Leading Drone Expo to Host Sanctioned Drone Race, Pitchfest, and Film Showcase

Los Angeles, Calif. - (August 19, 2016) - International Drone Expo (IDE) today announced its all-new and upgraded show activations for 2016. IDE, the largest gathering of the most innovative and leading members of the UAV community from around the globe, will host its first annual Drone Race Cup, a pitchfest competition and film showcase. The third annual IDE is set to take place December 9-10, 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The Championship IDE drone race cup is one of the few sanctioned in Los Angeles. The race will feature a challenging state-of-the-art course with demanding obstacles, time chip sensors and display monitors showing first person view for spectators.

Along with cutting edge racing, the show will also seek the latest innovations through a pitchfest competition. A select panel of venture capitalists will award finalists and an overall winner as pitchers seek investments and growth opportunities for their innovative drone concepts and products. Applications will be open in September on the IDE website.

IDE exhibitors will have the opportunity submit their most compelling drone footage which will be showcased during the expo in the main hall.

"As the leading drone expo, we strive to showcase the cutting edge innovations and exceptional capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles," said Ned Krause of IDE. "The all-new and upgraded activations, coupled with keynotes, workshops and high level seminars led by industry experts, encompass the best of todays UAVs and the innovation we can look forward to in the near future."

Cal Poly Pomona is teaming up with E.J. Krause & Associates to present the IDE conference and expo. Cal Poly Pomona will be coordinating with the IDE conference to offer the "Connecting the Dots: UAVs and CyberSecurity" workshops that will cover topics such as emerging markets and trends, workforce development and job training, educational programs, technical challenges and solutions in both Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Cybersecurity. Also, a members of the regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership for Southern California (AMP SoCal) partnership will be hosting AMPSoCal's fourth Innovation Forum for small businesses to learn how to transition into these two high growth markets. The conference will feature top experts in the U.S. from government and the legal community on regulatory, legal and standards issues related to the drone industry. The conference will also focus on the business of drones; how drone companies are making money, how to fund your drone company, how to start a drone business and how to grow your drone business. We will be presenting a unique perspective on current, emerging and future commercial and local government markets.


"We are delighted to be working with the IDE team. Cal Poly Pomona is committed to educating our students and our industry partners about emerging technical solutions and job opportunities, so our students can compete in the global economy." - Dr. G. Marie Talnack, Director Technology Transfer Office and Industry Clinic, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

The conference and exhibition with its keynotes, workshops, high level seminars and tabletop exercises will identify and capture all of the most important aspects of the future of unmanned aviation in the ever expanding market of aerial robotics. IDE will host over 100 exhibiting companies and 80+ speakers throughout 50 sessions at the conference, providing a platform for empowering technologies and next-generation innovation.

For more information on IDE, including registration and admission information, please visit InternationalDroneExpo.com or check out Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


International Drone Expo:
International Drone Expo assembles the most innovative and talented members of the drone community from around the world. The third annual expo will take place December 9-10, 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with over 100+ international exhibitors and 3,500+ buyers from around the world. The two-day event features a series of activations including a sanctioned drone race, pitchfest and film showcase along with keynotes, workshops, high level seminars led by industry experts. International Drone Expo is online at www.internationaldroneexpo.com

About E.J. Krause & Associates:
For more than 30 years, E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc. (EJK) has been a worldwide leader in exhibition and conference management. EJK is one of the largest privately held exhibition management companies in the world, with offices on three continents. EJK produces a growing portfolio of over 40 events, serving 14 different industries. We excel in creating global brand leading events, bringing companies together to network and generate business. www.ejkrause.com