Drone Boy
DroneBoy is a Toronto-based, founder-owned drone aerial cinematography firm serving Hollywood film/TV productions, major streamers, Fortune 500 advertisers, and industrial clients across Canada, with a Transport Canada National S.F.O.C., 17-drone heavy-lift fleet, and decade-long credit list.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersHamilton, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Drone Boy does
DroneBoy is a Toronto-based, founder-owned aerial cinematography and industrial drone services provider founded by Tom Comet in 2012. The company operates a fleet of 17 specialized drones — from compact DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine and Inspire 2/X7 platforms to ultra-heavy-lift Freefly ALTA X (35lb payload, 100km/h) and custom-built BEAST class FPV systems — alongside ground rigs including Freefly MöVI Pro gimbals, OneWheel dolly, and a Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft for rapid remote deployment. DroneBoy provides aerial cinematography for film, TV, streaming and commercial productions, with credits spanning Disney+, Paramount+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Sony, MGM, DC Universe, and major advertisers (Toyota, Lexus, Jaguar, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Hershey's, McDonald's), plus specialized FPV, VFX plate, live broadcast, drone LED lighting, cable-cam, and custom-build drone-delivery stunts. Industrial offerings include LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry/3D mapping, infrastructure inspection, search & rescue, and industrial drone delivery.
The company monetizes through project-based professional-services engagements with quote-driven pricing that varies by equipment, crew size, shoot duration and location complexity, supplemented by equipment rental and a growing stock-footage library. GTM is predominantly direct enterprise sales into film/TV productions (long-cycle, referral-driven via IATSE 667 and CSC affiliations) plus direct-to-customer outreach for industrial and experiential-marketing work. DroneBoy's core differentiators are regulatory — a National S.F.O.C. covering all of Canada, a Compliant Operator designation held by only ~6 other Ontario providers, a Restricted Airspace Endorsement for Niagara Falls, full night-operations approval, and SAFE-certified heavy-lift fleet — layered with senior talent credentials (Advanced RPAS, Flight Reviewer, FAA Part 107, multi-engine IFR) and a Hollywood-grade credit list that is difficult for new entrants to replicate.
Drone Boy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drone Boy
- Legal name
- DroneBoy
- Website
- https://droneboy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DroneBoy is a Toronto-based, founder-owned drone aerial cinematography firm serving Hollywood film/TV productions, major streamers, Fortune 500 advertisers, and industrial clients across Canada, with a Transport Canada National S.F.O.C., 17-drone heavy-lift fleet, and decade-long credit list.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drone Boy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Cinematography & Industrial Drone Services
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Drones for Imaging (Camera Drones) (CRACAPAD)
Keywords
Where Drone Boy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamilton
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Drone Boy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Aerial Cinematography Services: Film & TV drone services including camera drones, FPV drones, and aerial photography. Services billed per shoot day or project.
- Industrial Drone Services: LiDAR scanning, 3D mapping/photogrammetry, drone inspections, search & rescue, and industrial drone delivery services for construction, energy, and infrastructure clients.
- Video Production Services: Full-service video production from concept to post-production including color grading, editing, and final delivery.
- Experiential Marketing & Custom Builds: Custom drone fabrication and experiential marketing stunt services for brand campaigns (e.g., drone delivery stunts, LED lightships).
- Equipment Rental: Rental of camera drones, cable cam systems, stabilized camera heads, and OneWheel camera platforms.
- Stock Footage Library: Growing library of aerial stock footage available for licensing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based custom quotes |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Drone Boy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drone Boy provides drone-based aerial cinematography, FPV drone flying camera services, and industrial drone solutions (LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry/3D mapping, drone inspections, search and rescue, industrial drone delivery) for film/TV productions, commercial brands, and industrial/infrastructure clients. The company also delivers full-service video production from concept through post-production and operates specialized offerings such as drone LED lighting, live broadcast, VFX plate shoots, cable cam systems, and custom drone delivery stunts for experiential marketing campaigns.
Product overview
DroneBoy is a full-service aerial cinematography and industrial drone services company based in Toronto, Canada. The company operates a fleet of drones ranging from lightweight FPV platforms to ultra-heavy lift systems (Freefly ALTA X, ALTA 8) capable of carrying cinema cameras (RED, ARRI, Sony Venice). Core services include conventional camera drone aerial cinematography and FPV drone services for film, TV, and commercial productions, complemented by specialized offerings such as drone LED lighting, VFX drone services, live broadcast streaming, cable cam systems, and drone delivery stunts for experiential marketing. Industrial services encompass aerial LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry for 3D mapping, drone inspections, search and rescue, and industrial drone delivery. The company also provides full-service video production including post-production editing. Equipment inventory includes various camera systems (RED, ARRI, DJI), gimbal stabilizers (Freefly MōVI Pro, GREMSY), specialized ground camera platforms (OneWheel, Freefly TERRO RC car), and high-speed cameras (Freefly WAVE, EMBER, Phantom). The portfolio is offered as a unified service offering rather than discrete software products, with clients selecting from drone platforms, camera packages, and services tailored to specific production requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Camera Drone Aerial Services Professional aerial cinematography services using conventional camera drones for film, TV, and commercial productions, with dual-operator capability allowing a pilot to fly while a camera operator controls framing.
