#87 Arnaud Thiercelin, Orqa: Cutting through the gimmicks and winning the drone marathon

The Vertical Space

In this episode, we sit down with Arnaud Thiercelin, Chief Product Officer at Orqa, for a bold and eye-opening conversation about the present and future of drones and mobile robotics. Arnaud challenges the status quo, urging listeners to think beyond gimmicks and focus on delivering real value to end users. From FPV drones neutralizing M1 Abrams tanks to the West’s struggle to produce a viable DJI competitor, he doesn’t shy away from controversy. He calls out the industry's missteps and offers sharp insights into what it will take to reclaim leadership in drone and robotics innovation.

Beyond military applications, this episode explores the broader implications of mobile robotics across commercial markets. Arnaud discusses the critical gaps in the Western drone supply chain, the challenges of building a defensible company, and the next major competitive battleground in drone technology. He also shares his vision for integrating drones into enterprise ecosystems and the rapid expansion of drone use cases.

章节

1. #87 Arnaud Thiercelin, Orqa: Cutting through the gimmicks and winning the drone marathon (00:00:00)

2. U.S. is in trouble when it comes to mobile robotics (00:05:13)

3. Impact of robotics expertise on military and commercial markets (00:19:42)

4. Why have we not seen a DJI alternative in the West yet? (00:25:53)

5. The cult of the founder (00:32:21)

6. The enterprise customer (00:38:26)

7. The drone supply chain (00:42:50)

8. Building a defensible drone company in the West (00:49:37)

9. Size of the opportunity (00:56:05)

10. The next competitive battleground for drones (01:01:24)

11. Integrating drones into the enterprise ecosystem (01:04:07)

12. The future of FPVs (01:09:16)

13. What's next for drones (01:25:12)

14. Enterprise use cases facing rapid growth (01:28:33)