17/03/2026
Finally back at the desk this week after 2026, due to a slightly delayed return thanks to the Middle East disruption - but still thinking about what was a genuinely different kind of drone event.
NestGen wasn’t a typical “conference” - No decks. No hard selling. No noise.
Instead, it was a room full of operators, people actually building and deploying drone dock solutions; having honest conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and where this industry is really going.
Companies from across the world who are approaching the same technological and regulatory problems from a completely different angle. That’s what made it so valuable; seeing the range of thinking, creativity, innovation and the willingness to share lessons openly.
On a personal note, it was great to be nominated for “The Innovator” award by that group. Winning it, on behalf of GeoAerospace for , our dock shared-service model for urban centers, was a surprise, given the level of innovation in the group. But more than anything, it felt like recognition of the broader shift happening across the industry - a collective push to move from concept to real, scalable dock operations.
The “retreat” format really worked. It gave everyone space to step back from day-to-day ex*****on and properly engage. Huge credit must go to , and especially Nitin and his genius team, for organising what was an action packed event and bringing together such a strong group of like minded people. They also did something I thought was genuinely kind...inviting our partners in crime along on the journey to India. The people behind the scenes who support the madness of building these companies.
One thing is now crystal clear: the pace of innovation in this space isn’t slowing down anytime soon 🚀
