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3D Robotics is a Berkeley, California-based aviation technology company that develops enterprise drone software and aerial data analytics platforms. The organization originally manufactured consumer and commercial unmanned aerial vehicles before pivoting to a business-to-business software-as-a-service model in 2016 due to hardware market competition. Its technology serves clients across the architecture, engineering, construction, mining, and surveying sectors by providing advanced photogrammetry and mapping capabilities. Throughout its lifecycle, the enterprise raised approximately $179 million in total venture funding and employed hundreds of staff before reducing its headcount by over 150 employees during its strategic transition. 3D Robotics received financial backing from prominent investors including Qualcomm Ventures and Foundry Group, and ultimately sold its flagship Site Scan software platform to geographic information system provider Esri in 2020. The company was founded in 2009 by Chris Anderson and Jordi Muñoz.
3D Robotics has raised $178.7M across 6 funding rounds.
3D Robotics has raised $178.7M in total across 6 funding rounds.
3D Robotics (3DR) is an American technology company based in Berkeley, California, specializing in enterprise drone software for industries like construction, engineering, mining, and government agencies.[1] Originally focused on hardware, it pivoted in 2016 from manufacturing consumer and commercial drones—such as the Solo Drone for aerial photography and Aero-M for mapping—to software solutions after ceasing hardware production amid market challenges.[1] The company serves enterprise clients by providing tools like Pix4D for creating geo-referenced maps from drone imagery, addressing needs in precision mapping, photogrammetry, and data analysis for sectors requiring accurate aerial insights.[1]
Its growth trajectory reflects the volatile drone market: early sales hit $10 million in 2012 from 30,000 orders, scaling to over $20 million by 2014 with 200 employees, but hardware missteps led to the pivot, marked by internal critiques like a former employee's description of it as a "$100 million blunder."[1][2]
3D Robotics was co-founded in 2009 by Chris Anderson, former Wired editor-in-chief, and Jordi Muñoz, a self-taught Mexican engineer from Tijuana.[1][3] Muñoz, starting at age 13 with electronics repairs and Lego-built robots, moved to Southern California in 2007, built his first drone using Wii remote parts, and sold UAV components from his apartment after hacking a toaster into a reflow oven.[3] Anderson, who launched the DIY Drones online community for aerial enthusiasts, met Muñoz virtually, sent him an initial $500 check, and advised remotely before co-founding the company to meet demand for ready-to-fly drones.[1][3]
Early traction came from the open-source ArduPilot platform, targeting hobbyists before expanding commercially; by 2012, Anderson left Wired to join full-time, with operations growing to facilities in Berkeley and Tijuana.[1][2][3] A 2016 split with the ArduPilot community over licensing disagreements accelerated the hardware exit.[1]
3D Robotics rode the early 2010s drone boom, fueled by DIY maker movements and open-source hardware like ArduPilot, aligning with trends in accessible UAVs for hobbyists turning commercial (e.g., agriculture, surveying).[1][2] Timing was pivotal: post-2009 founding capitalized on falling sensor costs and communities like DIY Drones, but consumer market saturation and competition (e.g., DJI dominance) forced the 2016 software shift amid regulatory hurdles.[1]
It influenced the ecosystem by popularizing fixed-wing and quadcopter platforms for mapping, boosting conservation and industrial apps, while its pivot exemplifies hardware startups' transition to high-margin SaaS in maturing drone markets.[1][2] Market forces like enterprise demand for data analytics now favor 3DR's software amid global infrastructure spending.
3DR's software pivot positions it for steady growth in enterprise drone analytics, leveraging AI-enhanced mapping amid rising needs for autonomous inspection in mining and construction. Trends like regulatory easing (e.g., BVLOS flights) and integration with AI/ML will amplify its tools, potentially expanding to defense or climate monitoring.[1] Influence may evolve from hardware pioneer to backend enabler, partnering with hardware leaders rather than competing—echoing its DIY origins to sustain relevance in a $50B+ drone software market, provided it innovates beyond Pix4D legacies.
3D Robotics has raised $178.7M in total across 6 funding rounds.
3D Robotics's investors include Atlantic Bridge, Atlantic Bridge University Fund, Javelin Venture Partners, Lobby Capital, Owl Rock Capital Partners, Sierra Ventures, True Ventures, Bill Campbell, Autodesk, Foundry Group, Mayfield, David Lam.
3D Robotics has raised $178.7M across 6 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $53.0M Series D in April 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2017 | $53.0M Series D | Atlantic Bridge | Atlantic Bridge University Fund, Javelin Venture Partners, Lobby Capital, Owl Rock Capital Partners, Sierra Ventures, True Ventures, Bill Campbell, Autodesk, Foundry Group, Mayfield |
| Jun 3, 2016 | $26.7M Other Equity | ||
| Apr 1, 2015 | $14.0M Series C | David Lam | Atlantic Bridge University Fund, Javelin Venture Partners, Owl Rock Capital Partners, Primitive Ventures, Promus Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Brian Long, Foundry Group, Mayfield, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, SanDisk Ventures, Shea Ventures, Jon Callaghan |
| Feb 1, 2015 | $50.0M Series C | Atlantic Bridge University Fund, Javelin Venture Partners, Lobby Capital, Owl Rock Capital Partners, Promus Ventures, Sierra Ventures, True Ventures, Bill Campbell | |
| Sep 1, 2013 | $30.0M Series B | Lobby Capital, True Ventures, Bill Campbell, Jason Mendelson, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, SK Ventures | |
| Nov 1, 2012 | $5.0M Series A | Lobby Capital, True Ventures, Bill Campbell |
