Skylink

What Skylink does

SkyLink Japan (スカイリンクジャパン), operated by WorldLink & Company since 2015, is a Kyoto-based drone solutions distributor and integrator serving the Japanese industrial and government markets. The company sells and supports a multi-vendor portfolio spanning agricultural drones (AC101, FJD AT2, XAG), surveying and VTOL platforms (DJI, Autel, CHCNAV, Wingcopter, FIXAR, WingtraRAY), inspection drones, underwater drones (FINDi FF2), and high-end sensors (PhaseOne iXM-100MP, Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras, viDoc RTK Rover), supplemented by proprietary software including 4DLink for 3D point cloud sharing, KLAU PPK-J Desktop for DJI RTK positioning correction, and SENSE Thermal Converter for infrared inspection workflows.

Name

Skylink

Legal name

WorldLink & Company

Website

https://skylinkjapan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SkyLink Japan is a Kyoto-based drone distribution and services company that sells, integrates, and supports multi-vendor industrial drone systems for Japanese agricultural, surveying, inspection, and logistics customers, backed by proprietary software, training, and a nationwide service network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Drone Solutions and UAV Distribution

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding) (AFACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO), Drone Parts, Batteries & Accessories Retail (CRACAHAL), Aerial Application Compliance & Drift Management Services (Recordkeeping, Buffer Planning) (AFACAIAM)

Keywords

• Industrial drone solutions
• Agricultural drone spraying
• UAV surveying services
• Drone pilot training
• Infrastructure inspection drones

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drone and accessory hardware sales: SkyLink Japan sells a wide range of drone hardware including agricultural drones (AC101, FJD AT2, R150), surveying drones (DJI, Autel, CHCNAV, FIXAR, Wingcopter), inspection drones, underwater drones (FINDi FF2), and peripheral sensors/cameras (PhaseOne, FLIR, Sony). Revenue is generated through one-time product sales via their e-commerce shop and direct sales.
2. Drone rental services: Agricultural drone rental service offering domestic (Japanese-made) agricultural drones without requiring customers to manage batteries or storage. Also includes rental of Autel EVO NEST drone port systems.
3. Consulting and solution development services: Pre-purchase consulting, total product coordination, overseas product sourcing, demo flight services, operational proposal, and staff training programs for enterprises entering or expanding drone operations.
4. Repair, maintenance, and insurance services: Repair and maintenance services (including overhaul) for drones, technical support, drone insurance (acting as Sompo Japan agency), and regular inspection services.
5. Training and certification services: Drone pilot training and certification programs including JDC skill certification, DJI agricultural drone operator certification, ERTS industrial drone certification, JAMOA technical skills training, and instructor certification. Also includes safety training, specialized workshops on thermal imaging and 3D point cloud surveying.
6. Data processing services: SfM processing for 3D point clouds, meshes, orthomosaic creation; lens calibration services; and image diagnostics for infrared thermography and 3D point cloud surveying.
7. Subsidy and grant application support: Support services for applying to government subsidies (e.g., Monodukuri Hojo, Smart Agriculture subsidies up to ¥15 million, Management Continuity Subsidy) with a high track record of successful approvals.
8. Drone pilot dispatch services: Introduction of trusted drone pilots from across Japan to customers requiring specialized flight operations, with pricing varying by pilot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SkyLink Japan distributes and integrates industrial drone systems (DJI, Autel, Wingcopter, FIXAR, CHCNAV) with sensors (LiDAR, photogrammetry, thermal, multispectral cameras) and processing software (PIX4D, 4DLink, KLAU PPK) to deliver end-to-end drone solutions for agriculture, surveying/mapping, infrastructure inspection, and logistics. The company also provides rental, pilot training and certification, maintenance/repair, drone insurance, data processing, and government subsidy application support as a one-stop ecosystem.

