Company name: Bounce Imaging
Headquarters: Buffalo, N.Y.
Signature product: 360-degree throwable, tactical cameras
Website: https://bounceimaging.com/
1. What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
After seeing the devastation of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Bounce Imaging was founded on the belief that more lives could be saved if first responders were able to detect whether confined spaces were safe to enter. The tools and equipment available at the time, particularly the cameras, were too bulky and complicated for the search and rescue teams to deploy. They were also cost-prohibitive. Since that time, Bounce Imaging has built a suite of tactical, 360-degree camera systems used by over 450 state and local law enforcement agencies and first responders, the FBI, U.S. Marshals and elite teams within the Department of Defense.
2. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Our suite of 360-degree throwable, tactical cameras were our first released and still most popular products. Each camera has six individual image sensors, instantly stitched together at a rate 200x faster than traditional methods while retaining an orientation regardless of how the system is thrown, mounted or rotated. The video is transmitted in real-time to any Android or iOS device so that officers and warfighters know in the moment where threats exist.
3. Why do you believe your products are essential to the police community?
We want to help law enforcement officers and first responders get home safely to their families each night. You can put the Bounce Imaging camera anywhere you don’t want an officer to go, and by doing so, get real-time situational awareness without endangering your team.
4. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
Getting the word out. Our customers are busy protecting their communities and saving lives. That is why we offer free demos on-site for agencies across the nation. Our sales reps are constantly on the road and because most of them are former law enforcement – they truly understand our customer’s needs and are dedicated to our mission.
5. What makes your company unique?
Bounce Imaging is a small team of committed engineers from Harvard, MIT and some of the best technology programs across the globe that specialize in real-time video and stitching. Our team is also comprised of U.S. veterans, retired military and former law enforcement. They understand and deeply care about the dangers that folks face in these roles and are committed to keeping our customers safe.
6. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Our cameras allow officers and warfighters to gather valuable intelligence without putting themselves in harm’s way. Customers love the multi-use aspect of our cameras – whether you mount it on a pole, throw it into a room or prop it onto a vehicle or robot using our magnet … one single camera can replace many expensive and hard to carry items. The cameras also require very little training and can be deployed in seconds. If you can use a cellphone app, then you can use our cameras!
7. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?
Being able to give back to individuals who put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis in order to keep our communities safe.
8. Do you support any charitable organizations within public safety or the community? Tell us more.
We recently donated our cameras to help efforts in Ukraine. Given that our cameras are particularly useful in urban environments and CQB, we hope they will help keep soldiers safe as they clear rooms, buildings and other confined spaces. Our team also supports a number of charitable organizations in Buffalo, N.Y., where our company is headquartered.
9. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
We recently launched a new thermal pole camera system: the HeatSeeker. The HeatSeeker connects to any of our 360-degree cameras, allowing the user to seamlessly switch between visual and thermal video while searching attics, stairwells and basements. That thermal video automatically integrates into Bounce Imaging’s intuitive and powerful Android, iOS and ATAK applications. In the coming months, we will also release a new audio over 4G feature for our 4G-enabled cameras, which will allow our existing two-way audio to function no matter how far away the camera is from command.