Drone network operator Birdstop raises $2.3M funding

Birdstop, a California-based company that operates a drone network across the US akin to a constellation of satellites on the ground, has scooped up $2.3 million in new funding. The startup says it will use the funds to buy more drones that can inspect critical infrastructure and grow its AI capabilities.

Birdstop uses patented technology to analyze and protect power grids, telecom networks, and other infrastructure assets with drones. Operating from a NASA-style mission control in San Francisco Bay Area, the company is currently helping customers in Alabama, California, and Texas manage both public and private sector assets.

Birdstop was founded by a former Google data scientist and Earth Institute satellite imagery analyst, Keith Miao. Boasting a core team of drone imaging and remote sensing experts, the company’s risk mitigation measures include a proprietary low-altitude airspace deconfliction system that ensures safety even when the operator is…