Blake Resnick built a fusion reactor in his garage at age 14, and interned at McLaren Automotive, Tesla, and DJI, before dropping out of Northwestern University in 2017 to launch drone startup Brinc.

Now, at age 23, he oversees a team of nearly 100 people making drones and other technology for public safety agencies, serving more than 400 customers.

On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, recorded on-location at the company's headquarters in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, Resnick talks about Brinc’s origins, its move from Las Vegas to Seattle, the upcoming release of its Lemur 2 drone, his recent White House visit, and the geopolitical forces impacting its products.

He also explains the mind-blowing series of events that led OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to become the company’s first investor. Listen to the end for that.

Related stories and links
Video of the Lemur 2
Video of the Brinc Ball
Drone startup Brinc prepares for take off with ex-Amazon engineers and geopolitical tailwinds
Meet Blake Resnick, the 22-year-old engineer who just moved his fast-growing drone startup to Seattle

<a href="https://blakeresnick.com/">Blake Resnick</a> built a fusion reactor in his garage at age 14, and interned at McLaren Automotive, Tesla, and DJI, before dropping out of Northwestern University in 2017 to launch drone startup <a href="https://brincdrones.com/">Brinc</a>.
Now, at age 23, he oversees a team of nearly 100 people making drones and other technology for public safety agencies, serving more than 400 customers.
On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, recorded on-location at the company's headquarters in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, Resnick talks about Brinc’s origins, its move from Las Vegas to Seattle, the upcoming release of its <a href="https://brincdrones.com/lemur-2/">Lemur 2</a> drone, his recent White House visit, and the geopolitical forces impacting its products.
He also explains the mind-blowing series of events that led OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to become the company’s first investor. Listen to the end for that.
Related stories and links
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/1McpEWqB06Y">Video of the Lemur 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/aaulF-ChQMM">Video of the Brinc Ball</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/drone-startup-brinc-prepares-for-take-off-with-ex-amazon-engineers-and-geopolitical-tailwinds/">Drone startup Brinc prepares for take off with ex-Amazon engineers and geopolitical tailwinds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2022/meet-blake-resnick-the-22-year-old-engineer-who-just-moved-his-fast-growing-drone-startup-to-seattle/">Meet Blake Resnick, the 22-year-old engineer who just moved his fast-growing drone startup to Seattle</a></li>
</ul>

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

Drones and the future of public safety, with Brinc CEO Blake Resnick

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, which now includes Microsoft, and assess the complexities of the OpenAI-Microsoft partnership, as illustrated by early email exchanges revealed in the lawsuit.

We also consider the latest update to the GeekWire 200, our ranked index of Pacific Northwest technology startups, including the rise of Highspot to the top spot, and other trends in the Seattle region's startup ecosystem. 

And we share highlights from tech events around the region this week, including the WTIA's 40th Anniversary, where Mayor Bruce Harrell addressed AI and the incoming presidential administration; and an interesting takeaway from a panel of startup leaders whose companies made the latest Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list. 

Related links and coverage
Internal emails: Elon Musk wanted to keep OpenAI from becoming ‘Microsoft’s marketing bitch’
GeekWire 200 update: A new No. 1 rises to the top of our startup rankings
WTIA honors 40 years of boosting Washington’s tech sector as new CEO aims for more impact
Seattle mayor, who sits on a federal AI panel, says he’ll seek ways to work with Trump administration

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/internal-emails-elon-musk-wanted-to-keep-openai-from-becoming-microsofts-marketing-bitch/">discuss Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI</a>, which now includes Microsoft, and assess the complexities of the OpenAI-Microsoft partnership, as illustrated by early email exchanges revealed in the lawsuit.
We also consider <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwire-200-update-a-new-no-1-rises-to-the-top-of-our-startup-rankings/">the latest update</a> to the <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/geekwire-200/">GeekWire 200</a>, our ranked index of Pacific Northwest technology startups, including the rise of Highspot to the top spot, and other trends in the Seattle region's startup ecosystem. 
And we share highlights from tech events around the region this week, including<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/wtia-honors-40-years-of-boosting-washingtons-tech-sector-as-new-ceo-aims-for-more-impact/"> the WTIA's 40th Anniversary</a>, where Mayor Bruce Harrell addressed AI and the incoming presidential administration; and an interesting takeaway from a panel of startup leaders whose companies made the latest <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/fast500-winners.html">Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list</a>. 
Related links and coverage
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/internal-emails-elon-musk-wanted-to-keep-openai-from-becoming-microsofts-marketing-bitch/">Internal emails: Elon Musk wanted to keep OpenAI from becoming ‘Microsoft’s marketing bitch’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/geekwire-200-update-a-new-no-1-rises-to-the-top-of-our-startup-rankings/">GeekWire 200 update: A new No. 1 rises to the top of our startup rankings</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/wtia-honors-40-years-of-boosting-washingtons-tech-sector-as-new-ceo-aims-for-more-impact/">WTIA honors 40 years of boosting Washington’s tech sector as new CEO aims for more impact</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/seattle-mayor-member-of-federal-ai-panel-says-hell-seek-ways-to-work-with-trump-administration/">Seattle mayor, who sits on a federal AI panel, says he’ll seek ways to work with Trump administration</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

