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Skydio

Drone manufacturer

501-1000 employees
  • B2B
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Manufacturing
  • Drones
3000 Clearview Way, San Mateo, California, 94402, US

Company mission

To make the world more productive, creative, and safe with autonomous flight.

Top investors

Few candidates hear
back within 2 weeks

24% employee growth in 12 months

Otta's take

Sam Franklin headshot

Sam Franklin

CEO of Otta

A leader in autonomous flight, Skydio builds drones that can track and film targets while avoiding obstacles. Its products have a wide range of applications, most notably for businesses that need to undertake inspections in unsafe places. The drones are also valuable to search and rescue efforts, police forces, and the US army.

Backed by a range of top investors and strategic partners (including Andreesen Horowitz, Levitate Capital, and Next 47) Skydio sets itself apart from its competitors by marketing its products predominantly to businesses. With technology such as 3D scanning and a 360-degree superzoom mode, its drones have a wide range of applications and functionality.

The company raised funding in 2023, which has boosted its valuation to over $2 billion. It has since focussed on R&D, developing and launching the X10 model which is designed for first responders and the military, as well as enhancing its remote control and thermal imaging capabilities. As the largest American drone company, there is no reason Skydio shouldn't remain a key industry actor for years to come.

Benefits

  • Work from home opportunities

Company values

  • We consider the holistic impact our products have on communities and countries
  • We use our role as a leader in autonomous flight technology to promote the responsible development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • We proactively promote best practices on the responsible use of our products with our customers
  • We engage in policy and regulatory efforts to support laws, policies, and standards aligned with our values
  • We engage in a responsible way with public sector customers in the United States and other free societies
  • We will not sell our products to repressive regimes
  • We will not put weapons on our drones and will oppose fully autonomous lethal weapons systems
  • We seek to create connections between our employees and the customers we serve beyond simply providing products and services
  • We seek to provide flexibility and freedom for people to choose what they work on

Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)

Feb 2023

$230m

SERIES E

Feb 2021

$171m

SERIES D

$571m

Total funding

This company has top investors

Founders

Having studied at MIT, they spent a year and a half at Google as a Software Engineer. They left this position in February 2014 to co-found Skydio.

Earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, and was a Software Engineer for Google's Project Wing.

Previously a Research Assistant at MIT Media Lab and a Mobile Engineer at Pocket Gems.

Jobs (9)

All locations

Software Engineering