Verge Aero
Verge Aero provides a vertically integrated drone show platform — purpose-built X7 and X1 drones, Design Studio choreography software with AI-assisted tools, and Command ground control — sold to professional drone show operators, event production firms, theme parks, and pyrotechnic companies worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Verge Aero does
Verge Aero (legal name Verge, Inc.) is a privately held US-based technology company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, that builds a vertically integrated drone show platform. Its product stack consists of three core components: Design Studio (timeline-based choreography software with a 1,000+ pre-made effects library, photo-realistic 3D previsualization, and AI-powered generative design tools); the X7 flagship light show drone (quad-constellation RTK GPS, dual independent sensor sets providing four position estimators, EASA DVR certified) and the X1 pyro drone (three sensor sets, six estimators, with an integrated firing module for pyrotechnic payloads); and Command/Console ground control software with timecode launch and automated flight safety validation. Supporting infrastructure includes the Ground Station Console, cloud-based fleet management via the portal, and 24/7/365 global support.
The company monetizes through three streams: (1) one-time hardware sales of drone fleets priced from $75,000 for starter systems to $500,000+ for large 500+ drone operations; (2) software licensing for Design Studio and Command, included with system purchases; and (3) professional show services where Verge Aero's in-house team executes or designs custom productions. The company's direct GTM is enterprise field sales targeting professional drone show operators, fireworks companies, event production firms, and theme parks, supplemented by the #PoweredByVerge channel partner network — described as the single largest global community of drone show providers. Customers include marquee event end-users (Macy's 4th of July, Philadelphia Eagles, Sphere Las Vegas, Lollapalooza, EDC, Apple TV Monarch, Biden 2020) but the paying customer base is the operator network.
The company is founder-owned and led by four co-founders: Nils Thorjussen (Executive Chairman), Anthony Merlino (CEO), Chris Franzwa (CTO), and Tony Samaritano (VP of Flight Operations). It employs approximately 27 people and has not disclosed external institutional funding. Operational geographies include the US, UK, Norway, Malta, Mexico, American Samoa, and the UAE.
Verge Aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Verge Aero
- Legal name
- Verge, Inc.
- Website
- https://verge.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Verge Aero provides a vertically integrated drone show platform — purpose-built X7 and X1 drones, Design Studio choreography software with AI-assisted tools, and Command ground control — sold to professional drone show operators, event production firms, theme parks, and pyrotechnic companies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Verge Aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drone Show Systems & Aerial Entertainment Technology
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Consumer Non-Imaging Drones (Toy/FPV, Racing, Delivery/Utility) (CRACARAH), Consumer Drones for Imaging (Camera Drones) (CRACAPAD)
Keywords
Where Verge Aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Verge Aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Drone Fleet Sales: Sale of X7 and X1 drone fleets as turnkey systems. Minimum investment typically $75,000+ for a starter fleet, with large operations of 500+ drones potentially requiring $500,000+. Includes drones, ground control hardware, and software licensing.
- Software Licensing: Design Studio choreography software and Command/Console fleet management licensed as part of system purchase. Includes access to effects library, AI design tools, and ongoing software updates.
- Professional Show Services: Verge Aero's own team conducts high-profile shows and provides professional show design services for complex productions. In-house design team available for custom choreography.
- Operator Show Revenue: Verge Aero operators generate revenue from drone show performances. Typical show pricing: $15,000-$25,000+ for small shows (100-150 drones), $40,000-$70,000 for mid-size (200-300 drones), $100,000+ for large productions (500+ drones).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Starter Fleet - Minimum Investment |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Large Fleet Operations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small Drone Show (100-150 drones) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-Size Drone Show (200-300 drones) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Production (500+ drones) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Operator Profit Margins |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Verge Aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Verge Aero designs, manufactures, and sells a fully integrated turnkey drone show system comprising purpose-built X7 and X1 drones, Design Studio choreography and animation software, the Command/Console flight control system, and a ground station console. The platform enables professional drone show operators and event production companies to design, choreograph, and execute aerial light shows of 1 to 10,000 drones, sold as turnkey fleets with a minimum investment of $75,000.
