Intrepid Networks: A Platform Proven to Protect Communities
“Expect it to be difficult. You only hear the success stories, but the real journey is adversity, persistence, and the will to keep going.”
— Britt Kane, Co-Founder & CEO, Intrepid Networks
The Moment Britt Realized Public Safety Needed a Better Way
Before founding Intrepid Networks, Britt Kane spent years in GovTech, working with Federal agencies both overseas and in the U.S. When he shifted his focus to state and local public safety nearly a decade after 9/11, one thing stunned him: despite all that had happened, little had changed. Fire crews, police officers, and EMS teams were still relying on radios as their primary tool for critical communication. And those radios had problems. Responders could not always hear one another. Agencies could not communicate across disparate systems. Information came across unclear, incomplete, or delayed. During major incidents, “radio clutter” made it nearly impossible to get critical updates through. “I remember thinking we hadn’t solved anything,” Britt said. It was not a lack of will or capability; it was simply a lack of tools. At the same time, smartphones have become ubiquitous in business and daily life. Britt and his team realized they could be a low-cost, highly accessible platform for delivering real-time intelligence responders desperately needed. That idea became the spark for Intrepid Networks: augment the radio, not replace it, with a digital command platform built for modern public safety.
A Simple Idea That Solved a Critical Problem
The early vision was straightforward: provide Responders the information they repeatedly asked for on the radio—
Where are you? Can you repeat that? What is happening now?
—through a platform that offers real-time location, shared maps, simple messaging, emergency alerts, and digital forms.
When Intrepid introduced its platform to a major agency still using giant printed maps and chess pieces to track units, the response was instantaneous. Within minutes of seeing live location markers on a digital map, the agency rolled up the old board and put it away. “It was both shocking and exciting,” Britt recalls. “Shocking because of how outdated some operations still were. Exciting because we knew we could truly help.” Today the platform is used not only during major incidents but also in daily operations from inspections to shift coordination building the muscle memory responders need in high-stakes moments.
A Platform Proven to Protect Communities
One of Intrepid’s most powerful community value impacts has been in crowded public events where responders must locate missing children. Large fairs, rodeos, and festivals often experience several missing-child cases a day. Using Intrepid’s real-time location and instant photo-sharing, agencies have cut search times from one to two hours down to five minutes. It is a simple example with profound implications: the right data, delivered instantly, saves lives.
A Founder Who Left Big Tech to Build What Did Not Exist
Before launching Intrepid, Britt worked at Bell Labs and Lockheed Martin Laboratories. The experience was invaluable but not energizing. He started to work in startups and small companies thereafter. After his last small company venture prior to Intrepid was acquired by a large corporation, Britt realized he still did not enjoy big-company culture. He wanted to build something nimble, meaningful, and directly tied to impact. So, he went back to what he knew best: innovation, entrepreneurship, and mission-driven technology. With a network of early investors, many of whom focused on socially meaningful solutions; Intrepid Networks was born. The company survived the Great Recession and Covid, navigated slow government technology adoption, and grew steadily through a decade of evolving public safety needs.
A Team of Experts Built for Mission-Critical Work
Intrepid employs roughly 45–50 full-time employees, nearly all seasoned professionals with a decade or more of experience. Their Orlando-based engineering, product, sales, support, and marketing teams operate in a hybrid model, while an additional group supports advanced communications and counter-UAS work for the U.S. Army in Maryland. The company is not structured for entry-level hires. As Britt puts it, “We are a freight train. When people get on the Intrepid ride, they must hit the ground running.” Experience is essential, and strong talent is drawn to the mission, the culture, and the impact the platform delivers. Attrition is remarkably low, zero departures last year, because employees believe in the purpose and embrace the work.
Strong, Sustainable Growth Fueled by Demand and Trust
Intrepid grew revenue by approximately 30% last year and added new positions as it pursued and achieved FedRAMP High accreditation, one of the most rigorous security standards in government technology. Accreditation allows Intrepid to support highly sensitive data, from personal identifiable information to real-time responder locations, giving agencies the assurance they need to adopt modern digital tools. And the need has never been greater. Increased natural disasters, complex public events, and evolving civil emergencies have created a landscape where responders require faster, clearer, more actionable information. Intrepid’s platform is built for exactly that world.
A Culture Anchored in Purpose
Ask Britt to describe Intrepid’s culture, and he will answer with one word: mission. The team is driven by the belief that their work directly impacts responder safety and community outcomes. Every engineer, marketer, and product leader understands their role in supporting the people who protect the public. It creates unity, clarity, and focus rare qualities in tech, and essential in public safety.
The Biggest Challenges: Slow Adoption and Federal Chaos
Intrepid’s early years were slowed not by technology or product limitations, but by government reluctance. Agencies took years to provide smartphones to responders and even longer to transition to cloud-based systems. Today, those barriers have largely fallen as younger, tech-ready generations rise into leadership and as transparency demands reshape public expectations. The biggest challenge now is Federal instability budget delays, political gridlock, and inconsistent purchasing cycles. Ironically, while federal turbulence strains procurement, it simultaneously increases demand for Intrepid’s capabilities as emergencies and large-scale incidents become more frequent. “It’s a yin-yang situation,” Britt says. “We have to navigate uncertainty, but we’re also the right product for these times.”
Why Florida Works
Though not originally from Florida, Britt has spent most of his adult life there, drawn by opportunity, talent, and a growing tech ecosystem. Today, nearly all of Intrepid’s product teams operate in the Orlando area. Florida provides proximity to talent, a business-friendly environment, and a quality of life that attracts employees from across the country. “For our company, there really hasn’t been a downside,” Britt says.
Serving the Community by Serving Public Safety
Intrepid does not need additional programs to give back their mission is inherently community service. Every improvement they deliver strengthens agencies, protects responders, and safeguards the public. As one GrowFL judge put it, “Your company is the community.”
Why Being Named a GrowFL Company to Watch Matters
For Britt, recognition comes at the perfect time. Intrepid has matured past the start-up phase, gained national traction, and built a reputation for delivering solutions that directly improve public safety operations. The honor is validation not just for him, but for the team that has poured expertise, dedication, and purpose into the work.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
Britt offers two pieces of wisdom shaped by years in tech entrepreneurship:
- Network relentlessly.
Your early investors, customers, and partners will determine your trajectory. Build relationships before you need them.
- Expect adversity because it is coming.
“People hear about the mega successes,” Britt says. “What they don’t hear is that 70% of tech software companies fail before $1 million, and less than 1% ever reach $10 million.” Hardship is not a sign you are doing something wrong it is the path to success.
About GrowFL’s Programs
GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch (FLCTW)
The Florida Companies to Watch program, hosted annually by GrowFL, celebrates top second-stage companies across the state for their impressive growth and entrepreneurial success. This prestigious program recognizes 50 standout businesses each year, chosen from hundreds of nominees. Honorees are celebrated for their innovation, economic impact on Florida’s economy, and the ability to scale effectively. Through FLCTW, GrowFL not only acknowledges these companies’ achievements but also brings them into a spotlight that enhances their visibility in the marketplace. The event offers an extraordinary opportunity for networking, sharing best practices, and gaining exposure to potential investors and partners, making it a cornerstone for fostering business growth and recognition within Florida’s vibrant business community.
