FlyGuys
FlyGuys operates a cloud-based marketplace that connects enterprise data-seekers with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots, delivering LiDAR, aerial imaging, surveying, inspection, and volumetrics services across construction, agriculture, energy, and industrial verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLafayette, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What FlyGuys does
FlyGuys, Inc. operates a cloud-based online marketplace that connects enterprise data-seekers with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots for aerial reality-data capture. The proprietary platform automates pilot matching based on location, experience, and project requirements; issues micro-contracts; coordinates missions; and delivers processed outputs in formats such as LAS/LAZ point clouds, orthomosaic imagery, DEMs/DSMs/DTMs, thermal imaging, and 3D models. Core service lines include aerial imaging, LiDAR, surveying and mapping, inspections (rooftops, cell towers, wind turbines, industrial stacks), consulting, volumetrics, and marketing/media production, supported by specialized LiDAR post-processing tools. Revenue is generated via marketplace transaction commissions on completed jobs and professional-services fees for full-service data capture, with unit pricing anchored around ~$6,500 all-inclusive for LiDAR projects (500 acres/day capability) and ~$100/hour baseline for pilot services.
The company sells across multiple verticals — construction/architecture/engineering, agriculture, energy, industrial, telecommunications, real estate/insurance, emergency/disaster, mining, and transmission/distribution — using a horizontal segmentation approach that contrasts with vertically-narrowed competitors. Go-to-market combines a self-serve online marketplace with a direct enterprise sales motion for larger accounts, supplemented by an ecosystem of technology and channel partners (DroneDeploy, Raptor Maps, Taranis, TrueLook, Loveland Innovations, EagleView, Optelos, PosiGen, Thread, Hitachi, L3Harris, Black & Veatch, Graycor, FlyRoute). Headquartered at 221 Jefferson Street in Lafayette, Louisiana, FlyGuys is venture-backed (Advantage Capital, Mitchell Capital, Kevin O'Leary's Wonder Fund) with cumulative disclosed funding of roughly $31M across rounds from 2019 through 2025, and reports revenue of $10M in 2024 with management targeting $100M within five years.
The executive team is anchored by CEO and Executive Chairman Joe Stough, a former Waitr executive, with operating leadership drawn heavily from that same network (CFO Evan Diaz de Arce and VP of Marketing Whitney Savoie are both Waitr alumni), and domain expertise from COO DaCoda Bartels, a commercial helicopter pilot turned drone-services founder. The company has been recognized on Inc. 5000 and the Inc. Regionals: Southeast list (ranked No. 36 in 2026, climbing from No. 97 in 2025) and maintains a content engine (blog, podcast) that supports thought leadership across the verticals it serves.
FlyGuys firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FlyGuys
- Legal name
- FlyGuys, Inc.
- Website
- https://flyguys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FlyGuys operates a cloud-based marketplace that connects enterprise data-seekers with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots, delivering LiDAR, aerial imaging, surveying, inspection, and volumetrics services across construction, agriculture, energy, and industrial verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FlyGuys industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drone Services Marketplace
- NAICS
- Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding) (AFACAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ)
Keywords
Where FlyGuys is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FlyGuys business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Drone Services Marketplace: FlyGuys operates as an online marketplace connecting data-seekers with drone pilots. The platform takes a commission or transaction fee for matching pilots with clients and coordinating drone data capture missions. Revenue comes from service fees on completed drone data collection jobs.
- Premium Drone Services: Full-service drone data capture including LiDAR, aerial imaging, surveying/mapping, inspections, consulting, and volumetrics. Services are quoted based on project requirements and delivered by certified pilots through the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LiDAR Services |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Drone Pilot Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
FlyGuys product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FlyGuys operates a cloud-based online marketplace that connects enterprises needing aerial reality data with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots. The company delivers drone-based services including aerial imaging, LiDAR, surveying and mapping, inspections, consulting, volumetrics, and marketing/media through its proprietary mission management platform that automates pilot matching and coordinates missions via micro-contracts.
Product overview
FlyGuys operates a cloud-based online marketplace platform that connects data-seekers with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots for reality data capture services. The core offering includes drone-based Aerial Imaging, LiDAR, Surveying & Mapping, Inspections, Consulting, Volumetrics, and Marketing & Media services. The proprietary software platform automates pilot matching based on location and experience, handles mission coordination through micro-contracts, and delivers processed data to customers. FlyGuys also produces educational content through its 'Reality: Behind the Flight' podcast. The company serves diverse industries including construction, agriculture, energy, industrial, emergency/disaster, real estate/insurance, and infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial Imaging Drone-based video, still, and thermal image capture expertly packaged in immediately usable formats for industries including construction, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.
- LiDAR Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology offering high accuracy in capturing physical environments, providing versatile applications and deliverables for surveyors and engineering firms. Pricing around $6,500 all-inclusive with capability to collect 500 acres per day.
- Surveying & Mapping Drone-based terrain scanning for mountainous, icy, and wildlife-sensitive areas, creating safer environments for survey teams with detailed mapping capabilities.
