DronePrep awarded $25K sponsorship from Microsoft for Startups

26th April 2021

DronePrep, which is ‘preparing the world for a future with drones’, has secured sponsorship from the Microsoft for Startups Programmes.

Malvern based DronePrep has been accepted onto the Microsoft for Startups Programme, which is a global program dedicated to helping startups successfully scale their companies. It provides access to powerful technology including Azure and GitHub Enterprise coupled with a streamlined path to selling alongside Microsoft and the global partner ecosystem. https://startups.microsoft.com/en-us/

Claire Owen, Co-founder of DronePrep commented: “The recently launched, new DronePrep platform has been built using Microsoft technologies and we couldn’t be more excited to be working with Mi-crosoft for Startups to enhance, grow and scale our software.

DronePrep’s mission is to inform the drone industry and recreational pilots where they can and can-not fly and to allow engagement between landowners and the drone community to open up opportu-nities for both groups. They envisage that their platform will ultimately help define where it is possi-ble to deliver drone highways in the sky.

DronePrep secured the sponsorship following an introduction arranged by Worcestershire technology accelerator BetaDen as it came towards the end of its time on the programme. BetaDen, which is based at Malvern Hills Science Park, provides early-stage technology businesses with a nine-month programme of support worth around £50,000, including 30 hours access to Worcestershire’s 5G test bed, guidance from an industry partner with established supply chain networks, a £10,000 proof of concept grant, mentoring from BetaDen’s handpicked team of commercial and technology experts and office space.

Claire added: “BetaDen has played a huge part in our journey and preparing us for the next stage of our development and we can’t wait to share the next stage of our journey with our fellow cohort members, investors and current and potential customers.”

About DronePrep

DronePrep’s mission is to inform the Drone Industry and recreational pilots (a group of 180,000+ fly-ers) where they can and can’t fly and to allow engagement between Landowners and the drone com-munity to open up opportunities for both groups. From a drone enterprise perspective, in the future DronePrep envisage that the platform will ultimately help define where it is possible to deliver the drone highways in the sky.

DronePrep was designed as a digital map to show suitable locations for drone use across Great Britain with the intention to bring drone pilots and landowners together under one platform. Landowners can register and mark whether their land was open for drone flights, while drone pilots and hobbyists can sign up to identify places to fly their drones.

www.droneprep.uk

About BetaDen

Co-located with one of the UK’s first 5G testbeds, BetaDen is situated at the forefront of the testing and developing of future technologies. The testbed provides a revolutionary platform for businesses to develop next-generation technology, such as the internet of things and industry 4.0. Situated at Malvern Hills Science Park, BetaDen offers entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale up businesses a package worth over £50,000 consisting of access to Worcestershire’s 5G testbed, guidance from industry part-ners, free office space, mentorship from handpicked experts and a proof of concept grant worth £10,000.

www.beta-den.com

About Microsoft for Startups

Unlocking Exponential Value for B2B Startups Around the World. Microsoft for Startups is a free, glob-al program dedicated to helping B2B startups successfully scale their companies. We do by this by providing startups with access to powerful technology including Azure and GitHub Enterprise coupled with a streamlined path to selling alongside Microsoft and our global partner ecosystem. In fact, startups in our program secured over a $1BN in sales opportunities with the average deal size over six figures last year alone. To learn more visit our benefits page https://startups.microsoft.com/en-us/benefits/