DartDrones Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 8
DartDrones is a national drone pilot training company that soared onto Shark Tank in Season 8. Although the deal with Mark Cuban didn’t close, DartDrones has grown steadily and earns $5 million annually.
Abby Speicher hopes to fly away with an investment when she pitches DartDrones, her flight school for drone pilots, on Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 18. The business teaches wanna-be drone pilots how to fly with online and in-person classes nationwide. New FAA regulations require pilots to pass a 60-question test to become a certified commercial drone pilot.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 8 Episodes.
About DartDrones
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | DartDrones |
| Founder | Abby Speicher |
| Industry | Education and Training |
| Product | Drone training and consulting services |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Mark |
| Investment Asked | $300,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $300,000 for 10% equity |
Speicher, who started her first business at age 17, knows drones have a big future. Many large companies, like Amazon and Google, want to use drones for their fulfilment operations. There are many opportunities for drone-based businesses in real estate, construction, photography and emergency services.
People who wish to pursue businesses and careers with drones will need the FAA certification, called “Part 107,” to conduct their business.
Classes by DartDrones focus on flying, test preparation, starting a drone-based business, aerial photography, emergency services, and more. Classes can be taken in person or online. There are also corporate and group rate packages. Courses range from $300 to several thousand dollars.
Speicher likely wants a Shark’s help expanding her reach and growing her course load. Will a Shark want to fly with this business?
DartDrones Shark Tank Pitch
Abby enters seeking $300,000 for 10% of her business. She explains her business and its plans for growth. Robert asks to fly the demo drone and fails. With some verbal encouragement, he tries again and manages to get it in the air and land it, but it wasn’t a perfect flight.
Kevin asks how long it takes to learn to fly, and she says their $00, one-day course can teach basic skills. More advanced skills take more time.
So far, they’ve done $520,000 in sales over 18 months. They are on track for $900,000 and $1.3 million this year. Abby is sinking all the profits back into the business to build a new curriculum; this is what she’d use the Shark investment for. So far, they are the only national drone training company.
Abby wants to license the curriculum to schools and colleges; Mark likes that idea. She tells Daymond she partners with hobby shops and offers them an affiliate fee to promote her courses.
Did DartDrones Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Kevin starts the bidding at $300,000 for 15%. Mark follows with an offer of $300,000 for 10%, but he wants an answer right away. Abby accepts immediately.
DartDrones Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. The deal with Mark never closed as DartDrones isn’t listed on his website.
Since its airing, the company has grown to offer classes in over 40 cities nationwide. They offer many more courses now, including night flight, roof inspections, and more. They continue to train police and fire officials and even work with the NTSB.
As of May 2021, they were down to 30 cities offering classes, but they’ve expanded their curriculum. They’re also partnering with the FBI, NASA, Boeing, and many big companies like GM and Walmart. By 2024, they were offering customizable curriculum for high schools, colleges, and STEM classes.
As of July 2024, they had annual revenue of $5 million. The estimated net worth of DartDrones is $5 million.
Posts About DartDrones on Shark Tank Blog
Dart Drones – Drone Flight School
Video
Where To Enroll for DartDrones Training?
You can enroll in DartDrones training programs directly from their official website. Check out their social media pages for more updates: Facebook and Twitter.
Quick Summary
- DartDrones provides online and in-person drone pilot training to help students pass the FAA Part 107 certification exam.
- Abby Speicher secured a deal with Mark Cuban, but the deal never closed post-show.
- As of 2024, DartDrones serves individuals, schools, and enterprise clients with $5 million in annual revenue and courses in 30+ U.S. cities.
Curious to know about other businesses that appeared on Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 18? Check out their business updates!
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- Bombas Shark Tank Update
