A former Thiel fellow’s startup just launched a drone it says can replace police helicopters

Brinc, a Seattle-based drone startup founded in 2017 by former Thiel fellow Blake Resnick, has launched a new public safety drone called Guardian, which it claims is the closest drone equivalent to a police helicopter. The company, valued at nearly half a billion dollars, aims to become the leading Western drone manufacturer for public safety, positioning itself as the “DJI of the West” following restrictions on Chinese-made drones like DJI in the U.S. Guardian features impressive capabilities, including speeds up to 60 mph, a 62-minute flight time, thermal imaging, multiple 4K zoom cameras, a spotlight, and a loudspeaker louder than a police siren. It also includes a fully automated landing and charging station that can be stocked with emergency supplies such as defibrillators and Narcan. A standout innovation is Guardian’s integration of a Starlink satellite internet panel, making it the first public safety drone with global connectivity and effectively unlimited range. Brinc sees a significant market opportunity