What if one of the most interesting startups in New York is being built quietly in a barn in Vernon?
In this episode of Rust Belt Startup, I sit down with Justin Call, founder and CEO of Modovolo, a company designing a new kind of drone — and doing it far from the typical startup scene.
Instead of chasing hype or venture capital headlines, Justin and his team have been focused on something much harder: patiently building a real company, solving real problems, and learning what it takes to bring a complex idea to life.
In our conversation, Justin shares the story behind Modovolo — how the company got started, why they chose a very different approach to designing drones, and what it’s like to build a startup in a small community in Upstate New York.
We also talk about some of the lessons entrepreneurs can take from his journey, including:
• Why staying focused matters more than trying to grow too fast
• What it’s really like to build a product that has to work in the real world
• The importance of patience when you’re building something new
• Why great companies can be built outside Silicon Valley
• And how small teams can quietly do big things
This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how startups actually get built — not just the highlight reel.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, building things from scratch, or the future of innovation in places like Upstate New York, this conversation is for you.
