Drone Maker DJI May be Worth 10 Billion

 

As most of you loyal readers know, I’ve been a drone owner & fanatic for a couple of years now.

 

The latest one I’m flying is the DJI Vision 2 pictured above.  I’ve been impressed with the device’s ease of use, durability, and the availability of spare parts.

 

It’s just a flat out kick to fly and take images with.

 

Being a drone owner has changed a lot in the time I’ve been flying and the newer models coming out are easier to fly, better built, and make the whole hobby just a lot more fun.  A lot of those things I just mentioned are because of DJI.  The company took a look at the marketplace and took it from a DIY hobby to something that almost anyone can use & understand pretty quickly.

 

Now comes word that DJI (a Chinese company) is looking for a market valuation of $10 billion from investors.  Is that amazing?  It seems so to me, but that’s the word from CNN Money.  For the full story from CNN Money, here is the link.

 

They say:

 

The world's most innovative drone maker is not based in Silicon Valley. It's in China -- and it could be worth $10 billion.

SZ DJI Technology Co., better known as DJI, is looking to raise money from investors at a $10 billion valuation, according to media reports. A company spokesman confirmed to CNN that DJI is talking to venture capital firms, but declined to comment further.

The upstart Chinese firm is at the forefront of the drone invasion, offering professional quality machines to consumers for around $1,000. Should the funding round come off, the company's $10 billion valuation would catapult it into the ranks of elite tech startups.

DJI's drones are designed with four propellers, and are easy for beginners to control. One of the latest models, the Phantom 3, comes equipped with a camera that shoots in 4K or 1080p, and has a range of 1.2 miles (2 kilometers). The drones are used by enthusiasts, commercial clients and the media (CNN owns a few, for example).

The world got a close look at one of the company's products in January, when a DJI drone crash landed on the White House grounds, sparking worries over security. (DJI has already installed no-fly zones in some models).