They have been to Zambia, to Nigeria; and to Zimbabwe recently.

And now Global Air Drone Academy will be entering Kenya with their mission to promote drone technology among the country’s young people.

The Baltimore, Maryland based training entity has announced that it has joined forces with fellow US-based drone services company, DroneDeploy for the 2023 Kenyan Agri-Drone Business Competition.

Sponsored by the US Embassy in Kenya and hosted by GADA and Kenya Flying Labs, the competition aims to foster innovation and develop the entrepreneurial abilities of young robotics technology entrepreneurs in Kenya. Its focus is on drone businesses that provide innovative solutions in food security and agriculture, including forestry, precision agriculture, AI detection, insurance claims/assessments, livestock management, food delivery, among others.

The Kenyan Drone Business Competition will take place from this month until June 2023 and is open to all Kenyan citizens and residents, aged between eighteen and 35.

“We’re thrilled to partner with DroneDeploy and to support the young entrepreneurs in Kenya,” said Eno Umoh, Co-founder of Global Air Drone Academy. “This partnership will not only provide valuable training resources and support for the participants, but it will also help advance the use of drone technology in the agriculture sector and promote sustainable food security.”

In the partnership, DroneDeploy will provide training resources to the participants and licenses for those who will finish the competition among the top three.  Apart from that, the company’s product specialist Kaziwale Masheke will travel to Kenya from his base in South Africa to speak to participants and serve as a judge on the final day of competition.

The organisers will select 25 participants from among a pool of applicants and give them the opportunity to learn from seasoned drone professionals at GADA on a range of topics, including how to apply drone technology to practical solutions, safe drone operation, and the fundamentals of launching a successful drone business.

The top three winners of the competition will receive RPL training from a KCAA-approved drone training academy and a professional grade drone from American manufacturer, Skydio.

“We’re excited to be a part of this important initiative and to support the next generation of drone entrepreneurs in Kenya,” said Jono Millin, Co-Founder and Chief Data Officer at DroneDeploy. “This partnership aligns with our social impact program pillars of community development, wildlife conservation and disaster recovery.”