By: Eno Umoh, Business & Entrepreneurship Ambassador
Expert voices from three continents gathered to talk about the state of autonomous tech startups and provided a real-world look at how startups are thriving, and struggling, across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Read on to learn what it will take to succeed in these fast-changing markets, along with some pro tips on how your business can succeed globally.
Reading the Regions: The Industries Taking Off Across Continents
One of the first questions on everyone’s mind was which industries show the most promise for autonomous tech startups. The answers spanned the globe.
Africa: Focused on Problem-Solving
From Africa, the focus is on solving fundamental problems: drones delivering medical supplies to remote villages and monitoring crops for smart agriculture. These are not hype projects. They’re life-saving and productivity-boosting services that address real needs.
Asia: Taking Smart Tech Higher
Asia, represented by South Korea’s tech ecosystem, continues charging ahead on urban air mobility (UAM), advanced air mobility (AAM), and smart city applications. HyunWoo Kang of KIAST (Korea’s Aviation Safety Technology Institute) described how Seoul’s investment in drone taxis and city-wide drone delivery pilots is laying groundwork for a new era of transport.
Europe: Impacts in Enterprise
And in Europe, Dr. Gerald Wissel of UAV DACH (Europe’s largest unmanned aviation association) pointed out that industries like infrastructure inspection, logistics, and environmental monitoring are embracing autonomy. European energy and rail companies, for example, are deploying drones to inspect power lines and railways, bringing efficiency to old industries.
It’s clear that whether it’s agriculture and healthcare in Africa, AAM in Asia, or industrial integration in Europe, autonomous tech is finding its stride in whichever sectors need it most. But a startup’s success isn’t just about picking the hottest industry. It’s about fitting the solution to the local problem. A drone service that thrives in Rwanda’s medical delivery network might not make sense in Germany’s dense urban environment, and vice versa. The key is understanding the local market conditions. As Darshan “Dash” Divakaran of NUAIR (USA) noted, a region’s pain points determine where autonomy can take off. In Africa, limited road infrastructure makes drones a no-brainer for deliveries, while in Europe strict emissions rules drive demand for electric autonomous vehicles.
Pro Tip: Startups need to read the room, and the region, when choosing their focus.
Partnerships as the Ultimate Force Multiplier
Talk of industries quickly led to another theme: the importance of partnerships. No matter the continent, going it alone is a risky road. This resonated strongly with all.
U.S. Perspective: Open Doors With The Right Partnerships
Divarkaran, who has built programs connecting government and startups, emphasized that the fastest way for a young company to scale up is through strategic partners, be it larger companies, government agencies, or international collaborators. He’s seen it time and again: a drone startup teams up with an established aerospace firm to access manufacturing, or a U.S. company partners with a local African tech hub to navigate regulations. The right partnership can open doors that a startup can’t budge on its own.
African Perspective: Plug Into Networks
From the African perspective, I shared how many startups succeed by partnering with NGOs and local governments for pilot programs. A small drone company can have continental impact when it plugs into networks like the African Drone Forum.
European Perspective: Ally With Research Institutions and Industry Groups
Europe had its own spin on this. Wissel highlighted how EU based startups benefit from alliances with research institutions and industry groups. UAV DACH itself is an example of an ecosystem partnership. It brings companies together with regulators and investors. Those support measures and networks act as a safety net and springboard for innovation.
Asian Perspective: Culture Steeped in Collaboration
In Asia, Kang noted that collaboration is built into the culture of innovation. South Korea’s government, universities, and corporations often co-create initiatives. Startups are invited into sandbox programs with telecom giants and transport ministries. That public-private teamwork means even small startups have a big team supporting their success.
Whether it’s sharing tech and talent across borders or simply having a friendly bigger company show you the ropes, collaboration can turn a startup into an ecosystem player. No one in Houston was advocating the lone-wolf approach. In this industry, if you want to go far, you truly go together.
Pro Tip: Partnerships aren’t just nice to have, they’re make-or-break.
Startups and Big Tech: Compete, Collaborate or Both?
How do startups coexist with Big Tech and large enterprises? Are they destined to compete, or is cooperation the smarter path? It’s often a mix of both—a bit of “frenemy” dynamic.
Europe: Build A Niche And They Will Come
In Europe, Wissel observed that many big aerospace and defense companies have launched their own drone programs, but they still rely on startups for fresh ideas and niche technologies. Startups in Europe frequently partner with these giants as suppliers or get acquired once they prove a concept. Rather than trying to outgun Airbus or DHL, a drone startup might find a sweet spot providing a specific software or sensor those bigger players need. Gerald’s advice to startups was to find your niche and excel – something a massive corporation can’t easily replicate – and then decide if you want to collaborate or stay independent.
