Abby Speicher MBA’15, CEO of DartDrones: Lessons in Resilience and Innovation
Editor’s note: The New Tech Ventures Blog is produced by students in the New Technology Ventures course, taught by Assistant Professor of Practice Stephen Brand. The course features tech leaders and entrepreneurs as weekly guest speakers, and students are sharing their insights on the ventures and the experience. This post was written by the team of Emma Mumby ’25, Gaspard Seuge ’26, and exchange student Adrià Company ’25.
Abby Speicher MBA’15, chief executive officer and co-founder of DartDrones, recently shared with Babson College students and faculty in the New Tech Ventures class her remarkable entrepreneurial journey, from attending Babson as an MBA student to her life-changing moment on “Shark Tank.”
In the face of entrepreneurial challenges, Speicher’s story is a true testament to flexibility and grit.
A Vision for Entrepreneurship
Speicher always knew she wanted to start her own business. Her passion for both business and social impact was sparked early in her career when, while working in Ghana, she sold purses to fund a week of education for a child with every purchase. Speicher completed her dream of starting her own business by attending Babson’s two-year MBA program and utilizing its entrepreneurial resources.
Her father, a professor of entrepreneurship, made the right introductions to classmates who shared her vision, and the two co-founded the groundbreaking drone training company DartDrones. To start off their venture, the team won six months of free office space to grow operations after winning $30,000 in the B.E.T.A. Challenge.
Building DartDrones: Innovation and Challenges
DartDrones was founded to provide premium drone training using in-person classes, with aviation professionals leading the classes. Its instructors are all master-level flyers who have flown countless planes and helicopters. With a nationwide presence and a hands-on, instructor-led learning approach tailored to executive-level decision-makers aged 50 to 65, DartDrones established itself as a standout leader in the industry.
However, it had a multitude of problems. In-person sessions were first and foremost a logistical nightmare: arranging instructors around the nation, dealing with cancellations, even having problems with profitability. Over time, Speicher added online classes, private instruction for specialized businesses, and school collaborations that license drone training programs to DartDrones’ portfolio of services. These models allow the business to grow sustainably since they are more scalable and relieve some operational pressure.
The “Shark Tank” Moment
When Speicher appeared on “Shark Tank,” one of the most famous moments of the company was when Mark Cuban offered her $300,000 for 10% equity. Known as the “fastest deal on ‘Shark Tank,’” the show gave a lot of media attention to DartDrones. After some deliberation, Speicher decided not to move forward.
This was to ensure that she remained at the helm of her company and to keep aligned with her vision. “The entrepreneur in me did not want to be owned by another team,” she said. Although the sale never went through, the incident did bring publicity worth its weight in gold and brought home the lesson on adhering to your mission.
Leadership Lessons
There have been bumps in the road. She has learned to be patient and flexible, from taking the time to understand the drone industry’s slow build to dealing with the stress of a breakup with her co-founder. The Babson audience was certainly motivated by her insights on leading a business in a leading-edge industry.
Inspiring Babson’s Future Entrepreneurs
Speicher’s virtual address to Babson College students was a master class in entrepreneurial resilience: to look for obstacles, grow from the mistakes, and alter course when needed. Her story is but one good example of how success can be achieved through creativity, perseverance, and willingness to change.
Speicher’s story lends some perspective to Babson students in particular: Rarely is the road to entrepreneurship linear, but with a bit of vision and perseverance, incredible opportunities can arise. But more importantly, as Speicher continues to build DartDrones, she is an inspiration to prove that for true success, it’s not the destination that counts—it’s the journey.
Final Reflections
Speicher’s story resonated with us on both personal and professional levels. It underscored the value of persistence, adaptability, and staying true to one’s vision. Hearing Speicher’s anecdotes about navigating industry challenges and overcoming setbacks was inspiring. It reminded us that entrepreneurship is as much about personal growth as it is about building a business.
Her journey also highlighted the importance of leveraging educational resources and strong networks—lessons we can directly apply as students preparing for our own entrepreneurial pursuits. We were particularly moved by her decision to turn down Cuban’s offer, a powerful example of prioritizing long-term goals over short-term gains. Speicher’s experience encouraged us to reflect on the importance of mission-driven work and the resilience required to achieve it.
Posted in New Tech Ventures Blog
