Nova Sky Stories

Nova Sky Stories specializes in creating large-scale drone light shows for live audiences, combining technology and artistry to produce narrative experiences in the night sky. The company was co-founded by CEO Kimbal Musk in 2022, with its headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. The inspiration for the company came from Musk's experience at the 2021 Burning Man festival, leading him to establish a company dedicated to aerial art.

The company's leadership team includes CTO Daniel Gurdan, who founded Ascending Technologies in 2007, a firm that pioneered drones for live entertainment and was later acquired by Intel. In 2022, Nova Sky Stories acquired Intel's fleet of 9,000 light show drones and associated intellectual property, which had been used in events like the Olympics and Super Bowl halftime shows. This acquisition formed the foundation of Nova's technological capabilities.

Nova Sky Stories serves a diverse client base, including brands, event producers, and artists, creating shows for festivals, concerts, sporting events, and corporate functions. The business model involves designing and executing these custom "Sky Stories," which integrate choreographed drone formations with light, music, and narrative elements. The company generates revenue through service fees for these performances, with show costs ranging from $50,000 to over $1 million. In August 2025, the company announced a $50 million funding round with participation from Jeffrey Katzenberg's firm, WndrCo. Katzenberg, the co-founder of DreamWorks, also joined the board as a strategic advisor to help develop original intellectual property for a new category of family entertainment, with the first co-developed show planned for a 2026 debut. The company plans to significantly scale its drone fleet and expand its global operations, which already include offices in the USA and Europe.

Keywords: drone entertainment, aerial storytelling, drone light shows, Kimbal Musk, live events, large-scale performances, event technology, immersive experiences, sky-based entertainment, artistic drone shows, Jeffrey Katzenberg, drone technology, corporate events, music festivals, sporting events, branded entertainment, family entertainment, outdoor entertainment, drone choreography, aerial art