Elon Musk’s problem with Microsoft; What the GeekWire 200 says about the startup scene

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we dive into Amazon's launch of a new discount storefront called Amazon Haul, and explore what it says about the future of e-commerce and generational shifts in shopping. Guests Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz of Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) provide insights into the long-term trends around Amazon Prime membership and consumer behaviors on the platform.
CIRP: Amazon Report on Substack. (Check out their Apple Report, as well.)
GeekWire:Hands-on with Amazon Haul: First impressions of the e-commerce giant’s new Temu and Shein rival
Amazon:Introducing Amazon Haul—a broad selection of products $20 or less, with most under $10
Business Insider: Amazon's new discount section, 'Haul,' looks like a Temu version of Temu

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we dive into Amazon's launch of a new discount storefront called Amazon Haul, and explore what it says about the future of e-commerce and generational shifts in shopping. Guests <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrlevin/">Michael Levin</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlowitz/">Josh Lowitz</a> of <a href="https://www.cirpllc.com/">Consumer Intelligence Research Partners</a> (CIRP) provide insights into the long-term trends around Amazon Prime membership and consumer behaviors on the platform.
<ul>
<li>CIRP: <a href="https://cirpamazon.substack.com/">Amazon Report on Substack</a>. (Check out <a href="https://cirpapple.substack.com/">their Apple Report</a>, as well.)</li>

<li>GeekWire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/hands-on-with-amazon-haul-first-impressions-of-the-e-commerce-giants-new-temu-and-shein-rival/">Hands-on with Amazon Haul: First impressions of the e-commerce giant’s new Temu and Shein rival</a></li>

<li>Amazon: <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/affordable-products-amazon-20-dollars-and-under">Introducing Amazon Haul—a broad selection of products $20 or less, with most under $10</a></li>

<li>Business Insider: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-haul-temu-shein-compared-which-is-better-worse-2024-11">Amazon's new discount section, 'Haul,' looks like a Temu version of Temu</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

How Amazon is adapting to the TikTok generation

This special edition of the GeekWire Podcast is the first in a four-episode series that we’ll be publishing in the months ahead as part of our year-long Microsoft @ 50 project, recognizing the company’s 50th anniversary in April 2025. 

On this episode, we’ll take a fresh look at Microsoft’s startup story with tech historian and author Margaret O’Mara of the University of Washington, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America; plus highlights from a recent conversation with David Marquardt, Microsoft’s first outside investor and a longtime board member.

Register here for our Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle.

Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture.

With GeekWire Co-Founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

This special edition of the GeekWire Podcast is the first in a four-episode series that we’ll be publishing in the months ahead as part of our year-long <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/special-coverage/microsoft-at-50/">Microsoft @ 50 project</a>, recognizing the company’s 50th anniversary in April 2025. 
On this episode, we’ll take a fresh look at Microsoft’s startup story with tech historian and author Margaret O’Mara of the University of Washington, author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/534709/the-code-by-margaret-omara/">The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America</a>; plus highlights from a recent conversation with David Marquardt, Microsoft’s first outside investor and a longtime board member.
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/events/geekwire-microsoft50/">Register here</a> for our Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle.
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/special-coverage/microsoft-at-50/">Microsoft @ 50</a> is an independent GeekWire editorial project <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/services/technology/ecosystem/microsoft">supported by Accenture</a>.
With GeekWire Co-Founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

Drones and the future of public safety, with Brinc CEO Blake Resnick

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