FlightRadar24 has built a half-billion-dollar company with a simple model: rely on tens of thousands of hobbyists to deploy ADS-B receivers — without paying them. That unpaid network fuels their ~$40M yearly revenue.

Wingbits, backed with almost $10M+ in revenue, is coming in fast!

Instead of volunteers, they incentivize us, ensuring better uptime and faster growth. They already have ~5,000 stations live, growing faster than any flight tracker in history. For comparison, FlightRadar24 sits at ~40,000, built over many years.

Given that FlightRadar24’s model has limits (coverage gaps, no incentive to expand in low-traffic areas), is it fair to think Wingbits could seize market share by covering zones competitors ignore, and eventually tap into the same $40M+/year opportunity?

They also have potential in grabbing Maritime Tracking (AIS data) which ships use much like planes ADS-B technology.

What do you all think, real disruption, or too early to call?