born2explore

What born2explore does

born2explore is a German online education platform for drone flying, operated by the legal entity born2design GbR (founders Kevin Bruder and Kevin May) with drone expert Tobias Holz as collaborating co-coach, headquartered in Karlsruhe. The company targets amateur and aspiring drone pilots in the DACH region, primarily beginners who fear crashing new equipment, intermediate users seeking to improve aerial photography and videography, and certification seekers needing an EU-compliant A2 drone pilot license. Its core products are the Online-Drohnenkurs (€149 one-time, 32 video lessons across 6 chapters covering theory, practice, photography, filming, and editing, approximately 7 hours) and the A2 Drohnen-Führerschein (€159, 30 lessons, official credit-card-format certificate). Both are delivered through a proprietary e-learning platform called born2explore Academy that combines interactive decision-tree video, gamified milestones and ranks, progress tracking, a member-only Facebook community, and an interactive Explore Karte for sharing drone flying locations, with reward unlocks (wallpaper collections, LUTs, flight checklists, discount codes) used to drive engagement.

The business operates as a bootstrapped, direct-to-consumer digital product business with a product-led growth motion: a freemium trial (7 free video lessons) feeds a self-serve checkout on born2explore.de, supporting PayPal, credit card, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and Klarna; a 14-day money-back guarantee underwrites conversion. A bundle SKU (€219, down from €338) is used to lift average order value, and an affiliate program extends distribution. Revenue is one-time / perpetual license only — there is no subscription. Growth is supported by organic social (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook) and founder-led personal brands (@may.kevin, @tobiaswood), with the most strategically significant structural asset being the official cooperation with ProFlyCenter / DJI Academy, which enables accredited A2 certification via the Polish CAA / LBA at reduced exam cost and a reported 97% exam success rate. The legal entity is a German civil partnership (GbR), no institutional or external capital has been disclosed, headcount is in the 1–10 range, and operations are DACH-only with a single domestic distribution channel.

Name

born2explore

Legal name

born2design (GbR mit Kevin Bruder, Kevin May)

Website

https://born2explore.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

A German online education platform offering drone flying courses and the official EU A2 remote pilot license, serving amateur drone owners and certification seekers in the DACH region via a proprietary Academy platform with interactive video lessons, gamification, and a member community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Training Courses

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Drones, UAVs & Aerial Robotics Programs (EDAMADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Online drone education
• Drone pilot training
• A2 drone certification
• Aerial photography courses
• E-learning platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe-hagsfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Online Drone Course Sales: One-time purchase of the comprehensive online drone course covering theory, practice, photography, videography, and post-production editing. Includes 32 video lessons across 6 chapters with approximately 7 hours of content. Access is perpetual after purchase.
2. A2 Drone License Course: One-time purchase for A2 drone pilot certificate preparation course. Includes exam fee and physical card certificate. Partnership with ProFlyCenter/DJI Academy for official certification.
3. Bundle Package: Combined offering of Online Drone Course and A2 License at discounted price compared to individual purchases. Encourages upsell and customer lifetime value maximization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

born2explore sells online drone education courses directly to consumers via its proprietary born2explore Academy learning platform. Its flagship Online-Drohnenkurs (€149) delivers 32 interactive 4K video lessons across 6 chapters covering drone theory, practical flying, aerial photography, videography, and post-production editing. Its A2 Drohnen-Führerschein course (€159) prepares drone pilots for the official A2 certificate exam in partnership with ProFlyCenter/DJI Academy, with a 97% reported exam pass rate. Both courses are also sold as a discounted bundle (€219) and delivered through an in-house Academy LMS that includes progress tracking, gamified milestones and ranks, a pilot profile, live chat support, and an exclusive member Facebook community.

