Every year, a handful of hopeful drone startups pack their bags (and propellers) and head to Syracuse, New York. To mainstream audiences, it’s a lace better known for snowstorms and Orange basketball than cutting-edge tech.
But the drone industry knows better. Why? Because GENIUS NY, the world’s biggest UAS and robotics accelerator, is dangling a $1 million check in front of them. And this year, 11 semifinalists from around the globe just made the shortlist for that very prize as part of the 2025 GENIUS NY accelerator.
GENIUS NY is backed by CenterState CEO and invests more than $3 million annually in five finalist companies. That includes the big kahuna: a single, dramatic, seven-figure check awarded live on stage at “Innovation Night.” That night is set for spring 2026 — a far out deadline that might be critical to give teams more time to, well, be geniuses.
So, who’s in the running The next drone unicorn? 11 companies are vying for $1 million in the 2025 GENIUS NY accelerator?
Some of the biggest names participating in the 2025 GENIUS NY accelerator include:
Alerion (Spain): Building drones that won’t explode in explosive environments.
Skyfire AI (New Jersey): Making drone swarms for first responders.
Lamarr AI (New York): Drones that inspect building exteriors faster and cheaper than humans on scaffolding. I recently took a deep dive into Lamarr AI’s building inspection software.
Modovolo (also NY): Think Lego-style drones, but for serious commercial and defense use.
Other contenders are throwing down with radar systems (Lighthouse Avionics), animal-feeding robots (Vetkiosk, from Argentina), and even Vertiport-as-a-Service (Kookiejar, a Swedish startup).
Notably, at least eight of the 11 semifinalists are directly drone-focused, while others play in the same sandbox of robotics, sensors and smart infrastructure for airborne tech.
GENIUS NY is having a moment
This year’s cohort drew 91 applications, with over half from U.S.-based companies and 60% in the “validation” stage (startup speak for “this thing actually works”). More than 43% of applicants also identified as women, minority, or veteran-owned—a huge deal in an industry often criticized for being overwhelmingly homogenous.
“This round saw record interest from U.S. and international startups,” said Kara Jones, GENIUS NY director.
We’ve followed GENIUS NY in past coverage, and it’s clear the bar is getting higher every year. This cohort might just include the next Skydio or Zipline… or the future inventor of a drone that finally delivers tacos to my condo in San Francisco.
What happens next?
In August, five of the 11 semifinalists will be crowned finalists and will begin their move to Syracuse in September. From there, it’s bootstraps, business plans, and (hopefully) a big payday come spring 2026.
So what happens if you win? Finalists must move to Syracuse for a year (yes, even if they’re from Sweden or Argentina), embed themselves in the region’s drone ecosystem, and try to build a company that can go the distance. The accelerator has already pumped nearly $24 million into drone and robotics startups, with alumni raising $350 million in follow-on funding and creating hundreds of jobs in upstate New York.
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Summer is here, and it’s hard to believe that the 2025-2026 school year is fast approaching. Whether you’re in the classroom or leading one, here are the best student and teacher discounts, scholarships and promotions for all things drones.
Tech deals for teachers from major electronics stores
Three of the best brick and mortar stores for buying camera gear and related electronics offer discount programs that you can apply, which offer heavy discounts on specific products. Here are the three best student and teacher discounts for (most) tech-related things:
B&H EDU Advantage
B&H EDU Advantage offers 10-20% off on photography and video products, including SD cards. The discount doesn’t cover everything that’s for sale on its website (and sadly, DJI drones typically aren’t offered up under the discount program). But, it does encompass roughly 4,500 items.
Plus, for busy teachers who don’t have time to parse through the best products, the B&H EDU Advantage program offers expert help so you can speak to a product expert for exact recommendations based on your needs.
B&H only has one physical store (it’s in Manhattan), but if you’re not anywhere near there, the photo retail giant also has a robust online presence. Plus, it offers free shipping on most items.
Best Buy Education
Like B&H EDU Advantage, Best Buy Education offers similar discounts and the added benefit of working alongside an education account manager who can assist teachers and schools in getting classrooms tech-ready.
Signing up for Best Buy Education is relatively simple for teachers. Unlike many teacher discount programs, you do not need to show any proof (valid .edu email, teacher ID, etc.) to sign up. You simply sign up for a business account and select education as your industry.
From there you will receive special discounts and free shipping on orders $35 and up.