Product overview

SkyLink Japan offers a comprehensive drone ecosystem consisting of drone hardware products (agricultural drones like AC101, underwater drone FINDi FF2, VTOL drones including Wingcopter and FIXAR 007, and Autel EVO series), specialized sensors and cameras (PhaseOne iXM-100MP, viDoc RTK Rover, thermal cameras), software solutions (4DLink for 3D data, PIX4Dmapper for photogrammetry, KLAU PPK for positioning correction, SENSE Thermal Converter), and service offerings (drone rental, operator training school, maintenance/repair, insurance, and subsidy support). The company serves agriculture, surveying, infrastructure inspection, and logistics sectors through a combination of product sales, solutions, and after-sales support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FINDi FF2 Underwater Drone Japanese-made underwater drone offering domestic procurement, training, maintenance, and Japanese-language post-sale support for inspection and underwater survey applications.
• Autel EVO NEST Drone Port Automated drone port system enabling remote operations with automatic takeoff/landing, charging, and mission management via network connection, available for rental.
• viDoc RTK Rover Mobile surveying rover that transforms smartphones into professional measurement instruments, enabling high-precision positioning data acquisition faster and more affordably than traditional laser scanners or drones.
• Autel EVO MAX Series Enterprise drone solution for public safety, infrastructure inspection, emergency response, and industrial applications.
• AC101 Agricultural Drone Japanese-made agricultural drone for pesticide spraying operations, with domestic support for training, maintenance, and operations.
• FIXAR 007 VTOL Fixed-Wing Drone Fully autonomous VTOL fixed-wing drone for commercial applications including mapping, aerial photography, precision agriculture, and plant inspection.
• Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift Drone German VTOL drone with 100km+ range, 150 km/h max speed, and 6kg payload capacity for long-distance logistics and surveying applications.
• WingtraRAY VTOL Surveying Drone VTOL fixed-wing surveying drone capable of measuring 100ha in 10 minutes, with maximum coverage area of 550ha per flight, 1250g payload capacity, and 2.5cm/px resolution at 60m altitude.
• 4DLink Data Sharing Platform Proprietary cloud-based data management platform for sharing and collaborating on 4D point cloud and digital twin visualization of drone-captured geospatial data.
• PIX4Dmapper Photogrammetry Software Photogrammetry software for processing drone-captured images into 3D models, orthomosaics, and point clouds.
• KLAU PPK-J Desktop for DJI RTK (精度ばちばち君) Proprietary position correction software for DJI RTK surveying drones enabling high-precision geolocation without ground control points.
• Agricultural Drone Rental Service Rental service for Japanese-made agricultural drones (AC101) with battery management and storage handled by SkyLink Japan, including license acquisition assistance.
• Agriculture Drone Business School Training program for agricultural drone spraying business operators combining licensing, hands-on spraying experience, and income-generating opportunities, with instruction from experienced drone spraying operators.
• Drone Insurance (ドローンほけん) Property comprehensive insurance and facility owner liability insurance offered as agent for Sompo Japan, including plan proposals and accident response support.
• Repair and Maintenance Service Maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for drones, including inspection certification issuance.
• Subsidy Support Service Assistance with Japanese government subsidy and grant applications including Monodzukuri (manufacturing) subsidies, Smart Agriculture subsidies (up to ¥15M), and Management Continuity Subsidies (up to ¥1.5M), supported by certified SME consultants.
• SkyLink Hangar Fukushima Drone Service Hub Drone service facility located in Fukushima Prefecture's Hamadori region (disaster-affected area), offering flexible drone service operations tailored to local customer needs.
• MLIT-Designated Drone Pilot Certification Training MLIT-designated multi-copter pilot certification training delivered at the Kyoto headquarters or on-site nationwide; participants completing the course receive SkyLink Japan multi-copter pilot certification.
• Drone Business Consulting and Solution Design Pre-purchase consulting, total product coordination, overseas product sourcing, demo flight services, operational proposal, and staff training for enterprises entering or expanding drone operations.
• Drone Pilot Dispatch Service Introduction service connecting customers requiring specialized drone flight operations with trusted drone pilots from across Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Subsidy application approval rates of 100% (FY2019) and 93.9% (FY2020) for Monodukuri Hojo (manufacturing) subsidy program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• xarvio (BASF Digital Farming)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025SkyLink Japan co-hosted a smart agriculture field tour with xarvio (BASF Digital Farming), demonstrating the integration of xarvio's digital farming platform with SkyLink Japan's agricultural drone solutions.
• HTM Consulting Group (HTMコンサルティンググループ)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 January 2023HTM Consulting Group, represented by中小企业診断士 (SME Consultant) Himeada Kota, co-teaches SkyLink Japan's subsidy application support webinars, providing expertise on Monodukuri Hojo (manufacturing) subsidy applications with a high approval rate track record.
