SkyWatch

What SkyWatch does

SkyWatch is a privately held InsurTech company that operates a digital-first insurance distribution platform for commercial drones and light aircraft, serving individual pilots, certified flight instructors, commercial drone operators, and enterprise fleet customers across the United States and Canada. The company is incorporated in Israel (Skywatch Ltd., Tel Aviv) with operating subsidiaries in California and British Columbia, and is led by co-founders Tomer Kashi (CEO) and Ori Blumenthal (CTO). SkyWatch generates revenue as a licensed insurance broker, earning commission on premiums underwritten by capacity partners including Starr Companies and Global Aerospace; products span hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and annual policy durations for drone and aircraft coverage, including specialized segments such as agricultural spray-drone liability, rotorcraft, and student/CFI renter insurance.

The platform is built around a self-service quote-and-bind web and mobile experience with instant policy issuance, supported by an ecosystem of channel partners (flight schools, drone training organizations, drone software platforms such as DroneDeploy and Maps Made Easy, and industry bodies like AUVSI and Embry-Riddle) that route qualified referrals into SkyWatch's purchase flow. The 2023 acquisition of DroneInsurance.com from REIN extended SkyWatch's reach across all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and in late 2023 the company launched SkyWatch CO-Pilot, an AI assistant distributed via OpenAI's GPT Plus marketplace that provides FAA Part 107 exam preparation and operational guidance. Underwriting capacity is provided by Starr Companies (initial seed investor and core capacity partner) and Global Aerospace.

Name

SkyWatch

Legal name

Skywatch Ltd.

Website

https://skywatch.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SkyWatch is a digital InsurTech broker providing commercial drone and light aircraft insurance via a self-service platform across the U.S. and Canada, serving individual pilots, drone operators, flight schools, and enterprise fleet customers underwritten by Starr Companies and Global Aerospace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Aviation Insurance (FSAJAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aviation Hull Insurance (FSAJAHAC), Aviation Liability Insurance (Passenger & Third-Party) (FSAJAHAD)

Keywords

• Drone insurance
• Aircraft insurance
• Aviation insurance
• Insurance brokerage
• Commercial drone coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Drone Insurance Premiums: SkyWatch generates revenue through insurance premiums charged to drone operators for commercial and recreational coverage. The company acts as a licensed insurance broker, earning commission compensation from insurance sales as disclosed in their terms of service.
2. Aircraft Insurance Premiums: Revenue from aircraft owner and renter insurance policies covering Light Sport Aircraft, gliders, multi-engine aircraft, experimental aircraft, seaplanes, and rotorcraft. Policies available in various duration formats from daily to annual.
3. Fleet/Enterprise Insurance: Customized insurance solutions for drone fleets and enterprise operations with configurable liability limits ($1M-$10M+) and optional coverage add-ons including worldwide coverage, indoor operations, and extended medical/personal injury coverage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SkyWatch is a licensed digital insurance broker that sells aviation insurance—primarily commercial drone coverage and light aircraft (owner, renter, student, CFI) coverage—through a self-service online platform with instant quoting and policy binding, flexible duration options from hourly to annual, and specialized products for agriculture, fleet/enterprise, rotorcraft, glider, and seaplane operators. The platform also distributes policies from underwriting partners such as Starr Companies and Global Aerospace, and provides broker consulting for enterprise fleet customers.

Product overview

SkyWatch is a digital insurance platform providing two broad insurance verticals: Commercial Drone Insurance and Aviation (Aircraft) Insurance. The drone insurance product line includes hourly, monthly, and annual commercial drone insurance plans, a Canadian-specific plan, agriculture drone insurance, enterprise/fleet insurance, and broker services. The aviation insurance product line covers aircraft owners (single-engine, multi-engine, glider, seaplane, experimental, Light Sport Aircraft), aircraft renters/non-owned insurance (for students, CFIs, rotorcraft pilots), and ancillary coverage including hangar insurance and senior pilot insurance. The platform is fully digital with instant quotes, online policy binding, and duration-based pricing (daily, weekly, monthly, annual). The company also offers an AI assistant (CO-Pilot) as a GPT Plus add-on for FAA exam prep and drone business advice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SkyWatch CO-Pilot: AI assistant for drone business operators, providing FAA Part 107 exam preparation, business growth advice, and operational support.

