Drone Stories
Drone Stories is a private Amsterdam-based drone light show company founded in 2017 that designs and operates large-scale coordinated drone swarms for enterprise brands, festivals, governments, and cultural institutions globally, anchored by its signature AI-driven 'Franchise Freedom' aerial artwork.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Drone Stories does
Drone Stories is a private Amsterdam-headquartered drone light show company founded in 2017 as a sister entity to art studio DRIFT. The company designs and operates large-scale coordinated drone swarms equipped with LED lights to produce purpose-driven aerial performances for enterprise brands, music and cultural festivals, governments, art institutions, and ultra-high-net-worth private clients. Its flagship product, 'Franchise Freedom,' is a flying sculpture co-created with Studio DRIFT that uses machine-learning-based swarm control software to mimic starling flight behavior, and the broader service spans 100 to 1,400+ drones synchronized with music, fireworks, water projection, and live performers.
The business operates on a project-based professional services model with pricing anchored at approximately €500 per drone (typically 500 drones per show, equating to ~€250,000), with entry-level shows of 200-300 drones priced at €100K-€150K and large premium engagements (e.g., F1 Las Vegas, Cannes Lions) commanding higher totals. Drone Stories uses the proprietary NOVA Sky Stories Star Drone hardware platform and scalable launch-pad system (six drones per pod with automated charging) under an exclusive technology partnership, and it delivers shows globally through direct enterprise sales augmented by agency partnerships (KARGO, TwofiftyK, Liberty Media/Formula 1).
The company maintains regional offices in Amsterdam (European HQ at A'DAM Tower) and New York City, with operational presence in Las Vegas, and has executed 22+ documented projects across 10+ countries including marquee engagements with Coachella, Burning Man, EDC Las Vegas, Art Basel Miami, Cannes Lions, NASA, Disney+, Spotify, Samsung, Mercedes-AMG, and the New York City Mayor's Office. Leadership comprises CEO Joscha Niemann and co-founder Lucas van Oostrum alongside Studio DRIFT co-founders Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta. The company is self-funded with no institutional investment disclosed and operates with a lean 1-10 person team.
Drone Stories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drone Stories
- Legal name
- Drone Stories
- Website
- https://dronestories.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Drone Stories is a private Amsterdam-based drone light show company founded in 2017 that designs and operates large-scale coordinated drone swarms for enterprise brands, festivals, governments, and cultural institutions globally, anchored by its signature AI-driven 'Franchise Freedom' aerial artwork.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drone Stories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Entertainment / Drone Light Show Services
- NAICS
- Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Large-Format & Spectaculars (Building Wraps, 3D, Landmarks) (BPAFALAH)
Keywords
Where Drone Stories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Drone Stories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Drone Light Shows: Project-based custom drone show creation where clients commission bespoke aerial performances. Pricing determined by number of drones (€500 per drone), show complexity, location logistics, and additional elements like fireworks, artists, or performers. Typically 500 drones per show with costs ranging from €100,000 to €250,000+. Creative fees apply for custom story development.
- Pre-existing Show Licensing: Companies can book existing shows like Franchise Freedom at reduced creative fees since the show concept is already developed. Provides access to award-winning performances without full custom development costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard drone show - 500 drones |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Entry-level show - 200-300 drones |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Existing show (Franchise Freedom) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Drone Stories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drone Stories designs and operates custom drone light shows for enterprise brands, festivals, cultural institutions, governments, and private clients. Each show uses coordinated swarms of Nova Sky Stories Star Drones fitted with LED lights to render visual stories, logos, and 3D formations in the night sky, often synchronized with music, fireworks, or live performers. The company also licenses its signature aerial artwork Franchise Freedom, an AI-driven starling-swarm sculpture co-created with Studio DRIFT.
