Drones-as-a-Service (DaaS) Shifts from Emerging Tech to Revenue Engine for Leading Drone Manufacturers
From inspections to analytics, DaaS is emerging as a high-growth automation play with recurring cash flow
Market News Updates News Commentary
NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The drones-as-a-service (DaaS) market is really taking off because most companies don't want to buy drones—they just want the job done. Instead of spending money on equipment, training pilots, and dealing with regulations, businesses are hiring drone service providers to handle everything. That model is catching on fast in industries like energy, construction, agriculture, insurance, and public safety. Right now, the global DaaS market is estimated around $6–8 billion, and it's growing as drones become a normal tool instead of a novelty. Active Companies looking to take advantage of recently advancements in the market place include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZENA), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAI), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ:DPRO), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE:UAVS), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCAT).
From an investor point of view, the appeal is pretty simple: this is a repeat-business model. Once a company starts using drones for inspections, mapping, or monitoring, they usually keep coming back. As software improves and more flights become automated, service providers can do more work with less overhead, which helps profits. Many projections suggest the DaaS market could double or even triple by the end of the decade, putting total market value in the $15–20+ billion range.
For retail investors, DaaS is less about flashy flying tech and more about steady revenue and data. The real money isn't just in the drone—it's in the reports, analytics, and ongoing service contracts that come with every flight. Compared to hardware-only drone companies, service-focused players tend to have more predictable cash flow and longer customer relationships. As more industries bake drones into their day-to-day operations, DaaS is shaping up to be a solid, long-term growth story tied to automation and smarter data use.
ZenaTech to Provide an Update on its Global Drone as a Service Expansion and Defense Sector Progress at Three Upcoming Investor Conferences - ZenaTech, Inc. ($ZENA) (NASDAQ:ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV:ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today announces that the company has been invited to present and participate in one-on-one investor meetings at three upcoming investor conferences: the Emerging Growth Conference, the Deal Flow Discovery Conference, and the Noble Capital Markets Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference. These well-regarded events attract institutional investors, fund managers, family offices, and retail investors seeking high-growth small-cap company opportunities. ZenaTech's leadership team members will provide an update on the company's global Drone as a Service expansion and defense sector progress, along with key industry and regulatory trends supporting the Company's business growth. The conference details include:
The Emerging Growth Conference ─ A virtual investor conference that connects growth-oriented public companies with a selection of institutional investors, family offices, and individual investors through live webcast corporate presentations and interactive Q&A sessions. ZenaTech will be presenting on the 22nd of January 2026.
- Event Dates: January 21–22, 2026 - Format: Virtual - Website: Emerging Growth Conference
The DealFlow Discovery Conference ─ A well-known annual investor event focused on connecting growth-oriented public and private companies with institutional investors through structured presentations and one-on-one meetings.
- Event Dates: January 27–29, 2026 - Venue: Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey - Website: DealFlow Discovery Conference
The Noble Capital Markets Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference ─ Provides public companies with direct access to institutional and accredited investors through live virtual presentations and meetings.
- Event Date: February 5, 2026 - Format: Virtual - Website: Noble Capital Markets Emerging Growth Virtual Equity Conference
To attend a presentation or book a one-on-one meeting with ZenaTech please refer to the conference website links or contact the company at [email protected].Continued… Read this full release and additional news for ZENA by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/
Other recent developments in the military/drone/UAS industry include:
Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ:DPRO), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, recently announced the deployment of Draganfly drones integrated with Smith Myers, ARTEMIS Mobile Phone Detection & Location Systems (MPDLS) for search and rescue operations.
Search and Rescue Sweden, one of Europe's foremost search-and-rescue (SAR) organizations, will deploy Draganfly UAS platforms outfitted with Smith Myers ARTEMIS, specifically engineered for the SAR market, to provide cost-effective, high-performance aerial support for missing-person recoveries, wilderness rescues, police support missions, and other critical public-safety tasks.
Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAI) recently announced it has been invited to present its patented AI-powered demining technology at the 'Protection of Ukraine's Critical Infrastructure: Challenges & Solutions' panel hosted by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) – Ukraine Chapter in Kyiv on January 15, 2026.
The invitation follows more than three years of continuous operational support in Ukraine and reflects growing recognition by government, defense, and humanitarian stakeholders of Safe Pro's AI technology as a potential force multiplier for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts. At the event, Safe Pro will present new data expanding on the preliminary results of an 18-month field study validating the significant operational and financial impact of Safe Pro's SpotlightAI™ AI-powered image processing technology on humanitarian demining efforts in Ukraine.
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE:UAVS) (dba, EagleNXT), a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, recently announced the relocation of its global headquarters from Wichita, Kansas, to Allen, Texas, in the northeast part of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. This move marks a significant milestone for EagleNXT as it positions itself for accelerated expansion in the rapidly growing UAV industry.
The new headquarters in Allen will serve as the central hub for EagleNXT's operations, with initiatives already underway to set up production lines at the facility for the manufacture of the MicaSense multispectral sensors and EagleNXT's first first-ever U.S. production line for the Company's eBee VISION drone. The production line in Texas will complement the existing drone production line at the company's facility in Switzerland.
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCAT) ("Red Cat" or the "Company"), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, this week announced preliminary unaudited revenue results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.
The Company's preliminary unaudited fourth quarter and full year 2025 revenue results are based on current expectations and may be adjusted as a result of, among other things, completion of annual audit procedures. This financial information does not represent a comprehensive statement of the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter or full year 2025 and remains subject to the completion of financial closing procedures and internal reviews. Read the full release at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/red-cat-holdings-announces-preliminary-130000320.html
DISCLAIMER: MarketNewsUpdates.com (MNU) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. MNU is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. MNU and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. MNU'S market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. MNU is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. This press release was distributed on behalf of ZenaTech, Inc. For current services performed MNU expects to be compensated forty six hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. MNU HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MNU undertakes no obligation to update such statements.
Contact Information:
Media Contact email: [email protected], +1(561)486-1799
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2852558/5719067/Market_News_Updates_Logo.jpg
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drones-as-a-service-daas-shifts-from-emerging-tech-to-revenue-engine-for-leading-drone-manufacturers-302662085.html
SOURCE Market News Updates
