The Impact
When BRINC Drones entered the market, the company had groundbreaking technology but no established brand presence, no marketing infrastructure, and no proven go-to-market engine.
Through a deeply integrated partnership with Howl Marketing, BRINC evolved from a startup operating out of a garage into one of the most recognized names in the public safety drone industry.
Over a two-year period, the company:
- Raised more than $86 million through Series B funding
- Built one of the most recognizable brands in the drone and GovTech space
- Generated millions in early-stage revenue
- Increased inbound database growth by approximately 2,500% in 15 months
- Created a high-performing inbound lead engine that consistently attracted qualified public safety buyers
- Established a trade show and event presence that dominated industry attention
- Built a scalable marketing foundation that continued supporting the company years later
As described by BRINC’s former SVP of Sales, Brett Kanda: “It allowed us to raise $86 million at a big valuation in two years, drive millions in revenue out of the gate, and build a company that five years later is still one of the best-known brands in the space.”
Our Strategy & Approach
Howl Marketing operated as BRINC’s fractional CMO partner, owning the company’s marketing foundation from the ground up.
Rather than approaching marketing as isolated campaigns, the focus was on building a complete go-to-market ecosystem that aligned brand, sales, product positioning, and customer acquisition.
The strategy centered around four key pillars:
Brand Creation & Market Positioning:
BRINC was entering a completely new category within public safety technology. The challenge was not just generating awareness, but creating trust within a life-or-death environment where SWAT teams and emergency responders needed confidence in the technology.
Howl developed:
- Core brand identity and positioning
- Visual brand direction, including the now-recognizable “BRINC Blue”
- Messaging tailored specifically to public safety agencies
- Storytelling frameworks focused on tactical response and emergency operations
- Market differentiation against existing competitors
Inbound Demand Generation:
Instead of relying heavily on outbound sales teams, Howl focused on building a highly targeted inbound engine that attracted qualified decision-makers directly into the pipeline.
This included :
CRM implementation and automation
Email marketing and newsletter strategy
Industry publication advertising
Podcast and social strategy
Content aligned to tactical operators and command staff
Lead nurturing infrastructure
The result was an inbound-heavy pipeline that consistently brought in highly qualified leads, including SWAT commanders, chiefs, and tactical response teams.
Event & Trade Show Dominance:
Howl designed immersive event experiences that positioned BRINC as the most innovative company in the room.
One standout activation included a fully interactive double-decker trade show booth that simulated real tactical drone environments and live demonstrations.
According to BRINC leadership, the booth became one of the busiest and most talked-about exhibits at industry events.
Sales & Marketing Alignment:
A major differentiator in the engagement was the close alignment between marketing leadership and the sales organization.
Howl worked directly alongside executive leadership to ensure that:
- Marketing efforts supported pipeline goals
- Messaging matched buyer pain points
- Lead generation aligned with revenue priorities
- Sales feedback continuously shaped campaigns and positioning
This collaboration allowed marketing to function as a true revenue-driving department rather than a disconnected creative function
The Challenge
BRINC Drones started with revolutionary technology but almost no marketing infrastructure.
At the time of engagement, the company had:
No established brand presence
No website
No CRM infrastructure
No lead generation engine
No trade show strategy
No scalable marketing systems
No market awareness outside of a small niche audience
The company was entering a highly specialized public safety market where trust, credibility, and visibility were critical.
The challenge was not only introducing a new product category, but creating a brand that law enforcement and tactical teams would trust in high-risk situations.
At the same time, the company needed to scale rapidly enough to support aggressive fundraising and revenue goals.
Results
- $86M+ raised through Series B funding
- Millions in early-stage revenue generated
- 2,500% database growth in approximately 15 months
- 400+ inbound leads generated from a single industry campaign
- Thousands of highly qualified public safety contacts added to pipeline
- LinkedIn audience scaled from zero to thousands rapidly
- Built one of the most recognized brands in the public safety drone space
- Created one of the busiest and most memorable booths at NTOA
- Established a scalable inbound marketing engine
- Positioned BRINC as an innovation leader in GovTech and tactical response
Full Services Delivered
- Fractional CMO Leadership
- Brand Strategy & Positioning
- Website Strategy & Development
- Go-To-Market Strategy
- CRM Setup & Automation
- Demand Generation Support
- Email Marketing & Newsletters
- Trade Show Strategy & Coordination
- Event Experience Design
- Social Media Strategy
- Inbound Lead Generation
- Public Safety Industry Messaging
- Sales & Marketing Alignment
- Creative Direction & Brand Identity
- Product Launch Support
- Pipeline & Lead Nurture Infrastructure
- Thought Leadership Positioning
- Marketing Foundation Development
Outcome
The partnership between Howl Marketing and BRINC Drones helped transform an early-stage startup into one of the most recognized brands in the public safety drone industry.
By combining strategic positioning, demand generation, immersive event experiences, and tightly aligned sales and marketing execution, Howl helped build the infrastructure necessary for rapid growth, large-scale fundraising, and long-term market visibility.
Years later, many of the foundational brand and marketing decisions established during the engagement continue to shape the company’s public identity and market presence today.