It's like the movies.
Drakontas recently garnered a $250,000 investment by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania for its futuristic mobile solution DragonForce, designed to assist police, combat and rescue operations.
The Ben Franklin investment is matched by private contributions, adding up to about a half million dollars total for the funding round, according to James Sim, President and COO.
Drawing on the power of smartphones and other mobile platofrms, DragonForce provides a variety of real-time mission critical data to help locate targets, victims, and team members, including geo-tracking, a whiteboard, shared media and files, and secure text messaging.
Looking at police and rescue missions, Alan Kaplan, CTO, says, "Traditionally, radios have been the primary way to communicate. Police vehicles have laptops, known as Mobile Data Computers, but one of the problems has been that when they leave their trucks or cars they don't have information with them. One of the benefits with DragonForce is that we are able to push and capture information, and users can share information no matter where they are." When the operation is over, DragonForce makes reporting a snap, with all collected data at the ready.
James Sim says, "Our software was actually developed by living with the customer. Every member of our staff suits up and embeds with hazmat and SWAT teams." Drakontas employees also carry weapons as part of the experience.
So far, says Sim, DragonForce has two countywide deployments: York County's quick response team, and Gloucester County NJ's Department of Emergency Management. Drakontas also provides a white label product to other resellers.
Drakontas employs a total of nine, with Drexel University co-op students in addition. The technology originated at Drexel University, where the school mascot is a dragon. Sim says Drakontas, located in Glenside, will use the recent funding round for product development and marketing.
Source: James Sim, Alan Kaplan, Drakontas
Writer: Sue Spolan