Sky is Europe’s leading Entertainment Company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT and broadband in five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland. Sky offers the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.

Sky UK

Courtside Ventures invest in early-stage founders that are transforming the intersection of sports, technology, and media. Built on the backs of highly specialized sports and media entrepreneurs and investors, Courtside Ventures look to utilize their industry networks and deep domain knowledge to bring unparalleled value to their companies. They build long-term partnerships with management, by providing ongoing strategic support across all aspects of operations.

Courtside Ventures

Max Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in consumer tech and health-tech companies. Max Ventures primarily invests in digital commerce, digital media, fintech, and digital Health. It was founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York, United States.

Max Ventures

Liberty Media Corporation operates in the video and online commerce, media, communications, and entertainment businesses. Liberty Media is a holding company with various subsidiaries and interests in the media and entertainment industry, including ownership stakes in Formula 1, SiriusXM, Live Nation Entertainment, and the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team.

Liberty Media

Hearst Ventures makes strategic investments in companies operating at the intersection of media, information, and technology.

Hearst Ventures

Lux Capital manages over $5 billion in assets focused on founding, seed, early-stage, and growth investments at the intersection of technology and the sciences. Lux takes an active role in helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses in high-growth sectors. Its investment team has built over 20 companies from scratch. Lux's investment strategy ensures portfolio companies are better connected, have a deeper insight, and command industry leadership faster than their competitors.

Lux Capital

World Wrestling Entertainment is an American sports entertainment and integrated media company.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Lerer Hippeau is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded and operated in New York City. Since 2010, they have invested in entrepreneurs with great ideas who aren’t afraid to do hard things. Their portfolio includes more than 400 enterprise and consumer businesses including Guideline, MIRROR, Blockdaemon, K Health, Allbirds, ZenBusiness, and Thrive. They’re experienced operators who invest early and stay in their founders’ corners as they build iconic companies.

Lerer Hippeau

RSE is a private investment firm made up of builders, innovators, partners and founders who focus on companies across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, food and lifestyle, and technology.    By combining a deep understanding of a founder’s mission with the strategic resources of its network, RSE elevates businesses at inflection points. Capabilities range from real estate strategy execution to marketing campaign development, and everything in between, while the RSE family includes the Miami Dolphins, International Champions Cup, VaynerMedia, SkOUT Secure Intelligence, Momofuku, Milk Bar and &pizza.

RSE Ventures

Allianz provides a comprehensive array of insurance and asset management solutions, including property-casualty, life, and health insurance for both private and corporate clients. Their extensive portfolio covers a broad spectrum of needs, ensuring tailored solutions for diverse customer requirements. With a focus on delivering quality service, It supports clients with both personal and corporate insurance needs.

Allianz

Allianz X is the digital investment unit of the Allianz Group and part of the Group’s Single Digital Agenda. Allianz X invests in digital growth companies that are part of its ecosystems related to insurance: Mobility, Connected Property, Connected Health, Wealth Management & Retirement, and Data Intelligence and Cybersecurity. It provides an interface between portfolio companies and the digital ecosystem within Allianz as well as drive innovation across Allianz’s operating entities and global lines of business.

Allianz X

Chaifetz Group is a venture capital and private equity firm specializing in early and mid-stage growth companies. Led by entrepreneur and investor Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, Chaifetz Group has an established track record of building businesses and working with management teams to create lasting value. Chaifetz Group was founded in 2012 and is based in Chicago, I.L.

Chaifetz Group

Touchdown Ventures is a corporate venture capital (CVC) firm that partners with corporations to invest in early and growth-stage companies across a variety of industries, including information technology, media, consumer, health, and industrial.

Touchdown Ventures

Third Wave is an early stage venture capital firm focused on the Digital Media sector.

Third Wave Digital

Exor Ventures is the venture capital arm of Exor, one of Europe's largest diversified holding companies. Exor Ventures focuses on early and growth-stage investments in technology-driven companies across various sectors, including digital services, fintech, cybersecurity, and mobility. Exor Ventures leverages its strategic insights and global network to identify promising startups with disruptive potential and supports them through funding, mentorship, and access to its extensive resources.   EXOR Seeds offers a truly different type of partnership to the select group of entrepreneurs that it backs: - As a fifth-generation family-led business, we proved that we are builders not traders; - Our permanent capital allows us to take a long-term view and put the interest of the companies We invest in first; - Our global network, across industries and geographies, is a unique advantage to entrepreneurs

Exor Ventures

Drone Racing League

Drone Racing League organizes drone racing tournaments and events with the goal of producing three-dimensional (3D) drone racing content that is appealing to a large number of people. The company's competitions and events include first-person perspective drone racing, in which pilots fly custom-designed, hand-built identical drones around sophisticated, thematic, and 3D racecourses, allowing participants to experience a variety of drone-related games.

