Deuce Drone, a Mobile-based startup that develops package delivery services by drone, has entered a technology development partnership with a supermarket chain.
The startup will provide drone delivery for Greer’s Markets, a fifth-generation family-owned supermarket chain based in Mobile. The company has 29 supermarkets in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi as well as four Greer’s Ace Hardware Express locations in Mobile, Bay Mintette and Quitman, Mississippi.
Deuce Drone began flights in November between Greer’s St. Louis Street market and the Innovation Portal, a Mobile-based nonprofit incubator and innovation hub, to finalize the autonomous flight and package handling systems. The company operates drones that can carry a payload of up to 10 pounds.
“We are excited to partner with Greer’s Markets. Our agreement is an excellent opportunity to apply our technology in an urban setting,” said Bill Haub, senior director of Deuce Drone. “Our previous demonstration flights have proven that we are able to overcome many difficult challenges facing drone delivery. This development partnership is a great next step in Deuce Drone’s growth by providing the possibility of seamlessly transitioning to delivery service in downtown Mobile.”
Haub also said the deal with Greer’s Markets puts the Deuce Drone team near a retailer that they can further develop their technology with as well as the ability to have flights back and forth on a regular basis. The hope is to move from a development stage an into a greater revenue service. Haub also said the deal will hopefully enable more hiring, offer greater exposure for the company and promote fundraising opportunities for Deuce Drone.
The company started in 2019 with a focus on last-mile goods delivery using drones. Haub said last-mile is the most complex and expensive part of the delivery process.
“There's just tremendous amount of opportunity to reduce costs, make it easier for consumers and retailers,” he said. “When we've talked to people in the industry ... it's always been the last thing that people want to attack. But it is starting to pick up now. There's a lot of interest in figuring out how to make it work. There's, give or take, roughly eight companies that are really starting to make some headway in the delivery process."
The team of six has been building out its product steadily since 2020 and are perfecting software and hardware. The team is also prioritizing building out deals with local retailers. The company is not specifically looking to manufacture drones themselves but carry products off the shelves.
The company has completed a first round of fundraising, garnering $800,000. The company aims to raise $4 million in the next 12 months.
