Our client, a first-generation entrepreneur in Jharkhand, India, aspired to launch a multi-stream drone business in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. With no technical team, product, or prior exposure to drones, the client approached GreyRadius Consulting to take the venture from idea to execution. In less than 12 months, we built a profitable business across Assembly, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), and Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO).
Table of Contents
The Challenge
- Lack of Industry Know-How: The client had no prior knowledge of drone regulations, operations, or components.
- Lack of Market Clarity: Uncertainty around the most promising commercial use cases in the Indian drone sector.
- Unclear Business Model Direction: Multiple possible verticals (Assembly, DaaS, RPTO, Software, Components) with no clear entry path.
- Regulatory & Compliance Complexity: Navigating DGCA approvals, GeM registration, and RPTO setup was unfamiliar territory.
- Team & Capability Gaps: No initial technical or operational team to drive execution.
The Solution
- Conducted market, customer, and competitor analysis to assess the Indian and global drone landscape.
- Evaluated six drone business models (Assembly, DaaS, RPTO, Software, Components, Simulation) for feasibility, CapEx, OpEx, and ROI.
- Recommended a multi-vertical entry into Assembly, DaaS, and RPTO for maximum viability.
- Prioritized use cases with phased focus: Agri spraying → Survey & Mapping → Surveillance.
- Developed a 3-year phased business plan with clear investment, GTM timelines, and team requirements.
- Provided regulatory roadmaps for DGCA certification, GeM registration, and RPTO approvals.
- Built foundational capabilities by onboarding a 3-member team (Sales, Ops, Drone Tech).
The Approach
We deployed our proprietary Business Launch & Setup offering, structured across Pre-Launch, Strategy, and Post-Launch tracks:
- Phase 1: Pre-Launch — Discovery & Market Assessment
Conducted primary interviews, market sizing, and business model evaluations using our MCCI framework. - Phase 2: Strategy — Business Planning & Roadmap
Selected launch models, prioritized use cases, and created a 3-year phased plan with milestones and resource mapping. - Phase 3: Post-Launch — Execution Support
Enabled DGCA certification, RPTO setup, SOP creation, market entry plans, and core team onboarding.
The Impact
- Faster Market Entry: Achieved Type Certification and DGCA approvals for 5 drone models in under 12 months.
- High-Margin DaaS Operations: Launched agri-focused Drone-as-a-Service with 60%+ margins.
- Two RPTOs Launched: Training 500+ students annually with break-even in 1 year.
- Execution-Ready Team: Built a 3-member core team in sales, operations, and drone technology.
- Future-Ready Roadmap: Expansion planned for surveillance and defense FPV drone R&D.
