AirShare

AirShare, Inc. is an Ottawa, Ontario company that designs and manufactures drone interceptors and associated control systems used to detect, track and mitigate wayward or malicious drones. Its counter-drone product, described as an interceptor missile, flies in close proximity to a target drone and deploys a cloud of latex countermeasures that entangles the drone's rotors and brings it to the ground without the collateral damage associated with conventional approaches. The system is built from commercial off-the-shelf components and is paired with machine-vision software able to distinguish drones from other objects and to deploy countermeasures only once a target is confirmed and within range.

The company positions the technology for protecting military installations, airspace around commercial aircraft, and private property. It is listed in the robotics industry with a stage of "Full Product Ready" and nine employees. Leadership consists of co-founders Rick Whittaker (CEO) and Shanaz Sigouin (Chief Administration Officer).

Founding story

Co-founders Rick Whittaker and Shanaz Sigouin came together in 2016 to found AirShare in Ottawa. Whittaker, an Ottawa native with a computer engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, a trained pilot and the founder of four prior startups, conceived of a drone dismantler after recognizing the risk drones posed to passenger aircraft, having experienced engine failures himself. Drawing on his hobby of building model rockets with his son, the team started from a hobby rocket design as a low-cost way to deliver patent-pending drone-disabling countermeasures. Sigouin, who grew up in Guyana as the youngest of nine children in a family that ran a small business, studied business administration at Algonquin College and worked across multinational high-tech firms, government, not-for-profits and startups before co-founding the company.

Business model

The company designs and manufactures counter-drone interceptors and control systems, and has funded its growth largely through revenue-generating contracts rather than venture capital, including a defence contract with Canada's special forces.

Sales of drone interceptor hardware and control systems, with revenue generated through contracts such as the Canadian Special Forces award.

Traction

AirShare progressed from concept to a robust prototype and then to an operational deployment through a contract with the Canadian Special Forces valued at $748K USD. The company is listed at the "Full Product Ready" stage with nine employees, and reported raising less than $1 million in venture financing, funding growth primarily through revenue-generating contracts.

Latest developments

In 2024, Invest Ottawa reported that AirShare's collaboration with Algonquin College's Office of Applied Research produced machine-vision and autonomous control software for its guided interceptor, and that the work culminated in a contract with Canada's special forces. The company continues to refine and adapt the system for protecting sites ranging from military installations to private property, and remains engaged with the Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards innovation community.