VBE Spotlight on: Lone Star Drone

Lone Star Drone

Lone Star Drone was founded by Drew Smith in 2018.

Drew Smith founded Lone Star Drone in 2018. Lone Star Drone has one focus: you. The mission of Lone Star Drone is to keep your project, big or small, flying. As a licensed drone program, Lone Star Drone is able to deliver to your expectations no matter how high they are.

As a Certified Veteran Owned and operated business, they know the importance of your mission and want you to accomplish your goals without you having to think about it. Peace of Mind.

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From aerial photography, aerial cinematography, and aerial surveying, and much more, their job is making you and your project look good. 

Learn more by visiting their website: https://www.lsdrone.com/

About the Business - Your Project, Their Mission.

What services do you provide?

"Drone services (inspection, mapping, survey), drone training, drone development, and drone sales."

Who are your primary customers?

"Survey companies, Public sector (police and fire), and the energy sector."

When and how did you start your business?

"'Right after the CEO's last deployment. Using drones as a part of a scout element, he realized they could be used for inspection and law enforcement missions."

Business Growth Challenges - Growing Through Challenge and Change

What were some of the challenges in starting your business?

"The main challenge that has faced Lone Star Drone is the public's lack of knowledge when it comes to what drones can do. If a client does not know that a problem can be solved then they cannot employ a solution like drones to do so. In the fields of safety, environmental responsibility, and repeat, quantifiable data, drones can solve many of the issues facing companies. Through community engagement, key note addresses, publications, and engaging directly with other businesses, Lone Star Drone is attempting to show the public what we can do."

What is the key to the success of your business?

"Lone Star Drone is a true testament to the need for drones and robotics in every industry. At the outset of Lone Star Drone, we exclusively provided photo/video services. It was quickly realized that a solely media based business model did not allow growth or stability to the company.

We expanded into inspection services. What started out as a single "prosumer" level drong grew into drones that were cutting edge and incredibly capable. It was at this point we also began to engineer our own drones that were needed for more specific mission sets.

At year 2, our marketing began to expand, and by the close of that year we had touched 8 states and 3 countries. The following years have seen a further increase in our product vertical to include engineering grade mapping and modeling, counter drone operations, law enforcement support, environmental protection operations, and drone development, among many others."

What lessons learned can you share with people to make their business succeed?

"Don't believe that you have to go into insurmountable debt to start a business. There is nothing wrong with slow rolling your mission to meet the market. So many companies take on debt to expand rapidly, hoping that the market catches up to them. Instead, reverse that model and meet the market. The difference in 1 year of explosive growth at the expense of equity or debt verses 3 years of slower growth with no debt is so worth it."

What pitfalls should they avoid?

"Debt, giving away massive equity in your company, and expanding too quickly. Let the market meet you, not the other way around. Bigger yet, create a foundation of legal and company legal work before it is too late."

What other information about you and your business would you like to share with the NaVOBA community?

"Lone Star Drone was awarded the Veteran Owned Business of the Year Award in Arlington, TX."

Service information

Branch:

Army

Service Years:

2001-2006, 2012-2021

Highest Rank Attained:

E5

Why did you join the military?

"There has always been a calling to join. Seeing the towers fall was the catalyst that set it all in motion."

Military Occupation:

"19D, Cavalry Scout."

Any Significant Military Achievements/Experience you'd like to mention?

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Biography/Fun Facts

What is your dream car?

"1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible"

What do you do to relax?

"Play and wrestle with my children"

What would you be doing if you weren't a business owner?

"Working on a classic car somewhere."