Kevin O’Leary has made a name for himself recognizing opportunities on the horizon. In a recent visit to North Dakota, he was able to see firsthand how Vantis is opening opportunities for the UAS industry in the state and beyond. 

The investor, entrepreneur and business operator ­– known to many as “Mr. Wonderful” on TV’s “Shark Tank” – took a tour of facilities in and around Grand Forks, including Vantis’ Mission and Network Operations Center (MNOC) at Grand Sky.

O’Leary, who has praised and invested in the innovative culture found in North Dakota, met with Vantis and Northern Plains UAS Test Site leaderships, who were able to show how the statewide UAS system is pushing opportunities and services forward.

Erin Roesler, deputy executive director at NPUASTS, was eager to show the incredible work being done in North Dakota UAS, and how Vantis has been leading the charge in this inspiring journey – for businesses and communities.

O’Leary Ventures signed a partnership agreement with The HIVE in downtown Grand Forks, a UAS tech accelerator and incubator, which is part of the growing UAS ecosystem throughout the state and area, which includes Vantis, NPUASTS, Grand Forks Air Force Base, and the University of North Dakota.

In announcing that partnership, O’Leary said the investment was about seizing an unprecedented opportunity in Grand Forks. “This isn’t just another tech hub, this is the future,” O’Leary said.

While at the MNOC, the Vantis team was able to show O’Leary the command center that is essential to the coordination of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight operations. The team talked about its role and the importance of integrating UAS into the National Air Space.

Vantis’ work and North Dakota’s UAS-friendly plans work well with O’Leary’s investment in Thread, an uncrewed aircraft company based at The HIVE. All of it helps realize why O’Leary identifies North Dakota as a winner state, where opportunities are abundant.