• Tokushima University (徳島大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2020Tokushima University collaborated with SkyLink Japan (WorldLink & Company) on the Wingcopter Level 3 demonstration experiments in Tokushima Prefecture in March 2020, contributing academic expertise to the project.
• Kyoto University (京都大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2020Kyoto University collaborated with SkyLink Japan (WorldLink & Company) on the Wingcopter Level 3 demonstration experiments in Tokushima Prefecture, providing academic support to the project.
• WorldLink Protech (株式会社WorldLink Protech)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2020WorldLink Protech, a related company under the WorldLink & Company umbrella, collaborated on the Wingcopter Level 3 demonstration experiments, contributing to the technical implementation of the project.
• MM Labo (株式会社MMラボ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2020MM Labo collaborated with SkyLink Japan (WorldLink & Company) on the Wingcopter Level 3 demonstration experiments, contributing to the multi-partner research initiative.
• Autel RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationAutel Robotics is a featured partner brand on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. SkyLink Japan distributes and supports Autel drones including EVO MAX, EVO NEST (drone port), and EVO series for public safety, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response applications.
• NTT e-Drone TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNTT e-Drone Technology is a key channel partner for agricultural drone solutions. SkyLink Japan distributes FJD, XAG, and NTT e-Drone Technology products as part of a smart agriculture full lineup. Active recruitment of new agricultural distribution partners is ongoing.
• PIX4DcoreTechnology or IntegrationPIX4D is featured as a partner brand on SkyLink Japan's website. SkyLink Japan offers PIX4Dmapper and PIX4Dmatic software through its data solutions portfolio, providing SfM processing for drone-captured imagery.
• CHCNAVcoreTechnology or IntegrationCHCNAV is a key technology partner for UAV LiDAR solutions. SkyLink Japan distributes CHCNAV AA6 and AA9+X500 UAV LiDAR systems and hosts regular joint webinars to promote these products in the Japanese market.
• PhaseOnecoreTechnology or IntegrationPhaseOne is featured as a partner brand on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. SkyLink Japan distributes PhaseOne cameras including the iXM-RS150F (150MP) and iXM-100MP (100MP) medium-format cameras for high-resolution UAV surveying and mapping applications.
• Wingcopter GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationWingcopter GmbH is a German VTOL drone manufacturer whose products (Wingcopter 178 HL, Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift) are distributed by SkyLink Japan. SkyLink Japan has conducted multiple demonstration experiments including Level 3 BVLOS flights (16km Lake Biwa crossing, Mt. Adatara snow survey) and is actively promoting Wingcopter for logistics and surveying applications.
• FIXARcoreTechnology or IntegrationFIXAR is a Latvian company whose FIXAR 007 fully autonomous VTOL fixed-wing drone is distributed by SkyLink Japan in Japan. The company provides the FIXAR 007 for long-range surveying, mapping, precision agriculture, and plant inspection applications.
• SONYcoreTechnology or IntegrationSONY is featured as a partner brand on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. SkyLink Japan has organized demonstration flight events for the Sony Airpeak S1 drone and distributes Sony camera solutions for aerial photography.
• TELEDYNE FLIRcoreTechnology or IntegrationTeledyne FLIR is featured as a partner brand on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. SkyLink Japan distributes FLIR thermal cameras including FLIR ONE Pro (smartphone-mounted), FLIR Duo Pro R, and FLIR Vue Pro R for drone-based thermal/infrared inspection applications.
• PolarProcoreTechnology or IntegrationPolarPro is a US-based camera accessory manufacturer whose ND filters, cases, and mobile photography systems (LiteChaser Pro) are distributed by SkyLink Japan through its e-commerce shop.
• FUWADRONEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFUWADRONE appears on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. Details of the specific partnership arrangement are not detailed in the source material.
• RaveProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaveProject collaborates with SkyLink Japan to co-host the PRO Pilot certification event, promoting and recognizing genuine drone operator skills. The partnership combines SkyLink Japan's training and certification capabilities with RaveProject's professional pilot community.
• NTT East Japan (NTT東日本)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNTT East Japan appears on SkyLink Japan's partner logos page. Details of the specific partnership arrangement are not detailed in the source material, though a broader relationship with the NTT Group is indicated through the NTT e-Drone Technology partnership.
• JAL Air Mobility Operation Academy (JAMOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkyLink Japan serves as a technical skills training provider for JAMOA, delivering drone operation training under the JAL Air Mobility Operation Academy framework as part of its authorized training institution role.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Skydio: US autonomous drone manufacturer focused on inspection, public safety, and surveying. Increasingly active in the Asia-Pacific region with autonomy-focused offerings that could rival SkyLink's Autel and DJI enterprise stack for inspection customers.

