A Maine defense manufacturer plans to more than double its workforce through an expansion of interceptor-drone production, the founder of Compotech said on a White House programme published Oct. 20.
Compotech already builds the drones and employs more than 85 people, its founder said. He described a planned factory with partners but gave no construction timetable, production target or cost.
The founder pitched the expansion on “SBA's Million Dollar Pitch Competition,” which the White House published on its own channel. Five businesses competed for shares of $1 million provided by Clover Network.
He opened with the experience of an employee whose husband serves in the Army, saying repeated military moves had forced her to restart her career. Working for Compotech allowed her to help protect soldiers, he said.
He then described drones as a threat that existing protective systems cannot fully address. American manufacturers can produce only a fraction of the interceptor drones needed, he said, without giving figures for supply or demand.
“Our troops need another layer of protection,” the founder said. He described interceptor drones, aircraft designed to stop incoming threats before they reach soldiers, as an addition to the protective barriers the company already makes.
“We're already building these drones. Now, it's time to scale,” he said. Compotech and its partners plan to build a factory dedicated to defense drones, using American workers, he said.
The founder said support from the Small Business Administration helped the company secure its start when three young engineers needed money and a partner willing to back them. He did not identify the financing programme or amount.
The business began in Maine 15 years ago with $3,000 and a used machine bought on eBay, he said. He linked winning the competition to the prospect of hundreds of jobs and protection for tens of thousands of soldiers.
During questions, the founder said Compotech had grown without venture capital or giving up ownership stakes. Asked about productivity over the next year, he explained how interceptors would complement the company's protective walls but gave no output forecast.
Asked how Compotech would compete in a crowded drone market, he said government purchasing was changing and manufacturers needed more production capacity. He pointed to large groups of 3D printers as an example of facilities that still needed building.
The founder did not identify the factory partners or specify how much prize money Compotech sought. The supplied remarks did not establish whether the company won an award.