The Drone Racing League (DRL) is a professional drone racing circuit that hosts high-speed competitions globally. Pilots fly custom-built FPV (first-person view) racing drones capable of exceeding 80 mph through complex aerial courses in stadiums and other venues. The drones are operated using controllers and FPV headsets that provide pilots with an immersive experience. DRL's core technology incorporates elements of virtual and augmented reality, enabling unique viewing experiences for fans.

What is the Drone Racing League?

Infinite Reality Acquires Drone Racing League for $250 Million

Drone Racing League’s Fast and Furious Come-Up

The Drone Racing League is the First Sport to Stream Entire Season in a Metaverse World

MultiGP Drone Racing League - MultiGP Drone Racing League

Infinite Reality to Acquire Drone Racing League

Drone Racing League Doubles Broadcast Reach Thanks To Growing Global Interest

Drone Racing League Acquired by Infinite Reality for $250M – AlleyWatch

The Premier Drone Racing League.

Taking commercial activities to new heights

Commercial Drone Tech

PE Weekly: Drone Racing League Acquired, Sterling Raises $3.5 Billion

Google Cloud

Google Cloud partnered with Drone Racing League (DRL), to enable DRL to host a drone race in a metaverse world built on the Algorand blockchain with Play-2-Earn elements.

Metaverse Experience Platforms

Platforms that focus on multiplayer gaming experiences in virtual worlds

Lockheed Martin

To develop smart driverless drone technology

Startups that provide drone-based services for a variety of use cases  (excluding payload delivery)

Bayerische Motoren Werke

BMW has agreed a partnership with the Drone Racing League (DRL) that will see the two work together to produce the fastest racing drone ever.

The Drone Racing League (DRL) is a professional drone racing circuit that hosts high-speed competitions globally. Pilots fly custom-built FPV (first-person view) racing drones capable of exceeding 80 mph through complex aerial courses in stadiums and other venues. The drones are operated using controllers and FPV headsets that provide pilots with an immersive experience. DRL's core technology incorporates elements of virtual and augmented reality, enabling unique viewing experiences for fans.
In addition to real-world events, DRL offers a true-to-life drone racing simulator (DRL SIM) that serves as a training platform for professional pilots while allowing casual gamers to experience the thrill of drone racing across major gaming platforms. The simulator replicates DRL's custom drones and race courses with remarkable accuracy.
DRL has experienced significant growth, reaching over 1 billion annual digital video views as of 2024. Its broadcasts have a global footprint of 320 million households through partnerships with top sports networks. In April 2024, Infinite Reality, a metaverse company, acquired DRL for USD 250 million, further solidifying the league's position in the immersive tech and entertainment space. Following the acquisition, DRL founder Nicholas Horbaczewski was promoted to Infinite Reality's Global President.
In April 2023, DRL became the first sports property to stream an entire season in the metaverse through its "DRL metaverse Marathon." This innovative approach allowed fans to experience the 2022-23 Algorand World Championship Season from immersive perspectives within a digital recreation of DRL SIM's popular MegaCity map.

SeekOps Inc. is a global leader in greenhouse gas emissions detection, quantification, and reporting solutions. The company deploys advanced sensor technology and state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems equipped with its proprietary SeekIR sensors to detect, localize, and accurately quantify methane emissions. SeekOps' autonomous drones leverage parts-per-billion sensitive sensors and leverage autonomous operations for efficient, repeatable, and consistent greenhouse gas emission surveys, facilitating rapid leak detection and quantification (LDAQ).
SeekOps' technology has received regulatory approval from various authorities, including the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for use as an Alternative Approved Instrument Measurement Method (Alt. AIMM) in February 2024, making it the first unmanned aerial system to receive such approval. In September 2022, SeekOps' technology was approved as part of an Alternative Fugitive Emission Management Program (Alt-FEMP) submitted by Repsol to the Alberta Energy Regulator.
The company's solutions are field-proven and have been deployed in emissions quantification surveys worldwide, supporting leading operators and meeting the highest standards, such as OGMP 2.0 and MiQ. In August 2023, SeekOps adapted NASA's technology, originally developed for the Mars Curiosity Rover, to measure methane emissions in the North Sea, demonstrating the versatility of its approach.
SeekOps' solutions have been instrumental in helping operators understand their emissions inventory and adopt cost-effective abatement tools, contributing to decarbonization efforts in the oil and gas industry.

SeekOps

Cando Drones is an Israeli company that provides advanced drone operations and management solutions. It specializes in organizing airspace, handling regulations, characterizing, selecting, and integrating drone systems, as well as managing ground logistics, training, and technical support. Cando Drones offers turnkey solutions that enable the exploitation of drone capabilities for various needs.
The company has demonstrated its expertise in delivering autonomous drone flights using different platforms. In April 2024, Cando Drones partnered with High Lander Aviation and Sentrycs to showcase an autonomous security solution at Caesarea Business Park. This system demonstrated rapid response protocols against simulated threats, utilizing High Lander's Orion drone fleet management platform.
Additionally, in April 2024, Cando Drones collaborated with High Lander to execute the first drone flight using Pelephone's new 5G MAX network, marking a significant milestone in drone connectivity and scalability in Israel. Cando Drones also played a pivotal role in the Israel National Drone Initiative, conducting various test flights across the country, including delivery flights, night flights, and traffic monitoring activities.

