Modovolo
Modovolo Inc. is a privately held Utica, New York-based drone manufacturer (founded ~2022) that builds the Modovolo Lift, a payload-centric, modular, 3D-printed multirotor platform supplied to U.S. defense, healthcare delivery, agriculture, and public-safety customers alongside a Factory-as-a-Service offering built on its proprietary BFP 3D printer.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersUtica, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Modovolo does
Modovolo Inc. is a privately held drone manufacturer founded around 2022 and headquartered in Utica, New York, with operational presence in Syracuse through the GENIUS NY accelerator. The company designs and builds the Modovolo Lift, a payload-centric modular drone platform whose airframe is a 3D-printed truss with a central payload bay that enables payload swaps in under two minutes. The platform is offered in Tricopter-X, Quadcopter-X, Hexcopter-X, and Octocopter-X configurations on a shared architecture, backed by nine payload SKUs (Universal Carriers in three sizes, Insulated Medical Canisters, Winch System, Crop Pollination, Communications Relay, Camera/Sensor Mount, and Emergency LED Sign) and is currently at Technology Readiness Level 7.
Underlying the platform is the proprietary BFP (Big F***ing Printer), a large-format 3D printer Modovolo invented when no commercial machine could meet its aerospace-grade part requirements; six BFP units fit inside a standard shipping container and underpin a Factory-as-a-Service offering for decentralized, on-site drone component manufacturing. Modovolo's reported payload-to-drone weight ratio of 0.85 (carrying 4.6 kg on a 5.4 kg airframe) and 118-part bill of materials versus 1,000+ for comparable drones position the firm as a low-parts-count, domestically manufactured, NDAA- and Blue UAS-compliant alternative to incumbent and foreign-made drones.
Modovolo sells direct through its Shopify-powered e-commerce site with quote-based pricing and bulk enterprise agreements, and also operates a Part 107 pilot testing program for early access. Primary go-to-market targets are U.S. defense and government agencies (DoD, defense contractors), healthcare/medical delivery (e.g., Upstate Medical University), agriculture, and research/public safety. The company is founder-led (CEO Justin Call, CTO/Lead Engineer Arion) and added Gabor Paulke, formerly of Airbus A380 and iRobot, as Chief Design Officer in December 2024. To date, disclosed funding is a single $500,000 non-equity grant from GENIUS NY (Round 9, 2025); no institutional venture or private equity round is on record.
Modovolo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modovolo
- Legal name
- Modovolo Inc.
- Website
- https://modovolo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Modovolo Inc. is a privately held Utica, New York-based drone manufacturer (founded ~2022) that builds the Modovolo Lift, a payload-centric, modular, 3D-printed multirotor platform supplied to U.S. defense, healthcare delivery, agriculture, and public-safety customers alongside a Factory-as-a-Service offering built on its proprietary BFP 3D printer.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modovolo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drone Manufacturing)
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), UAS Launch/Recovery & Support Equipment (Catapults, Nets, Docking) (IMABAIAN)
Keywords
Where Modovolo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Modovolo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Drone Hardware Sales: Sale of Modovolo Lift drone platforms in multiple configurations (Tricopter-X, Quadcopter-X, Hexcopter-X, Octocopter-X) along with accessories and components.
- Payload Sales: Sale of modular payload systems including Universal Carriers (Large, Medium, Small), Insulated Medical Canisters, Winch System, Crop Pollination, Communications Relay, Camera or Sensor Mount, and Emergency LED Sign.
- Factory-as-a-Service (FaaS): Mobile production pods deploying BFP 3D printers to customer locations for decentralized, on-site manufacturing. Six BFPs deploy inside a standard shipping container for edge manufacturing at military bases, disaster zones, or remote stations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom/Bulk Orders - Enterprise and mission-specific pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Modovolo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modovolo designs and manufactures the Modovolo Lift, a payload-centric modular drone platform featuring a 3D-printed truss airframe with a central payload bay for fast-swappable utility pods. The company sells four airframe configurations (Tricopter-X, Quadcopter-X, Hexcopter-X, Octocopter-X) and nine payload modules covering universal carriers, medical canisters, winch, crop pollination, communications relay, sensor mounts, and emergency LED signage, alongside a Factory-as-a-Service offering using its proprietary BFP 3D printer for on-site decentralized manufacturing.
