What makes Near Earth’s technology special, and where is it making the most significant impact?
It’s common to use automation in robotics, where you give the systems pre-planned scripts to follow. It can work well for a use case like a robotic manufacturing assembly line in a fully controlled environment. The problem with automation for aerial logistics is that if the aircraft encounters anything different than what that pre-planned script was expecting, the system doesn’t know how to overcome it. If a tall tree, construction crane, or vehicle is in an automated drone’s pre-planned flight path, it will fly right into it or, at best, have to do a forced landing or return to its takeoff point. Regardless, the mission isn’t getting completed. To succeed in dynamic environments, you need more than automation.
That is where Near Earth comes in. We develop autonomous systems that perceive, think, and respond intelligently to hazards so logistics missions can be completed safely and reliably, even in unpredictable environments. That makes our systems particularly well-suited to defense logistics in contested environments for 24/7 uncrewed operations while minimizing the risk to human pilots.
For these high-stakes missions, autonomy isn’t just a nice to have; it can be a matter of life and death. We also see commercial logistics markets on the horizon, and we’re building the foundation today to serve them tomorrow.
Near Earth Autonomy is a pioneer in autonomous flight systems. How do you see the market for autonomous drones evolving over the next 10 years?
Innovation doesn’t live in a vacuum. It accelerates with market demand. We are at an inflection point now where the appetite for autonomous aerial systems is rapidly increasing. The question is no longer, “Is uncrewed flight possible?” It’s “How fast can we get autonomous fleets?” Over the next decade, safe, efficient, uncrewed flight will evolve from a rare sci-fi novelty to a widespread daily reality.
Marketing advanced autonomy solutions can be challenging. How do you educate and build trust with industries that are still new to drone and autonomous technology?
Companies win by focusing on transformation, not just tech specs. Success doesn’t come from a product in isolation but from understanding your customers, their challenges, and how your offering will meaningfully improve their lives.
At Near Earth, we don’t just highlight new features. We ask: What problem does this solve? What new capabilities does this unlock? What benefits does this bring?
We not only show people what autonomy is but also what it can do for them. For example, in defense logistics, we focus on how uncrewed systems can help critical supplies reach frontline teams faster and safer. The story doesn’t revolve around the autonomous system alone. We center around the customer’s goals of completing missions and saving lives.
Customers never just want a product for its own sake. Real demand is driven by expected outcomes, not offerings. They are buying improvements in their personal and professional lives. Making customer needs your north star is the surest way to achieve initial product-market fit and maintain it by continuously innovating alongside those evolving needs.
What motivates you as a marketing leader?
#1 is the people. At Near Earth, I am fortunate to work with absolute rock stars who make me look forward to taking on strategic challenges together, creating high-impact content, and learning new things every day.
I majored in psychology in college, and my focus has always been to help improve people’s lives. When you keep customers and users at the center of everything you do, you get magic. That’s what really drives me and why I love marketing so much. Nothing makes me happier than giving people new tools that make their lives better.
At its core, Near Earth is about empowerment. Autonomous aircraft can bring users whatever they want, whenever they need it, wherever they are. We are putting the whole world within reach. Along with cargo transportation, we are also building systems for autonomous casualty evacuations to help bring wounded people to urgent care. When we connect solutions to problems, we not only save time and money, we can save lives.
What is the biggest misconception about autonomous drones today?
Some worry that the future is human vs machine. The truth is that machines are just another tool. We have used tools to take on our dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs since the dawn of humanity. It was true when early humans hunted with spears instead of bare hands. It was true when carpenters switched from hand-cranked screwdrivers to electric drills. It was true when mining crews replaced pickaxes with jackhammers.
Better tools aren’t about replacing humans but empowering us to achieve more, faster, and safer. Better tools won’t just happen on their own. New, rewarding, engaging jobs are posted daily to design, test, manufacture, sell, integrate, operate, and service new tools. Humans have consistently used tools to multiply our impact. Done systems are a natural continuation of that time-honored tradition.
The best results won’t come from humans alone or tools alone. Success will go to the most highly skilled humans, using the most effective tools, just as it always has.
Near Earth is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. What is the tech ecosystem like there?
If you want to see the future, come to Pittsburgh. We have autonomous car companies driving on our roads. We have smart construction equipment rapidly tying miles of rebar for new highways. More people are learning new languages from the DuoLingo app than in all the classrooms in America combined. Pittsburgh is building a better tomorrow.
Breakthrough research and brilliant graduates pour out of leading local academic institutions. Carnegie Mellon University is a key contributor to Near Earth’s success story. CMU’s AI, entrepreneurship, and robotics programs consistently earn top rankings. Without getting my MBA at CMU, I would not have learned how to collaborate with engineers and bring high-tech products to market. Many of Near Earth’s Founders trained and received their PhDs at CMU and worked there as field robotics faculty before spinning the company out. Without CMU, there would be no Near Earth.
We are lucky to have community organizations like Innovation Works, the Pittsburgh Technology Council, and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network championing and supporting local tech businesses at every stage of development. Our region’s experienced business leaders provide angel investment and mentorship to the next generation of entrepreneurs. We have over 120 advanced technology companies in the area, creating thousands of jobs and serving industries from agriculture and defense to healthcare and manufacturing.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, and it has been both a pleasure and a privilege watching it evolve from its historic steel industry roots to the modern-day innovation powerhouse it has become. Every year brings new tech breakthroughs and business success stories. Part of what I love about sharing Near Earth’s story is that it also shines a well-deserved spotlight on Pittsburgh and all the transformative products and services that our community is bringing to the world.
