Venture capitalists eager to invest in startup drone makers

Dallas

STARTUP drone makers are finding record amounts of funding as venture capitalists prowl for early winners in what may become an US$82 billion industry.

From Silicon Valley to New York, firms including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Lightspeed Venture Partners and ff Venture Capital are lining up behind unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) companies. Google Inc, General Electric Co and Qualcomm Inc also are jumping in with cash.