Andre Smith’s drones pitch wins black entrepreneurs top prize

Flying one of his drones

By Mia Anthony

Andre Smith’s Dragonfly Drones and Geospatial Solutions, a concept that lies in leveraging drones to enhance efficiency, minimize environmental impact and monitor crop health, has emerged triumphant at the Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA) business pitch competition.

Smith picked up a $2m prize earlier this month.

The key to Smith’s success was thorough preparation. Practice and refining the pitch became his mantra. Countless rehearsals, critiques, and cuts were necessary to distill the idea into a concise, impactful presentation. Ten carefully crafted slides and a pitch of 5-7 minutes captured the essence of Dragonfly Drones and its potential. This win elevated the company’s visibility and opened doors to mentoring and industry connections through the BEA.