Product overview
Verge Aero offers a fully integrated, turnkey drone show ecosystem comprising three core components: Design Studio (design and animation software), X7 and X1 drones (purpose-built light show hardware), and Command (ground control software). Design Studio is the choreography platform featuring a timeline-based editor, a 1,000+ effects library, photo-realistic 3D previsualization, and AI-powered generative design tools. The X7 is the flagship drone with EASA DVR certification and quad constellation RTK GPS, while the X1 is the pyro-enabled variant with triple navigation redundancy for pyrotechnic deployments. Command is the flight control software providing automation, timecode launch, and airspace compliance. Additional offerings include the AI Design Tool (Formation Graph) for generative show creation, the ground station console, the web portal for fleet management, 24/7/365 global support, and the #PoweredByVerge partner network. The entire system is vertically integrated — drones, software, and hardware are designed together — and is used by professional production teams worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design Studio Software Verge Aero's award-winning drone show choreography and animation software, featuring a timeline-based editor, 1,000+ pre-made effects, automatic flight path deconfliction, photo-realistic 3D previsualization, and AI-powered generative design tools. Supports import from Cinema 4D, Blender, and Maya, and scales from 1 to 10,000 drones. Sold to professional drone show operators and event production companies.
- X7 Drone Verge Aero's flagship light show drone with quad constellation RTK GPS for centimeter-level accuracy, dual independent navigation sensor sets (four estimators), super-bright RGBW LEDs, smart batteries, and EASA DVR certification. The only swarm drone in the world with EASA approval. Sold as part of turnkey drone show systems to professional operators.
- X1 Pyro Drone Verge Aero's pyro-enabled light show drone designed for pyrotechnic payload deployments, featuring three independent sets of navigation sensors (six estimators), RGBW LEDs, and an integrated pyro firing module for deploying pyrotechnic effects mid-flight. Sold for combined drone-and-fireworks productions.
- Command Flight Control Software Ground control software for safe, scalable drone fleet operations. Automates flight sequences to remove human error, supports timecode launch control for guaranteed on-time shows, and is fully compliant with FAA and EASA regulations. Scales to thousands of drones across multiple independent fleets and launchpads.
- Verge Aero Ground Station Console Purpose-built hardware console for operating Verge Aero's drone fleet. Used by pilots to manage pre-flight checks, drone placement, show upload, real-time monitoring, and emergency procedures during live drone show operations.
- Professional Show Production Services End-to-end drone show production services delivered by Verge Aero's in-house team for high-profile events, including custom choreography design, fleet deployment, and on-site execution. Engaged by event organizers, brands, and government agencies for large-scale productions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60-65% typical profit margins for drone show operators
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Verge Aero
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Verge Aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability4 records
Feature11 records
Verge Aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core, strategic and minor.
- SkyPrecisionregionalLocal partner in Mexico that worked with Verge Aero to deliver the country's first drone show at Festival Internacional del Globo in 2019. SkyPrecision, led by CEO Israel Canino, collaborated on custom choreography for Martin Garrix performance.
- Strictly FXcoreLong-standing partnership for major events including Biden campaign victory celebration and Philadelphia Eagles shows. Strictly FX, led by CEO Ted Maccabee, deployed Verge Aero drones for high-profile political and sports events.
- Fireworks by GruccicoreInvested in Verge Aero drone technology for expanding pyrotechnic capabilities. Collaboration on MrBeast YouTube video and Ras Al Khaimah New Year's Eve world record show. President and CEO Phil Grucci expressed satisfaction with technology's purpose-built design for entertainment.
- Drone StoriescoreInternational drone show production company using Verge Aero hardware. Collaborated on EDC Las Vegas 25th anniversary show with 600 drones. Known for work with NASA, Disney, Samsung, and DRIFT's Franchise Freedom starlings project.
- T-MobilestrategicPartnered with Verge Aero for Lollapalooza drone show, launching drones over T-Mobile 5G network. Previous collaboration on Justin Bieber New Year's Eve gig. Technology partnership demonstrating network-enabled show control.
- Google PixelstrategicPartnered with Verge Aero and T-Mobile for Lollapalooza drone show. Used Google Pixel phones as control interface for launching and controlling drone formations.
- Pyrospectaculars by SouzaregionalPyrotechnic company collaborating with Verge Aero on first-ever New York City Independence Day drone show for Macy's and City of New York.
- Insomniac EventsstrategicEDC festival producers who commissioned Verge Aero drone shows for 25th anniversary celebration and EDC Orlando events. Worked with Drone Stories on large-scale production.
- Spirit of '76regionalPyrotechnic company partnered with Verge Aero for PGI 2024 fireworks and drone show integration with nearly 2,000 drones.
- Rozzi's Famous Fireworksregional128-year-old American pyrotechnic company (Rozzi's) integrating Verge Aero drone technology into modern nighttime spectaculars, discovering new models for live outdoor entertainment.
- AeroAVAregionalUK-based drone show company awarded for work at Edinburgh Castle and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Part of Powered by Verge network providing drone shows in UK.