Product overview
Drone Stories is a drone light show company that creates purpose-driven aerial performances using coordinated drone swarms. Their core offering is custom drone light shows where hundreds of drones equipped with LEDs are programmed to create visual stories in the night sky. The product portfolio centers around their signature artwork 'Franchise Freedom' (a flying sculpture with Studio DRIFT that mimics starling flight using AI/machine learning), supplemented by event-specific drone shows for festivals (Coachella, Burning Man, EDC Las Vegas), brand activations (Mercedes-AMG, Spotify, Samsung, Disney+), weddings, and public celebrations. The company uses NOVA Sky Stories Star Drones as their primary hardware, which are specifically designed for light shows with bright LEDs and efficient launch pad systems. Shows typically combine drone choreography with music, fireworks, water projection, and live performances, lasting up to 12 minutes with fleet sizes ranging from 100 to 1400 drones.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Franchise Freedom: A flying sculpture created in collaboration with Studio DRIFT - hundreds of drones visualize an autonomously flying swarm of starlings, exposing the tension between individual freedom and safety in numbers. Premiered at Art Basel Miami 2017.
Products and services
- Custom Drone Light Shows Custom aerial performances using coordinated drone swarms equipped with LED lights to create visual stories in the night sky, often synchronized with music, fireworks, or live performers. Fleet sizes range from 100 to 1,400+ drones. Engagements are project-based, priced at approximately €500 per drone (typical 500-drone show at €100,000–€250,000+).
- Franchise Freedom Signature aerial sculpture co-created with Studio DRIFT, using drones to mimic autonomously flying swarms of starlings. The kinetic aerial sculpture is based on algorithms developed from over ten years of research into starling behavior, exploring the tension between individual freedom and safety in numbers. Available in sizes from 200–600 drones for both public and private events; can be licensed at reduced creative fees compared to fully custom shows.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 165,000+ attendees at single show (EDC Las Vegas 2021)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Drone Stories
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Drone Stories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Drone Stories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- Therme USflagshipPartner for Franchise Freedom Central Park performance, bringing social infrastructure expertise and supporting accessibility initiatives for public art.
- KARGOflagshipAdvertising agency partner for Cannes Lions Festival drone shows (2023 and 2024). First-ever drone light performance at Cannes Lions, showcasing evolution of advertising media.
- New York City Mayor's OfficeflagshipGovernment partner enabling first-ever drone performance over Central Park, providing necessary approvals and institutional support.
- NYC ParksflagshipMunicipal partner providing approvals and support for Central Park drone performance, working closely with New York Mayor's Office.
- Fishko Inc.minorContributing partner for Franchise Freedom Central Park production.
- TwofiftyKflagshipCreative partner for F1 Las Vegas events, including launch party at Caesars Palace and 2023 Grand Prix. Collaborated on shows combining lighting, projection mapping, and drone performances synchronized with live music.
- Liberty Media (Formula 1)flagshipFormula 1 event organizer for Las Vegas Grand Prix drone shows, including opening ceremony and VIP events.
- Feelgood VuurwerkminorPyrotechnics partner for Amsterdam New Year's Eve drone show combining fireworks and drones for the first time in the Netherlands.
- PyrofoorminorFireworks specialist partner for Amsterdam New Year's Eve show, creating combined drone and firework experience.
- Studio DRIFTcoreSister company and strategic partner specializing in choreographed sculptures and kinetic installations. Co-created award-winning Franchise Freedom drone sculpture. DRIFT founders Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn are key collaborators with Drone Stories founder Lucas van Oostrum. Partnership produces both art installations and commercial drone shows.
- NOVA Sky StoriescoreHardware supplier and technology partner that acquired Intel's drone fleet and know-how. Developed the Nova Sky Stories Star Drone system with scalable launch pad technology. Provides exclusive drone technology for all Drone Stories shows.
- Blauw GrasminorCreative agency partner for Samsung Galaxy launch drone show above Amsterdam IJ.
