Discover how Flyhound evolved from a telecom background into a public safety tech leader. Learn how Alchemist’s accelerator programs helped them turn drone-mounted phone detection into a life-saving solution embraced by over 100 agencies.

Public safety operations face a critical challenge: locating people in emergency situations when cellular service is unavailable or compromised. In remote wilderness areas and disaster zones, traditional communication methods often fail when they're needed most.

Flyhound's journey through three Alchemist accelerator programs demonstrates how a former telecom executive transformed an innovative drone-based technology into a solution that locates phones without service. This article examines how specialized acceleration programs contributed to the development of a novel approach to public safety technology.

From Telecom to Lifesaving Tech: How Flyhound Is Transforming Public Safety with Drones

Key takeaways

• Flyhound's journey through three Alchemist programs shows how specialized acceleration can transform innovative technology into viable enterprise solutions that serve critical public safety needs.
• The company's evolution from using off-the-shelf components to developing proprietary hardware highlights the importance of staying adaptable and responsive to real-world implementation challenges.
• Success in the public safety sector requires a deep understanding of specific use cases, as evidenced by Flyhound's work with 116 agencies and their continuous discovery of new applications.
• Strategic participation in multiple accelerator programs can provide complementary benefits, from core business development to specialized industry connections and equity-free resources.

Flyhound's New Beginning in Telecom

Over the past 25 years, the telecommunications industry has shaped countless careers, including that of Flyhound's founder, Manny. After establishing himself at industry giants like AT&T and HTC, Manny found himself at a crossroads when HTC exited the phone manufacturing business.

Instead of jumping straight into another corporate role, Manny took advantage of his severance package to explore his passion for travel. But here's the thing: fate had different plans. When COVID-19 disrupted his travel business venture in 2021, a LinkedIn connection through NEC, their future pre-seed investor, led to a fortuitous meeting with Antonio.

Their connection resulted in Flyhound, a startup with an ambitious vision and purpose. Antonio, a technical researcher, had already secured a patent for innovative drone-mounted technology capable of locating cell phones. In Antonio's technical prowess, Manny's business acumen, and Flyhound found its wings.

Flyhound's Life-Saving Innovation in Technology

At its core, Flyhound's innovation seems deceptively simple: specialized hardware that attaches to commercial drones to detect cell phones, whether they're on the ground or inside buildings. But the implications of this technology stretch far beyond its technical specifications.

Picture this: a hiker, lost in remote wilderness, their phone showing no service bars. In such scenarios, Flyhound's technology becomes a literal lifeline. During natural disasters, when every minute counts, their drones can quickly identify which buildings still contain active phones—and likely, people in need of rescue.

Law enforcement agencies have discovered additional applications using the technology to enhance their tactical response planning and track criminal suspects—and that's just the beginning—each new deployment seems to uncover another potential use case, expanding the technology's impact on public safety operations.

First Steps in the NEC Venture Pro Studio and AlchemistX Program

When confined to corporate structures, valuable intellectual property in enterprise technology often languishes unused. NEC's Venture Pro Studio tackled this problem with an innovative approach: liberating promising technology by connecting it with entrepreneurial talent outside traditional corporate hierarchies.

While participating in this program, Flyhound received its first exposure to Alchemist's methodology. This initial taste of startup education proved transformative, opening Manny and Antonio's eyes to possibilities beyond their original vision.

What makes this story particularly compelling is how perfectly NEC's approach aligned with Alchemist's framework. "Their concept was to incentivize startup founders to take this technology and build a really big business around it," Manny explained. This alignment convinced the Flyhound team they needed the deeper resources and mentorship available through Alchemist's core program.

Exploring the Alchemist Core Accelerator Experience

As part of Class 31, Flyhound entered an ecosystem designed to nurture enterprise startups. While participating in the program, the team benefited from specialized curriculum and targeted mentorship, gaining access to insights that would typically take years to accumulate through trial and error.

"I would credit Alchemist with really helping us grow and accelerate a business and understand where the pitfalls lie," Manny shared. This acceleration stemmed from formal programming alongside valuable connections to hundreds of founders and mentors who had navigated similar challenges.