Product overview

born2explore is a German online education platform for drone flying, operated by born2design GbR (Kevin Bruder, Kevin May) in partnership with ProFlyCenter. The platform offers two main course products: the Online-Drohnenkurs (€149) with 32 lessons covering theory, practice, photography, filming, and editing, and the A2 Drohnen-Führerschein (€159) for official drone pilot licensing. Both courses are available individually or as a bundle (€219). The proprietary born2explore Academy learning platform includes gamification through milestones and ranks, a community-driven Explore Karte for sharing drone flying locations, and rewards such as wallpaper collections. Courses are delivered in 4K video quality with interactive learning features and live chat support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online-Drohnenkurs (Online Drone Course) Online drone flying, photography, and videography course for hobbyist and creative drone owners, consisting of 32 interactive 4K video lessons across 6 chapters (~7 hours) covering EU theory, practical flying, aerial photography, aerial filming, and editing in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro. Delivered through the proprietary born2explore Academy platform with live chat support, certificate on completion, 14-day money-back guarantee, and perpetual access for a one-time €149 payment.
• A2 Drohnen-Führerschein (A2 Drone Pilot License Course) Online preparation course for the official A2 EU drone pilot certificate, consisting of 30 lessons (~2-3 hours of learning effort) with knowledge tests and an online exam. Includes the A2 exam fee and the official A2 pilot certificate as a credit-card-sized document, administered through the Polish CAA (LBA) for reduced fees. Priced at €159 one-time (reduced from €189) with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
• Bundle Kurs & A2 Schein (Course + A2 Bundle) All-inclusive bundle that combines the full Online-Drohnenkurs and the A2 Drohnen-Führerschein into a single purchase at a significant discount versus buying each course individually (€219 vs €338 list price). Targets users who want both foundational drone skills and official A2 certification, with the same 14-day money-back guarantee and perpetual access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% exam pass rate on A2 drone license certification
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ProFlyCenter / DJI AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial cooperation between born2explore and ProFlyCenter as DJI Academy for A2 drone license certification. ProFlyCenter serves as the official examining body, enabling born2explore to offer accredited EU drone pilot certificates. The partnership achieves a 97% exam success rate and provides official certificates as credit-card-sized documents. Exam administration through Polish CAA via LBA for cost efficiency.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Masterclass: Premium online creator-led video learning platform with broad category coverage. Comparable as a reference business model for high-quality, creator-led, video-first online courses with one-time purchase pricing, though it is not drone-focused.

Direct peers

• UAV Coach: US-based online drone training platform offering Part 107 test prep, drone flying courses, and aerial photography/video education. Closely comparable in business model (online video courses, exam preparation, creator-led instruction) but US-focused where born2explore is DACH-focused.
• Pilot Institute: Offers Part 107 drone pilot test prep and recreational drone courses, plus drone-specific content. Directly comparable as a structured drone certification and education provider with strong exam pass rate focus.
• DroneU: Online drone pilot training membership/community covering flying, mapping, videography, and Part 107 prep. Comparable as a structured online drone education business targeting hobbyist and prosumer pilots with multi-format content.
• Drone Pilot Ground School: Specializes in Part 107 exam preparation with online video courses, practice tests, and money-back guarantee. Comparable in offering focused certification training as a primary SKU, similar to born2explore's A2 license product.

Regional players

• Heliguy: UK-based drone training and equipment provider offering GVC and A2 CofC courses alongside hardware sales. Comparable as a regional drone education provider serving UK/EU regulatory frameworks with structured certification pathways.

Emerging players

• Droneversity: Online drone training library offering various courses on flying, mapping, videography, and certification. Comparable as a course-platform competitor serving the same hobbyist/prosumer drone pilot segment with subscription and one-time purchase models.
• Altefly: Drone training platform offering online courses for recreational and commercial drone pilots in European markets. Comparable in targeting EU drone regulations and offering certification preparation alongside flying and content creation skills.

Others

• Drone Industry Insider: Drone industry research, consulting, and training provider covering commercial drone applications. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but serves drone operators seeking education and serves as a useful benchmark for drone education business models.
• DJI Academy (via ProFlyCenter): Official DJI training partner that administers A2 exams for born2explore. Functions as the certification backbone of the A2 SKU, with comparable curriculum in EU drone regulations and a partnership-enabling relationship rather than head-to-head competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/born2explore
• Facebookfacebook.com/born2explore.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/born2explore.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/born2explore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 born2explore