Drone entrepreneur Richard takes a break from protecting our skies to work on Palace pitch

A University of Northampton graduate is hoping his drone service will get the royal seal of approval after making the finals of an entrepreneurship contest founded by The Duke of York.

Richard Gill, who graduated from the Master of Business Administration course, is one of 12 finalists who will pitch their business ideas to an expert panel at St James’ Palace later this month.

The entrepreneur launched what is believed to be the UK’s first complete anti-drone security service in 2016. Drone Defence aims to protect people and events from the misuse of drones.

Richard’s company has already helped to install a drone proof shield around a prison, while Formula 1 bosses enlisted Drone Defence to protect the 2017 British Grand Prix at Silverstone from terrorist drone attacks.

Richard will travel to London on Wednesday 25 April for the Pitch@Palace finals, where he will be given three minutes to present his ideas.

Pitch@Palace was founded by The Duke of York in 2014 to support entrepreneurs with the amplification and acceleration of their business ideas. It does this by connecting some of the most innovative start-up business in the country with potential investors and supporters, including angels, mentors and key business contacts.

Richard said: “It is an amazing honour to have reached the finals of Pitch@Palace. Thousands of businesses applied for the programme, so to be selected from such stiff competition is fantastic.

“The life of an entrepreneur is extremely hard so to have your business recognised in this way is an enormous validation of one’s efforts and I can’t wait deliver my three-minute pitch at St James’ Palace.”

Richard is competing in the Pitch@Palace People’s Choice awards, and is relying on public votes to help him win the category.

You can vote for Richard on the Pitch@Palace website.

Read more about Richard’s story.

Visit the Drone Defence website.