What Drone U does

Drone U, operating as 3 Bald, LLC, is a privately held drone pilot education company headquartered in Loveland, Colorado and governed under New Mexico law. Founded by Paul Aitken and Rob Burdick around 2012, the company delivers FAA Part 107 exam preparation, flight operations training, and specialized vertical instruction through a proprietary learning management system branded PROPS, supported by in-person bootcamps at its Colorado facility. The course catalog spans 47+ offerings across beginner, mapping and construction, inspection (residential/commercial roof, cell tower), creative media, real estate production, and drone business development segments, with integrations into Pix4D, ESRI Sitescan, and Kuula.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining subscription memberships that grant access to the full course library, one-time individual course purchases priced between $47 and $347, fee-based in-person training including multi-day bootcamps, and quote-based enterprise programs delivered via PROPS LMS with operational audits and SOP development. Distribution leans on a community-led growth motion anchored by the Ask Drone U daily podcast and YouTube content, supplemented by SEO-driven blog content and email marketing, while enterprise programs are sold through a dedicated field sales motion. Named enterprise customers include Netflix, Tesla, American Electric Power, the New York Power Authority, Con Edison, GEICO aviation, Weitz, and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Drone U has trained more than 25,000 pilots cumulatively and claims industry-leading brand reputation metrics (4.7 on TrustPilot and 5 on Google Reviews). It is founder-owned and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, counts 11-50 employees, and shows no public listing or planned exit. Competitive advantage rests on experience-based curriculum taught by active industry professionals, an expansive content library, and a content distribution flywheel through the podcast and long-form video series that have reached audiences in 110 countries.

Name

Drone U

Legal name

3 Bald, LLC

Website

https://thedroneu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drone U is a privately held drone pilot training company that delivers Part 107 prep, specialized vertical courses, and in-person bootcamps to individual pilots and enterprise clients via its proprietary PROPS LMS, supplemented by the Ask Drone U podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Pilot Training & Education

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Drones, UAVs & Aerial Robotics Programs (EDAMADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Drone pilot training
• FAA Part 107 preparation
• Commercial drone education
• Drone mapping courses
• Enterprise UAS training

Headquarters

HQ city

Loveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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. Online Course Subscriptions/Memberships: Monthly and annual subscription memberships providing access to all 47+ online courses, community resources, and ongoing updates. The membership model generates recurring revenue from individual drone pilots seeking continuous education.
2. Individual Course Purchases: One-time purchases for individual courses such as Part 107 Prep ($97), Aerial Photography ($147), or Commercial Roof Inspection Mastery ($297-$347). Prices range from free to $347 per course.
3. In-Person Training and Bootcamps: Fee-based in-person training including 5-day boot camps (Mapping Bootcamp, Creative Adventure), 3-day Flight Mastery Enterprise courses, and specialized 2-day inspection courses. Revenue generated through participant fees for hands-on training at their Colorado facility.
4. Enterprise Training Programs: Customized corporate training programs for organizations including operational audits, custom SOP development, performance-based training, and ongoing recurrency support. Revenue generated through consultation fees and program licensing to enterprise customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drone U is an educational institute that delivers online and in-person drone pilot training courses and programs. Its core offering consists of 47+ self-paced online courses covering FAA Part 107 certification, mapping, inspection, aerial photography/videography, and drone business development, delivered through its proprietary PROPS LMS platform, complemented by multi-day in-person boot camps at its Colorado facility and customized enterprise corporate training programs for utilities, construction firms, government agencies, and Fortune 500 clients.

