Sunflower Labs

What Sunflower Labs does

Sunflower Labs, Inc., founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Carlos, California, with a wholly-owned R&D subsidiary (Sunflower Labs GmbH) near Zurich, Switzerland, builds the Beehive autonomous drone security system. The product pairs the Bee, a 1.56 kg autonomous quadcopter (RTK GPS, obstacle avoidance, HD video), with the Hive, a 35 kg weatherproof base station that houses and recharges the drone while running embedded AI computing. Onboard models perform object detection/tracking, risk and anomaly classification, and natural-language event descriptions; AI Insights, launched in 2026, customizes models per site for subclasses such as delivery vehicles, RVs, fire, and vandalism, and generates voice alerts for operators. The system supports randomized and event-triggered autonomous patrols, geocaged operations, real-time blurring of sensitive areas, and open API integrations with major VMS, alarm, and security platforms.

The company sells or leases Beehive as an integrated hardware-plus-software solution with pricing customized by property size, configuration, piloting hours, and location; white-glove installation runs 8-12 weeks, with optional recurring remote pilot-in-command and monitoring services priced at $4-$7 per operating hour. Go-to-market combines a direct enterprise field sales motion (anchored by an interactive Design Your System configurator) with channel distribution through Alarm.com's North American dealer network and international regional partners (Swisscom in Europe, Securion Global in Latin America), complemented by technology integrations with Becklar, Alert360, Secure Passage, Talkaphone, LandSky AI, and Bright Defense. As of May 2026 the platform operates across 100+ sites in 9 countries, having executed more than 100,000 autonomous patrols in the prior year.

Revenue mechanics blend upfront hardware/lease revenue with multi-year service contracts and subscription add-ons. The company is private and venture-backed, having raised approximately $39M cumulatively including a $16M Series B led by Sequoia Capital in November 2025 with participation from Alarm.com (also a channel partner) and drone- and security-focused funds; the round coincided with nationwide FAA BVLOS approval, a subsequent FAA one-to-many waiver (May 2026) permitting one pilot to operate up to six drones, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 ISMS certification. Customer segments span industrial and critical infrastructure, commercial properties, and high-end residential estates, with named deployments at Swiss Federal Railways, Securion Global, 10 Federal self-storage, BernEXPO via Swisscom, and luxury gated communities.

Name

Sunflower Labs

Legal name

Sunflower Labs Inc.

Website

https://sunflower-labs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sunflower Labs builds and sells the Beehive, an AI-powered autonomous drone security system that combines a weatherproof base station with a self-charging quadcopter to patrol and deter intruders on commercial, industrial, and residential properties, serving roughly 60 enterprise customers across 9 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autonomous Drone Security Systems

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Automation & Controls (BAS/BMS) (HSAPAPAA)

Keywords

• Autonomous drone security
• Drone-in-a-box systems
• Aerial perimeter surveillance
• AI security monitoring
• BVLOS drone operations

Headquarters

HQ city

San Carlos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beehive Drone System (Hardware + Software): The Beehive system is sold or leased as an integrated hardware and software solution. Pricing depends on property size, configuration, piloting hours, and location. The system includes the Bee drone and Hive base station. During the lease period, Sunflower Labs ensures the drone stays operational and replaces units as needed. Installation is handled by the company with an 8-12 week delivery and installation timeline.
2. Remote Piloting & Monitoring Services: Optional add-on services for remote pilot-in-command operation and monitoring. Since most countries require a pilot-in-command during flights, customers can contract partnered remote piloting services. This generates recurring service revenue on top of the base system cost. Operating cost ranges from $4-7/hr after installation for continuous operations.
3. Professional Services (Installation & Configuration): White-glove installation and configuration services included with system deployment. Standard delivery and installation takes 8-12 weeks, with shorter timelines for volume orders. Expert review and recommendations are provided for custom property configurations submitted through the Design Your System tool.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sunflower Labs designs, manufactures, and operates the Beehive system, a fully autonomous, AI-powered drone security platform consisting of the Bee autonomous quadcopter drone and the Hive weatherproof base station with embedded AI computing. The system launches automatically or on-demand, navigates properties autonomously, performs AI-driven detection, tracking and deterrence, and returns to recharge in the Hive. It is delivered as an integrated hardware-plus-software solution to commercial, industrial and high-value residential customers, with optional remote piloting/monitoring services.

Product overview

Sunflower Labs offers the Beehive autonomous security drone system - a unified platform consisting of the Bee drone (autonomous aerial unit), the Hive base station (weatherproof housing with embedded AI computing), and the AI Insights intelligence layer. The system provides fully autonomous property patrols, responding to security events in real time through AI-powered detection, tracking, and deterrence. Core capabilities are delivered through three use-case-specific sub-brands: Industrial Security Solutions (for critical infrastructure), Commercial Property Security (for businesses and campuses), and Residential Security (for private estates and communities). The company also provides an interactive Design Your System tool and Remote Piloting and Monitoring services. The system ships globally across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and Argentina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beehive: The Beehive is the autonomous drone security system consisting of a weatherproof base (Hive) and autonomous drone (Bee) that patrols properties and responds to events in real time.
• The Bee
• The Hive
• AI Insights

