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FlyGuys

Category: AI Infrastructure

An AI-ready reality data infrastructure platform that provides high-quality aerial data at scale through a managed network of over 16,000 certified drone pilots. FlyGuys was founded in 2014. The company is led by Joe Stough. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. Team size: 87. Total funding raised: $25.55M. Latest round: $13M Series A-1 (May 2024). Key investors include ["Wonder Fund North America LP (O'Leary Ventures)","Advantage Capital","JECohen","Mitchell Capital","Reform Ventures"].

Founded
2014
Headquarters
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
Team size
87
Total funding
$25.55M

Value proposition

Delivers a scalable, end-to-end solution for acquiring mission-critical aerial data, eliminating the friction of sourcing, managing, and quality-controlling drone operations for enterprise clients.

Products and solutions

["Aerial Data Capture as a Service","LiDAR Scanning & Mapping","Photogrammetry & Orthomosaic Imaging","Thermal & Multispectral Inspections","Proprietary Mission Management Software","API for Enterprise System Integration"]

Unique value

FlyGuys operates on a hardware and AI-agnostic, horizontal model, focusing on being the data acquisition layer for any industry, rather than specializing in a single vertical. This is combined with a managed marketplace that handles the entire mission lifecycle.

Target customer

Enterprises in AI, energy, agriculture, insurance, telecommunications, and infrastructure requiring large volumes of consistent, high-quality aerial imagery and sensor data for operations and model training.

Industries served

["AI/Machine Learning","Energy & Utilities","Insurance","Construction & Infrastructure","Agriculture","Telecommunications"]

Technology advantage

The core advantage is their scalable business model, which combines a vast network of vetted pilots with proprietary software for mission management and quality assurance. This allows them to execute large-scale, nationwide projects with consistency and speed.

How they differentiate

FlyGuys differentiates by offering a full-service, managed data acquisition model ('data-as-a-service') rather than a SaaS platform (DroneDeploy) or focusing only on specific verticals (PrecisionHawk). They handle the entire operation, from pilot sourcing to data delivery.

Main competitors

["DroneDeploy","PrecisionHawk","DroneBase (now part of Brinc)"]

Key partnerships

["Wonder Fund North America (led by Kevin O’Leary)","Datumate","Partnerships with AI software companies requiring training data","Collaborations with major GIS and cloud platform providers"]

Notable customers

["While specific client names are often under NDA, they serve Fortune 500 companies and leading AI firms across the energy, insurance, and agriculture sectors."]

Major milestones

["Secured $13M Series A-1 led by Kevin O’Leary’s Wonder Fund in July 2025.","Expanded pilot network to over 16,000 certified professionals.","Successfully transitioned from a regional service provider to a national technology platform.","Launched an API for seamless integration with enterprise client systems.","Named to Inc. 5000 (2025) and Inc. Regionals: Southeast (2026) list of fastest-growing private companies."]

Growth metrics

Revenue grew from $3.9M in 2023 to $10M in 2024, with projected 100% growth in 2025. Network has grown to over 16,000 certified pilots. Named to Inc. 5000 (2025) and Inc. Regionals: Southeast (2026) with 288% two-year growth.

Market positioning

Positioned as a scalable, outsourced data partner for enterprises, bridging the gap between raw data collection and AI-ready, actionable insights.

Geographic focus

Primarily the United States, with stated plans for global expansion following their latest funding round.

Patents and IP

No public patents listed; IP is focused on proprietary software, operational processes, and their extensive pilot network.

About Joe Stough

Joe Stough is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in enterprise software and business growth. He is the CEO and Executive Chairman of FlyGuys, a Lafayette-based tech company specializing in drone services and aerial data collection solutions. Before joining FlyGuys, he played key roles in the food delivery app Waitr as an initial seed investor, founding board member, President, and COO. He also founded Syntex Management Systems, Inc., which developed and scaled an Operational Excellence software platform used worldwide and later acquired by IHS, Inc.

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