Building a scalable #drone company is no longer just about technology — it’s about execution.
At Aerial Cities 2024, the panel on #funding a scalable business model brought together top voices from both startup and investment circles to share what really makes drone ventures fundable and #scalable in today’s capital environment. Their advice? Focus less on the pitch deck, and more on the #business behind the drone.
Key takeaways from the panel:
➡️ Market fragmentation is a major barrier. Too many companies are chasing too little #revenue, and it’s diluting investor confidence.
➡️ #Pilot projects are no longer impressive. If your system isn’t generating daily usage or ongoing revenue, it’s not considered viable.
➡️ It’s not just about #airworthiness — it’s about business readiness and financial fluency. That means certifications, compliance, field support, and scaling strategy.
➡️ What makes a drone company attractive for investors in 2025? Clear market focus, proven use cases, and the ability to articulate a scalable business model — strengthened by real numbers and strong execution.
Moderated by Kara Jones, Director of GENIUS NY, this discussion featured Mark Green, Managing Director & Head of Technology Banking at Ladenburg Thalman; Eric Brock, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Ondas Holdings; Gwen Lighter, CEO of GoAero; Philip Buchan, COO at Cyberhawk; and Alex Pachikov, Co-Founder & CEO of Sunflower Labs.
Watch the full panel discussion to find out what investors are really looking for — and how drone startups can stand out in a crowded market.
Eszter Kovács is the Co-founder and CEO of the DroneTalks Group, which is a collection of services and platforms advancing the entirety of the drone industry ecosystem. Currently, members of the DroneTalks Group include DroneTalks, DroneTalks Jobs and Aerial Cities.
DroneTalks is an online platform created to spread ideas and educate professionals in the drone industry ecosystem. Our educational content empowers people of every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the industry and the innovative ideas within it.
DroneTalks Jobs is the first job portal tailored for the drone industry. The platform connects emerging organisations with skilled professionals seeking new opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.
Aerial Cities is an exclusive, invite-only event for decision-makers in the drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) industries. The event enables governments, cities, CAAs, private drone organisations and users to collaborate and strategise the future of urban drone operations.
Eszter Kovács is also a drone industry expert and regularly contributes to major magazines about the latest trends; these include publications such as Commercial UAV News and Commercial Drone Professional. In addition to this, she is an advisor for several start-ups, such as Globhe. Her role as an advisor extends as well to her role on the advisory board of drone-related initiatives like AUVSI Xponential and Commercial UAV while also fulfilling her commitment as a Swiss Drone Industry Association board member.
These roles are backed by her extensive experience as a technical innovation expert where she contributed to the growth of several companies after leading and mentoring the implementation of complex projects in the drone industry. Eszter still continues to advise leaders on strategic planning and operational transformation initiatives. In 2020, she was also approached by the Global UTM Association to become the director of more than 40 UTM leaders through a 6-month restructuring initiative.
Eszter Kovács is also head of one of the largest diversity initiatives in the drone industry called Women behind the Drone Revolution, which was launched in 2020.
Learn more about Eszter Kovács at DroneTalks.online and follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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