Insider Brief
- Sunflower Labs has raised $16 million in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital to scale its Beehive autonomous security drone platform globally and deepen third-party integrations.
- The company received nationwide FAA approval for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations across 99% of the U.S., enabling expanded deployment without site-specific waivers.
- A new interactive tool allows customers to model drone coverage and response times on their properties, targeting applications in private security, industrial monitoring, and facilities management.
Sunflower Labs, a developer of autonomous aerial security systems, has closed a $16 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia Capital. Other investors in the round include Alarm.com, DRONE FUND, Gentian Investments, Wakestream Ventures, Atlas Ventures, and Daybreak Ventures, according to the company.
The new capital will be used to scale Sunflower’s Beehive drone platform globally and support further integration with third-party platforms, including Alarm.com’s dealer network. The company said it plans to expand deployments across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, while accelerating AI development tied to autonomous threat detection and response.
The Beehive system uses autonomous drones equipped with computer vision and AI to monitor large private, commercial, and industrial properties. According to Sunflower Labs, the system is capable of recognizing and tracking people, vehicles, and other potential risks such as fire, gas leaks, and break-in tools. The platform integrates visual and thermal sensors to support 24/7 operations in a variety of conditions and includes privacy features such as real-time redaction of sensitive areas.
In addition to securing new funding, the company said it has received a nationwide waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in the U.S. The waiver allows Sunflower Labs and its customers to conduct BVLOS flights, operate over people and vehicles, and fly in low-visibility conditions without needing separate site-by-site regulatory approvals. The authorization is designed to be consistent with the FAA’s proposed Part 108 framework for routine BVLOS operations, giving the company a head start on regulatory compliance.
“Through extensive collaboration with the FAA, we’ve secured authorizations that let us operate safely and legally across nearly every location in the United States,” said Alex Pachikov, co-founder and CEO of Sunflower Labs. “Our customers can deploy the Beehive with confidence that they’re ahead of the curve in both safety and compliance.”
To help prospective customers evaluate deployments, Sunflower Labs has also launched an interactive configuration tool that allows users to map their property, simulate drone coverage, preview response times, and submit plans for expert review. The company indicated the tool is aims to improve transparency and streamle the sales process for users in sectors such as private security, facilities management, and critical infrastructure.
Founded in 2016, the Zurich- and San Francisco-based company said it has doubled its customer base over the past year and increased autonomous patrols tenfold. The Beehive system is currently deployed across residential estates, commercial properties, and industrial facilities.
Image credit: Sunflower Labs