Product overview
Modovolo offers a modular drone platform called the Modovolo Lift, available in four configurations (Tricopter-X, Quadcopter-X, Hexcopter-X, Octocopter-X) with a payload-centric design philosophy. The platform features a 3D-printed truss airframe with a central payload bay enabling hot-swappable utility pods. Supporting the drone business, Modovolo provides nine distinct payload modules including Large/Medium/Small Universal Carriers, Insulated Medical Canisters, Winch System, Crop Pollination, Communications Relay, Camera or Sensor Mount, and Emergency LED Sign. The company also operates a proprietary manufacturing division called Factory-as-a-Service, featuring the BFP (Big F***ing Printer) for decentralized on-site production of drone components.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Modovolo Lift: The flagship modular drone platform featuring payload-centric design, 3D-printed truss frame, and central payload bay for fast-swappable utility pods.
- BFP (Big F***ing Printer)
- Factory-as-a-Service
Products and services
- Modovolo Lift Quadcopter-X Flagship near-launch quad-rotor configuration of the Modovolo Lift modular drone platform featuring a 3D-printed truss frame and central payload bay for fast-swappable utility pods, designed for defense, public safety, and research missions.
- Modovolo Lift Tricopter-X Lightweight three-rotor configuration of the Modovolo Lift platform in active R&D, designed to explore extreme agility and efficiency with a minimalist payload-centered truss system.
- Modovolo Lift Hexcopter-X Conceptual six-rotor configuration of the Modovolo Lift platform designed for higher lift and redundancy for heavier payloads and longer missions.
- Modovolo Lift Octocopter-X Conceptual eight-rotor configuration of the Modovolo Lift platform for missions requiring extreme lift and motor/propeller redundancy.
- Large Universal Carrier Modular payload carrier designed to carry large items on the Modovolo Lift drone platform with tool-free, central-bay installation.
- Medium Universal Carrier Modular payload carrier designed to carry medium-sized items on the Modovolo Lift drone platform.
- Small Universal Carrier Modular payload carrier designed to carry small items on the Modovolo Lift drone platform.
- Insulated Medical Canisters Temperature-controlled payload containers for medical samples and sensitive biological specimens requiring precise environmental protection during flight.
- Winch System Payload system enabling winch-based delivery and retrieval operations from the Modovolo Lift drone.
- Crop Pollination Agricultural payload system designed for crop pollination applications using the Modovolo Lift platform.
- Communications Relay Payload module providing communications relay capabilities for extended signal coverage and connectivity applications.
- Camera or Sensor Mount Modular mount for attaching cameras, LiDAR, thermal sensors, and other sensing equipment to the Modovolo Lift platform.
- Emergency LED Sign Emergency display payload with LED signage capabilities for emergency signaling and communication applications.
- Factory-as-a-Service Mobile production service that deploys BFP 3D printers in standard shipping containers to enable decentralized on-site manufacturing of aerospace-grade drone components at forward bases, disaster zones, and remote locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% payload-to-drone weight ratio vs 10-30% industry standard
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Modovolo
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Modovolo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Modovolo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- ANDRO Computational SolutionscorePartnership for Demo Day on November 23, 2024 to showcase complementary technologies. ANDRO specializes in RF spectrum, edge computing, and electronic warfare technologies. Combined demonstration of autonomous drone navigation with electronic warfare capabilities.
- GENIUS NY AcceleratorflagshipWorld's largest business competition focused exclusively on UAS technologies. Round 9 finalist receiving $500,000 investment with opportunity to compete for $1 million grand prize. Program housed at INSPYRE Innovation Hub in Downtown Syracuse.
