Company will be one of only 32 global startup firms appearing in special start-up pavilion at AUVSIs marquee industry event

Its not your typical business story in a city heralded for its beaches, bikinis, and bustling nightlife; a former Navy SEAL, a former Air Force rescue helicopter pilot, a firefighter, and a former diplomat team together with a former technology analyst and Coast Guard volunteer to form a startup company in an industry typically dominated by twenty-somethings. Then again, Airborne Response is not your typical company.

The unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology startup has been a bit unconventional from the start, and soon they are heading off to AUVSIs XPONENTIAL 2017, the largest, most comprehensive and renowned unmanned event in the world. Airborne Response will join drone technology giants such as Boeing, DJI, Intel, and Lockheed Martin on the exhibit floor of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas from May 8-11.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a new company like ours," says Christopher Todd, founder and president of Airborne Response. "The invitation from AUVSI to exhibit at XPONENTIAL 17 was something we never anticipated. It is truly an honor to be on display among the industrys best and brightest minds."
Airborne Response is building the Worlds Largest Air Force™ -- a network of specialized drone operators around the globe capable of assisting with a wide range of low altitude UAS missions. Since its inception, the company has focused on helping emergency responders, public safety, and security personnel better understand the power and possibilities associated with unmanned aviation.
In February, Airborne Response participated in a live exercise at the Port of Miami with Miami-Dade Fire Rescues Special Operations Division and various elements of the U.S. Army. The company demonstrated the potential role of drones across a range of mission requirements. XPONENTIAL will now serve as a catalyst to help Airborne Response expand their knowledge to a global audience.
"We are entering a period of rapid, unprecedented growth in the unmanned systems industry," said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. "At XPONENTIAL, we have gathered the industrys thought leaders, along with innovators across various vertical markets who have abundant experience leveraging the power of unmanned systems to revolutionize their sectors."
A former technology analyst and marketing consultant who has helped build some of the worlds biggest brands, Todd also sees immense revenue potential in providing UAS services for commerce and industry. The PwC report "Clarity From Above" published in 2016 pegs the global market for drone services at $127.3 billion by 2020. Todd states that as Airborne Response expands, the company may target specific vertical markets such as infrastructure and telecommunications to help catapult growth.
Todd credits the team that Airborne Response has assembled as the catalyst for the firms appearance at XPONENTIAL 17. He says support from the Miami-Dade Beacon Council for economic development, as well as the FSBDC at Florida International University College of Business, have been extremely valuable in helping the young company gain momentum.
"We already have an incredible team in place," says Todd. "You cant build a successful company without having the right people in the right positions. We still have a few gaps to fill, but South Florida has access to a wealth of talent and resources. We are excited for what the future holds for Airborne Response."
About Airborne Response
Airborne Response is building the Worlds Largest Air Force™. As an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) startup company based in Miami Beach, Florida, Airborne Response helps business enterprises and government organizations innovate with the power and grace of aerial drone technologies. For more information on Airborne Response, please visit: airborneresponse.com
About AUVSI
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) - the worlds largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics - represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government, industry, and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil, and commercial markets.