DreamWorks Co-Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg Joins Forces with Tesla Board Member Kimbal Musk to Launch Drone Entertainment Startup Nova Sky Stories

Jeffrey Katzenberg and Kimbal Musk are joining forces to create a new company, Nova Sky Stories, which will use drones to tell stories in the sky. Katzenberg, a co-founder of DreamWorks and a prominent Democratic donor, will join Nova's board and invest through his tech firm WndrCo. Nova plans to stage its first "Sky Story" with Katzenberg in 2026, which will be a live show that uses choreographed drones, lights, and music to create an immersive aerial performance for large audiences. The project aims to bring classic storytelling to a new medium and generate sustainable revenue.

DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and Tesla board member Kimbal Musk have joined forces to create Nova Sky Stories, a drone entertainment startup that aims to revolutionize live entertainment by telling stories in the sky. Katzenberg, a prominent Democratic donor, will join Nova's board and invest through his tech firm WndrCo [1].

The company plans to stage its first "Sky Story" with Katzenberg in 2026. A "Sky Story" is a live show that uses choreographed drones, lights, and music to create an immersive aerial performance for large audiences [1]. This innovative approach combines technical innovation with artistic storytelling to craft captivating narratives in the sky [2].

Katzenberg, who has spent a lifetime telling stories on every kind of screen, is excited about the new medium. "I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories on every kind of screen you can imagine, and I’m excited to help Nova explore the newest canvas for great storytelling: the sky," he said [2]. Katzenberg's investment and strategic advisory role are part of a $50 million funding round that Nova Sky is currently raising [2].

Nova Sky's technology is not new, with companies like Disney, the Olympics, and music festivals using drone light shows for years. However, Nova Sky aims to differentiate itself by focusing on large-scale storytelling experiences rather than branded content [1]. The company's first "sky story" will be co-developed with Katzenberg and is expected to debut in 2026 [2].

The project faces challenges, including the niche market, high competition, and expensive scaling costs. However, Katzenberg and Musk are optimistic about the potential. Katzenberg believes that the innovations in the next 12-18 months will unlock a level of complexity and immersion in live entertainment that the world has yet to see [2].

Nova Sky has produced drone light shows about outer space, Vincent van Gogh, and Antonio Vivaldi’s "The Four Seasons." Last year, it sold a total of 6,000 tickets to its shows; this year, Nova Sky is on pace to sell more than 500,000 tickets [2]. The company hopes to team with animators and musicians on new drone-based storytelling projects [2].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jeffrey-katzenberg-and-kimbal-musk-are-bringing-sky-high-storytelling-to-life-130058832.html
[2] https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/jeffrey-katzenberg-wndrco-invests-kimbal-musk-nova-sky-stories-1236478436/