Products and services

• Beehive Autonomous Drone Security System Fully autonomous, AI-powered drone-in-a-box security platform consisting of the Bee quadcopter drone and the weatherproof Hive base station with embedded AI computing. Launches automatically or on demand, navigates properties with RTK GPS and obstacle avoidance, detects and tracks intruders, deters suspicious activity, and autonomously returns to recharge. Delivered as integrated hardware-plus-software to commercial, industrial and high-value residential customers.
• Remote Piloting and Monitoring Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero break-ins in over a year at a luxury Los Angeles community that previously faced frequent organized burglaries; neighboring area saw 11 burglaries in three months during the same period.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability9 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Remote Piloting Service ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026Partnerships with remote piloting services that provide pilot-in-command (PiC) capability for customers. Since most countries require a PiC during drone flights, these partners enable customers without certified pilots to operate the Beehive system. The PiC observes operations and reacts in emergencies. Featured in the Design Your System tool as an add-on service.
• Secure PassagecoreTechnology or Integration · 2 April 2025Partnership announced April 2025 for integration of autonomous drone technology into Secure Passage's security platform. Enables seamless security ecosystem combining drone aerial coverage with Secure Passage's command and control platform for coordinated incident response.
• TalkaphonecoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2025Partnership announced March 2025 for integration of Sunflower Labs' autonomous drone system with Talkaphone's award-winning emergency phone systems. The integration enables coordinated security response where emergency phones can trigger autonomous drone deployment. Showcased at Campus Safety Conference 2025.
• Alarm.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey integration partner whose logo appears in the Key Partners section of the Sunflower Labs website. The Beehive system integrates with Alarm.com's platform, enabling distribution through Alarm.com's dealer network of security professionals.
• Alert360minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity monitoring provider listed in the Key Partners section of the Sunflower Labs website. Integrates with the Beehive system for comprehensive property security solutions.
• Becklar MonitoringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity monitoring partner whose logo appears in the Key Partners section of the Sunflower Labs website. Provides monitoring services that integrate with the Beehive autonomous drone system.
• Securion GlobalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArgentina's largest security provider, featured as a customer case study and key partner. Building a multi-modal security ecosystem (air, land, and sea) with Bee drones providing autonomous aerial coverage. Scaling from 2 to 40 drones following successful pilot programs.
• Bright DefensecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCybersecurity partner credited with supporting Sunflower Labs' ISO 27001 certification. Provides continuous security testing and compliance support for defending the Beehive systems from cybersecurity threats. Bright Defense logo and acknowledgment appear on the company website and About page.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Easy Aerial: Easy Aerial builds autonomous drone-in-a-box security and inspection systems for government, commercial, and industrial customers. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Sunflower Labs' Beehive, with similar product positioning, base-station + autonomous drone architecture, and target verticals.
• Percepto: Percepto offers autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions (Percepto Air) for industrial site monitoring, security, and inspection, with FAA BVLOS approvals and an AI analytics platform. Direct overlap with Sunflower Labs on autonomous flight, on-device AI, and enterprise/industrial security use cases.
• Airobotics: Airobotics provides autonomous drone-in-a-box platforms (Optimus) for security, inspection, and emergency response in industrial and smart-city environments. Comparable business model, regulatory approach, and target customer profile to Sunflower Labs.
• Nightingale Security (BlackBerry): Nightingale Security developed autonomous drone perimeter security systems and was acquired by BlackBerry. Its BlackBerry Secure Communications-adjacent drone solution targets the same autonomous perimeter security use case as Beehive, particularly for enterprise and government.

Emerging players

• Skydio: Skydio is a leading U.S. autonomous drone manufacturer with strong autonomy software and growing enterprise/security exposure (Skydio Dock for drone-in-a-box). Less specialized than Sunflower Labs in pure security, but a credible adjacent competitor in the autonomous drone space.
• Dedrone: Dedrone provides airspace security and counter-UAS solutions (drone detection, tracking, and mitigation) for military, government, and critical infrastructure customers. Adjacent to Sunflower Labs' perimeter security mission, particularly for critical infrastructure verticals.
• Ascent AeroSystems: Ascent AeroSystems designs and manufactures rugged coaxial drones used in drone-in-a-box security and industrial inspection deployments. A hardware peer at the airframe level, supplying integrators and end-users in adjacent security applications.

Broad incumbents

• DJI Dock: DJI's enterprise drone-in-a-box product (DJI Dock) leverages DJI's dominant drone manufacturing scale to offer autonomous security and inspection. While DJI's geopolitical risk and U.S. regulatory posture limit its U.S. federal applicability, it is a major global competitor in the autonomous drone-in-a-box category.
• Axon: Axon is a dominant public safety technology provider (TASER, body cameras, Evidence.com) that has expanded into drone programs for law enforcement. While its primary focus is law enforcement rather than private property security, it represents a well-capitalized incumbent that could enter adjacent security drone markets.
• ADT: ADT is one of the largest residential and commercial security providers in North America, with a monitored services model that overlaps with Sunflower Labs' recurring remote monitoring offering. A natural potential acquirer or competitive threat in the residential/security-as-a-service market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGvmLqld1C-mAifY2L3BAnA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15230621
• Xx.com/sunflower_labs

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Labs