Direct peers

• Terra Drone: Tokyo-based drone services and solutions provider with strong presence in surveying, inspection, and UAV traffic management (UTM). Operates in adjacent verticals and geographies (Asia, Europe, South America) with similar end-to-end drone solution offerings.
• ACSL: Japanese drone manufacturer specializing in industrial and security drones (e.g., SOTEN, PF2). Competes as a domestic airframe supplier and increasingly offers integrated solutions that overlap with SkyLink's distribution and integration model.
• OPTiM: Japanese SaaS and drone service company offering drone solutions for agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and surveying, plus AI-driven data analytics. Competes with SkyLink across multiple verticals and customer segments in Japan.
• Nileworks (Yanmar): Japanese agricultural drone company (acquired by Yanmar) focused on rice-paddy spraying. Directly competes with SkyLink's agricultural drone spraying and business-school offerings, with deeper OEM backing from Yanmar.
• NTT e-Drone Technology: NTT Group's agricultural drone subsidiary in Japan, distributing and servicing drones such as the AC101 and Teal series for spraying and surveying. Direct overlap with SkyLink's agricultural drone business and an active channel partner/competitor in the same Japanese market.

Regional players

• senseFly (PARROT Group): European fixed-wing drone manufacturer (Parrot subsidiary) focused on surveying, mapping, and agriculture. Comparable to SkyLink's FIXAR/WingtraRAY offerings for surveying customers, primarily in non-Japanese markets.

Broad incumbents

• Autel Robotics: Global drone manufacturer whose EVO MAX and EVO NEST are core SkyLink products. A vertically integrated entrant could shift from partner to direct competitor by establishing its own Japanese sales/service footprint.
• DJI: Global drone market leader whose AGRAS, Matrice, and Phantom Mavic lines are sold through SkyLink's distribution. Could disintermediate SkyLink by pushing direct enterprise sales, exclusive Japanese distributors, or its own certified training network.
• Yamaha Motor (Industrial-Use Unmanned Helicopters): Yamaha's industrial unmanned helicopter business (FAZER, RMAX) is a long-established incumbent in Japanese agricultural spraying, inspection, and surveying. Represents the legacy alternative SkyLink competes against for pilot-heavy and BVLOS operations in Japan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/skylink_photo
• Xx.com/skylinkjapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkyLinkJapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skylink-japan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Skylink