The Vertical Space
The Vertical Space
Jim Barry, Peter Shannon & Luka Tomljenovic
#72 Srdjan Kovacevic, Orqa: The evolution of drones, vertical integration, and competing with DJI
1 hour 13 minutes Posted Jul 27, 2024 at 9:00 pm.
Hardware will not be commoditized
State of the drone industry and how we ended up in a polarized market
DJI's vertical integration playbook
Why vertical integration matters for small UAS
Low-latency video as an example where vertical integration matters
Why are there so few vertically-integrated drone companies?
Demand drivers for ultra low latency video
Impact of ultra-low video latency on managing autonomous systems
Opportunity to displace DJI in the West
War in Ukraine as a perfect storm for the small UAS industry
Competitive dynamics across segments of the drone market
Small UAS cost drivers
The future of FPV drones
What are FPV drones?
Are FPV drones here to stay?
Technology gaps in FPV drones
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Show notes
In this episode, we’re excited to host Srdjan Kovacevic, CEO and co-founder of Orqa. Despite a low public profile, this Croatian team has made significant waves, initially through ultra-low latency FPV goggles for drone racing and now by building their own drones through a fully vertically integrated model. This strategy not only optimizes cost and performance but also positions Orqa as a strong Western alternative to DJI. Srdjan discusses his view that hardware in the small drone industry i...