RCFlyBy
Amanda Forrester
March 11, 2024
Drone business takes off with SBDC guidance
Increased revenue by 125%; added one employee; added new client for contract work; entered and won RISE Collaborative Business Pitch Competition, netting a $5,000 prize he used to invest in a new drone.
Ryland Clark’s RCFlyBy drone business started as a hobby that took flight as he learned more about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). After working with the Longwood SBDC and participating in the RISE Business Bootcamp, RCFlyBy reached new heights of success.
“In 2019 when I started my business, I went to see SBDC Regional Director Lin Hite,” Ryland says. “He gave me advice on getting started. I took a drone certification class, then went to the Danville Airport for a proctor exam.”
Services offered by RCFlyBy include 3D imaging, construction site reports, land sale photography, aerial photography, inspections, property imaging, real estate videography and fireworks videography.
A friend urged Ryland to enroll in RISE Business Bootcamp. The 10-week online program, coordinated by the SOVA Innovation Hub and Longwood SBDC, helps new business owners create a business plan and establish next steps to move forward.
“There were about 30 [participants] in the January 2023 bootcamp,” Ryland explains. “Talking with other business owners was the most valuable part for me — how to market, set pricing and share your value with customers. I also wrote a business and finance plan.”
The winter 2023 session was RISE’s largest ever cohort, but Ryland’s vision for RCFlyBy rose to the top. The bootcamp ended with the RISE Collaborative Business Pitch Competition, which challenged Ryland and his fellow entrepreneurs to pitch their business to a panel of judges. RCFlyBy took the top prize.
“I tied for first place and received $5,000,” Ryland reports. “I invested the money in a drone with mechanical shutter that takes photos 40 percent faster.”
The SBDC helped Ryland complete the SWaM and SAM certification process, which opens up additional avenues for work. After consulting with the SBDC and RISE Collaborative, Ryland reports a 125% revenue increase. Recently, RCFlyBy has hired one employee and secured a contract with a Richmond-based company.
Ryland says he is grateful for the SBDC’s continued support.
“The SBDC helped accelerate growth and take my business to the next level,” he concludes. “It’s good to know I have the SBDC to rely on.”
