Founded by Prateek Srivastava, DroneAcharya, is continiuesly achieving new heights in the area of drone manufacturing, space tech and drone training. The success of DroneAcharya lies in its team work. Prateek Srivastava, Amit Takte and the core team have held prominent roles in the Remote Sensing and Geospatial industry throughout their careers. Prior to establishing DroneAcharya, Prateek and Amit were part of the inaugural Unicorn in the Drone Services Industry, PrecisionHawk. Prateek served as the Director of Sales and Business Development for the APAC region, while Amit Takte oversaw Drone Survey and Operations, and Anand Jadhav managed Drone data processing and GIS analytics.
Initial phase
In 2017, Prateek was inspired to initiate his own venture in the field of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) – DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations, tailored to meet the specific needs of the Indian market. This venture offered Drone as a Service and Data as a Service across various sectors, including Mining, Agriculture, Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Energy, and Utilities.
However, from 2018 to 2021, the team established Terra Drone Corporation’s Indian Group Company, named Terra Drone India, during which time DroneAcharya was in a dormant state. Fast forward to November 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, DroneAcharya resumed its activities with renewed vigour, functioning both as a Drone Service Provider and a
DGCA certified drone pilot training organisation.
Growth
Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Mahabharat’s Guru Dronacharya, who imparted wisdom and combat skills to legendary leaders, DroneAcharya is aimed to excel in the Drone Training Sector in Bharat. Today, DroneAcharya stands as one of the fastest-growing DGCA certified drone training organisations in Bharat and is the first private Drone Pilot Training institute to issue over 500 Remote Pilot Training Certificates within just 1.5 years. Having achieved prominence in the Indian Drone Pilot training sector, DroneAcharya has extended its operations into manufacturing. “BHUJANG,” a heavy-lift, super-high altitude, long-range drone with versatile capabilities was introduced. BHUJANG is recognised as Bharat’s First Super High Altitude Multi-Rotor Multi-Role Drone, capable of reaching an impressive altitude of 1,500 meters AGL (Above Ground Level) from a takeoff point as high as 4,800 meters, with a maximum altitude of 6,300 meters. It is also South Asia’s inaugural drone to offer combat, transport, and surveillance capabilities within a single aircraft. Additionally, the company is preparing to launch a range of products targeting niche markets and unexplored areas.
Market value
Today, DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Limited is Bharat’s first publicly listed drone company, having been listed on the BSE SME in December 2022. The initial public offering (IPO) garnered remarkable interest, oversubscribed by 262 times and raising Rs 6,016.78 crores. This accomplishment has opened doors for numerous cash-strapped drone startups with innovative products but limited access to credit. Investments in the drone industry have been instrumental in fostering innovation and expanding market reach. Venture capitalists, angel investors, and technology giants have recognised the potential of drones and have committed substantial funding to propel the industry forward. As per reports, investments in the Indian Drone Industry in the current fiscal year have totalled to nearly $50 million”, making it the best year for Bharat’s rising drone industry. In FY 2022-23, drone start-ups attracted $49.7 million in investments across 20 rounds, compared to $25 million received in FY 2021-22 across 23 rounds. The figure for FY2020-21 was $11.2 million across 20 rounds, according to data from the research firm Tracxn Technologies. Thus, investments in the segment have registered 300 per cent growth in the last three fiscals.
Moving forward, DroneAcharya is also venturing into space tech, having successfully launched a Reusable Rocket Launch Vehicle. The major achievement of this test was the 100 per cent recovery of the onboard sensors as well as the Rocket Launch Vehicle. With this, the company plans to navigate the possibility of becoming a Space Tech Solution Provider in the months to come.
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