Dragonfly Data Science
Dragonfly Data Science is a Wellington, New Zealand-based data science consultancy delivering statistical analysis, AI/ML, and software engineering to government agencies (MPI, DOC, MfE, Immigration NZ) and the commercial fisheries sector, with proprietary products Deckhand (electronic logbook) and Croissant (survey NLP).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Dragonfly Data Science does
Dragonfly Data Science is a Wellington, New Zealand-based data science consultancy founded in 2006 by Edward Abraham (PhD, University of Cambridge) that delivers statistical analysis, machine learning, Bayesian modelling, and bespoke software engineering primarily to New Zealand government agencies and the commercial fisheries sector. Its core professional services work spans environmental management, conservation, forestry, and immigration use cases for clients including the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Department of Conservation (DOC), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Immigration New Zealand, Te Māngai Pāho, the Pacific Community, and Trident Systems, with deliverables ranging from automated national reports (e.g., NEFD) and population models (e.g., Antipodean albatross Bayesian integrated population model) to environmental monitoring platforms. The firm operates two named products alongside its consulting work: Deckhand, an iPad-based electronic logbook for commercial fishers that integrates with Fishserve FMS and Pinpoint Earth VMS to meet MPI catch-reporting requirements, priced at NZD 595 plus GST per vessel per year; and Croissant, an ML application for automating survey text analysis. A ~24-person team of physicists, biologists, mathematicians, and programmers delivers the work, with go-to-market executed through direct outreach, case studies, industry events, and partner channels.
The business model blends project-based professional services revenue with a small but recurring Deckhand subscription stream. Strategic positioning is reinforced by a three-year, NZD 1 million MBIE Catalyst Fund partnership with NASA (launched July 2025) to map every tree in Aotearoa using NISAR satellite technology, and a July 2025 partnership with Australia's Real Time Data (RTD) to operate Deckhand in New Zealand — the latter extending to an AI-ready mobile-phone version first rolled out in Alaska (May 2026) with NZ deployment planned for 2027. The firm is founder-owned (no disclosed external venture capital), privately held, and based at a single Wellington headquarters, with engagements reported across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Dragonfly Data Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dragonfly Data Science
- Legal name
- Dragonfly Limited
- Website
- https://dragonfly.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dragonfly Data Science is a Wellington, New Zealand-based data science consultancy delivering statistical analysis, AI/ML, and software engineering to government agencies (MPI, DOC, MfE, Immigration NZ) and the commercial fisheries sector, with proprietary products Deckhand (electronic logbook) and Croissant (survey NLP).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dragonfly Data Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Data Science Consulting
- NAICS
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11), Space Research and Technology (92711)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forest Inventory, Mapping & Monitoring (GIS/Remote Sensing/MRV) (IMAMAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Dragonfly Data Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dragonfly Data Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Professional Services: Data science consulting services including statistical analysis, AI/ML solutions, software development, and data management systems for government and industry clients.
- Deckhand Subscription: Yearly subscription for electronic logbook platform at $595 + GST per vessel per year (from July 1st, 2026). Single subscription per vessel with any number of users able to login.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Deckhand Electronic Logbook - Single Vessel Subscription |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Dragonfly Data Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dragonfly Data Science is a Wellington-based consultancy that delivers data science, statistical analysis, and machine learning services to government agencies and industry. It sells two named software products: Deckhand, an electronic logbook platform for commercial fisheries catch reporting, and Croissant, a machine learning application for survey text processing. Beyond products, the firm builds custom analytical systems, AI models, and data management platforms for environmental, fisheries, conservation, and public sector clients.
Product overview
Dragonfly Data Science is a data science consultancy offering two named products: Deckhand (an electronic logbook platform for commercial fisheries catch reporting) and Croissant (a machine learning tool for survey text analysis). The company also provides data science, statistical analysis, and AI services across environmental management, fisheries, conservation, and forestry sectors, often delivered as custom analytical projects rather than packaged software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Deckhand: Electronic logbook platform for commercial fisheries catch reporting, built by Real Time Data (RTD) in Australia and supported by Dragonfly in New Zealand.
- Croissant
Products and services
- Deckhand Electronic Logbook Electronic logbook platform for commercial fishers providing simple, reliable catch reporting that meets Ministry for Primary Industries regulatory requirements. Works offline on iPad, integrates with Fishserve FMS and Pinpoint Earth VMS, and is configurable for specific fisheries such as crayfish. Sold on an annual subscription basis at $595 + GST per vessel per year.
- Croissant Survey Analysis Application Machine learning application for speeding up survey text processing, enabling faster, smarter analysis of public opinion and unstructured survey responses.
- Data Science Consulting Services Custom data science engagements including statistical analysis, AI/ML solutions, data management systems, and reproducible research workflows for government agencies and industry clients in fisheries, conservation, environmental management, and public policy.
- Statistical Analysis Services Expert statistical analysis to deal with uncertainty in a principled way, including Bayesian modelling, population modelling, and risk assessments for clients such as Fisheries New Zealand and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Services Applied AI and machine learning services including computer vision for forestry, natural language processing for parliamentary submissions, speech/audio processing for te reo Māori language tracking, and deep learning for environmental and ecological applications.
- Data Management Systems and Software Engineering Design and build of well-managed data systems, including database systems, web interfaces, and data verification tools, exemplified by the National Monitoring System for resource consents and Pisces data collaboration tool for fisheries research.
Quantifiable outcome
- Kōkako achieved more than 95% accuracy in language detection
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Dragonfly Data Science
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dragonfly Data Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability9 records
Feature9 records
Dragonfly Data Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- NASAflagshipThree-year partnership under MBIE Catalyst Fund to map every tree across Aotearoa using NASA's NISAR satellite technology. Dragonfly translates NASA's high-resolution satellite data into practical tools for landowners, iwi, farmers, councils, and government agencies. First non-military use of NISAR satellite.
