No Black woman in Texas had ever registered a drone academy before Steffanie Rivers did it. Now the founder and CEO of Dallas-area TCB Drones wants to help many more people, especially Black entrepreneurs, build real businesses with the technology.

Rivers is rolling out the Next Level Drone Accelerator, a 90-day program for drone pilots and people thinking about getting into the industry. She is also developing a separate licensing plan that could let qualified business owners open TCB Drones academies in their own cities.

Rivers says a certificate is just step one. The bigger question, she says, is is what people do with that certification and how they find customers, build relationships and grow.

From license to livelihood

Plenty of pilots earn their FAA license and then get stuck. The accelerator focuses on the business side. Planned lessons cover finding markets, branding, explaining the value of drone services, building professional relationships, chasing contracts and setting up solid business systems.

The first group meets Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 in the evening Central, with the next session on Nov. 16. Enrollment closes Nov. 10. The introductory price is $591 for the full program, which runs from November through January. Every class will be recorded.

Could your city be next?

The licensing effort is a separate track. Savannah, Georgia, is the first test market. The company is also eyeing possible spots in 10 states stretching from Florida and the Carolinas up to Pennsylvania and west to Illinois. Interested operators can share their city, experience and timeline. The accelerator fee does not include any licensing rights or territory.

Rivers is also growing a networking platform called Next Level Drones and Dollars that brings together pilots, business owners and the curious. The latest meetup took place Oct. 20 in the Dallas area.

More than a gadget

Drones now play a role in real estate, construction, media, education and many other fields. Rivers wants Black entrepreneurs to see a place for themselves in that fast-growing world.

In her view a drone is not just a gadget to own. It can be the start of a company, a way to solve problems and a door into industries that are still changing fast.

TCB Drones already offers drone training, FAA Part 107 exam prep and professional services. With the accelerator, Rivers hopes her students leave not just certified but ready to get paid.