Dean Drako is an American businessman. Drako was founder, president and CEO of Barracuda NetworksSJ Mercury News Biz Break: Barracuda Networks IPO primes pump for Twitter from 2003 to July 2012. He is owner and CEO of Brivo,Channel Futures Eagle Eye's Dean Drako Grabs Brivo In $50 Million Deal June 11, 2015Security Systems News Brivo and Eagle Eye Networks merge to create global cloud-native security company December 29, 2025 and co-founder and CEO of IC Manage and Drako Motors.Silicon Hills Drako Motors Creates Software to run Electric Sports Cars December 1, 2015 He is also owner and chairman of Cobalt AI.SDM Mag Dean Drako Expands Security Portfolio With Acquisition of Cobalt AI Jun 4, 2024
Drako grew up in Detroit, Michigan, founding his first company in high school; his company T-net's bulletin board system software package was used to share messages via modems. He sold T-net and used the profits to fund his college educationCTAN Texas Business Minds Austin: Eagle Eye Networks President & CEO Dean Drako retrieved 7.19.2024 at University of Michigan, where he graduated with a BS in electrical engineering. He later moved to California to attend UC Berkeley, earning an MS in electrical engineering.Security Informed Dean Drako retrieved 7.19.24
As of 2020, Drako is a holder of 53 patents, including patents on video streaming, video storage, video analytics, digital image processing, network security & protocols, digital circuits, biochemical assays, and electric automobiles.US Patent Collection database search November 2021
Business career
DAI and IC Manage
Drako has founded two companies in the semiconductor industry. In 1992, Drako founded Design Acceleration Inc, selling it to Cadence Design Systems in 1999.EDN DAI Reorganizes for Next Stage Growth 7.17.97EDN Cadence Buy Boosts System-On-Chip Design Verification Feb 8, 1999 In 2003, he and Shiv Sikand founded IC Manage a design & IP management company.EETimes IC design management goes global 04.23.2007 Drako continues as IC Manage's President and CEO.BizJournals IC Manage's CEO moves to Austin, will run local office September 17, 2012
Barracuda Networks
Also in 2003, Drako founded Barracuda Networks and introduced their email spam and virus appliance product line.CTAN January 2013 Deepchip: How Dean Drako's 1/2 billion dollar "side hobby" might change EDA August 2012 Other Barracuda product lines launched during Drako's tenure were: web filters, load balancers,IT & Security Portal Barracuda Networks Launches Barracuda Load Balancer email archiving,Reseller News November 2007 and digital PBXs.Enterprise Networking Planet: Barracuda Launches CudaTel PBX August 2009
Drako executed six acquisitions by Barracuda Networks: In 2007, NetContinuum, an application controller company;SCMagazine Barracuda Networks buys NetContinuum in 2008, BitLeap, a provider of cloud-based backup services,eweek and 3SP, an SSL and VPN company;Eweek Barracuda Networks Breaks into SSL VPN Space in 2009, Yosemite Technologies, for incremental backup of applications;PCWorld Backup Merger Unites Barracuda, Yosemite a controlling interest in phion AG, an Austria-based public enterprise-class firewalls company,Silicon Valley Business Journal Barracuda Networks takes controlling interest in Phion and Purewire Inc, a software as a service (SaaS) cloud-based web filtering and security company.Atlanta Business Chronicle Barracuda buys Purewire Inc. Drako contributed to or supported 16 different open source projects while running Barracuda including Valgrind, Apache, and the Free Software Foundation.Barracuda Open Source Community Retrieved 2012
Barracuda was ranked #2 by Glassdoor in 2011, with Drako receiving an 88% approval rating.Business Insider The 25 Best Tech Companies To Work For In 2011 Drako resigned from Barracuda Networks in July 2012 to found Eagle Eye Networks, while continuing on Barracuda's board of directors until 2014.CRN Former Barracuda Networks CEO Acquires Cloud Access Control Company For $50M At the time of Drako’s resignation, Barracuda stated it was profitable, generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue, close to 30% year-over-year growth since inception, and had surpassed 150,000 customers.Bloomberg October 2012CRN Barracuda CEO Resigns
Eagle Eye Networks
Drako left Barracuda Networks in July 2012 to found Eagle Eye Networks, a cloud-based video security company, as CEOWall Street Journal Venture Capital Serial Entrepreneur and Ex-Barracuda CEO Launches Eagle Eye Networks to Take Video to the Cloud January 21, 2014MarketWatch Startup puts video surveillance in the cloud Jan 21, 2014. He officially launched Eagle Eye Networks in 2014, stating that his desire to found the company was driven by his frustration when trying to set up a video security system for a remote office while CEO of Barracuda; he wanted to make video surveillance more accessible and far easier to use by leveraging the cloud.The Wall Street Journal Barracuda Networks Co-Founder Launches Video Surveillance Startup Jan 2014MarketWatch Startup puts video surveillance in the cloud Jan 2014 Drako has been credited with establishing the concept of ‘true cloud’ in the physical security industry, emphasizing the differences between applications designed specifically for the cloud and legacy-design applications being run on a cloud-hosted virtual server.Security Info Watch Real words or buzzwords? True Cloud Sept 17, 2017
