Description:
In this episode of The Builders, Matt talks with Damon Darnall, a lifelong flyer and the founder of Sky Eye Network. Damon has been building and flying drones since the 1970s, long before the industry existed. What began as a childhood obsession turned into a career shaped by persistence, skill, and a fascination with what flight can unlock.
Damon shares how the long path of building shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. From spending 13 months assembling his first drone kit, to destroying it in seven seconds and rebuilding it over and over, to competing at high levels and setting world records, every chapter pushed him toward new possibilities. His first commercial break came with a 32 foot advertising blimp that led him into arenas, promotions, and eventually a career as the go to drone guy for a wide mix of industries.
Today the civilian drone industry has crossed $30B in annual revenue, and projections show it could reach $1.5 trillion within eight years. Damon explains why this moment is a rare window for builders. The tech is easier to adopt, the demand is rising fast, and many industries still have major gaps that drones can fill.
Key Takeaways:
- How Damon turned a lifelong passion into a career built on experimentation and resilience
- What the 32 foot blimp project taught him about pitching, rejection, and finding the right market
- How drones transformed inspections, safety, cinematography, advertising, and search and rescue
- The shift in drone technology that lowered the barrier from thousands of flight hours to fast adoption
- Why the drone industry is moving from $30B toward $1.5T and where builders can create opportunity
- A preview of Part 2 that dives into Sky Eye Network, dronepreneur training, and real world businesses
Damon Darnall
Damon Darnall, aka the Drone Boss, is the founder of theSky Eye Network. The Drone Boss has over 25 years of experience flying Drones and has logged over 10,000 Drone flight hours. He has set 2 world records and competed in numerous National and World competitions.
He is currently hosting “Drone Command Live ” seminars all over America, helping new Drone Operators start successful and profitable businesses using their drones.
Check out these related Episodes:
- Episode 250 – The New Way I Build, With AI Employees – Meet My New Core AI Team (with Real Examples)
- Episode 248: Aleksandar Svetski – From Millionaire at 23 to Bitcoin Philosopher, Building a Decentralized World
- Episode 246: Ed Oyama -The Power of Simple Videos: Building Trust and Clarity in Business
