Based in Virginia Beach, DroneUp is spearheading the DroneUp Healthcare Delivery Revolution, a pioneering drone technology initiative in Traverse City, Michigan. The company, known for its FAA-certified pilots and advanced flight software, is transforming healthcare logistics by delivering medical supplies, lab samples, and medications across rural Northern Michigan in record time. The initiative, supported by a $1.64 million investment from Michigan’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation Fund, showcases a scalable model that could soon expand to direct deliveries to patients’ homes, pending FAA beyond-visual-line-of-sight approvals. Beyond healthcare, DroneUp’s versatile technology is also being utilized for search-and-rescue missions and environmental projects, demonstrating the far-reaching potential of drone technology.

Introduction

By Tim Ryan

Hey, Hampton Roads innovators! Buckle up, because Virginia Beach’s own DroneUp is making waves far beyond our shores, leading the DroneUp Healthcare Delivery Revolution in Traverse City, Michigan, that’s setting the stage for a new era of logistics innovation. As the home of DroneUp, Hampton Roads is at the heart of this revolution, and it’s time for our entrepreneurial community to take note and get inspired.

DroneUp: A Leader in Drone Technology

DroneUp, founded in 2016 in Virginia Beach, has grown from a local startup to a national leader in drone technology, known for its FAA-certified pilots and advanced flight software. Their latest venture? The DroneUp Healthcare Delivery Revolution – a game-changing pilot program in Traverse City, Michigan backed by a $1.64 million investment from Michigan’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation Fund.

The Healthcare Delivery Revolution

Partnering with Traverse Connect, Munson Healthcare, and others, DroneUp is powering a drone delivery system that’s slashing transit times for medical supplies, lab samples, and medications across rural Northern Michigan. In a region where healthcare staff log over 90,000 miles annually by road, DroneUp’s drones—equipped with low-resolution safety cameras and tether systems—complete deliveries in mere minutes, like a 4-minute flight from Munson’s Copper Ridge Surgery Center to Munson Medical Center.

Transforming Lives Through Innovation

This isn’t just about faster deliveries; it’s about the DroneUp Healthcare Delivery Revolution transforming lives in underserved communities and proving drones can do more than deliver packages. From simulated search-and-rescue missions with the U.S. Coast Guard to water sampling on Lake Michigan, DroneUp’s versatile tech is redefining possibilities. Their success in Traverse City, which began test flights in May 2025, showcases a scalable model that could soon deliver directly to patients’ homes, pending FAA beyond-visual-line-of-sight approvals.

Call to Action for Hampton Roads

For Hampton Roads, DroneUp’s achievements in the DroneUp Healthcare Delivery Revolution are a call to action. Our region’s innovators—whether in tech, logistics, or healthcare—can learn from DroneUp’s public-private partnerships and bold vision. As they pave the way for drone infrastructure nationwide, local startups have a chance to collaborate, innovate, and create jobs right here. Let’s harness this momentum, Hampton Roads, and make our region a global hub for aerial innovation. The sky’s the limit!

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