What Commercial UAV Expo does

Commercial UAV Expo is an annual trade show and educational conference dedicated to the commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry, founded in 2015 and operated by Diversified Communications. The event is held at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas (2026 edition: September 1-3) and aggregates the commercial drone ecosystem across exhibitors, end users, regulators, and service providers, drawing 3,393 attendees from 160+ countries and 225 exhibiting companies in the most recent cycle. The core product is a multi-tier conference pass ($200-$1,275) that grants access to educational sessions, summits, exhibit halls, and networking events, supplemented by specialized tracks including the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, Pilot Hub, and the Indoor Airspace live demonstration enclosure.

The event's product surface extends beyond a single trade show through partnerships with DRONERESPONDERS (public safety programming), Pilot Institute (pilot education), Sundance Media Group (Indoor Airspace operations), NIST (testing standards), and Global Air U (Level Up Lounge professional development). Sub-brands include Commercial UAV News (sister publication), specialized pavilions (Startup, Public Safety, University, Korea), and program-specific courses such as the DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course ($535).

Commercial UAV Expo monetizes through three primary streams: attendee passes, exhibitor booth fees, and tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $26,000 (Platinum tier). Distribution is direct via online registration (xpressreg.net) with group discounts for enterprise teams. The company serves nine primary use-case verticals including construction, energy and utilities, public safety, surveying and mapping, agriculture, infrastructure, mining, drone delivery, and security. As a privately held subsidiary of Diversified Communications, the business operates as part of a larger portfolio that includes Geo Week, Digital Construction Week, and GeoBusiness Show.

Name

Commercial UAV Expo

Legal name

Diversified Communications

Website

https://www.expouav.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Commercial UAV Expo is a conference and exhibition exclusively for professionals integrating and operating UAVs/UAS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Shows and Conferences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Commercial drone conferences
• UAV trade shows
• Unmanned aerial systems events
• Drone industry exhibitions
• Commercial UAS summits

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Attendee Passes: Revenue generated from selling conference passes to attendees including Full Conference, DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, and Exhibit Hall Only passes at various price points and tiers.
2. Exhibitor Fees: Companies pay to exhibit at the event, gaining access to qualified buyers and decision-makers. Booth pricing varies by size and placement.
3. Sponsorship Packages: Tiered sponsorship opportunities ranging from Platinum ($26,000) to smaller packages including WiFi sponsorship ($30,000), Welcome Reception ($15,000), and various other marketing sponsorships.
4. Indoor Airspace Demonstrations: Sponsorship of indoor drone flying demonstrations in a 40'x50'x15' netted enclosure, priced at $2,500 per 30-minute time slot or $4,750 for two slots.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Commercial UAV Expo is an annual three-day trade show and educational conference held in Las Vegas that brings together commercial drone manufacturers, solution providers, end users, regulators, and pilots. The event generates revenue through attendee conference passes, exhibitor booth fees, tiered sponsorship packages, and paid indoor flight demonstration slots, with co-presented summits such as the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit. It is produced by Diversified Communications and functions as a B2B marketplace and education venue for the commercial UAS ecosystem.

Product overview

Commercial UAV Expo is a commercial drone industry conference and trade show that operates as an event-based platform with multiple admission tiers and integrated features. The core product is the Full Conference Pass providing access to educational sessions, exhibit halls, and networking events, supplemented by specialized summits like the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit and add-on courses such as the Program Management Course. The event features distinct pavilion areas (Start Up, Public Safety, University, Korea), specialized zones (Pilot Hub, Forum Theater, Level Up Lounge), and demonstration areas (Indoor Airspace) that collectively create a comprehensive commercial UAS industry event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Commercial UAV News: The associated media publication and news platform covering the commercial drone industry
• DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit
• Pilot Institute
• UAS Summer Bash
• Innovation Spotlight
• Level Up Lounge
• Indoor Airspace
• University Pavilion
• Startup Pavilion
• Korea Pavilion
• Public Safety Pavilion
• Pitch the Press

