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SCRA invests in Greenville drone industry startup

Staff Report //February 16, 2021//

SCRA invests in Greenville drone industry startup

Staff Report //February 16, 2021//

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SCRA invested $200,000 in UASide Kick for the development of its new app. (Photo/Provided)Maybe there’s truth in the phrase, “There’s an app for everything,” in an era when, thanks to one of Greenville’s rising stars, drone pilots can stash away flight plans and access airspace from an iPhone.

“With over a million drones projected to be flying in the National Airspace System this year, the complexities of low-altitude air traffic management have grown exponentially, Nathan Ruff, CEO and co-founder of start-up UASidekick, said in a news release. “There is a clear need for solutions that keep not only the aircraft in the sky safely, but also safeguard the people and property on the ground beneath them. Our software application is designed to enhance safety and airspace access in this new era in aviation, as well as lay the groundwork to enable the future of drone air taxi service and package delivery.”

UASide Kick provides technological tools for airspace management and drone identification in partnership with government and regulatory agencies.

Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability is one of those tools, developed in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and the wider drone industry. It is used to open access to controlled airspace for drone pilots at 400 feet or below.

UASidekick’s suite of piloting tools put the startup on the radar of the SCRA in 2019 when it became an SC Launch member company and received a $50,000 Acceleration grant, according to the release.

The company’s new app garnered an investment of $200,000 from the SCRA this year.

“We look for startups that have innovative technologies, a competitive business model, and a solid management team,” Steve Johnson, investment manager at SCRA, said in the release. “It’s an added benefit when this technology also contributes a service for the common good. UASidekick provides critical information to drone pilots about where they can fly and immediately registers their flight with the Federal Aviation Authority. This maximizes both safety and productivity for drone pilots and anyone in the drone area. UASidekick saw the coming attraction and utility of drones for both commercial and personal use and was ahead of the curve in putting together their impressive app in the field.”

SC Launch Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization affiliated with SCRA that provides loans and investments to participant companies.

“Drone activity clearly has increased in our society. They are being used by the government, private industry and individuals. Drone regulations are crucial to the safety of their use and UASidekick worked with the FAA and NASA to develop the application which streamlines the process of getting clearance for drone usage,” Bob Quinn, SCRA executive director, said in the release. “Their app is a low-cost, mobile way to better manage airspace that has become more congested and complex in recent years.”

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