- Doodle Labs, a maker of long-range connectivity equipment for unmanned systems, is relocating its U.S. headquarters from the Los Angeles area to Austin and is currently working out of a WeWork.
- The company picked Austin for the U.S. Army’s local research presence, defense and aerospace hubs in Buda and Cedar Park, real-world testing options and a central location.
- Defense tech firms are expanding across the metro, with Allen Control Systems adding a 191K SF factory and Aeon Industrial tripling its Cedar Park space.
Doodle Labs is moving its U.S. headquarters to the Austin area, the latest Austin defense tech relocation, according to The Real Deal, citing the Austin Business Journal. The company designs and builds long-range connectivity equipment for unmanned systems such as drones.
It is operating out of a WeWork space in Austin while it looks for a lease.
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Why Austin
Co-CEO Amol Parikh told the Austin Business Journal that the company evaluated several U.S. markets. It chose Austin for the U.S. Army’s local research presence and the defense and aerospace hubs emerging in suburbs and exurbs such as Buda and Cedar Park.
Doodle Labs also wanted real-world testing and a central location that makes meetings with companies elsewhere in the U.S. easier.
The Space Search
Doodle Labs is also headquartered in Singapore, and its former U.S. headquarters was in the Los Angeles area. It is working with brokers to find space for both testing and offices, and it would accept multiple locations if a single site is not available.
The South Congress corridor, home to several other defense tech companies, is of particular interest.
A Growing Cluster
Defense tech firms upgraded space across the region this summer. Austin-based Allen Control Systems, a drone-hunting startup, is adding a 191K SF factory in north Austin amid rising demand.
Aeon Industrial is tripling its square footage in Cedar Park, down the street from Firefly Aerospace.
Why It Matters
Defense and aerospace tenants add demand for flex, light industrial and test space in Austin suburbs that previously leaned on tech and office users. Their need for testing sites means they often look beyond traditional office.
What’s Next
Watch where Doodle Labs lands. A South Congress lease would add to the corridor’s defense tech concentration, while a multi-site setup would point to suburban demand for test space.