Products and services

• Indoor Airspace Demonstration Slots
• Full Conference Pass Primary conference admission tier providing access to all Commercial UAV Expo conference sessions, DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, exhibit hall, keynotes, vendor-hosted sessions, roundtables, Forum Theater, Pilot Hub, Indoor Airspace demonstrations, networking receptions, and meals. Pricing ranges from $895 (Super Saver) to $1,275 (Onsite).
• DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course Three-day professional development course for public safety and government UAS program managers covering operational foundations, interagency collaboration, software tools, and leadership strategies. Combined with Summit and Hall Access at Advanced pricing of $535.
• DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit Specialized summit focused on UAS operations across law enforcement, fire, and emergency management, featuring dedicated sessions on public safety drone programs, regulatory compliance, and mission-critical applications. Available as a standalone pass at $375 (Super Saver/Advanced) or bundled with the Full Conference Pass.
• Exhibit Hall Access Pass Floor access pass providing attendance at the exhibit hall showcasing hundreds of commercial UAS solution providers, including airframes, sensors, software, and services from global organizations. Pricing ranges from $200 (Super Saver) to $350 (Onsite).
• Exhibitor Booth Space Companies reserve exhibition space to gain direct access to qualified buyers and decision-makers at the annual event. Booth pricing varies by size and placement on the exhibit floor.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship opportunities ranging from Platinum ($26,000) down to WiFi sponsorship ($30,000), Welcome Reception ($15,000), and smaller marketing sponsorships starting from $500, providing brand visibility and attendee engagement across the three-day event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225+ exhibitors connecting with qualified buyers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DRONERESPONDERScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026DRONERESPONDERS is a strategic partner co-presenting the Public Safety Summit at Commercial UAV Expo. This partnership brings together public safety UAS professionals for dedicated education, networking, and the DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course. The summit includes specialized sessions, networking receptions, and recognition awards including the Eric Talley Public Safety UAS Excellence Award.
• Pilot InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026Pilot Institute partners with Commercial UAV Expo to present the Pilot Hub, a dedicated space for professional drone pilot education and development. The partnership delivers curated content for current and aspiring professional drone pilots, including career advice, business development, and industry insights directly from experienced pilots.
• Global Air UminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026Global Air U partners with Commercial UAV Expo to co-host the Level Up Lounge, an innovative space dedicated to personal, professional, and brand development for UAV professionals. Services include complimentary 15-minute Drone Business Growth Audit sessions, one-on-one branding consultations, and networking opportunities.
• Sundance Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026Sundance Media Group partners with Commercial UAV Expo to design and operate the Indoor Airspace, a 40'x50'x15' netted enclosure for live indoor drone flying demonstrations. The partnership enables exhibitors to showcase their technology in real-world scenarios with advanced audiovisual setups delivering real-time data insights.
• onPeakminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2026onPeak is the official and exclusive hotel provider for Commercial UAV Expo, managing attendee and exhibitor hotel reservations at Harrah's Las Vegas and LINQ Hotel with flexible change and cancellation policies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AUVSI XPONENTIAL: The largest US-based unmanned systems and robotics trade show, organized by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Direct competitor for commercial UAV exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees, though with a broader defense/government focus and longer history.
• InterDrone: Long-running commercial drone conference and expo. Competes for the same commercial UAV operator, integrator, and manufacturer audience with similar exhibitor and attendee revenue model.
• Geo Week: Sister event under Diversified Communications covering geospatial, lidar, and mapping technologies - including drone-based surveying - that overlaps materially with Commercial UAV Expo's surveying/mapping vertical exhibitors.

Emerging players

• Energy Drone & Robotics Summit: Niche event focused specifically on drone and robotics applications in energy, oil & gas, and utilities. Directly competes for the same energy/utilities vertical exhibitors that Commercial UAV Expo cultivates as a primary segment.
• Drone World Congress: Commercial UAV industry event that overlaps with Commercial UAV Expo on commercial drone applications, exhibitor mix, and operator audience.

Broad incumbents

• Digital Construction Week: Another Diversified Communications portfolio event focused on digital construction technology including drone-based site monitoring. Sister event providing cross-promotion and shared exhibitor overlap in the construction vertical.
• GeoBusiness Show: UK-based Diversified Communications geospatial event covering surveying, mapping, and drone-based data capture. Sister event with significant overlap in surveying/mapping exhibitors and end users.

Regional players

• UAS Summit & Expo: North Dakota-based event focused on unmanned aerial systems, with strength in agriculture, public safety, and precision applications. Comparable commercial UAS audience but with a more regional Midwestern concentration.
• European Drone Forum: European-focused commercial drone industry event competing for international exhibitor and attendee share, particularly relevant given Commercial UAV Expo's 160+ country attendee base.

Others

• Commercial UAV News: The sister media publication of Commercial UAV Expo under Diversified Communications - provides year-round content, webinars, and supplier directory that serves as the lead-generation engine for the annual expo.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ExpoUAV
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7icpuL1164DCLrZMjV7k6A
• Facebookfacebook.com/uavexpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commercial-uav-expo
• Instagraminstagram.com/expouav

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Commercial UAV Expo