Founder & CEO Flock Safety, Garrett Langley: Tech That Makes Everyone Safer
Jun 13, 2022
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Garrett Langley, Founder and CEO of Flock Safety, shares his journey in tech and public safety. He discusses a harrowing child abduction case that Flock cameras helped solve, showcasing their impact on law enforcement. Langley also reflects on his quarter-life crisis and the importance of purpose beyond financial success. With humor, he reveals that his executive assistant is his mother, emphasizing family dynamics in business. The conversation dives into ethical challenges of surveillance, community trust, and the startup struggles of securing funding.
Shifting focus from personal success to community impact fosters a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in entrepreneurship.
Having a close family member in a professional role provides unique emotional and practical support for entrepreneurs navigating stress.
Technological advancements in public safety enhance law enforcement's effectiveness, transforming community relationships and fostering trust with residents.
Deep dives
The Shift from Personal Success to Impact
Focusing solely on personal success can lead to boredom as the joy of material acquisitions diminishes over time. Instead, shifting this focus towards making a positive impact on others creates a more fulfilling experience. The excitement grows as one considers the number of people they can help and the broader influence they can have on the community. This shift in perspective can redefine both personal and professional motivations, fostering a sense of purpose that transcends material wealth.
The Unique Role of Family in Business
Having a close family member, such as a mother, in a professional role can offer unique advantages, especially for entrepreneurs navigating high-stress environments. This relationship provides not only emotional support but also practical assistance, creating a safety net during challenging periods. The dynamic allows for honest feedback and communication while maintaining a clear focus on personal responsibilities, thus aiding in managing the complexities of work-life balance. Overall, this arrangement enhances the ability to lead effectively while reducing personal stress.
Innovative Crime Reduction Technology
The technology developed aims to significantly enhance public safety by creating an evidence-based system for law enforcement. Devices capture real-time evidence, which is then analyzed and utilized to solve crimes, thereby increasing clearance rates. This approach not only addresses immediate public safety concerns but also alters the relationship between communities and law enforcement, fostering trust and cooperation. The goal is to provide tools that allow for a substantial reduction in non-violent crime, transforming community safety from being reactive to proactive.
Navigating Challenges in Fundraising
The process of raising capital can often be fraught with obstacles, particularly for companies in innovative but misunderstood sectors. A critical challenge faced was the perception from potential investors that growth was not sufficient, leading to difficulty in securing necessary funding. Despite achieving significant revenue traction, skepticism from venture capitalists stemmed from the company's unique focus and market landscape. This experience highlights how external factors and investor sentiment can significantly impact company growth opportunities, demanding resilience from founders.
The Future of Urban Safety and Investment
As cities face increasing competition to attract and retain residents, public safety becomes a vital component of quality of life. Investing in technologies that enhance safety is essential for transforming urban environments into appealing places to live and work. Trends show a shift where municipalities that prioritize advanced safety solutions can better address crime and foster community trust. This strategic investment not only benefits local populations but also lays the groundwork for long-term economic stability and growth.
In April, a young girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Yakima, Wash., and later told police she was picked up by a stranger in a car. The case might have gone cold there, if Yakima hadn’t just installed Flock Safety cameras: The cameras were able to pinpoint a car matching the girl’s description, and picked up the alleged abductor outside an elementary school campus, says Flock CEO Garrett Langley, who says stories like this have validated his company’s mission of stopping crime in our communities.
In this episode, Garrett and Joubin discuss a “huge life hack” that Garrett recommends to every CEO with young kids, quarter-life crises and how to rediscover your purpose, the biggest problem in public safety, how Flock Safety is solving thousands of crimes every year, the politics of surveillance camera placement, how Flock cameras became a feature of political campaigns, and how the company almost went out of business before its Series B.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Garrett’s executive assistant is his mother (02:06)
“I had no idea that people started companies” (13:07)
Garrett’s quarter-life crisis after two great startup exits (16:59)
How Flock Safety helps law enforcement make communities safer (23:49)
Solving a child abduction in Washington state (27:27)
Why Garrett and his co-founders started Flock (31:22)
The impact of Flock cameras on communities that don’t trust the police (36:35)
Political controversies and community engagement (39:18)
Making cities safer and talent drain from local police departments (47:11)
The challenges of fundraising for a police-tech startup in Atlanta (53:42)
