My name is Carson Bryant, and Bee Buoyant began with a long-term effort to create flood-resilient infrastructure for apiaries. As a beekeeper, I understand how much work goes into caring for colonies — and how devastating flood losses can be. What began as an idea grew into years of design, testing, refinement, and real-world flood validation, culminating in the ArkHive platform.
Bee Buoyant is founder-led and built through years of persistence, hands-on prototyping, and field testing. With the support of family, early believers, and a long development process, ArkHive evolved into a patent-protected platform now being prepared for first production in Texas.
From inspiration to invention, Bee Buoyant and ArkHive have been shaped by years of design, testing, and real-world flood validation.
18 Years | 20+ Prototypes | 375 lb Load Tested | 6' Flood Validation
2008 — The Beginning
It all began in my mother’s backyard under an old pecan tree. Watching her inspect a hive and seeing honeybees up close sparked a fascination that’s lasted to the present.
2010 — Love for Honeybees
Over the next few years, I began photographing pollinators, focusing primarily on honeybees.
2012 — Growing Interest
As my mother’s colonies grew, so did our conversations about me becoming a beekeeper one day.
2015 — Inspiration
After years of visiting my mother’s hives, I was ready to become a beekeeper. Lacking a yard or roof access at my townhome, I considered using stormwater detention basins as apiary sites and sketched ideas to turn them into pollinator habitats and bee yards. Researching hive protection during floods revealed frequent global losses and a lack of reliable solutions, inspiring me to design a floating platform for honeybee colonies.
2018 — Bee Buoyant Founded
After I shared the idea with a coworker who expressed interest in investing, Bee Buoyant, Inc. was formed. Around the same time, my father began volunteering his carpentry and creative building skills to help develop early prototypes as field testing and design refinement began.
2019 — Culvert Flood Test + Registered Trademark.
Prototype 6 demonstrated that ArkHive could lift during flooding and return safely to the ground, with 85 lbs inside the hive floating successfully during 2.5 feet of storm-induced runoff in a drainage culvert.
ArkHive becomes a registered trademark.
2020 - First Major Flood Validation
Prototype 16 was installed on a creek bank. After a heavy rainstorm brought 4 feet of floodwater, the ArkHive—with 175 lbs inside—floated stably at that height for several days and returned safely to the ground as the water receded.
2021 — Patent awarded + ArkHive passed repeated heavy-weight flood tests
• Patent awarded September 21
• Prototype 17 lifted 285 lbs in a two-foot creek swell
• Prototype 18 lifted 375 lbs in 3 feet 10 inches of floodwater
• Prototype 19 lifted 375 lbs in 4 feet 8 inches of floodwater
A GoFundMe campaign raised capital to fund four ArkHive prototypes, equipment, and honeybee colonies to be installed in flood-prone pastureland. Magnetized accessories and a clamp-mounted umbrella were also tested.
2022 — Go-to-market version chosen + I become a Beekeeper with the ArkHive + Texas manufacturer is selected
Prototype 20 selected as go-to-market model; exact replica installed at Creekbank test site.
I became a beekeeper, tending bees on four ArkHive prototypes in pastureland. Magnet-mounted tools and a clamp-mounted umbrella made hive care efficient.
My mom comes to visit my honeybees.
Selected Texas manufacturer for Rotomolded ArkHive production.
2023 — Waiting for the Next Major Flood Event
After continued testing and field placement, the ArkHive remained installed and ready for the next real-world flood validation opportunity.
2024 — Record 6-Foot Flood Validation
During Hurricane Beryl, creek water rose 6 feet at the test site, lifting the ArkHive until it reached its max stops, which kept it secured on the anchor poles. Water ultimately rose above the ArkHive and stopped just below the bottom board.
2025 — Final CAD and Manufacturing Preparation
Following Hurricane Beryl validation, the ArkHive was removed from the field test site and delivered to the selected Texas manufacturer for final measurements and design refinements. Final production planning focused on durability, buoyancy, UV protection, and market-ready specifications.
2026 — Where We Are Now
After years of design, testing, and real-world flood validation, I am now preparing Bee Buoyant for the next major step: bringing ArkHive into first production in Texas. In 2026, the focus is on crowdfunding, manufacturing readiness, and continued accessory development as I work to turn a founder-led, patent-protected idea into a launch-ready product and begin building the early community of supporters, backers, and potential investors around it.