Drone show maker Damoda plans 2027 IPO filing as overseas business grows
Shenzhen-based Damoda, a drone show technology company, plans an IPO filing in 2027, driven by significant overseas business growth and automated drone deployment systems.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Damoda has developed advanced automation for drone light shows, reducing setup time to about 60 seconds for thousands of drones. This technological edge has fueled its international expansion, with overseas sales growing 45-fold since 2020, positioning the company for a public listing.
Imagine a company that makes thousands of tiny flying robots, like super smart fireflies, dance in the sky to create amazing pictures and stories with lights. This company, called Damoda, has figured out how to make these robots set themselves up and fly all by themselves super fast, almost like magic! Because their flying robots are so good and easy to use, many other countries want to buy them. Now, Damoda is planning to let regular people buy tiny pieces of their company, like owning a small part of the magic show, because they're doing so well.
Analysis
2027 IPO filing
Damoda's ambition to file for an Initial Public Offering in 2027 underscores a significant growth trajectory, particularly in its international operations. The company has strategically focused on an equipment sales model, which now accounts for approximately 70% of its total revenue. This shift from primarily operating its own shows to supplying technology to local partners has proven highly effective in scaling its business globally.
The expansion into over 50 countries and regions has been a critical factor in its financial performance, with overseas business experiencing a remarkable 45-fold increase from its 2020 levels by 2025. This rapid international growth, coupled with a robust equipment sales division, provides a strong foundation for its planned public market debut, signaling investor confidence in its scalable technology and market penetration.
V4 system
Central to Damoda's success is its continuous innovation in drone show automation, exemplified by the development of its V4 system. This fourth-generation technology significantly streamlines the deployment process, allowing thousands of drones to be set up in approximately 60 seconds, a stark contrast to the hours previously required for manual placement and checks. The V4 system integrates automatic charging and precise autonomous returns to docking stations, eliminating the need for camera assistance that earlier versions relied upon.
This focus on reducing on-site labor and enhancing operational efficiency has transformed the logistics of large-scale drone performances. By developing a vehicle-mounted show system around V4, Damoda has created an integrated platform for deployment, system checks, takeoff, and retrieval. This technological advancement not only improves the speed and reliability of drone shows but also makes the equipment more accessible and easier for local operators to manage, facilitating its global distribution model.
Chongqing
The domestic market, particularly in cities like Chongqing, showcases the evolving applications and economic impact of Damoda's drone show technology within China. The launch of regular drone show programs, such as the one in Chongqing on April 19, 2025, signifies a shift from one-off events to sustained tourism attractions and advertising platforms. The Chongqing project alone attracted an estimated 11 million in-person visits over roughly one year, generating substantial related content and approximately 11 billion impressions on official culture and tourism platforms.
This consistent demand has also opened new avenues for commercial partnerships, with major brands like Changan Automobile, Tencent, and Mixue Bingcheng utilizing drone formations for advertising. Damoda's involvement in these regular operations in multiple Chinese cities demonstrates the maturity of its swarm systems and the diverse revenue streams beyond initial equipment sales. The domestic market serves as a proving ground for new applications and a significant contributor to the company's overall operational experience and revenue.
Key points
- Damoda plans an IPO filing in 2027, driven by significant growth in its overseas business.
- Equipment sales account for approximately 70% of Damoda's revenue, with overseas business growing 45 times its 2020 level by 2025.
- The company's V4 system enables automated drone deployment in about 60 seconds, integrating charging and precise autonomous returns.
- Damoda's business model involves selling swarm systems and providing technical training to local partners globally.
- In China, drone shows have expanded into regular tourism performances and advertising, attracting millions of visits and impressions in cities like Chongqing.
Damoda's continued innovation in drone automation and its successful overseas expansion could solidify its position as a global leader in drone show technology. A successful IPO would provide capital for further R&D, allowing the company to explore new applications beyond entertainment and potentially dominate emerging markets.
The company faces potential challenges from increasing competition in the drone technology sector and the complexities of managing rapid international growth across diverse regulatory environments. Dependence on equipment sales could also expose it to market fluctuations if demand for drone shows slows or if competitors offer more advanced or cheaper solutions.
