Nationwide — Steffanie Rivers made history as the first Black woman in Texas to register a drone academy. Now, the founder and CEO of TCB Drones is building on that milestone with a bigger mission: helping more Black entrepreneurs develop businesses around drone technology and explore opportunities to bring the TCB Drones brand into their own communities. A featured entrepreneur on Next Level CEO, she is introducing the Next Level Drone Accelerator Program while developing a separate TCB Drones Academy Market Licensing Program for qualified entrepreneurs interested in establishing independently owned businesses in additional U.S. markets.
The expansion addresses a question many aspiring drone professionals face after training: How do you turn technical skills into a business that customers understand and need? “Getting certified is only the beginning,” Rivers said. “The next question is: What do you do with that certification? How do you create relationships, find opportunities, build a business and position yourself for growth? That is what this next phase of TCB Drones is designed to address.”
From Drone Certification to Business Development
The inaugural Next Level Drone Accelerator cohort begins Monday, November 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. Central Time, with the next scheduled session on Monday, November 16, at 7 p.m. Central Time. Both sessions belong to the same cohort. Enrollment closes November 10, 2026. The introductory investment is $591 total for the full 90-day program, paid upfront. The program runs from November through January, and all classes will be recorded.
Designed for drone pilots and aspiring drone entrepreneurs, the accelerator focuses on the business skills needed to move from owning equipment toward developing a clear service offering and pursuing customers. Planned topics include identifying potential markets, positioning and branding, communicating the value of drone services, developing professional relationships, exploring business and contract opportunities, and strengthening business systems.
For someone who has earned a drone certification but does not know how to find clients, the program offers a place to work on those next steps. For an aspiring entrepreneur, it provides an opportunity to better understand the business side of the industry while developing a more focused plan. The goal is to help participants answer practical questions: Who needs my services? What problem can I help solve? How do I explain my value? What relationships and systems do I need to build?
Could Your City Be a Future TCB Drones Market?
Alongside the accelerator, Rivers is developing a separate licensing initiative for qualified entrepreneurs interested in potentially establishing a TCB Drones Academy in their metropolitan area. Savannah, Georgia, is being developed as the initial pilot market. That process will help TCB Drones evaluate the resources, systems, and operating standards needed to support future expansion. The company is exploring potential markets in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Through the interest process, prospective operators can share their desired city, relevant experience, local relationships, available resources, and proposed launch timeline. Those responses will help the TCB Drones team understand each person’s goals and determine the appropriate next conversation. Market licensing is a separate opportunity from the accelerator. The $591 accelerator tuition does not include licensing rights or a territory. Future licensing opportunities are subject to qualifications, territory availability, and final agreements.
Creating Connections Around Opportunity
The broader expansion also includes Next Level Drones and Dollars, a networking platform bringing together drone professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and people exploring the industry. Following the October 20 networking event in the Dallas area, TCB Drones plans to continue creating spaces where participants can discuss commercial applications, meet potential collaborators, and build professional relationships.
For Rivers, education, business development, and relationships are connected parts of the same vision: helping more people recognize where their skills could fit and take informed steps toward entrepreneurship. Her message to Black entrepreneurs is an invitation to explore their place in an industry that reaches across real estate, construction, media, education, and other professional services. “I want people to understand that a drone can be more than a piece of equipment,” Rivers said. “It can become a tool for entrepreneurship, problem-solving and creating opportunities in industries that are continuing to evolve.”
How to Express Interest
Individuals interested in the Next Level Drone Accelerator Program, TCB Drones Academy Market Licensing, or both can complete the interest form here: https://form.jotform.com/262954166604058
The form allows respondents to identify their interests and share information about their experience, business goals, and location. Accelerator prospects can also access the existing enrollment checkout through the form.
The inaugural accelerator begins November 9, 2026. Enrollment closes November 10, 2026. The introductory price is $591 total for the 90-day program. Submitting the interest form does not complete paid enrollment or guarantee program acceptance, a licensing agreement, territory availability, contracts, or income.
About TCB Drones
Founded by Steffanie Rivers, TCB Drones provides drone education, FAA Part 107 exam preparation, professional services, and entrepreneurial resources. Through training, business development, networking, and a developing market licensing initiative, the Dallas-area company helps individuals and organizations explore professional applications for drone technology.
For press inquiries, contact Kevin D. Williams of Team Vision, LLC at 501-952-4331