DroneUp, a Virginia Beach-based app developer and drone service provider, has partnered with Walmart to launch a drone delivery service at three locations in northwest Arkansas. This Virginia Beach DroneUp Walmart drone delivery partnership marks a significant milestone for the five-year-old company, which aims to establish delivery hubs for Walmart stores across the U.S. The service allows customers to order online and receive their items via drone delivery in as quickly as 30 minutes. As part of the deal, DroneUp plans to hire hundreds of people within the next year, expanding from its current 100 employees to 1,000 by the end of 2022.
DroneUp Partners with Walmart
From The Virginian-Pilot By TREVOR METCALFE
Drone Delivery Partnership

Two DroneUp employees work on a delivery drone being used by Walmart at its Farmington, Arkansas, store. The retail giant recently invested in the Virginia Beach company to help assemble its drone delivery network. (Courtesy photo)
Drone delivery is coming — and a Hampton Roads company might make your first order possible.
Expansion and Hiring
DroneUp, a Virginia Beach app developer and drone services provider, recently landed a deal with the largest retailer in the world. Walmart is now using DroneUp technology to launch a drone delivery service at three northwest Arkansas locations, with more to come. As part of the deal, DroneUp is looking to hire hundreds of people within the next year.
Customer Experience and Growth
The Walmart deal is a big milestone for the 5-year-old company, DroneUp founder and CEO Tom Walker said. The agreement will allow DroneUp to create delivery hubs for store locations across the country.
“It was a very strategic and significant investment that is enabling us to do acquisitions and growth and hiring, and we’re very pleased with the partnership and with their investment,” Walker said.
What the partnership means for Walmart customers, in Arkansas at least, is the ability to order delivery online and have a drone zip over with their items in as quickly as a half-hour. After placing an order, Walmart workers pack the items, and a drone pilot flies the package over to the customer’s home.
Future Plans and Expansion
“The consumers love it,” Walker said.
The service is currently only available at the Walmart in Farmington, Arkansas, and will expand to two other Arkansas locations in the next few months.
Staffing and Investment
“When we invested in DroneUp earlier this year, we envisioned a drone delivery operation that could be quickly executed and replicated across multiple stores,” Tom Ward, Walmart senior vice president of last-mile, said in a news release. “Opening our first hub within months of our initial concept showcases DroneUp’s ability to safely execute drone delivery operations with speed.”
As DroneUp expands, it will also be staffing up. Walker said he would like to grow from 100 current employees to 1,000 by the end of 2022. Some will be pilots while others will work at the Virginia Beach headquarters in training, human resources and other areas. DroneUp spokeswoman Amy Wiegand said around 60% of the positions would be based in Hampton Roads.
Positive Impact and Future Outlook
The drones may eventually pay off for the environment as well, creating a world with “a lot less trucks, a lot less gas, a lot less carbon,” and other benefits, Paris said.
Walker declined to say how much Walmart has invested in DroneUp. Paris, who represents the company as outside counsel, said the homegrown firm has raised about $17 million from local investors.
Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com
Question & Answer
What partnership has DroneUp recently secured and with whom?
DroneUp has partnered with Walmart to launch a drone delivery service at three locations in northwest Arkansas.
How does the drone delivery service work for Walmart customers?
Customers can order online and receive their items via drone delivery in as quickly as 30 minutes after placing an order.
What are the expansion plans of DroneUp in terms of hiring?
DroneUp plans to hire hundreds of people within the next year, expanding from its current 100 employees to 1,000 by the end of 2022.
What positive impact do the drones have on the environment according to DroneUp?
DroneUp believes that the use of drones for delivery can lead to a reduction in trucks, gas consumption, carbon emissions, and other benefits for the environment.