A $16M round and key milestones strengthen Sunflower Labs’s position
Sunflower Labs, creator of the Beehive autonomous security drone system has obtained nationwide FAA approval to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) across the United States, launched an interactive property configuration tool, and closed a $16 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia Capital. These milestones strengthen its position in areal security.
Based in Zurich and San Francisco with a team of seven, Sunflower Labs builds autonomous security systems that combine precision hardware with intelligent software. Their product Beehive is the only fully autonomous, AI-powered drone security system used across residential estates, commercial campuses, and critical industrial sites to deliver smarter, safer protection—without the overhead of traditional patrols.
In the past year, the startup more than doubled its customer base and increased the number of autonomous patrols tenfold—all while maintaining an exemplary FAA-reviewed safety record. By integrating advanced robotics and autonomy into security, Sunflower Labs enables faster response times, reducing reliance on guard labor, and setting a new benchmark for safety and compliance in the industry. The company has now obtained secured a performance-based Certificate of Waiver or Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), granting it nationwide approval to operate the Beehive system within defined safety parameters. This authorization allows customers to legally operate BVLOS flights, fly over people and vehicles, and operate in low-visibility conditions—without requiring case-by-case approval.
Additionally, Sunflower Labs has launched a new online tool that lets customers design and preview how the Beehive system would operate on their property. The tool enables users to: enter an address and map property boundaries; place Hives and visualize drone coverage; preview response times across the site; add remote operator services for piloting and monitoring; and submit configurations for expert review and recommendations. This interactive tool makes it simple and transparent to see the value of autonomous security before purchasing—whether protecting a private estate, managing commercial properties, or securing industrial infrastructure.
Fresh funding to fuel international growth
A third milestone pushing Sunflower Labs forward is the closing of its $16 million Series B round led by Sequoia Capital. Alarm.com, DRONE FUND, Gentian Investments, Wakestream Ventures, Atlas Ventures, and Daybreak Ventures also participated in the round. The funding will accelerate AI development, expand deployments in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, and deepen integrations with platforms like Alarm.com, making the Beehive system available to its extensive dealer network.
“Large high-value sites, such as factories, distribution centers, and warehouses, require comprehensive security coverage. Alex and team have engineered an elegant solution that augments traditional security by fusing autonomous drones with computer vision to rapidly detect and deter threats,” said Roelof Botha, Managing Partner at Sequoia Capital. “We’re proud to partner with Sunflower Labs as they enhance existing security measures with autonomous precision.”
(Press release/RAN)