Blake Resnick couldn't quite process what he was seeing on his screen. Like many entrepreneurs, he was struggling to find money, in this case for his tactical drone company, Brinc Drones, which he founded in Las Vegas in 2017. As a 17-year-old. He already had a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship, funded by the PayPal co-founder, so he could pursue his vision as a college dropout. And he had proof of concept for his drones from early customers, including the Las Vegas Police Department.
But by 2020, his business was seriously hungry-enough so that Resnick accepted an invitation to a video meeting from the manager of some Tik Tok influencers because he claimed to know somebody who knew somebody. When Resnick tapped "join" on his laptop, he saw a couple of men, sitting on a bed, half-naked. Their informality was a bit jolting, but Resnick started pitching, without much enthusiasm, thinking, "This is 45 minutes of my life I'll never get back." The Tik Tok manager was interested, though, and said he'd like to introduce Resnick to some friends. Whatever.
Several hours later, the manager's buddy called, and he seemed rather more promising. "I'm Sam Altman's ex-boyfriend," he claimed. "I want to introduce you to him." Altman, the former head of Y Combinator and current CEO of OpenAI, would appearfully clothed-on a later call, and apparently liked Resnick's pitch: Brinc had developed tactical drones that could radically improve SWAT team outcomes, replace police helicopters, and make policing safer and more efficient, and he needed money to ramp up operations. Altman had to hop off the callhe said some guy named Elon was ringingbut when he and Resnick later connected via email, Altman told him that he would take Brinc's entire $2.25 million seed round via OpenAI's investment vehicle. Resnick had progressed from an iffy Tik Tok manager to landing one of the more famous investors on the planet.
Bu hikaye Inc. dergisinin April 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Inc. dergisinin April 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A Bankable Pet Project - How Moonshots Capital helped eTailPet scale up and attract a buyer in just three years.
Berenice Giannini's startup, eTailPet, wasn't a natural fit for Moonshots Capital. The Austin-based venture firm, launched in 2014 by Kelly Perdew and Craig Cummings, both of whom had previously served in the U.S. Army, frequently backs companies founded by military veterans.
Backers Should Have Your Back - The best capital provider for your business will offer a helping hand, not just deep pockets.
Three years ago, U.S. entrepreneurs were enjoying one of the best funding environments in decades. Venture capital and private equity hit all-time highs as banks loaned at historically low interest rates. All you needed to get a term sheet, it seemed, was a smile and a pitch deck.
Lift Off - Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space?
Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space? Meet the entrepreneurs providing a rarified clientele with a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime journey.So you want to go to space. To take in the expansive curvature of the Earth glowing miles above the atmosphere, surrounded by pure darkness. To experience the mind-altering overview effect described by astronauts as a transcendent state of awe, staring back at the planet on which you've inhaled your every living breath.
There Will Always be Those Who Doubt You and Your Vision. Here's How to Tune Them Out. - Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy,
Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy, the midlife wisdom school I co-founded in 2018.
A Scientific Discovery that Unlocks Your Body's Healing Power
The founder of Stemregen, a company that creates powerful supplements that stimulate the body's natural repair system, explains how a \"fringe idea\" opened up a new world of stem cell therapy.
Transformative Growth: Agency Masters the Art of Evolution
As a destination marketer, Awestruck has mapped out a journey to success by constantly developing its services and its staff.
For the Love of the Restaurant Experience
The founder and CEO of DJB Hospitality shares his passion for the challenging and uniquely rewarding hospitality industry.
Custom PEO Solutions for Blue-Collar Industries
COMPEO is an HR management solutions provider with a jaw-dropping five-figure growth rate.
Homebuying Was BrokenMeet the Founders Here to Fix It
Cecilian Partners is a fast-growing technology firm providing end-to-end solutions for production homebuilders and land developers.
A Focus on Complete Solutions for Regulatory Environments
The Northcross Group develops sustainable processes for clients with compliance needs.
