DRON8 Summit 2026 — Austin, Texas
Drones · Robotics · AI · Dual-Use Innovation
Why Attend DRON8
Deploy, Don't Just Talk
EU–US Bridge
Curated 1:1 Matchmaking
UT Austin Campus
Inside Austin Tech Week
Dual-Use Intelligence
Dual-Use Innovation
For a Safer,
Smarter World
DRON8 Summit is the most exclusive gathering of global leaders shaping the future of autonomous systems. Intimate in format, elite in audience, global in ambition. This is where the next era of autonomy is decided.
Not a trade show. Not a generic conference. DRON8 is a working platform: one full day of strategic dialogue, live demonstrations, curated deal-flow, and the relationships that will shape the dual-use technology ecosystem for years to come. Defense meets startup. Europe meets America. Lab meets launchpad.
Secure Your Seat →Triple-A Global Ambition
University of Texas at Austin
Summit Theme
"Beyond Autonomy: Drones, Robotics & AI Shaping Tomorrow's Security and Economy"
Defense. Disaster Response. Critical Infrastructure. Logistics. Public Safety. One technology platform. Infinite applications.
Meet the Speakers
Leaders shaping defense, aerospace, academia, and dual-use innovation at DRON8 Summit 2026. Full biographies on the speakers page →
Program at a Glance
One full day. Zero fluff. Built for decision-makers who value deep signal over conference noise.
Doors Open & Demo Gallery
Future Makers Lab: STEM Track
Government Welcome Address
Keynote #1
Academia on Stage · National University 'Kyiv Aviation Institute'
TED-style investor talk:
Panel I: Investors' Playbook - Capital, Partnership and the Path to Scale
Dealflow Lunch & Matchmaking
Keynote #2
Panel II · Beyond the Demo: What It Takes to Become Mission-Ready
DRON8 Mission Stories
Fireside Chat - The Human Systems Behind Autonomy
Featured Transatlantic Conversation: Your Worst-Case Scenario Is Their Tuesday
Special Government Address
Plus: Live Tech Demos · Themed Networking Corners · VIP Leaders Breakfast (invitation only)
Request Full Program →2 Keynotes
Two anchor keynotes designed to ignite the room: one sets the strategic vision, one grounds it in operational reality.
From the Moon to the Mission: Building Autonomy We Can Trust
The University of Texas at Austin
Threats, Real Needs, Real Urgency: Who Is Flying That?
Who's in the Room
DRON8 is invitation-curated and ruthlessly selective. Every seat is filled by someone with the authority to make decisions, or fund them.
Defense & Security
Startups & Scale-ups
Investors & VCs
Government & Policy
Academia & Research
Corporate R&D
Why We Built DRON8
The strongest partnerships start when the right people are finally in the same room.
We grew up in Czechoslovakia under communism and built our company in Texas. That journey gave us a deep appreciation for something easy to take for granted: freedom, security, and prosperity depend on our ability to innovate, adapt, and work with people we trust.
Today, some of the most important advances in drones, autonomous systems, counter-UAS, AI, sensing, robotics, and human-machine teaming are happening on both sides of the Atlantic. But innovation alone is not enough. Great technology needs a path to deployment. Innovators need customers and capital. Decision-makers need proven solutions. International companies need trusted access to the U.S. market. That is why we built DRON8.
One Room. One Purpose. People building what comes next.
Invest in relationships before you need them!
Get Your Seat
Limited capacity. Curated audience. This is not a conference you discover late. Early movers get the best seats, the best matchmaking, and the full DRON8 experience.
Student / UT Community
- Full Day Summit Access
- Demo Gallery + STEM Track
- Networking sessions
- Lunch included
General Admission
- Full Day Summit Access
- All Keynotes & Panels
- Demo Gallery
- Dealflow Lunch
- Lightning Connections
VIP Leadership
- All Professional benefits
- Exclusive VIP Leaders Breakfast
- Private roundtable access
- Curated Matchmaking
- Personal intro by DRON8 founder
- Post-summit strategic follow-up
Group rates available for 5+ tickets. Government & nonprofit discounts upon request. info@dron8.us
Our Partners
DRON8 Summit 2026 is powered by the sponsors, institutions, and partners below.
Sponsors
Institutional Partners
Partners
Contact Us
Whether you want to speak, partner, exhibit, or attend, we'd love to hear from you.