- Northern Lights Drone ShowsregionalWisconsin campground operation running weekly 1,000-drone shows as regional entertainment. Part of #PoweredByVerge network, using Verge Aero platform to build entertainment business.
- FlyLight Drone Showscore#PoweredByVerge partner delivering high-profile shows including UP Summit (1,000 drones), Eagles NFC Championship, and Philadelphia Eagles events. Growing fleet operation.
- Fantasy Drone ShowsregionalNebraska fireworks veteran building drone show business on Verge Aero platform. Featured in multiple shows including Superman St. Louis Arch July 4th and FantasyFest.
- Orion SkysminorGeorgia-based small fleet operator (100 drones) making community impact with drone shows. Part of Powered by Verge network.
- SkylightsminorDrone show company in Mexico, one of early international operators in the Verge Aero ecosystem.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Verge Aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pixis Drones: Pixis Drones is an international drone show production company with operations in the US, Middle East, and Europe. It competes head-to-head with Verge Aero-powered operators for large-scale shows (sports finals, national celebrations) and for theme park and corporate event contracts.
- Dronisos: Dronisos is a major European drone show provider serving events across France, the UK, and beyond. It competes with Verge Aero for theme park, sports, and municipal contracts and is a credible rival for international market share in the same vertically integrated offering category.
- Celestial Drone Shows: Celestial is a US-based drone show operator serving entertainment, sports, and corporate clients. It directly competes with Verge Aero-powered operators for the same categories of work using competing hardware platforms.
- Sky Elements Drone Shows: Sky Elements is one of the largest drone show providers in the United States, operating shows for sports teams, municipalities, and major brands. It competes directly with Verge Aero-powered operators for the same marquee event contracts and represents the operator-tier competitor in the same ecosystem.
- Great Lakes Drone Show: Great Lakes Drone Show is a US drone show provider operating across the Midwest for sports teams, municipalities, and private events. It is a direct peer competing for the same North American event production contracts.
- Aerotain (SkyMagic): SkyMagic is a Singapore-based drone show company that both operates shows and offers its own hardware/software platform. It is a direct competitor to Verge Aero on both the operator and technology-platform dimensions, with global reach across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
- Nova Drone Shows: Nova Drone Shows is a US drone show operator focused on sports, festivals, and corporate events. It competes directly with Verge Aero-equipped operators in the same geographic and customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading US-based autonomous drone manufacturer focused on commercial, public safety, and inspection use cases. While not a current drone show specialist, its autonomous flight technology and US manufacturing base make it a broader incumbent that could expand into the entertainment category.
- DJI: DJI is the world's largest drone manufacturer with hardware used across consumer, commercial, and increasingly entertainment categories. While DJI does not specialize in swarm/light-show drones, its scale and R&D capabilities make it a credible broader incumbent that could enter or supply the drone show category.
Others
- Fireworks by Grucci: Fireworks by Grucci is a 170-year-old pyrotechnic company and a strategic Verge Aero partner that integrates drone technology into traditional fireworks shows. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant — a customer and partner rather than a competitor — whose adoption signals pyrotechnic-industry convergence with drone shows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Verge Aero social profiles
Digital presenceVerge Aero compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Verge Aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Verge Aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Verge Aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Verge Aero 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 Verge Aero
What does Verge Aero do?
Verge Aero designs, manufactures, and sells a fully integrated turnkey drone show system comprising purpose-built X7 and X1 drones, Design Studio choreography and animation software, the Command/Console flight control system, and a ground station console. The platform enables professional drone show operators and event production companies to design, choreograph, and execute aerial light shows of 1 to 10,000 drones, sold as turnkey fleets with a minimum investment of $75,000.
Is Verge Aero a public or private company?
Verge Aero is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Verge Aero founded?
Verge Aero was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Verge Aero based?
Verge Aero is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Verge Aero make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Drone Fleet Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licensing, professional Show Services and operator Show Revenue.
Who are Verge Aero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pixis Drones, Dronisos, Celestial Drone Shows, Sky Elements Drone Shows, Great Lakes Drone Show, Aerotain (SkyMagic) and Nova Drone Shows. Broad incumbents are Skydio and DJI. Fireworks by Grucci is listed as an others.
Does Verge Aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Verge Aero.
What industry is Verge Aero in?
Verge Aero's product category is Drone Show Systems & Aerial Entertainment Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAL, UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure, with a secondary code of CRACARAH, Consumer Non-Imaging Drones (Toy/FPV, Racing, Delivery/Utility). Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3812.