- FPV Drone Aerial Services First Person View drone services providing immersive, dynamic flying camera shots with high-speed capability and smooth cinematic FPV flying for action sequences and creative shots.
- The FPV Oner Specialized FPV drone service for one-shot continuous aerial tours and sequences.
- Live Broadcast Live streaming and broadcast services using drone-mounted cameras for live TV broadcast and streaming directly to online platforms including YouTube and Facebook.
- Drone LED Lighting Heavy lift drones equipped with high-power LED lighting arrays that function as aerial lightships for nighttime illumination of film sets and events.
- VFX Drone Services Drone services for visual effects production, including plate shots and aerial captures designed for VFX compositing and integration.
- Drone Delivery Stunts Custom-built stunt drones for experiential marketing campaigns that deliver products directly to consumers via aerial drone, including creative concept execution and brand activations.
- Cable Cam System Cable-mounted camera system for controlled aerial camera movements, providing an alternative to drone flights for indoor use or situations where drone operation is restricted.
- Video Production Full-service video production from concept through post-production including color grading, rough cuts, titling, and final edits.
- Industrial Drone Delivery Drone-based delivery services for industrial applications in remote or challenging environments.
- Aerial LiDAR Scanning Light Detection and Ranging scanning services using aerial drones to capture detailed topographic data and 3D spatial information for survey and engineering applications.
- Photogrammetry Aerial photogrammetry services generating high-resolution terrain maps, 3D models, and volumetric calculations from drone-captured imagery for sites ranging from small parcels to multi-hundred-acre properties.
- Drone Inspections Remote inspection services using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and zoom lenses for detailed assessment of infrastructure, buildings, towers, and industrial equipment.
- Search & Rescue Drone services for search and rescue operations, leveraging aerial perspective and camera capabilities for locating persons and assessing emergency situations.
- Timelapse Aerial time-lapse and hyperlapse video services for construction documentation, environmental monitoring, and artistic video content creation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Drone delivery stunts completed flawlessly including live TV broadcasts
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Drone Boy
Customer profileNamed customers34 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Drone Boy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Drone Boy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- International Drone Operators (Various Countries)minorInternational partnership arrangements enabling drone operations in locations outside Canada. For US and other international operations, DroneBoy can make arrangements and handle logistics for clients requiring drone services abroad.
- Freefly SystemscoreManufacturer partnership for Freefly ALTA 8 and ALTA X heavy-lift drones. DroneBoy worked closely with Freefly to achieve SAFE certification for the ALTA 8 in Canadian controlled airspace. Collaborative relationship for certification and operational support.
- DJIcoreManufacturer of DJI Inspire 2/X7, Mavic 3 Pro Cine drones. DJI has declared 9 drones SAFE-compliant for Canadian operations, including the Inspire 2 which handles 85%+ of DroneBoy's work. Critical partnership for mainstream aerial cinematography operations.
- Transport CanadacoreRegulatory body issuing National S.F.O.C., compliant operator certifications, and restricted airspace endorsements. Collaborative relationship for regulatory compliance and certification development. DroneBoy was among first to achieve Compliant Operator status.
- NAV CanadacoreAir navigation service provider. Required for flight planning submissions, NOTAM filings, and airspace coordination for commercial drone operations across Canada.
- Niagara Parks CommissioncoreLocal authority controlling Niagara Falls area. Requires permits for drone operations in CYR-518 restricted airspace. Established working relationship enabling rapid approval for drone filming missions over the Falls.
- FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration)minorUS Federal Aviation Administration required for operations involving US airspace, such as filming on US side of Niagara Falls from Canadian vantage points.
- Pal AirlinesminorCharter airline for Torngat Mountains documentary expedition. Provided Twin Otter aircraft for 600km flight from Goose Bay to Saglek airstrip. Joint venture partner with Parks Canada and local Inuit for Torngat Base Camp operations.
- Parks CanadaminorGovernment agency managing Torngat Mountains National Park. Required special permissions for drone filming in National Park (normally prohibited). Joint venture with Pal Airlines and local Inuit for Torngat Base Camp operations.
