Sunny Forecast for Rooftop UAV Firm HoverStat

A Texas UAV company is looking to the power of the sun to fuel a new roof-raising business model. Using the latest drones, cameras and precise-measurement software, HoverStat hopes to expand its current market in the roof inspection and insurance claims sectors to include precise roof measurement flights that will help solar installation professionals to better fit panels for clients.

Currently, HoverStat serves utility companies, insurance firms and constriction companies by offering drones that measure roof dimensions accurately and inspect for damage. In a recent visit to the annual StartFast Venture Accelerator at Le Moyne College, HoverStat CEO Leanne Eckelberg spent time with leading entrepreneurial mentors and coaches in an effort to sharpen the company’s focus. HoverStat was one of only five startups to be chosen for the Accelerator out of 2,000 applicants. For HoverStat, that focus may mean developing a more specialized solution to the solar installation industry.

HoverStat hopes to integrate drone, camera and software into an end-result detailed report for a solar client with a goal of developing a mobile app that will deliver that data within 10 minutes. Currently, the company must use pilots and a more manual means of report generation but Eckelberg envisions a network of autonomous drones such that users can launch a measurement program with the click of a button.

HoverStat is eligible to apply for a Section 333 exemption and company officials say it “is likely that HoverStat will receive approval because their drones fly under 400 feet, weigh under 55 lbs, and are flying within line of sight.”

Eckelberg says the combination of centering their product in a technological sweet spot coupled with the frenetic energy inherent in the drone business right now serves to motivate her and her team.

“It’s hard not to be motivated when I see new drone policies and technologies in the news everyday,” she stated in a recent TechCo interview. “Each time someone comes out with something cool I’m like, ‘Look how cool our sector is!’ We may not be the next big mainstream app, but we solve a tough problem with cutting-edge technology.”