Hey, thanks for joining for another week of New Venture Weekly.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to fly a drone you’ll know that it’s a pretty fun thing to do.
I just got one and it got me thinking of businesses I could start with a drone, because let’s be honest, drones are f*****g cool.
So I made a list of every single profitable drone business idea I could find.
Let’s jump in!
🗞️ Things worth checking out
The Problem Database has officially launched! 🥳
The best businesses solve specific problems so I’ve created an ever-expanding database of problems that are begging for a better solution.
Are you tired of wasting time and resources on business ideas that just don’t stick? It’s not because you’re not smart or hardworking - it's because you’re not focused on solving the right problems.
This database takes the guesswork out of entrepreneurship. Instead of sifting through endless ideas, you’ll have access to a curated list of high-potential problems that are begging to be solved.
Here's what you get:
Problems & pain points
Potential solutions
Competitive analysis
Research to back it all up
Benefits:
Focused Strategy: Direct your efforts toward problems with proven demand and strong potential for success.
Time Savings: Cut down on research time with ready-made competitive analysis and research.
Lifetime Access: As new problems and opportunities emerge, you’ll be the first to know, without paying a penny more.
⭐️ Examples:
Zipline – Using drones to deliver medical supplies to remote areas.
Flytrex - Drone food delivery service.
Skydio - Autonomous drones powered by AI for industries like infrastructure inspection, public safety, and defence.
DroneDeploy – A SaaS platform that provides mapping and analytics using drone data.
Aquiline Drones - Offering drone-as-a-service solutions.
Zeitview - Drone inspection software and services.
Aerial Look - Video marketing services for real estate companies (utilising drones).
Drone Motion - Drone services from cinematic filming to inspections.
Solent Sky Services - Drone services for events, construction, maritime and motorsport industries.
Nightingale Security - Aerial security services.
Easy Aerial - Military-grade autonomous Drone-in-a-Box solutions for security needs.
👎 Problems:
Delivery delays: Speed up last-mile deliveries.
Remote area access: Reach isolated locations faster.
High inspection risks: Safely inspect infrastructure (e.g., bridges, turbines).
Crop monitoring: Precision farming with real-time data.
Search and rescue: Cover large areas quickly in emergencies.
Wildlife monitoring: Non-invasive tracking of animals.
Traffic monitoring: Real-time updates from the air.
Event filming: Affordable aerial footage for events.
Environmental assessments: Safely assess natural disasters.
Security gaps: Enhanced surveillance for large properties.
📈 Stats:
The global drone market was valued at $43 billion in 2024. (source)
The drone industry grew by 4.71% last year, with over 33,000 companies listed. (source)
Over 2.1 million people worldwide work in the drone industry. (source)
The FAA has registered 855,860 drones in the United States as of 2024. (source)
63% of drone registrations (536,183) were for recreational purposes, while 37% (316,075) were for commercial operations.(source)
The military drone market is expected to reach $11.47 billion by 2024. (source)
The global drone market is projected to reach $55.8 billion by 2030. (source)
96% of drone owners in the US are men, while only 4% are women. (source)
DJI is the largest consumer drone manufacturer, with 54% global market share in 2024 and 80% in the US market. (source)
🧐 Opportunities:
Agriculture and Precision Farming: Drones can be used for crop monitoring, soil analysis, irrigation management, and targeted spraying of pesticides/fertilizers.
Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance: Drones can inspect bridges, buildings, power lines, solar panels, and wind turbines.
Real Estate and Construction: Aerial photography and videography for property marketing, progress monitoring, and site surveying.
Media and Entertainment: Aerial photography and videography for news coverage, films, and special events.
Delivery Services: Companies can use drone delivery for packages, medical supplies, and food (like Zipline).
Security and Surveillance: Drones can monitor large areas, assist in law enforcement, and provide security for events.
Environmental Monitoring and Conservation: Drones can track wildlife, assess environmental changes, and assist in conservation efforts.
Events: Drones can be used to film events such as festivals, conferences and so on.
Custom Drone Building: Just like the custom PC market, you could build custom drones for people or supply the parts to help people build their own.
Drone Repair and Maintenance: People crash their drones all the time. Offering a service that fixes and maintains them could help save people a lot of money.