Amazon Prime for Young Adults
Amazon Prime for young adults offers a cost-effective way to access all the perks of a regular Prime membership — including free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music and exclusive Prime Day deals — at a discounted rate.
Students enrolled in a college or university can sign up for Prime Student, which is only about half the standard cost. Beyond streaming and shipping, members also get access to perks like Grubhub+ for food delivery discounts, free gaming content through Prime Gaming, and textbook rentals, making it a smart pick for budget-conscious students and recent grads in the drone industry.
What about DJI teacher discounts?
The two largest drone manufacturers,DJI and Autel Robotics, do not partner with either program at the moment, so you won’t be able to score a drone discount on their products.
That said, there is a program for teachers and students called the DJI Education Hub. They are not currently offering any discounts and promotions for DJI products, but it’s free to sign up, and the program has been known to offer a range of discounts on select drones. It might be worth handing over your email in case they resume alerts of student and teacher discounts.
The DJI Education Hub also has courses for teachers or schools to purchase. The courses are an Introductory course (for elementary students), a Teamwork and Collaboration Course (for middle school students), and a few Advance Courses (for high school students). These courses are geared toward robotics, artificial intelligence, communication technology, and more. The course prices begin at $6 a month. These courses are excellent STEM classes or after-school programs but not drone-centric.
Other ways to save money on drones in 2025
While there are few options for discounted drones for teachers and students, you might also consider buying a used drone. Just understand that — while buying used can save money — used drones also carry risks.
Student and teacher discounts on Part 107 test prep courses
While building drones is certainly a key component of a STEM program, you’ll typically need a Remote Pilot Certificate to be able to fly them. Under the FAA Part 107, which is the set of Federal Aviation Administration rules around commercial drone operation (which typically includes classroom operations, too), each drone flight must have a remote pilot in command. While that doesn’t necessarily have to be the drone pilot itself (so unlicensed students can be on the controls), the remote pilot in command is directly responsible for (and is the final authority on) the drone’s operation.
To be considered a remote pilot in command, you must have that drone pilot’s license, which you can get by passing a written test, which most people refer to as the Part 107 test. And the best way to get that test? Enrolling in an online Part 107 test prep course.
And even though your students don’t necessarily need a license if you have one, it can be a good project (perhaps an extra credit assignment) to get their own drone pilot’s license. Just note the 16-year-old age minimum to be eligible for a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.
So with that, here are some ways to nab student and teacher discounts on Part 107 test prep courses:
The Drone Pilot Ground School scholarship program
Images showing screen grabs from the Drone Pilot Ground School course.
Drone Pilot Ground School offers comprehensive resources, and many teachers opt to enroll their students in this program, which teaches valuable STEM concepts and prepares students for a career in drones. The online test prep program has a 99% passing rate. And in Drone Girl’s opinion, it’s the best online test prep program if you want an established player.
The best part? Drone Pilot Ground School provides a scholarship that grants free access to their online Part 107 test prep course (usually $299) to U.S. high school students seeking to obtain their FAA drone pilot certificate. The scholarship program has unlimited availability, and students are accepted on a rolling, case-by-case basis, making it accessible to all interested.
John Peltier’s FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Test Prep Course is an online training program that includes short videos, frequent quizzes, and simple text that cuts straight to the point. It is one of the cheapest test course programs and on top of that they offer group discounts. The course is $139 but with 10-20 enrollments, it goes to $99 per person, and for 21 or more, it is $79 per person.
And just like Drone Launch Academy, John Peltier’s FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Test Prep Course also comes with a test-pass guarantee.
Karen DiMeo of AERODiMEO, Jonathan Rupprecht Esq, Kenin Morris FAA and Grant Guillot DroneUp at last year’s event. Photo courtesy of Dawn Zoldi.
Other student and teacher discounts on conferences and workshops
For all drone-enthusiasts educators looking to expand their network and knowledge at a conference, the Law-Tech Workshop will again likely offer scholarships for the 2026 event. The Law-Tech Connect Workshop is an all-day legal-focused event co-located within the massive AUVSI XPONENTIAL palooza.
The Scholars Program is designed to financially support people within the drone industry (educators and students included!) who may not have the means to pay. The scholarship application is pretty straightforward.
They have yet to announce all the details of next year’s scholarship program, but Dawn Zoldi, the workshop organizer, anticipates that the program should be similar to last year.
What other student and teacher discounts for drone pilots have you spotted? Share them in the comments below!
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