Eli Dourado

a16z Podcast | Airspace as the Next Internet-Like Platform

Eli Dourado, Samuel Hammond, Jonathan Downey, Grant Jordan, Sonal

Eli Dorado of the Mercatus Center and Jonathan Downey of Airware discuss how restrictive U.S. drone regulations initially stifled domestic innovation while competitors like the U.K. and Switzerland adopted flexible, risk-based frameworks. The conversation highlights critical safety data showing low physical risks for small drones, identifies widespread use in high-hazard industries such as oil and gas and infrastructure inspection, and notes the shift toward future technologies like automated traffic management and autonomous flight systems.