Roof Inspection Services: Detect leaks and damage without the need for ladder work, providing detailed reports with imagery.
Aerial Surveying and Mapping: Create 3D maps for construction and real estate projects using LiDAR technology.
Wildlife Conservation Monitoring: Use thermal cameras to track animal populations and monitor poaching activities.
Drone Light Shows: Choreograph stunning aerial displays for events, offering a creative alternative to traditional fireworks. These are currently fairly expensive for regular people to hire and generally just done for big events - but bringing them to a more affordable market could be pretty interesting.
Coastal Erosion Monitoring: Track shoreline changes over time to assist in climate change studies and coastal management.
Drone Security Patrols: Provide automated surveillance for large properties using AI-powered anomaly detection. Industrial sites, events, and large estates can enhance their security measures with round-the-clock aerial monitoring.
Aerial Advertising and Banner Towing: Offer sky banners and aerial billboards for creative advertising solutions.
Sports Event Coverage: Capture dynamic footage for broadcasts and offer training analysis for coaches.
Building Heat Loss Detection: Use thermal imaging to check for energy efficiency and identify insulation issues.
Solar Panel Inspection: Perform quick and efficient checks to detect damaged or underperforming panels.
Drone-assisted Painting Services: Paint tall buildings or structures with less risk and cost compared to manual methods.
Drone Racing Training School: Teach piloting skills for racing drones and organizes local competitions.
Drone Insurance Services: Provide specialized insurance for drone operators, covering liability and equipment damage.
Drone Fleet Management Software: Develop tools to track and manage multiple drones, including flight logging and maintenance scheduling.
Drone Stock Photography and Videography Capture unique aerial images and footage to sell on stock photography platforms or sell directly to local media companies. Creating stock photography for niche areas or smaller cities could be interesting.
🛠 How to Build:
Practice:
It’s probably a good idea to learn how to use drones first before starting a business.
Pick Your Niche:
Decide whether you want to focus on delivery, photography, surveillance, or something else. Choose a sector with high demand and fewer competitors.
Research Regulations:
In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates drone use. Make sure you understand the local laws and get any necessary certifications.
Choose the Right Equipment:
Invest in quality drones that fit your niche. For instance, high-quality cameras for photography, or durable drones for deliveries.
Build Your Network:
Connect with industry leaders, clients, and local businesses. Partnerships can help you grow faster.
Develop a Pricing Model:
Whether it’s pay-per-service or subscription-based, ensure your pricing makes sense for your market.
🚀 How to Grow:
Social Media: Showcase your work on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. If you’re targeting businesses it’s worth also posting on LinkedIn.
Free Demos: Offer free demos to potential clients
Events: Attend industry trade shows and conferences
Broad SEO Content: Create helpful SEO blog content to establish expertise and rank higher in search engines.
Optimize for Local SEO Many drone services are location-based. Optimize your website and online profiles for local search terms.
Paid Ads: Use targeted Facebook and Google ads
Partner with Complementary Businesses Form alliances with businesses that could benefit from your services, like wedding planners, construction companies, or real estate agencies.
Create a Stunning Portfolio Showcase your best drone footage and photos on your website and social media.
Collaborate with Influencers Partner with travel bloggers, real estate agents, or event planners in your area.
Create Educational Content Start a blog or YouTube channel with tutorials and industry insights.
Develop a Referral Program Encourage satisfied clients to refer new business by offering incentives like discounts on future services.
Utilize Email Marketing Build an email list and send regular newsletters with your latest work, industry news, and special offers.
Showcase Client Testimonials Display positive feedback from satisfied clients prominently on your website and marketing materials. Video testimonials can be particularly effective.
Offer Package Deals Create service bundles that provide value to clients while increasing your revenue per customer.
🔥 Cool Stuff
(Bookmark these)
Find problems that need business solutions - Access the Problems & Pain Points Database.
Want to grow your business? Here’s a database of tools that can help.
Want to promote your startup for free? Here’s a database of free places to promote your startup.
Want to turn your idea into a business? Check out this business idea checklist.
Want to differentiate from your competitors? Check out this Differentiation Strategy Guide
Want to run ads for your business? Use these proven psychological ad positioning strategies.
🤯 Recommendations
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