- NUAIRcoreNUAIR based at Syracuse's Hancock Airport has developed advanced technology platform for large-scale BVLOS drone operations. Modovolo benefits from regional infrastructure for testing and certification. FAA-approved operational framework.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Modovolo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skydio: U.S.-manufactured, NDAA-compliant autonomous drone maker serving defense, public safety, and enterprise inspection. Skydio is the most direct competitor for Blue UAS-compliant programs and shares Modovolo's focus on domestic manufacturing and modular, field-repairable airframes.
- Teal Drones: U.S.-based, Blue UAS-listed drone manufacturer targeting defense and public safety markets. Teal competes head-to-head with Modovolo for the same NDAA-compliant programs and government procurement contracts.
- Shield AI: Defense technology company building autonomous UAS such as the V-BAT for ISR and electronic warfare missions. Shield AI pursues the same defense and government customer base as Modovolo and competes for payload-centric autonomous flight contracts.
Broad incumbents
- Anduril Industries: Large, well-capitalized defense technology prime with UAS programs like Bolt, Roadrunner, and Ghost. Anduril competes for the same defense procurement dollars as Modovolo but operates at materially larger scale and across a broader autonomy stack.
- Wing (Alphabet): Alphabet-owned drone delivery platform with commercial operations in multiple countries. Wing competes with Modovolo for payload delivery use cases but at materially larger scale and with different regulatory positioning.
- Parrot SA: European drone manufacturer with defense and commercial product lines, including NDAA-compliant offerings through its senseFly and ANAFI subsidiaries. Parrot is a broad incumbent competitor in the same multirotor UAS category.
- DJI: Global market leader in commercial multirotor drones, currently excluded from U.S. defense and many government uses under NDAA restrictions. DJI sets the industry baseline for cost and feature expectations that Modovolo must differentiate against.
Emerging players
- Auterion Government Solutions: Open-source drone operating system and airframe provider focused on DoD and allied government markets. Auterion competes in the same defense UAS ecosystem as Modovolo with a software-and-reference-platform business model rather than full airframe manufacturing.
- Percepto: Autonomous industrial drone-in-a-box maker for inspection of critical infrastructure. Percepto overlaps with Modovolo in the modular, mission-configurable drone category and competes for infrastructure and public safety use cases.
- Zipline: Drone delivery operator focused on medical logistics and last-mile healthcare delivery. Zipline is comparable to Modovolo's Upstate Medical University healthcare use case and represents a competing approach to payload-centric drone delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Modovolo social profiles
Digital presenceModovolo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modovolo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Modovolo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modovolo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modovolo
What does Modovolo do?
Modovolo designs and manufactures the Modovolo Lift, a payload-centric modular drone platform featuring a 3D-printed truss airframe with a central payload bay for fast-swappable utility pods. The company sells four airframe configurations (Tricopter-X, Quadcopter-X, Hexcopter-X, Octocopter-X) and nine payload modules covering universal carriers, medical canisters, winch, crop pollination, communications relay, sensor mounts, and emergency LED signage, alongside a Factory-as-a-Service offering using its proprietary BFP 3D printer for on-site decentralized manufacturing.
Is Modovolo a public or private company?
Modovolo is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Modovolo founded?
Modovolo was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Modovolo based?
Modovolo is headquartered in Utica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Modovolo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Drone Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are payload Sales and factory-as-a-Service (FaaS).
Who are Modovolo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skydio, Teal Drones and Shield AI. Broad incumbents are Anduril Industries, Wing (Alphabet), Parrot SA and DJI. Emerging players are Auterion Government Solutions, Percepto and Zipline.
Does Modovolo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modovolo.
What industry is Modovolo in?
Modovolo's product category is Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drone Manufacturing). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAA, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones, with a secondary code of IMABAFAO, Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.