Loading organizations...
Loading organizations...
Key people at DJI.
DJI was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang (Founder & CEO) and Frank Wang) (Wang Tao) (Co-Founder).
DJI designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, alongside advanced camera and imaging stabilization systems. The company specializes in integrated drone solutions that serve a wide array of applications, from consumer-level aerial photography and videography to sophisticated enterprise operations. Its technology provides platforms for detailed data collection and operational efficiency across sectors such as agriculture, public safety, infrastructure inspection, and media production.
Frank Wang, also known as Wang Tao, established DJI in 2006. As a graduate of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Wang founded the company driven by a profound interest in flight control systems. His initial work, stemming from a university project, quickly evolved into the development of accessible yet highly capable aerial platforms, recognizing the broader potential of these technologies beyond academic or niche hobbyist applications.
DJI’s products are utilized by a diverse global customer base, including creative professionals seeking dynamic perspectives, hobbyists exploring aerial imaging, and organizations requiring robust industrial solutions. The company's enduring vision centers on empowering users to expand their capabilities and perceive new possibilities through innovative flight and imaging technology, continually pushing the boundaries of what is achievable from the air.
Key people at DJI.
DJI (Dà-Jiāng Innovations) is a leading technology company specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, dominating the global commercial drone market with a 76% share as of 2021[1][3]. It builds consumer-grade and professional drones, gimbals, flight control systems, and related software, serving hobbyists, photographers, filmmakers, enterprises, and industries like agriculture, inspection, and surveying[1][2][4]. DJI solves the core problem of making drone flight accessible, reliable, and stable for non-experts by pioneering plug-and-play technology that eliminates the complexity of traditional hobbyist UAVs, enabling smooth aerial imaging and data capture at high quality and affordable prices[2][4][5].
From humble dorm-room beginnings, DJI has achieved explosive growth, hitting $2.7 billion in revenue by 2017 (an 80% year-over-year increase) through hit products like the Phantom 1 (2013) and Mavic Pro (2016), which revolutionized consumer and prosumers markets[1][2].
DJI was founded in 2006 in Shenzhen, China, by Frank Wang (Wāng Tāo), a student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where he built initial drone prototypes in his dorm room after placing third in the ABU Robocon competition[1][3][5][6]. Passionate about aviation from a young age—wanting to fly helicopters—Wang started by selling flight control components to universities and Chinese electric companies, funding a move to Shenzhen with modest family support and a $90,000 investment from family friend Lu Di[2][3][5].
Early years were tough: operating from a 20-square-meter storage room with a small team including high school friends and HKUST peers like Jinying Chen, Zhihui Lu, and Chuqiang Chen, facing high employee churn due to Wang's perfectionist style[3][6]. Pivotal moments included the 2009 XP3.1 flight control system, proven by filming Mount Everest's peak (first-ever drone footage there), and innovations like the brushless gimbal for stable video[2]. By 2010, marketing lead Swift Xie Jia expanded to international hobbyists; 2011 saw DJI North America launch (later shuttered amid disputes)[3]. The 2013 Phantom 1, DJI's first consumer drone at $1,000, marked mass-market breakthrough as a high-quality, beginner-friendly product[1][2][5].
DJI rides the explosive growth of the drone industry, transforming UAVs from niche hobbyist tools to mainstream platforms for aerial imaging, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and public safety[1][4][6]. Perfect timing: consumer drones emerged post-2010 as cameras miniaturized and batteries improved, with DJI capturing first-mover advantage in a market underserved by unreliable, expert-only systems[2][4]. Favorable forces include Shenzhen's drone "cluster city" (spawned by ex-DJI founders building rivals like Aerotech), global demand for visual data, and regulatory easing for commercial use[6][9]. DJI influences the ecosystem by setting standards—76% market share forces competitors to match its ease-of-use and innovation—while alumni diffuse tech to inspection and enterprise niches[1][6].
DJI's trajectory points to deeper enterprise dominance, expanding beyond consumers into AI-driven autonomy, swarm tech, and sectors like delivery/logistics amid rising drone regs[1][7]. Trends like 5G integration and urban air mobility will amplify its lead, though U.S.-China tensions may spur supply chain shifts. Its influence could evolve from hardware giant to platform orchestrator, empowering devs via SDKs and sustaining the Shenzhen drone hub it ignited—proving one dorm-room vision can redefine skies.
DJI was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang (Founder & CEO) and Frank Wang) (Wang Tao) (Co-Founder).
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2025 | Infinity Loop | $5.0M Seed | Wayne Baker, Wayne Baker | Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Glasswing Ventures, Financial Venture Studio, Plug and Play |
| Sep 1, 2016 | Propeller Aero | $3.0M Series A | — | ACME Capital, Amplify Partners, AngelList Syndicator, Blackbird Ventures Australia, Catapult Capital, Coatue, Costanoa Ventures, Fathom Capital, Kleiner Perkins, KRM Interests LLC, Main Sequence Ventures, Mango Capital, Relay Ventures, ThirdLove, True Ventures, Tuesday Capital, UpHonest Capital, Y Combinator, Adam Wiggins, Augusto Marietti, Bill Tai, Christian Bach, Chung Ng, Jeremy Yap, Shervin Pishevar, Spencer Kimball, Trevor Folsom, Varsha Rao |