Among these voices of experience, Alchemist Mentor, Rachel Chalmers, provided what would become one of Flyhound's guiding principles: "You have to fall in love with the problem, not the solution." This insight proved particularly valuable as the team refined their business model and developed their go-to-market strategy.

Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator Program

In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, Flyhound found their third Alchemist opportunity through the equity-free Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator in Alberta. This specialized program opened doors to Canadian public safety agencies, including promising discussions with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

But perhaps the most valuable outcome wasn't the institutional connections. From this experience emerged a "public safety mastermind group," where cohort companies meet biweekly to tackle industry challenges together. In these sessions, competitors become collaborators, sharing insights that benefit the entire public safety ecosystem.

Learning from Mistakes and Pivots

Although tempting for hardware startups, relying on existing components often proves costly. Flyhound learned this lesson firsthand when their initial attempt to build their solution entirely with software and off-the-shelf hardware components severely limited their effective range.

"We spent a lot of time tweaking the software to get more range, but had to go back and build our own hardware," Manny revealed. This pivot, while challenging, ultimately strengthened their offering.

The team's conservative approach to hiring, while prudent in some ways, created its own set of challenges. In retrospect, Manny believes this caution may have unnecessarily constrained their growth trajectory.

Customer discovery brought unexpected insights, including unusual applications in prison security, where drones sometimes drop contraband cell phones into prison yards. Looking back, Manny underestimated the value of Alchemist's Vault network, finding it to be a secret weapon for accessing and connecting with advisors, investors, and fellow founders far beyond what a public social network like LinkedIn can provide.

Flyhound's Impressive Traction and Measuring Success

With 116 public safety agencies participating in their early access program, Flyhound has achieved remarkable market validation. Their strategic relocation to Syracuse, New York, has positioned them within a growing hub for drone technology, complete with specialized testing airspace and state-sponsored support programs.

Their proximity to a local sheriff's office creates a unique advantage: immediate access to real-world implementation feedback. This partnership enables Flyhound to rapidly iterate its product based on actual field experience.

When theory meets practice in often unpredictable ways within drone technology, this kind of direct access to end-users proves tremendously valuable. As part of their ongoing development, Flyhound leverages support from Alchemist Accelerator to refine their approach to building transformative technology for public safety applications.

Expanding Beyond Public Safety

While public safety applications provided Flyhound's initial focus—largely due to shorter sales cycles—the technology's potential reaches far beyond emergency services. Interest from the U.S. Army has opened conversations about military and defense applications, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Flyhound's evolution.

Looking ahead, the team envisions their technology serving diverse sectors: construction safety, mining operations, and even amusement parks where their systems could help locate lost children. To support this expansion, Flyhound actively pursues Department of Defense grants, aiming to build MVPs for these expanded use cases.

For example, each new application serves as both a market opportunity and a chance to demonstrate how drone-based cellular detection can solve real-world problems across industries. The possibilities are expanding daily as more sectors recognize the potential benefits of this technology.

"Flyhound is solving a real, meaningful problem," says Christy Canida, Senior Director at Alchemist Accelerator. "It's the perfect combination of practical tech with nimble, driven founders. They're going to have a real impact."

Entrepreneurial Insights for the Journey

"Check your ego at the door," Manny advises, distilling years of startup experience into a simple directive. While founders naturally know their business intimately, remaining open to experienced mentors' feedback often makes the difference between success and failure. When navigating enterprise technology's volatility, no founder succeeds alone. Finding supportive communities like Alchemist, engaging with peers facing similar challenges, and maintaining continuous customer discovery serve as essential survival strategies.

For those bold enough to venture into enterprise technology, Manny's journey with Flyhound offers a blueprint for turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. From telecom executive to drone technology pioneer, his path demonstrates the power of specialized acceleration programs in transforming good ideas into viable businesses. The lessons from Flyhound's evolution are clear: embrace community, remain humble, and stay laser-focused on solving real problems for your customers—principles that have guided this company from concept to life-saving reality.

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