- Real Time Data (RTD)corePartnership with Australian-based Real Time Data (RTD) to operate the Deckhand electronic logbook platform in New Zealand from July 2025. Combines RTD's software platform with Dragonfly's fisheries science expertise to support New Zealand fishers with regulatory compliance and data collection.
- Salted HerringcoreCollaboration with Wellington digital design agency on Kōkako language tracking application. Salted Herring designed the user interface and created brand identity, while Dragonfly developed the machine learning system. Partnership resulted in award-winning application.
- Vibrant PlanetcoreCollaboration on forestry mapping work, building on previous work done with Vibrant Planet who develops tools for land management planning and monitoring. Dragonfly produces data to support Vibrant Planet's forest resilience tools.
- Trident SystemscoreBuilt database with web interface for Trident Systems to receive and store fisheries catch sampling data. Developed Pisces tool for collaborative data analysis. Ongoing development partnership.
- FishservecoreDeckhand integrates with Fishserve Fisheries Management System (FMS) to collate catch data and pass it on to MPI. Fishserve assists with initial setup of FMS client numbers for new Deckhand users.
- Pinpoint EarthcoreVMS system provider required for Deckhand users to collect GPS data at a level satisfying MPI reporting requirements.
- Te Hiku MediacoreCollaboration on Māori speech recognition work, including participation in indigenous AI workshops and development of technology to support te reo Māori preservation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dragonfly Data Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OceanMind: UK-based non-profit providing satellite-based fisheries monitoring, vessel analytics, and compliance support to governments and RFMO clients. Highly comparable as a specialist data science provider serving fisheries management agencies with AI/ML products, similar customer base to Dragonfly's MPI/DOC work.
- Global Fishing Watch: International non-profit using satellite AIS, vessel monitoring data, and AI to monitor commercial fishing activity. Comparable as a fisheries-focused data science organisation combining remote sensing, ML, and government/policy user base — a direct functional analogue to Dragonfly's Deckhand and bycatch work.
- Cawthron Institute: New Zealand independent science institute focused on aquaculture, marine biosecurity, and coastal/freshwater research, frequently collaborating with MPI and the seafood industry. Comparable as a NZ-based applied science organisation that blends scientific consulting with applied tools in the same primary sector verticals.
- Sapere Research Group: New Zealand-based independent research and consulting firm providing economic, policy, and scientific analysis to government and industry. Comparable as a specialised NZ consultancy with government-heavy GTM and rigorous analytical practice, often operating as a counterparty or co-consultant to Dragonfly on MPI/DOC projects.
- Blue Marble Analytics: Environmental and natural resources data analytics consultancy with deep forestry, carbon, and remote sensing capabilities. Directly comparable to Dragonfly's NASA NISAR and forestry mapping work, serving similar regulated natural-resource clients with data science and ML.
- Eagle Technology: New Zealand GIS, remote sensing, and location-intelligence specialist (Esri partner). Directly comparable in the geospatial/satellite-imagery stack that underpins Dragonfly's NASA forestry work and broader environmental monitoring projects for NZ government clients.
- Real Time Data (RTD): Australian-based developer of the Deckhand electronic logbook platform and Dragonfly's active partner in NZ (since July 2025) and Alaska (2026). Directly comparable as a fisheries data/catch-reporting software provider that Dragonfly co-serves and distributes for in its home market.
Broad incumbents
- NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research): NZ Crown Research Institute conducting atmospheric, freshwater, and marine research with a much larger headcount and broader mandate. A broad incumbent that overlaps with Dragonfly's environmental, fisheries, and climate-data work but operates at significantly greater scale and across many more disciplines.
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: NZ Crown Research Institute focused on land, biodiversity, and ecosystem research, with significant remote sensing and forestry capability. A broad incumbent that intersects with Dragonfly's forestry mapping and conservation work, but at much greater scale and with public-good funding rather than consulting revenue.
Regional players
- eCoast: New Zealand-based marine and coastal science consultancy providing oceanographic data, monitoring, and modelling services. Comparable in scale and NZ-centric government consulting orientation, with overlapping work in marine environmental data, though more coastal-engineering focused than Dragonfly's data science core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dragonfly Data Science social profiles
Digital presenceDragonfly Data Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dragonfly Data Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Dragonfly Data Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dragonfly Data Science 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 Dragonfly Data Science
What does Dragonfly Data Science do?
Dragonfly Data Science is a Wellington-based consultancy that delivers data science, statistical analysis, and machine learning services to government agencies and industry. It sells two named software products: Deckhand, an electronic logbook platform for commercial fisheries catch reporting, and Croissant, a machine learning application for survey text processing. Beyond products, the firm builds custom analytical systems, AI models, and data management platforms for environmental, fisheries, conservation, and public sector clients.
Is Dragonfly Data Science a public or private company?
Dragonfly Data Science is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dragonfly Data Science founded?
Dragonfly Data Science was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dragonfly Data Science based?
Dragonfly Data Science is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Dragonfly Data Science make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are deckhand Subscription.
Who are Dragonfly Data Science's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OceanMind, Global Fishing Watch, Cawthron Institute, Sapere Research Group, Blue Marble Analytics, Eagle Technology and Real Time Data (RTD). Broad incumbents are NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. eCoast is listed as a regional player.
Does Dragonfly Data Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dragonfly Data Science.
What industry is Dragonfly Data Science in?
Dragonfly Data Science's product category is Data Science Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAJAB, Forest Inventory, Mapping & Monitoring (GIS/Remote Sensing/MRV), with a secondary code of BPAIAMAI, Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines). Its NAICS code is 11 and its SIC code is 800.