Product overview

Drone U is a comprehensive drone pilot training platform offering a multi-modal learning approach through three core components: (1) PROPS LMS — the proprietary learning management system delivering 47+ online courses; (2) In-Person Boot Camps held at their Colorado facility; and (3) Enterprise Drone Programs providing customized corporate training solutions. The course catalog spans FAA Part 107 exam prep, drone basics, mapping and photogrammetry (using Pix4D and ESRI Sitescan), inspection services, aerial photography/videography, FPV flying, and drone business development. Additional offerings include the Ask Drone U podcast (#1 drone podcast), the Part 107 Study Guide, model-specific Don't Crash Courses, and bundled course packages. Membership provides subscription access to the full library plus community features, while individual courses and bundles are available for one-time purchase.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PROPS LMS Proprietary Learning Management System (LMS) branded PROPS that delivers Drone U's online drone pilot training courses, manages individual and enterprise pilot progress and assignments, and powers Part 107 exam preparation and ongoing recurrency training for enterprise clients.
• Online Drone Courses (47+ courses) Comprehensive catalog of self-paced online drone pilot training courses sold individually or accessed via membership, covering Part 107 exam prep, drone basics, safe drone operations, mapping and photogrammetry (Pix4D, ESRI Sitescan), residential and commercial roof inspections, cell tower inspections, aerial photography and videography, FPV flying, real estate, drone business launch, and model-specific 'Don't Crash' courses.
• Membership Program Monthly or annual subscription membership that unlocks Drone U's full library of 47+ online courses, community resources, monthly business calls, and member benefits for individual drone pilots.
• In-Person Training (Boot Camps) Multi-day intensive, instructor-led boot camps at the company's Loveland, Colorado facility, including 5-day Mapping Bootcamp and Creative Adventure, 3-day Flight Mastery (Enterprise), 2-day inspection courses, Cell Tower Inspections, 3D Modeling, and Videography tracks.
• Enterprise Drone Programs Customized, quote-based corporate UAS training engagements combining PROPS LMS portal setup, operational audits, custom SOP and UAS manual development, performance-based training, in-person Flight Mastery sessions, and recurring recurrency training for utilities, construction, government, insurance, and entertainment-sector organizations.
• Ask Drone U Podcast Free content-distribution product functioning as Drone U's flagship #1 drone podcast, featuring Ask Drone U Q&A episodes and Elevating Drone Life interviews, used as a top-of-funnel community and acquisition channel.
• Part 107 Study Guide Standalone FAA Part 107 exam preparation study guide authored by Paul Aitken, condensing FAA source material into 279 pages with 350+ sample quiz/test questions and answer keys, supporting Part 107 certification study.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ pilots trained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Electric Power (AEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrone U serves as AEP's official UAS training partner, delivering comprehensive Part 107 preparation via their proprietary PROPS LMS platform, in-person Flight Mastery training, ongoing recurrency training, and mission-specific instruction tailored specifically to utility operations. The partnership ensures pilots maintain operational readiness and execute safely in real-world utility environments.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrone U has been NYPA's training partner and UAS consultant since late 2021. This includes over 120 pilots who have prepared for Part 107 on their PROPS LMS, dozens of pilots trained in-person on Flight Mastery and drone mapping. Drone U has also consulted on NYPA's UAS training manual and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pilot Institute: Pilot Institute is a leading online drone training provider specializing in Part 107 prep and advanced drone certifications. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Drone U's online course and subscription offering.
• UAV Coach: UAV Coach offers Part 107 prep courses, drone industry guides, and a community of drone pilots. It competes with Drone U for individual pilots seeking certification and business-launch content.
• Drone Pilot Ground School: Drone Pilot Ground School provides focused FAA Part 107 test prep and drone pilot training. It directly overlaps with Drone U's Part 107 PREP and broader pilot certification portfolio.
• DARTdrones: DARTdrones provides drone training, consulting, and Part 107 prep to enterprise and government clients. It competes directly with Drone U's enterprise drone programs and PROPS LMS offering.
• Sundance Media Group: Sundance Media Group provides Part 107 training and drone cinematography education for individuals and enterprises. It is a direct peer in pilot certification and creative/video drone content training.
• FlyLikeAPro Drone Training: FlyLikeAPro offers in-person and online drone pilot training, including boot camps and Part 107 prep. It overlaps with Drone U's hybrid in-person plus online certification model.

Broad incumbents

• DJI (drone manufacturer training): DJI, the dominant drone hardware manufacturer, offers its own pilot training resources and tutorials. As a manufacturer-led entrant, it is a broad incumbent competing for free training mindshare that Drone U monetizes.
• Skydio: Skydio provides training and certification programs alongside its autonomous drone hardware. As a major US drone manufacturer, it represents a broader incumbent whose bundled training could pressure independent training providers.
• Udemy: Udemy is a broad online learning marketplace that hosts many competing Part 107 and drone courses priced as low as $20–$50, putting downward pressure on Drone U's individual course pricing across the same curriculum categories.

Regional players

• Roswell Flight Lab / Cieras UAS: Cieras UAS (and similar regional UAS academies) provide in-person Part 107 and advanced UAS training programs. They are regional competitors to Drone U's in-person boot camps serving localized geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgJ5K7wWoFlnYC3e8eIxYrA?sub_confirmation=1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drone-u
• Xx.com/thedroneu
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedroneu
• Facebookfacebook.com/droneu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Drone U