Imagine Aerial, a Syracuse-based drone and artificial intelligence (AI) data company headquartered in the INSPYRE Innovation Hub, has been selected as a semi-finalist in the 2026 RISE Blue Ridge Regional Resilience Challenge, a highly competitive program supporting breakthrough technologies focused on infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness.
Administered by RISE Resilience Innovations, the challenge is designed to identify and fund scalable solutions that address storm preparedness, infrastructure vulnerability, and emergency response. The program offers more than $500,000 in potential awards, along with mentorship and access to real-world pilot environments.
From Infrastructure Inspection to National Resilience Applications
Founded in 2015 and incorporated in 2017, Imagine Aerial has emerged as an early innovator within Central New York’s growing uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) ecosystem. Initially focused on improving the safety and efficiency of building and infrastructure inspections, the company expanded its capabilities by integrating AI-powered data processing in 2020.
To date, Imagine Aerial has:
Scanned nearly one billion square feet of infrastructure
Operated across 28 states
Supported projects ranging from AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) to disaster response and environmental monitoring
The company’s technology has been deployed in storm damage assessments, emergency response scenarios, and environmental projects, demonstrating its ability to scale from infrastructure inspection into broader resilience applications.
RISE Blue Ridge Challenge: Advancing Resilience Innovation
The RISE Blue Ridge Regional Resilience Challenge is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The initiative focuses on addressing multi-hazard risks, including:
- Flooding
- Landslides
- Infrastructure vulnerability
- Extreme heat
The program provides semi-finalists with up to $50,000 in funding, with two finalists eligible for non-dilutive awards of up to $500,000.
RISE also offers access to “living laboratory” pilot sites, enabling companies to test and validate technologies in real-world conditions. To date, the program has:
- Awarded over $10 million across 40+ projects
- Created 180+ jobs
- Trained 400 workers
- Generated $45+ million in follow-on investment
Leadership Perspective
Gavin Snyder, Founder and CEO of Imagine Aerial, emphasized the significance of the recognition:
“Selection to the RISE Blue Ridge Resilience Challenge is a significant milestone for Imagine Aerial. As architects, engineers, and PhD scientists, we developed, tested, and built a proven platform and workflow for AEC building and infrastructure sectors. This recognition validates the broader scalability we envisioned from the beginning.”
Strengthening the U.S. Drone Innovation Ecosystem
This milestone reinforces Imagine Aerial’s position as a leader in drone-enabled infrastructure intelligence and highlights Syracuse’s growing role as a national hub for UAS, AI, and deep technology innovation.
About Imagine Aerial
Imagine Aerial is a Syracuse, New York-based drone and AI data company specializing in advanced aerial intelligence for infrastructure inspection and proactive maintenance. The company has completed projects in 28 states, including work on 13 military bases, and has served 300+ clients in coordination with the FAA, military, and government agencies
No Replies to "Syracuse Drone Company Imagine Aerial Selected as Semi-Finalist for Virginia’s $500K+ Blue Ridge Resilience Challenge"