On Thursday, a landmark new joint venture that blends Canadian technological expertise with local Guyanese industry insight officially launched, set to transform the drone technology and geospatial intelligence landscape in the South American nation while prioritizing local workforce development. Founded by Canadian tech firm Altomaxx and Guyanese geospatial solutions provider Dragonfly Solutions Group Inc., the new entity is called Altomaxx Offshore | Dragonfly.
This strategic collaboration merges Dragonfly’s deep-rooted local market knowledge and forward-thinking entrepreneurial vision with Altomaxx’s decades of global experience delivering drone-enabled inspections, precision surveying, high-resolution mapping and data-driven solutions to key sectors including energy, infrastructure, marine services and environmental management. Beyond delivering cutting-edge commercial geospatial services aligned with international standards to support Guyana’s fast-growing economy, the joint venture has core non-commercial goals: expanding local content participation in emerging tech sectors, facilitating cross-border skills transfer and building a competitive local tech workforce.
At the launch ceremony held at Georgetown’s Herdmanston Lodge, which drew senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, private industry leaders and private sector stakeholders, Brian Smith, Founder and Operations Lead of Dragonfly Solutions Group, traced the company’s extraordinary growth trajectory. “What began with a borrowed drone in 2020 has evolved into an international joint venture focused on innovation, collaboration and creating opportunities for Guyanese talent,” Smith said. “This partnership is about more than business growth. It is about building local capacity, strengthening workforce readiness and ensuring that Guyanese professionals can compete and succeed at an international standard.”
Steve Priestly, representative of Altomaxx, emphasized that the partnership is rooted in shared core values rather than purely commercial goals. “Altomaxx chose to partner with Dragonfly for more than just business. We believe we are aligned in our commitment to supporting the region through job creation, education and STEM awareness, as these are fundamental pillars of our own business model in Canada,” Priestly explained.
Keoma Griffith, Guyana’s Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, delivered opening remarks highlighting the critical role of public-private international collaboration in advancing people-centered economic growth. “Partnerships such as this one between Dragonfly and Altomaxx demonstrate the important role collaboration plays in preparing our people for the future of work, one increasingly shaped by technology, innovation and data-driven solutions,” Griffith noted. “Local content is not simply about participation; it is about preparedness. By creating opportunities for skills development, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, initiatives like this help ensure Guyanese are equipped to compete and succeed at an international standard.”
Kathy Smith, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), echoed this praise, noting that the partnership itself is a product of the chamber’s work to connect local entrepreneurs with international investors. The connection between the two firms was first forged during a GCCI-supported inbound investor mission, a testament to the organization’s work to drive Guyana’s economic transformation. “As we continue to advocate for opportunities for businesses in Guyana, we steadily emphasise the role that joint ventures can play in building capacity, strengthening capabilities and facilitating skills transfer,” Smith said. “Dragonfly’s journey is evidence of the determination, innovation and resilience of Guyanese entrepreneurs. This partnership demonstrates what is possible when local expertise is combined with international collaboration.”
Altomaxx brings to the joint venture decades of global experience deploying advanced drone technologies including LiDAR, photogrammetry, thermal imaging and remote inspections across project sites in North America, Europe and beyond. Together, the two partners will deliver services to key growth sectors in Guyana including energy, infrastructure, environmental management and industrial operations, while prioritizing the training of local workers to fill high-skill tech roles. Dragonfly will also continue its long-standing commitment to youth outreach, running its popular annual Drone Girls | Drone Kids programme that introduces young Guyanese to careers in tech and innovation.
The new joint venture formalizes a shared commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship, accelerating inclusive knowledge transfer, and building long-term sustainable opportunities for Guyanese workers and business owners in fast-growing emerging tech sectors.