What
Open-source drone technology design, engineering and manufacturing company.
Disrupting
The traditional aerial vehicle design and manufacturing process.
Source: 3D Robotics
Headquarters: San Diego, Calif.
CEO: Chris Anderson
Year Founded: 2009
Number of Employees: 70
Funding: $5 million
Key Investors: True Ventures and O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures
Vital Stats
- Manufactures ready-to-use drones in Tijuana, Mexico
- Can buy a drone from their online store for as low as $400 (udrones.com)
- Manufacturing arm of the DIY Drones community (diydrones.com)
- In 2012, sales exceeded $5 million; on pace to double in 2013
- Co-founder Jordi Muñoz made first drone at age of 20 splicing Nintendo Wii wires with mini copter
- First 40 drone kits were sold at $40 in 2009 and sold out on day one
- Has now sold 30,000 units
- Worldwide drone spending expected to reach into tens of billions of dollars
- Early adopters include agriculture, search and rescue, construction and wildlife management
On Disruption
"I'd define disruption as 'Order of magnitude innovation.' Products or services that are factors of ten cheaper, faster, better, smaller or easier to use. When you throw that kind of innovation into a market, it is intrinsically disruptive (usually to the benefit of consumers)."
