A company focused on data collection services for unmanned aerial systems has planted its headquarters in Houston.
Soaring Eagle Technologies was formed this year through the combination of Mississippi-based aerial imaging company Soaring Eagle Imaging and Arizona-based mapping and infrastructure data firm Skynetwest. Soaring Eagle Technologies is a portfolio company of Houston-based Iapetus Holdings LLC, an investment firm with a portfolio of energy service companies and other alternative investments.
The combined company, headquartered in Houston, provides technology services for utility, energy and infrastructure asset inspections, including infrared thermal imaging, aerial mapping and more. Soaring Eagle's services have been deployed in situations to inspect power-grid infrastructure, vegetation management, storm response, controlled-burn fire overwatch, wildlife and fishery management, and search and rescue, the firm said.
In addition to the firm's Houston headquarters, Soaring Eagle has presences in California, Arizona, Mississippi, Massachusetts, New York and Florida.
"The merger with Skynetwest further increases our capability to service utilities, surveyors, and engineering firms, as well as other large clients," said Soaring Eagle Technologies President Will Paden, who joined from Soaring Eagle Imaging. "The combined company provides our clients with emerging-tech capabilities, including lidar [which uses laser light to detect objects] and [beyond visual line of sight] solutions."
Noah Ruiz, president of Skynetwest, joined the combined firm as director of operations for Soaring Eagle Technologies.
"Given the growing demand for technical UAS aerial data collection services and infrared imaging, it makes good business sense to leverage efficiencies to continue expanding and meeting client demand," said Ruiz. "We look forward to what this juncture brings as we plan to make a greater statement in the drone industry."
Iapetus Holdings has five other operating companies in its portfolio outside of Soaring Eagle Technologies: Atlas Field Services, Atlas Retail Energy, Atlas Commodities, Gold Coast Utility Specialists and Hyperion Safety Environmental Solutions.
This spring, Iapetus Holdings was an honoree in the Houston Business Journal's 2021 Diversity in Business Awards.