Asia: Startups Provide Lifeblood for Tech Giants
From the Asian view, Kang described a landscape where conglomerates dominate tech development but are eager to work with agile startups. In South Korea, for instance, telecom companies and automakers are working with startups on drone traffic management and delivery trials. The startups bring agility and specialized tech; the corporates bring scale and resources. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Kang’s point was that in Asia, getting a foot in the door of a big tech company’s project can catapult a startup’s credibility overnight. Competing head-on is tough, but collaborating can be a win-win.
Africa: Collaborating With Foreign Giants
For African startups (and emerging markets in general), the question is slightly different because the “Big Tech” on the continent often comes from outside. I explained that companies like Zipline (a well-funded U.S. drone delivery firm) are operating in Africa alongside homegrown startups. Rather than view the globals as foes, many African entrepreneurs choose to collaborate, becoming local implementation partners or distributors. That way, local startups still get a piece of the pie and invaluable experience with advanced tech. At the same time, they retain an edge with their on-the-ground know-how and relationships. In short, competition exists, but collaboration often yields better results when an industry is this new.
In short, big players and startups each have what the other needs – scale on one side, innovation on the other.
Pro Tip: Team up when possible; save the head-to-head competition for where you truly have a unique advantage.
Culture: The Invisible Hand Guiding Innovation
Cultural influences are less tangible, but powerful factors that shape how tech is developed and adopted in different places. This isn’t something you find in specs or investor decks, yet it often determines success or failure.
African Angle: Simplicity and Practicality
From the African angle, I noted that there’s a strong culture of frugal innovation and community impact. Entrepreneurs on the continent tend to focus on practical solutions that can work in low-resource settings. This mindset means African drone startups often design for simplicity, durability, and affordability, because they have to. It also means technology is met with public enthusiasm when it clearly improves daily life (say, delivering blood to a rural clinic). However, culturally there can be skepticism too. If communities aren’t educated about a drone’s purpose, rumors can spread. So startups have learned to engage local leaders and earn trust, making sure drones are seen as tools for good. Cultural acceptance is just as critical as regulatory acceptance.
Asia: Technical Excellence and Reliability
In Asia, as Kang described, culture plays out in a high expectation for technical excellence and reliability. In countries like South Korea and Japan, people embrace new gadgets (drones included) but also have little tolerance for failure. A drone delivery service in Seoul might get massive public support, as long as it’s consistently safe and efficient.
Additionally, respect for authority and hierarchy in some Asian cultures means that endorsements from government or big companies can greatly boost public trust in a startup’s product. Kang pointed out that a culturally savvy startup will partner with respected institutions to win hearts and minds.
Another cultural facet in Asia’s dense megacities includes a collective awareness of issues like traffic and pollution. Autonomous solutions targeting those problems gain quick social acceptance. Knowing what matters to people locally helps startups tailor their messaging and tech to align with cultural values, be it safety, harmony, or progress.
Europe: Safety and Privacy
On the European front, Wissel talked about how a culture of safety and privacy in Europe influences the pace of autonomy. Europeans generally demand thorough testing and safeguards before embracing new tech. This can frustrate fast-moving startups, but it ultimately leads to solutions that society is comfortable with. He gave the example that in Europe, you’ll see more public dialogues and town hall meetings about drones and robots. It’s part of the culture to debate and build public trust collectively.
Culturally, European startups also benefit from a tradition of cross-border collaboration. With so many countries close together, a German and a French startup might naturally team up to tackle the EU market together, bringing multicultural understanding from the start.
Pro Tip: Culture shapes everything from user adoption to business partnerships, so a global startup must adapt to each new market’s norms and expectations.
In a Nutshell: Stronger Together
No one builds the future of autonomy alone. Whether you’re a scrappy startup in Nairobi or a research spin-off in Munich, your success will hinge on looking beyond your borders and your comfort zone. The global autonomous tech startup ecosystem isn’t just a buzzphrase; it’s a real, living network that’s taking shape right now. And the key ingredients for its growth are partnership, openness, and a willingness to learn from every corner of the world.
If you’re a founder or innovator, the takeaways are sharp:
- Focus on the problems that matter
- Team up with the right people
- Respect the power of policy and culture
- Don’t shy away from crossing new frontiers
When Africa, Asia, Europe (and let’s not forget North America) share their perspectives, the entire industry gets a boost. The obstacles are significant, but the collective determination to overcome them is even greater. Startups and stakeholders worldwide are better off working together than going it alone. The future of autonomy is borderless, and if we continue to collaborate and trust each other, we’ll all ride this rising tide to new heights.
This article was derived from the insights of a global tech startup panel at XPONENTENTIAL 2025.