Drako initially financed Eagle Eye Networks himself, later raising multiple rounds: an undisclosed amount from Michael Dell in 2014, a $40M series E in 2020, and a $100 million Series F in 2023, with Drako continuing be the majority owner. Drako has stated that more recent funding was to accelerate the company's AI execution.Venture Beat Michael Dell is funding this company to move surveillance cameras onto the cloud July 31, 2014BizJournals Surveillance startup Eagle Eye Networks raises $40M from Accel to expand AI applications Oct 28, 2020TechCrunch Eagle Eye Networks and Brivo raise $192M in a joint round to boost cloud security business. May 17, 2023 Eagle Eye Networks ranked four times on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list of fastest growing technology companies in North America (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023).Austin Inno Eagle Eye Networks Named Fastest Growing Video Surveillance Company by Deloitte November 7, 2019Security Sales & Integration Eagle Eye Networks Named Fastest Growing Video Surveillance Company by Deloitte November 19, 2020Security Sales & Integration Deloitte Names Eagle Eye Networks Fastest Growing Video Surveillance Company for 3rd Consecutive Year November 23, 2021Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Rankings 2023 retrieved 7.17.24
In December 2025, Drako merged Eagle Eye Networks with Brivo, becoming CEO of Brivo.Security Info Watch Brivo and Eagle Eye Networks Complete Long-Anticipated Merger, Creating the Physical Security Industry’s Largest AI-Native Cloud Platform retrieved 7.17.24
Brivo In 2015, Drako acquired cloud access control system provider Brivo for $50M, as Brivo's Chairman.Channel Futures Eagle Eye's Dean Drako Grabs Brivo In $50 Million Deal June 11, 2015 and operating it as separate entity from Eagle Eye NetworksSecurity Info Watch Brivo acquired by Eagle Eye Networks Founder Dean Drako for $50M June 11, 2015The Robot Report What’s Behind the Acquisition of Cobalt Robotics by Dean Drako June 5, 2024 for more than 10 years until the two companies merged in December 2025, with Drako taking on the CEO role for Brivo following the merger.Security Systems News Brivo and Eagle Eye Networks merge to create global cloud-native security company December 29, 2025
In November 2022, Brivo closed long-term senior secured credit facility of $75 million with Runway Growth Capital.Security Sales & Integration Brivo Receives $75M Credit Facility From Runway Growth Capital. November 8, 2022 In 2023, Brivo raised $92M in financing, with Drako continuing to hold a majority share of the company.TechCrunch Eagle Eye Networks and Brivo raise $192M in a joint round to boost cloud security business. May 17, 2023
Cobalt AI acquisition In June 2024, Drako acquired Cobalt AI, a provider of enterprise AI alarm filtering, remote monitoring and security robot solutions, for an undisclosed sum, where he also is chairman.
Drako Motors
Drako is co-founder and CEO of Drako Motors, an automotive software platform provider, which on August 6, 2015 announced its first product, the Drako DriveOS, a single VCU (vehicle control unit) operating system which controls all four wheels independently.”Drako Motors Debuts Company and Introduces Drako DriveOS Platform for Electric Sports Cars” In June 2019, Drako Motors pre-announced their Drako GTE electric quad-motor supercar, claiming speeds of up to 206 MPH and 1200 horsepower. In August 2019, Drako Motors formally launched the all-electric production Drako GTE.Automobile Mag Automobile's 20 Best Car Stories of the YearInside Evs See All The Slick And Wild EVs Revealed In Pebble Beach. In November 2022, Drako Motors launched the Drako Dragon all-electric luxury SUV, with 2,000 HP and 200+ mph maximum speed, quad motor powertrain, and two gullwing doors.Car and Driver $290,000 Drako Dragon EV SUV Packs 2000 Horsepower, Gullwing Doors. Retrieved Dec 28, 2022MotorTrend 2,000-HP Drako Dragon Makes Case For Being Least-Hinged Electric SUV Ever. Retrieved Dec 28, 2022
PermRecord and Permanent Legacy Foundation In 2015, Drako created the PermRecord Foundation with the stated purpose "to ensure the preservation of materials placed in its trust." By 2019 this mission had evolved "to preserve and provide perpetual access to the digital legacy of all people for the historical and educational benefit of future generations."Propublica PermRecord Foundation 990 2019 As of 2023, there were 7 board members, and Drako had the exclusive right to set the number of authorized directors, elect, and remove directors.Propublica PermRecord Foundation 990 2023 The foundation accepts donations and is supported by contributions;Propublica Permanent Legacy website, retrieved 3.2.2026 its website displays its legal name and charity registration.Propublica Permanent Legacy brand assets, retrieved 3.2.2026
Awards and recognition
Drako has been named a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award twice: first, as CEO of Barracuda Networks (Northern California, Networking and Communications) in 2007,Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame and later as CEO of Eagle Eye Networks (Gulf South Region) in 2024.SP&T News: Dean Drako recognized with Entrepreneur Of The Year Gulf South Award 2024-06-19 In 2014, Goldman Sachs included Drako in its list of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.Security Systems News: Goldman Sachs names Eagle Eye Networks founder one of '100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2014' Oct 2014
Drako has been on the University of Michigan Advisory Council since 2012Michigan Engineering Advisory Board members and was the commencement speaker for University of Michigan Engineering School in 2016.Commencement Speaker University of Michigan Engineering graduation speakers. Retrieved 2024-07-16. In 2014, he was UC Berkeley's Engineering Week keynote speaker, where he discussed his five principles of entrepreneurship.Berkeley Engineering Channel Retrieved May 2014 He has also been an invited speaker for UC Berkeley's Richard Newton lecture series.Richard Newton Distinguish Lectures Retrieved July 16, 2024
He was elected five times to the board of directors of the ESD Alliance, from 2012 to 2023.Kathryn Kranen elected chair of EDA Consortium EETimes 2012-06-01Gale Academic: EDA Consortium Elects Officers and Board Members 2014-06-09EDA Cafe: Electronic System Design Alliance Elects Board of Directors to Two-Year Term 2016-05-25Semi: ESD Alliance Elects 10-Member Governing Council 2019-05-083D in Cities: ESD Alliance Names 10-Member Governing Council to Two-Year Term 2021-05-20