Products and services

• Hourly Commercial Drone Insurance On-demand hourly commercial drone insurance for commercial operators needing short-term liability and hull coverage priced and purchased per flight or per hour of operation.
• Monthly Commercial Drone Insurance Flexible monthly commercial drone insurance for Part 107 operators who need coverage for a month or a season without committing to an annual plan.
• Annual Commercial Drone Insurance Annual commercial drone insurance for professional drone operators covering commercial use across multiple industries including construction, aerial mapping, agriculture, deliveries, public safety, and drone shows.
• Drone Insurance for Canadians Commercial drone insurance tailored for Canadian operators and available across all Canadian provinces via SkyWatch's Canadian portal.
• Agriculture Drone Insurance Specialized drone insurance for agricultural operations including crop scouting, crop spraying, and mapping, covering hull and liability including spray drift and chemical application liability.
• Enterprise & Drone Fleets Insurance Customized commercial drone insurance for enterprise clients and drone fleet operators with liability limits from $1M to above $10M, optional hull coverage, and add-ons including worldwide coverage, indoor operations, extended medical expenses, and extended personal injury coverage.
• Drone Insurance for Fleets Multi-drone fleet insurance for operators managing multiple commercial drones under a single policy.
• Aircraft Owner's Insurance Comprehensive aviation insurance for private aircraft owners covering Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), single-engine, multi-engine, gliders, experimental aircraft, and seaplanes, with liability up to $1M per incident and $200K per passenger and optional hull coverage.
• Aircraft Renter's Insurance Non-owned aircraft insurance for pilots who fly aircraft they do not own, covering liability for bodily injury and property damage as well as physical damage to the rented aircraft, sold as excess coverage on daily, weekly, monthly, and annual durations.
• Student Pilot Insurance Non-owned aircraft insurance specifically designed for flight students renting aircraft for training, instruction, and flight testing.
• Senior Pilot Insurance Aircraft owner's insurance tailored for senior pilots with coverage options and pricing adjusted for experienced older aviators.
• CFI Insurance Non-owned aircraft insurance for Certified Flight Instructors providing dual instruction in aircraft they do not own, protecting instructors personally as excess coverage separate from the flight school's policy and the student's coverage.
• Hangar Insurance Insurance coverage for aircraft hangars, protecting the physical structure and contents.
• Rotorcraft Renter's Insurance Non-owned aircraft insurance for pilots renting helicopters and other rotorcraft, covering liability and physical damage with daily, weekly, monthly, and annual duration options.
• Glider & Seaplane Owners Insurance Aircraft owner's insurance for gliders and seaplanes including Piper Super Cub on floats and Cessna 172/182 on floats, part of SkyWatch's broader light aircraft owner's portfolio.
• Multi-Engine Aircraft Owners Insurance Aircraft owner's insurance for multi-engine aircraft owners within SkyWatch's light aircraft insurance portfolio.
• SkyWatch CO-Pilot AI Assistant AI-powered conversational assistant for drone operators that provides FAA Part 107 exam preparation, answers technical and operational drone questions, and offers business growth advice; available exclusively to GPT Plus users via the OpenAI ChatGPT platform.
• Broker Services Insurance broker services spanning both the drone and aviation segments, allowing insurance brokers to sell SkyWatch products to their clients, with dedicated broker consulting available via Calendly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300,000 commercial drone insurance policies issued, demonstrating significant market traction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Drone LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDrone industry publication featuring SkyWatch coverage and marketing presence. Relationship provides earned media and brand visibility within drone operator community.
• Unmanned AerialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade publication featuring SkyWatch coverage and branding. Industry media partnership enhancing brand credibility and reach among UAV professionals.
• Carrier ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation insurance industry publication coverage of SkyWatch. Earned media presence enhancing credibility within insurance industry.
• BenzingaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial and business media outlet featuring SkyWatch content. Brand visibility in mainstream business media.
• Starr CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic underwriting partnership providing insurance capacity. Starr Companies is a leading insurance organization providing underwriting support for SkyWatch drone insurance products.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier aviation university partnership providing access to student pilot market and credibility endorsement from top aviation educational institution. Partnership announced 2020.
• DroneUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrone training and education organization partnership providing referral channel to SkyWatch insurance products. Co-marketing relationship serving drone pilot community.
• UAV CoachminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone training platform with referral partnership directing training graduates to SkyWatch for insurance needs. Integration of SkyWatch insurance options in UAV Coach platform.
• DronitekminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone hardware and services company partnership announced December 2019. Referral and integration relationship serving commercial drone operators.
• AUVSIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International - premier industry association membership and TOP program participation. Strategic relationship for industry visibility and credibility.
• DroneHiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone services company partnership with co-marketing relationship serving commercial drone operations.
• Sling Pilot AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlight school partnership directing student pilots to SkyWatch for renter insurance. Integration and co-marketing relationship.
• Springs AviationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlight school partnership directing student pilots to SkyWatch for renter insurance. Integration and co-marketing relationship.
• Sporty'sminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAviation products retailer partnership with co-marketing presence serving pilot community with insurance referrals.
• Global AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderwriting partner providing non-owned aircraft insurance policies through SkyWatch platform. Provides supplemental protection including search and rescue and runway foaming coverage.
• Four ForcesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone training organization partnership directing graduates to SkyWatch insurance products.
• Skyfarer AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone training academy partnership providing referral channel for newly trained commercial drone pilots.
• FlyCoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrone services company partnership with co-marketing relationship serving commercial drone operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Global Aerospace: Global Aerospace is a leading aviation insurance underwriter providing hull and liability capacity for general aviation. Comparable to SkyWatch as the carrier providing non-owned aircraft capacity, with overlap in the general aviation insurance value chain though operating as an underwriter rather than broker.
• Beazley Aviation: Beazley offers specialty aviation insurance including light aircraft and emerging drone coverage through its specialty lines division. Comparable to SkyWatch in aviation specialty insurance focus though operating as a Lloyd's-affiliated insurer with significantly larger capital base and broader portfolio.
• Starr Companies: Starr Companies is a global insurance organization with aviation underwriting capabilities and SkyWatch's lead seed investor and core drone capacity partner. Comparable as both a strategic investor and a competitor in commercial aviation insurance underwriting.
• AOPA Insurance Program: AOPA's insurance program serves Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association members with broad aviation coverage from leading carriers. Functions as a large, established distribution channel for general aviation insurance, overlapping with SkyWatch's light aircraft products but serving a much larger member base through traditional broker relationships.