- Inspections Remote inspections of pitched roofs, industrial stacks, cell towers, wind turbines, hazardous waste sites, and emergency situations without sending human personnel.
- Consulting Expert consulting services to help businesses launch drone programs, ensuring cost-efficiency, regulatory compliance (FAA Part 107/108), and safety.
- Volumetrics Remote sensing techniques to measure, model, and analyze material volume for construction aggregates, concrete, gravel, sand, and other materials.
- Marketing & Media Professional, broadcast-quality video production with captivating aerial visuals for marketing and media purposes.
- Online Marketplace Platform Proprietary cloud-based software platform connecting data-seekers with over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots nationwide. AI platform matches pilots based on location and experience, obtains commitments through micro-contracts, and coordinates missions. Includes customer ordering portal and pilot portal for job notifications and data upload.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from $3.9M (2023) to $10M (2024)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use FlyGuys
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FlyGuys technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
FlyGuys partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT)coreFlyGuys returned as partner for the second annual Elevate Scholarship Program, offering 300 scholarships covering the $175 FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification test fee for students ages 16-24 enrolled in aviation or uncrewed systems programs.
- FlyRouteminorFlyRoute provides professional drone services and online training to athletic programs. Through partnership with FlyGuys, FlyRoute expands its reach by leveraging FlyGuys' network of certified drone pilots for consistent aerial footage.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FlyGuys competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy is a leading drone data platform for mapping, inspections, and analytics across construction, agriculture, and energy. It is a direct peer in reality-data capture and is also listed as a partner of FlyGuys, indicating overlapping customer bases and collaborative rather than purely competitive dynamics.
- PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk provides drone-based data acquisition and analytics, historically strong in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. Comparable to FlyGuys in offering reality-data services and analytics across multiple verticals using drone fleets.
- Pix4D: Pix4D is a photogrammetry software platform that converts drone imagery into 2D maps and 3D models. Comparable to FlyGuys in the data-processing and reality-capture stack, particularly for surveying and mapping customers.
- Measure (now part of AgEagle): Measure provided enterprise drone services and program management for industries including telecom, construction, and energy. Direct peer to FlyGuys in offering outsourced, enterprise-grade drone data capture and program services.
Broad incumbents
- Skyward (a Verizon company): Skyward, acquired by Verizon, offers a drone operations management platform for enterprises. It is a broader incumbent in drone program management, with overlapping enterprise customers but a more operations-management rather than data-capture focus than FlyGuys.
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading US-based autonomous drone manufacturer serving enterprise inspection, public safety, and construction. Comparable as a broader incumbent whose drones are used by FlyGuys pilots, and which competes with FlyGuys in enterprise drone-data capture for inspection.
Emerging players
- Raptor Maps: Raptor Maps is a solar asset management software platform that uses drone data for inspection and analytics. Comparable to FlyGuys as both a partner and emerging competitor in the drone-powered solar vertical, where it owns more of the analytical layer.
- Loveland Innovations: Loveland Innovations builds the IMGING platform for property and roof inspections using drones and AI. Listed as a FlyGuys partner, it represents an emerging vertical player with overlapping inspection use cases and its own pilot network expansion needs.
- Taranis: Taranis provides AI-powered precision agriculture intelligence using aerial imagery. Comparable to FlyGuys as both a partner and emerging competitor in the agriculture vertical, where Taranis owns the analytics layer and relies on aerial capture infrastructure.
Others
- DJI: DJI is the dominant global commercial drone manufacturer. Relevant as a hardware ecosystem enabler for FlyGuys pilots and an indirect adjacent player; does not directly compete in the services marketplace but its hardware decisions shape FlyGuys' supply and cost structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FlyGuys social profiles
Digital presenceFlyGuys financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FlyGuys leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
FlyGuys funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FlyGuys M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FlyGuys
What does FlyGuys do?
FlyGuys operates a cloud-based online marketplace that connects enterprises needing aerial reality data with a nationwide network of over 20,000 FAA-certified drone pilots. The company delivers drone-based services including aerial imaging, LiDAR, surveying and mapping, inspections, consulting, volumetrics, and marketing/media through its proprietary mission management platform that automates pilot matching and coordinates missions via micro-contracts.
Is FlyGuys a public or private company?
FlyGuys is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was FlyGuys founded?
FlyGuys was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FlyGuys based?
FlyGuys is headquartered in Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does FlyGuys make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Drone Services Marketplace is the primary driver. The others are premium Drone Services.
Who are FlyGuys's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DroneDeploy, PrecisionHawk, Pix4D and Measure (now part of AgEagle). Broad incumbents are Skyward (a Verizon company) and Skydio. Emerging players are Raptor Maps, Loveland Innovations and Taranis. DJI is listed as an others.
Does FlyGuys have an API?
No public API is recorded for FlyGuys.
What industry is FlyGuys in?
FlyGuys's product category is Drone Services Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAIAB, Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding), with a secondary code of AFACAIAJ, Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts). Its NAICS code is 488190 and its SIC code is 7330.