10 Things You Didn’t Know about Danny Ellis
Have you ever heard the name Danny Ellis? It’s a fairly common name but in this particular case, we’re not talking about the Irish singer that made a name for himself crooning tunes, but instead the CEO of drone company SkySpecs. The company itself is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but what do you really know about the person that runs the company? It probably won’t surprise you to know that there are a number of interesting facts about the person who eventually becomes the CEO of such a dynamic, technology-based corporation. Below are just 10 of the things that you might find most interesting.
1. He also has a business partner with a famous name
After reading the introduction, you already know that Ellis himself has a counterpart with the same name who is a famous singer. It’s interesting to note that his business partner also has a counterpart with a very famous name, albeit for a different reason. He co-founded this particular business with a man named Tom Brady. No, this is not the Tom Brady that has made himself famous as a world-renowned professional quarterback. Nevertheless, a lot of people find it interesting that both of these individuals have names that are often confused with celebrities.
2. He has a degree in aerospace engineering
As it turns out, both he and his business partner have degrees in aerospace engineering. Achieving a degree in any form of engineering is no small feat. Getting a master’s degree in aerospace engineering takes things to an entirely new level, to say the least. The fact that they both possess these types of degrees only goes to show how dedicated they both are, not to mention the amount of effort they’re willing to put into achieving their goals.
3. He and his partner founded the company before they were out of college
Like so many other entrepreneurs, they actually started this business as part of a school project that was designed to demonstrate their abilities that they had learned as part of their master’s degrees. As you can already see, the business literally took off and now they’re both doing very well for themselves, all while providing a much-needed service, as you’ll soon see.
4. He’s using drone technology for a very specific niche
He uses drone technology to inspect infrastructure related to renewable energy. The amazing thing is that these drones can be used to achieve these goals and so much more. There are a number of benefits associated with using drone technology in order to inspect infrastructure. For starters, the drones are smaller and more nimble than traditional aircraft, meaning they can go places that manned aircraft cannot. In addition, it’s often safer to put a drone in these types of situations as opposed to trying to utilize a manned aircraft.
5. He knows how to build a business and make it successful
Obviously, he knows how to create a business where there is a very real need for a specific service and then market it successfully. People have been using drone technology for some time, but there is very little competition in the particular niche that he has chosen. That gives him a definite advantage from a business standpoint.
6. He had been thinking about the business he currently runs for years
Like so many other entrepreneurs, the idea for his business was not one that was born overnight. Instead, he’d been thinking about it for years, experimenting with the plan during his final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan. Eventually, the project became even more serious while he was studying for his master’s degree and today, he has a successful business that is a direct result of his efforts while he was still very young.
7. He loves the challenge associated with creating new ideas
He says that he’s always loved the challenges associated with thinking of something new and then seeing it through to fruition. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, he has a very creative side, one that allows him to see solutions where other people see nothing but problems. He’s also very gifted when it comes to the business side of things, allowing him to create a successful business plan where others may falter.
8. He enjoys playing golf
Although he admits that he wishes he were a better golfer, he still thoroughly enjoys playing the game. As a matter of fact, he can frequently be found playing golf whenever he’s not at work and the weather allows him to get a few rounds in.
9. He claims he’s never had a real job where he worked for someone else
He has said on a number of occasions that he never had a job in the traditional sense where he would go to work for someone else, punch a time clock and get a paycheck at the end of the week. As previously mentioned, he was deeply involved in his studies in order to achieve his Bachelors, also in aerospace engineering, when he came up with the idea for this company. He started working on the idea and focused on it the entire time he was studying for his master’s degree. By the time he was in his final year of his master’s program, the business had already taken off and was doing very well. As a direct result, he’s never had a need to go out and look for work like so many other individuals have been forced to do.
10. He also says he doesn’t use his two degrees at all
It’s also interesting that he says he doesn’t use either of his degrees in aerospace engineering in any capacity whatsoever. Despite the fact that those degrees definitely helped him come up with the idea for this business and launch it, he doesn’t focus on that side of things at all. For him, it’s all about focusing on the business itself.