Direct peers

• BWI Aviation Insurance: BWI is an aviation insurance brokerage specializing in light aircraft, rotorcraft, and experimental aircraft coverage. Directly comparable to SkyWatch's aviation (non-drone) segment in customer base, product line, and broker distribution model.
• Avion Insurance: Avion Insurance is an aviation insurance broker offering owner and renter coverage for general aviation pilots. Comparable to SkyWatch's aircraft owner and non-owned aircraft renter products for similar pilot customer segments.
• Coverdrone: Coverdrone is a specialist drone insurance broker offering annual and monthly policies for commercial UAS operators globally. Directly comparable to SkyWatch's commercial drone insurance line with similar specialty focus on commercial UAV liability and hull coverage.
• Flock Cover: Flock is a UK-based digital drone insurance provider using app-based fleet management and usage-based pricing for commercial operators. Comparable to SkyWatch in product-led drone insurance distribution and integration with flight management workflows.
• Thimble (formerly Verifly): Thimble is a direct competitor offering on-demand, hourly-to-annual drone liability insurance for Part 107 operators via a fully digital platform. Closely matches SkyWatch's core drone insurance product, target customer, and PLG go-to-market motion.

Emerging players

• DroneInsurance.com (REIN): DroneInsurance.com was the original drone insurance specialist whose assets SkyWatch acquired from REIN in October 2023. Directly comparable predecessor with overlapping customer base, providing a baseline for SkyWatch's combined scale post-acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkyWatchAI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGwQW8gJAhdrfGQ6wfSADLQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkyWatchAI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skywatchai
• Instagraminstagram.com/skywatch.ai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SkyWatch