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Nicholas Horbaczewski

Nicholas Horbaczewski is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Drone Racing League (DRL), a pioneering organization in the sport of drone racing, which he established in 2015. Under his leadership, DRL has become a significant player in the sports technology and entertainment sectors, successfully attracting over $100 million in investments from notable backers, including Liberty Media and WWE.12

Background and Career

Horbaczewski's professional journey includes diverse experiences, such as being a film producer and serving as a senior executive at a defense contractor. He also held the position of Chief Revenue Officer for Tough Mudder, an endurance event series.5 His vision for DRL was inspired by the potential of drone racing to engage audiences who might not be as interested in traditional sports. He describes DRL as "Formula One but with drones," emphasizing its blend of sports, technology, and media innovation.12

Achievements

Under Horbaczewski's guidance, DRL has achieved several milestones:

  • Guinness World Record: In 2017, DRL set the record for the fastest battery-powered remote-controlled quadcopter, reaching speeds of 179.6 mph.4
  • Recognition: He has received numerous awards, including being a finalist for EY's Entrepreneur Of The Year® in 2020 and being named among the "50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs" by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2017.4

Recent Developments

Recently, DRL was acquired by Infinite Reality for $250 million, with Horbaczewski being promoted to Global President of Infinite Reality. This acquisition is expected to enhance the technological capabilities and global reach of drone racing.26

Horbaczewski continues to advocate for the growth and commercialization of drone racing, aiming to captivate younger audiences and integrate immersive experiences into the sport.23

Highlights

Jun 10 · linkedin

Have you ever wanted to run your own Drone Racing League? Then come lead the Sport of the Future...

The Drone Racing League (DRL), powered by Infinite Reality, is on the hunt for a new visionary Head of DRL. If you’re ready to blend the digital with the real, push the boundaries of sports and entertainment, and take drone racing to new heights, we want you.

What You’ll Do: 🚀 Team Builder: Craft, mentor, and lead an unstoppable team. 🌟 Operational Dynamo: Drive seamless operations with iR’s cutting-edge resources. 🎉 Event Maestro: Create jaw-dropping live events that thrill global audiences. 📈 Strategic Visionary: Shape the future with innovative growth strategies. 🤖 Tech Pioneer: Harness groundbreaking technologies to enhance fan experiences. 🤝 Partnership Pro: Collaborate with top-tier partners to elevate the league. 📣 Marketing Maverick: Amplify DRL’s brand in partnership with iR’s CMO. 💼 Financial Strategist: Steer financial health with savvy budgeting and forecasting.

What You Bring: 15+ years in executive leadership within sports, entertainment, or tech. Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred. Proven leadership with a knack for financial management. Strategic thinker with a collaborative mindset. Tech-savvy and a stellar communicator.

Why DRL? Join us at the forefront of drone racing’s exciting new phase, where innovation meets adrenaline. Be part of a team that’s passionate, driven, and always pushing the limits.

What’s in it for you? We offer a competitive compensation package with #equity opportunities, robust health plans, flexible vacation time, and did I mention how fun it is to work on cutting edge tech? Ready to lead the charge?

Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eNUTS-Sb

Apr 23 · linkedin

Today we announced we’ve entered an agreement for The Drone Racing League to be acquired by Infinite Reality, a global leader in AI-powered immersive media and entertainment, who has the vision and resources to take drone racing and our core technology to infinite heights.

When we started DRL, we aimed to bring the sport from the future to millions of fans who weren’t as excited about traditional sports from the past. We advanced the technology, media capture and race competition to deliver a sport of constant innovation, cultural relevance and thrilling action, and we’re ready to take the next quantum leap.

Together with Infinite Reality’s senior leaders who have decades of experience at top brands from Amazon to Peloton, including CEO John A., Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Amish Shah, and CMO Karina Kogan, we plan to create disruptive and wildly immersive experiences for our partners, pilots and millions of fans.

Rachel Jacobson (Rosen), the DRL team and I are thrilled to be joining iR and we look forward to creating new worlds of opportunities together. There is no way to thank everyone who has helped DRL get to this milestone today, but I wanted to acknowledge as many as I can:

  • Our incredible team – I’ve had the fortune of working alongside truly amazing people with relentless grit, unbelievable creativity, and a dedication to flawless execution. Especially in the earliest days, when DRL was just an idea on paper, Ryan Gury, Trevor Smith, Ashley Ellefson, Tony Budding, and Ben Johnson came together to make it a reality.

  • Our roster of extraordinary investors including Stephen Ross and Matt Higgins at RSE Ventures, Liberty Media, Exor N.V., Josh Wolfe at Lux Capital Isos Capital Management, WWE, T-Mobile Ventures, Creative Artists Agency Ventures,  Lerer Hippeau, Courtside Ventures, Sky and Hearst Ventures

  • Our partners, pilots, and most of all, our fans…  you are why we fly

Related Questions

How did Nicholas Horbaczewski come up with the idea for the Drone Racing League?
What challenges did Nicholas face when starting the Drone Racing League?
How has the Drone Racing League evolved since its founding in 2015?
What makes drone racing different from traditional sports?
How did Nicholas attract such prominent investors like Liberty Media and WWE?
Nicholas Horbaczewski
Nicholas Horbaczewski, photo 1
Nicholas Horbaczewski, photo 2
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Location

New York, New York, United States