Cando Drones

MissionGO is a leading provider of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) solutions and services. The company specializes in critical infrastructure inspections and cargo delivery operations. MissionGO utilizes its advanced UAS platform, the MGV100, to perform comprehensive inspections of various infrastructure assets, including power lines, transmission poles, pipelines, and construction cranes. The MGV100 is a single-rotor, all-electric aircraft designed for long-endurance flights, with a range of up to 30 miles and a flight time exceeding one hour.MissionGO's infrastructure inspection services offer a safer, more reliable, and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional manual inspections. The company's UAS inspections minimize hazards, increase data quality and quantity, and provide detailed reports on asset conditions. MissionGO's cargo delivery operations involve transporting critical medical supplies, fresh produce, emergency kits, and other essential items to remote areas using its autonomous unmanned helicopters.In addition to its core services, MissionGO offers UAS training programs for first responders, helping them obtain FAA commercial pilot licenses and develop skills for various operational scenarios. The company has achieved significant milestones, including publishing the MGV100's FAA Airworthiness Criteria in the Federal Register in September 2022, a crucial step toward Type Certification and enabling advanced UAS operations.In October 2022, MissionGO secured a three-year, USD 50 million contract with Southern California Edison, one of the largest UAS services contracts globally, to inspect nearly 160,000 utility poles. This contract builds on MissionGO's successful partnership with Southern California Edison since 2019, during which the company conducted over 6,500 sorties and cataloged more than 1,200 flight hours, capturing data from 24,000 poles without any incidents.

MissionGo

Zing Drone Solutions is a company that specializes in developing innovative drone technology solutions. Their primary offering is the Z-RID, a proprietary Remote ID Broadcast Module that ensures compliance with FAA regulations for public safety and commercial drone operators. Launched in October 2023, the Z-RID received FAA Declaration of Compliance (DOC) Approval, making it compatible with various DJI enterprise and commercial drone models.
Recognizing the financial challenges faced by drone pilots due to the high costs of existing Remote ID modules, Zing Drone Solutions introduced the Z-RID Lite in January 2024. The Z-RID Lite is an affordable, stripped-down version of the original Z-RID, focusing solely on providing Remote ID compliance functionality. This innovative solution aims to make FAA regulation adherence accessible to all drone pilots, fostering a safer and more regulated airspace.
Zing Drone Solutions' commitment to innovation aligns with the needs of the drone community. The Z-RID Lite weighs only 30 grams and features GNSS positioning and Bluetooth four + five broadcasting capabilities, making it a lightweight and user-friendly solution for drone compliance.

Zing Drone Solutions

InDro Robotics is a leading Canadian company specializing in robotics research and development, as well as providing complex drone and ground robotic solutions, services, and training. Their expertise lies in engineering autonomous robots and drones for diverse applications, including complex operations, data collection, surveillance, and delivery services. InDro Robotics aims to make difficult work more efficient through innovative robotics.
The company serves as a manufacturer, integrator, and distributor of unmanned systems. For ground operations, they offer unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) from AgileX Robotics integrated with their proprietary InDro Commander technology. Additionally, they provide quadruped robots from Unitree Robotics equipped with the InDro Backpack integration. In the aerial domain, InDro Robotics distributes drones from various manufacturers and incorporates their InDro Pilot technology, enabling real-time data transfer over 5G for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions and onboard processing for autonomous operations.
InDro Robotics' solutions encompass a wide range of capabilities, including local computing, teleoperation, and autonomous functionality. Their robots can be outfitted with autonomy software developed in-house or tailored to clients' specific requirements. The company has completed over 7,000 mission hours, flown more than 4,000 kilometers, and executed over 400,000 safe and compliant flights across multiple countries.
In September 2023, InDro Robotics announced a strategic partnership with Invest Ottawa, taking over the management of Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab, rebranded as InDro Forge. This state-of-the-art facility offers prototyping services, including 3D metal printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and computational rendering, enabling clients to bring their ideas from concept to completion.

InDro Robotics

Startups providing cloud-based software solutions for gathering data via drones and leverage AI to provide analytics and insights

Startups providing cloud-based platforms for managing drone-based activities

Startups providing other services relating to drone operations including drone hangars, charging systems, insurance, and pilot marketplaces

Startups that provide and end-to-end solution for drone based-applications. Typically also provides drone pilot training programmes and managed services

Provides solutions for the operation of drones in an urban environment

A foundational component to the next generation of digital entertainment.

Esports

<div>
 
 Infinite Reality revealed its purchase of Drone Racing League (DRL) for USD 250 million, a transaction projected to close in Q2 2024. DRL, known for developing the DRL SIM esports game accessible on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, will be valued at USD 3.5 billion post-acquisition. DRL's CEO, Nicholas Horbaczewski, is set to become the global president of Infinite Reality.
 
</div>

Drone Racing League

Sources

EDGE Insights

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless