Finding space for high-tech, hands-on work isn’t easy.
When Shaun Jaferi, founder and CEO of CounterDrone, set out to find a home for his growing drone docking station business, he had a short but specific wish list: tall ceilings, a large bay door, an outdoor yard, and flexibility on lease terms.
Most commercial options he found fell short — and the ones that came close demanded long, inflexible leases and high costs.
High-Tech Work in Action
CounterDrone builds drone docking stations for autonomous drone operations across industries like public safety, security, surveying, and inspection. These aren’t simple storage solutions — they’re sophisticated systems that allow drones to operate independently, landing, recharging, and deploying without human intervention.
One of their units, deployed to first responders in the Houston area in early 2024, has been in daily use since installation. The setup is part of CounterDrone’s subscription model where customers lease the hardware and receive ongoing upgrades — keeping them current with the latest technology without major capital investments.
The Search for the Right Space
For a company building cutting-edge technology, Shaun’s requirements might seem surprisingly traditional. But when you’re working with physical products that need testing, assembly, and shipping, the fundamentals matter.
The challenges they faced were common ones:
- Price – Most suitable spaces were priced for established enterprises, not growing tech companies
- Availability – Spaces with both bay doors and outdoor yards are rare
- Flexibility – Traditional commercial leases demanded multi-year commitments
“Most of them that we did find wanted extremely long-term leases to be signed,” Shaun explained. For a fast-growing company that needs to adapt quickly, getting locked into inflexible terms wasn’t an option.
Why WorkBay Worked
For CounterDrone, the right space was about more than square footage. Their work requires specific features that many warehouse spaces don’t offer:
- Bay Door Access: Essential for moving large equipment and drone systems in and out for deployment and testing.
- Outdoor Yard: Critical for actual drone operations — you can’t test autonomous flight systems indoors.
- Flexible Lease: Room to grow without being locked into years-long commitments that might not match their evolving needs.
- Tall Ceilings: Necessary for equipment storage and indoor testing of larger systems.
WorkBay delivered on every point, making it possible for CounterDrone to focus on innovation instead of logistics.
Real Results, Real Growth
Since moving into their WorkBay unit, CounterDrone has continued advancing their technology. They’ve already upgraded their Houston deployment with a newer unit, keeping their first responder clients at the cutting edge of drone technology.
The flexibility they needed proved crucial — the company has outgrown their current space and is already exploring options at WorkBay’s new Bluffdale location.
Looking Ahead
CounterDrone’s growth story shows what happens when innovative companies get the workspace they need. They’re not just surviving — they’re scaling, upgrading their technology, and expanding to new locations.
“If you need something with tall ceilings, a large bay door, and a yard outside — it’s hard to find all of those things together in one place.”
For businesses working at the intersection of high-tech and hands-on work, having space that supports both sides of the operation isn’t just convenient — it’s essential for growth.
Ready to see if WorkBay works for your growing business? Book a tour and see what professional workspace can do for your operation.
