms including Index Ventures and Next Play Ventures.

“Having Sam and Alex involved just made me and the company much more credible,” Resnick reflects. “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.”

Building a Life-Saving Ecosystem 

What distinguishes BRINC from other drone manufacturers is its focus on creating a comprehensive ecosystem specifically designed for emergency response. In May 2024, the company unveiled its groundbreaking Drone as First Responder (DFR) solution, a system that can respond to 911 calls in under 70 seconds.

“The idea is simple but powerful,” explains Resnick. “Instead of waiting for officers or firefighters to arrive at a scene, you can deploy a drone instantly and get eyes and ears on the situation in under a minute. That kind of response time can make all the difference in critical moments.”

The DFR ecosystem comprises three key components: the Responder drone, strategically placed Responder Stations throughout a city, and the LiveOps software that manages operations remotely. Together, they create a seamless network that can drastically reduce response times while providing crucial information to first responders before they even arrive at the scene.

This system has already been deployed in cities like Hawthorne, California, and Schenectady, New York, with Resnick noting that his team is “in talks with another 150 cities” about implementation.

Prioritizing Trust and Ethics 

From the beginning, Resnick made a conscious decision that BRINC would never weaponize its drones—a commitment that remains central to the company’s identity and its relationship with communities.

“For us, it’s about ensuring that our technology is seen as a tool for saving lives, de-escalating dangerous situations, and protecting people—not as something that could be used to inflict harm,” Resnick explains. “That distinction is critical when you’re working in public safety, especially in communities where trust in law enforcement technology might already be fragile.”

This ethical stance extends to the company’s emphasis on transparency, with features like a public transparency portal that allows communities to understand how the technology is being used. By focusing on unarmed systems that prioritize information gathering and de-escalation, BRINC is working to build trust in a field where skepticism about surveillance and privacy concerns often dominate the conversation.

Real-World Impact 

BRINC’s technology has already proven its value in high-stakes scenarios. During the devastating Turkey earthquakes of February 2023, BRINC’s LEMUR S drones flew nearly 50 missions over six days, collaborating with agencies like USAID and Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. The drones conducted reconnaissance of structurally compromised buildings and identified remains in areas too dangerous for responders to access directly—similar to their deployment during the Surfside Condominium collapse.

In September 2024, BRINC partnered with the OMADA Group to transform water rescue operations, equipping Responder drones with Restube Automatic EFDs—lightweight flotation devices that deploy instantly upon contact with water. This innovation allows agencies to reach victims in seconds, providing rapid deployment of life-saving equipment while gaining crucial situational awareness.

The impact extends beyond specific emergencies. BRINC’s DFR program has demonstrated the ability to cut response times by 54% and can resolve up to 25% of calls without dispatching officers, alleviating pressure on overburdened departments facing staffing shortages and budget constraints.

Breaking Through Barriers 

Recognizing the challenges that public safety agencies face in adopting new technology, Resnick launched BRINC Beyond, a program designed to ease the transition from off-the-shelf drones to purpose-built systems. The program offers up to $15,000 in credits per drone, without requiring trade-ins, allowing agencies to integrate BRINC’s technology at their own pace.

“Public safety agencies don’t have the luxury of scrapping their entire drone fleets overnight,” Resnick acknowledges. “We’re focused on a seamless transition, not an all-or-nothing switch.”

This approach addresses the significant hurdles that have traditionally slowed technology adoption in public safety—from budgetary constraints and regulatory challenges to data management issues and risk aversion. By meeting agencies where they are, BRINC is making advanced technology accessible to departments of all sizes, including smaller municipalities with limited resources.

Looking Forward 

As Resnick looks to the future, he remains optimistic about BRINC’s potential to transform public safety. Currently employing 110 people at its Seattle headquarters, the company continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in emergency response.

“Seeing the real-world impact we’re already making and imagining how much more we can do as the technology continues to evolve gives me tremendous optimism,” Resnick says. “Every time I hear a story about one of our drones helping resolve a dangerous situation without anyone getting hurt, or saving a life by delivering something like Narcan, it reinforces why we do this work.”

Drawing inspiration from Peter Thiel’s strategic approach, Resnick notes, “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. We are following that strategy.”

From the dining room of his parents’ home to the forefront of emergency response innovation, Blake Resnick’s journey with BRINC Drones demonstrates how vision, persistence, and a commitment to saving lives can transform not just a company, but an entire field. As BRINC continues to expand its reach, Resnick’s initial question following the Las Vegas shooting has evolved into an answer that’s reshaping how we respond to emergencies—one drone at a time.

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