- EpidemicminorProduction partner for Disney+ National Streaming Day drone show at Santa Monica Pier.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Drone Stories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Celestial (EHang): EHang, through its Celestial drone show division, is a major China-rooted provider of large-scale drone performance services — competing for global festival and municipal drone show RFPs and possessing both airframe manufacturing and show operations, giving it a more vertically integrated model than Drone Stories.
- Pyrotecnico: Pyrotecnico is a large US pyrotechnics and event production company that supplies the fireworks budgets Drone Stories is actively displacing — competing for the same 'spectacle at a public event' wallet share, particularly around July 4th, NYE, and sports entertainment.
Others
- Studio DRIFT: Studio DRIFT is Drone Stories' sister company and creative co-developer (with founders Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn shared across both entities); not a direct competitor, but adjacent — the artistic studio provides the IP backbone (Franchise Freedom) underpinning Drone Stories' premium offering.
- TwofiftyK: TwofiftyK is a creative/production agency that has partnered with Drone Stories on F1 Las Vegas shows and competes for the same brand-experience budget from the agency procurement side; listed as a 'Channel/Reseller' partner in Drone Stories' distribution data.
Direct peers
- Highgreat Innovation: Highgreat Innovation (China) is one of the largest drone show operators globally, offering 5,000+ drone formations for tourism, festivals, and brand campaigns — comparable scale and end-to-end show-services model to Drone Stories, with strong pricing pressure on enterprise RFPs.
- NOVA Sky Stories: NOVA Sky Stories is Drone Stories' hardware partner (maker of the proprietary Star Drone and launch-pad system that powers every show) and itself operates large-scale drone shows globally, often for the same enterprise clients — a direct competitor on the show-services layer and the de facto 'vertically integrated' rival.
- Verge Aero: Verge Aero is a US-based drone light show operator offering end-to-end design, fleet operations, and pre-programmed choreography for events — competing for the same brand activation and live-event budgets as Drone Stories, with comparable fleet sizes and North American delivery capability.
- SkyMagic: SkyMagic is a UK/Singapore-headquartered drone show company serving sporting events, consumer-brand campaigns, and public celebrations — direct competition for international enterprise drone show RFPs, including shows at F1 races and music festivals where Drone Stories is also active.
- Pixis Drones: Pixis Drones is an India-based drone light show company that operates large-fleet shows for corporate launches, weddings, and government events in APAC — competing for the same large-format outdoor activation use cases that drive Drone Stories' Festival and Brand Activation segments.
- Drone Show Korea: Drone Show Korea operates commercial drone light shows across APAC and the Middle East and offers both hardware and show services — a comparable end-to-end competitor with similar large-fleet capabilities to Drone Stories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Drone Stories social profiles
Digital presenceDrone Stories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drone Stories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Drone Stories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drone Stories 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 Drone Stories
What does Drone Stories do?
Drone Stories designs and operates custom drone light shows for enterprise brands, festivals, cultural institutions, governments, and private clients. Each show uses coordinated swarms of Nova Sky Stories Star Drones fitted with LED lights to render visual stories, logos, and 3D formations in the night sky, often synchronized with music, fireworks, or live performers. The company also licenses its signature aerial artwork Franchise Freedom, an AI-driven starling-swarm sculpture co-created with Studio DRIFT.
Is Drone Stories a public or private company?
Drone Stories is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Drone Stories founded?
Drone Stories was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Drone Stories based?
Drone Stories is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Drone Stories make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Drone Light Shows are the primary driver. The others are pre-existing Show Licensing.
Who are Drone Stories's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Celestial (EHang) and Pyrotecnico. Others are Studio DRIFT and TwofiftyK. Direct peers are Highgreat Innovation, NOVA Sky Stories, Verge Aero, SkyMagic, Pixis Drones and Drone Show Korea.
Does Drone Stories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drone Stories.
What industry is Drone Stories in?
Drone Stories's product category is Aerial Entertainment / Drone Light Show Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFALAH, Large-Format & Spectaculars (Building Wraps, 3D, Landmarks). Its NAICS code is 711190 and its SIC code is 7900.