Remote Sensing Company Birdstop Secures Funding to Grow BVLOS Network

Birdstop Raises $2.3M in Funding to Expand its BVLOS Network

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Remote sensing company Birdstop has secured $2.3M in funding for the purposes of growing its BVLOS network, improving its AI capabilities, and providing customers with more data-driven value. Led by Lerer Hippeau, the funding round saw participation from Anorak Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Data Tech Fund, Graph Ventures, Techstars, Timberline Holdings, as well as strategic investors Talon Aerolytics.

Birdstop operates a nationwide drone network utilizing a range of risk mitigation measures, including a low altitude airspace deconfliction system to guarantee the highest degree of safety even when the operator is thousands of miles away. The company has received several leading FAA approvals to carry out elaborate BVLOS operations.

Birdstop monitors and protects critical infrastructure such as power grids and telecom networks, in addition to mobilizing on-demand remote sensing for emergencies such as natural disasters or security breaches. Currently, Birdstop coverage is active in several states such as Alabama, California, and Texas. Alongside infrastructure users, more than 20 other industries including agriculture, construction, and first response, can make use of Birdstop coverage for improved situational awareness and real-time intelligence.

Having recently opened a new R&D facility in Alabama, Birdstop has started scaling production of its systems, beginning with its airspace intelligence beacon.

The company was founded by CEO Keith Miao, a former Google data scientist and Earth Institute satellite imagery researcher. Also on the team are Head of Software Jatin Kolekar, who brings a decade of experience at the frontier of drone technology, Software Engineer Robert Reynoso, who operated a global network of Internet balloons at Google Loon, and Principal R&D Engineer Timothy McPhail, who managed cellular infrastructure with drone imaging at American Tower.

“While we use Google Maps every day, we don’t think about the satellites involved. At Birdstop, we’re doing the same thing with drones: our customers get real-time intel and the drones themselves are invisible to them. We are delivering real-time visibility into their assets, without the complexities of drones, robotics and FAA rules and regs. They can simply dial into their assets in real time, on demand.”

“Developments in drone technology and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulation over the past decade is allowing Birdstop’s vision to be feasible for the first time. Birdstop is perfectly positioned to scale this up,” said Andrea Hippeau, partner at Lerer Hippeau.

Read more:

• Southern Company Gets BVLOS Waiver for Fully Remote Drone Operations with Skydio Dock
• FAA Reauthorization Clears the House of Representatives: Package Calls for More Progress on BVLOS Flight, Drone Integration
• Part 108 and BVLOS Flight; When Will it Happen, and What Will it Look Like? From Law-Tech Connect, at the Energy Drones and Robotics Summit
• BVLOS Power Line Inspection, No Visual Observers: What’s Involved in the Pheonix Air Unmanned Waiver