- IATSE 667 (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)coreCinematographers Guild representing camera operators in Canadian film industry. Multiple DroneBoy team members are IATSE 667 members. Guild membership provides access to union productions and industry credibility.
- Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC)minorProfessional association for cinematographers in Canada. Stefan Marchand is a CSC member with award-winning published photography. Affiliation provides industry credibility.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Drone Boy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Measure: Measure is a US-based drone services company providing aerial data collection and inspection services for construction, energy, and infrastructure clients. They compete directly with DroneBoy's industrial services division, offering similar drone-based inspection and surveying capabilities to enterprise customers.
- Flying Pictures: Flying Pictures is a UK-based aerial cinematography company with decades of experience providing helicopter and drone-based aerial footage for major film, TV, and commercial productions. They represent the most analogous UK peer to DroneBoy, serving similar clients with similar equipment and offering heavy-lift camera capabilities.
- Sky-Futures: Sky-Futures is a global drone inspection services company specializing in industrial infrastructure inspections for oil and gas, power, and utilities. They represent the most direct peer to DroneBoy's industrial inspection service line (LiDAR, infrastructure inspections) using comparable drone technology and serving similar enterprise clients.
- PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk provides drone-based data collection and analysis services for industries including construction, agriculture, and energy. They compete with DroneBoy's industrial services division (LiDAR, photogrammetry, mapping) by offering similar aerial surveying and 3D mapping capabilities to enterprise clients.
- Kespry: Kespry provides drone-based aerial intelligence solutions for industries including construction, mining, and insurance. They overlap directly with DroneBoy's industrial services in photogrammetry, site mapping, and volumetric calculations, serving similar enterprise customers with comparable technology.
- Aerial Filmworks: Aerial Filmworks is a Los Angeles-based company providing helicopter and drone aerial cinematography for the Hollywood film and television industry. They compete directly with DroneBoy on North American film productions and offer comparable cinema-grade camera capabilities for major studio projects.
- Aerobo: Aerobo is a US-based professional drone services company specializing in aerial cinematography for film, TV, and commercials. They operate a similar business model to DroneBoy, providing FAA-compliant drone operations with a comparable fleet of cinema-grade drones, and compete for the same Hollywood and advertising production budgets.
Broad incumbents
- Freefly Systems: Freefly Systems is a US-based drone manufacturer whose ALTA X and ALTA 8 platforms are core to DroneBoy's heavy-lift cinema operations. As both a key equipment partner and broader industry player, Freefly serves the same high-end aerial cinematography market and competes indirectly through customers who purchase rather than rent their services.
- DJI: DJI is the world's leading commercial and consumer drone manufacturer, whose Inspire 2/X7 platform handles 85%+ of DroneBoy's work. DJI is both a critical equipment supplier and a broad market incumbent whose expanding product line and Studio services compete with drone service providers like DroneBoy for certain production segments.
Others
- DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy is a drone software platform for mapping, inspection, and asset management, used by enterprise drone service providers. They represent an enabling technology provider in the same ecosystem as DroneBoy's industrial services division, with their software commonly used to process photogrammetry and inspection data.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Drone Boy social profiles
Digital presenceDrone Boy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Drone Boy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drone Boy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Drone Boy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drone Boy 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 Drone Boy
What does Drone Boy do?
Drone Boy provides drone-based aerial cinematography, FPV drone flying camera services, and industrial drone solutions (LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry/3D mapping, drone inspections, search and rescue, industrial drone delivery) for film/TV productions, commercial brands, and industrial/infrastructure clients. The company also delivers full-service video production from concept through post-production and operates specialized offerings such as drone LED lighting, live broadcast, VFX plate shoots, cable cam systems, and custom drone delivery stunts for experiential marketing campaigns.
Is Drone Boy a public or private company?
Drone Boy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Drone Boy founded?
Drone Boy was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Drone Boy based?
Drone Boy is headquartered in Hamilton, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Drone Boy make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Aerial Cinematography Services are the primary driver. The others are industrial Drone Services, video Production Services, experiential Marketing & Custom Builds, equipment Rental and stock Footage Library.
Who are Drone Boy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Measure, Flying Pictures, Sky-Futures, PrecisionHawk, Kespry, Aerial Filmworks and Aerobo. Broad incumbents are Freefly Systems and DJI. DroneDeploy is listed as an others.
Does Drone Boy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drone Boy.
What industry is Drone Boy in?
Drone Boy's product category is Aerial Cinematography & Industrial Drone Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAPAD, Consumer Drones for Imaging (Camera Drones). Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7812.