DJI + DroneBase

Nick DroneBase · Nov 14, 2016

Posted this in the PhantomPilots group as well.

Pretty proud of this and since all of you enjoy DJI products, I figured I'd post on how DJI has just re-invested in us at DroneBase along with Union Square Ventures, Accel and Upfront. 99% of the jobs that have gone through our platform have been flown by Inspires and Phantoms and a number of qualified pilots in these forums have helped us get to this point. So thank you for all of your help.

DroneBase raises from Union Square to pay any pilot for aerial footage

SanCap · Nov 14, 2016

Hey Nick, Is Quill still being used for payments?

Nick DroneBase · Nov 14, 2016

SanCap said:
Hey Nick, Is Quill still being used for payments?

yep, we're using them for US / domestic pilots for direct deposit and 1099 end of year tax forms.

SanCap · Nov 14, 2016

The pano missions are basically spec shoots? You really have no idea if someone wants the images?

Drones de Puerto Rico · Nov 15, 2016

Hi Nick from Puerto Rico

Francisco

Sent from my iPhone using InspirePilots

Bigdz · Nov 17, 2016

Nick DroneBase said:
yep, we're using them for US / domestic pilots for direct deposit and 1099 end of year tax forms.

Hey nick for the first time I attempted to do a pano mission locally. Unfortunately, I encountered issues with the home owner. He wasn't aware of his home on your app. He was very upset, the house wasn't even for sale. Last time, ill try your app.

DrBalls · Nov 17, 2016

Bigdz I was wondering that myself. How does liability play into the potential that you're at the wrong house. There should be a way to verify the homeowner is selling and/or is comfortable with the photography. I could see a lot of kids getting into trouble using this app. I just opened an account but I've been too chicken to go mission hunting.

Sent from my iPhone using InspirePilots

SanCap · Nov 17, 2016

Nick, if I select some homes in a certain area that I am interested in photographing, do they come off the "market" as available to photograph on your app?

Nick DroneBase · Nov 17, 2016

Bigdz said:
Hey nick for the first time I attempted to do a pano mission locally. Unfortunately, I encountered issues with the home owner. He wasn't aware of his home on your app. He was very upset, the house wasn't even for sale. Last time, ill try your app.

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear about this. Send me a note to [email protected] and we can review. We're constantly refreshing our data and trying to keep it as up to date as possible.

Bigdz · Nov 17, 2016

Nick DroneBase said:
Oh man, I'm sorry to hear about this. Send me a note to [email protected] and we can review. We're constantly refreshing our data and trying to keep it as up to date as possible.

Yeah, it's a little misleading...I also went to few other homes around my neighborhood, that were listed and none of them had for sale signs on them. This App is going to get someone in a huge mess,you guys should really check out the homes you list.

Nick DroneBase · Nov 17, 2016

Bigdz said:
Yeah, it's a little misleading...I also went to few other homes around my neighborhood, that were listed and none of them had for sale signs on them. This App is going to get someone in a huge mess,you guys should really check out the homes you list.

I agree. I'm working with our engineers and data team as we had enormous volume come through this week. Appreciate the feedback. We're a scrappy startup and like any new company, there are things for us to learn. Appreciate it.

2nd2non · Nov 19, 2016

Nick, any better way to just get asked to do client jobs without building a reputation with a bunch of panos?

The Shadow · Nov 21, 2016

Nick, this is awesome work! I am out in Washington (lots of rain right now) and just getting started with my own business. I am going to use your model, your services will supplement my business. Logistics seem easy enough, contact the seller/place and get ack first. I will be sending sets in soon. I am wondering about the pay structure, please send info. Your on the right track, I am sure issues stated above can be resolved. Keep with it and hope to be flying missions for you soon!

licensed pilot · Jan 30, 2017

Bigdz said:
Yeah, it's a little misleading...I also went to few other homes around my neighborhood, that were listed and none of them had for sale signs on them. This App is going to get someone in a huge mess,you guys should really check out the homes you list.

If I don't see a for sale sign, I keep driving...

Nick DroneBase · Jan 31, 2017

2nd2non said:
Nick, any better way to just get asked to do client jobs without building a reputation with a bunch of panos?

Good q. We don't really look at what has been done in terms of Pano missions when pinging pilots with client missions. We notify those around the area when it comes up. We aren't really a franchise model.

Nick DroneBase · Jan 31, 2017

licensed pilot said:
If I don't see a for sale sign, I keep driving...

remember that a lot of places can be on the market but without a sale sign. Also, we're selling off market data. wish we could make all of these pano missions into client missions.

Nick DroneBase · Jan 31, 2017

The Shadow said:
Nick, this is awesome work! I am out in Washington (lots of rain right now) and just getting started with my own business. I am going to use your model, your services will supplement my business. Logistics seem easy enough, contact the seller/place and get ack first. I will be sending sets in soon. I am wondering about the pay structure, please send info. Your on the right track, I am sure issues stated above can be resolved. Keep with it and hope to be flying missions for you soon!

For Pano missions, make sure you read our FAQ: http://go.dronebase.com/faq/pilot

These aren't client missions.

Appreciate the kind words. This is new for us. We recently paid out over $1MM to our pilots, so that was a cool metric. We don't do any in-house flying anymore, so its all done by pilots.

licensed pilot · Feb 23, 2017

Bigdz said:
Hey nick for the first time I attempted to do a pano mission locally. Unfortunately, I encountered issues with the home owner. He wasn't aware of his home on your app. He was very upset, the house wasn't even for sale. Last time, ill try your app.

Before I leave the house, I plan my missions carefully. I also check the real estate sites like Zillow and MILS to avoid this hassle.

Nick DroneBase · Feb 23, 2017

licensed pilot said:
Before I leave the house, I plan my missions carefully. I also check the real estate sites like Zillow and MILS to avoid this hassle.

Good point!

Bigdz · Feb 25, 2017

Nick DroneBase said:
Good point!

You guys should link zillow (or another) to your app, I do what @licensed pilot suggested, it's a pain to go back and forth from the app to zillow and back...