Tyto Robotics never planned to limit its growth to Canada before expanding abroad.
Global demand helped open opportunities, but it was not enough to build a lasting international presence. With support from Trade Commissioners and funding through our CanExport SMEs program, Tyto turned international travel and trade show participation into measurable export growth.
Based in Gatineau, Quebec, Tyto Robotics designs and manufactures high-precision testing equipment used by drone and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) manufacturers around the world. Its systems, built in Canada, measure thrust, torque, revolutions per minute, power, and efficiency, giving engineers the data they need to improve flight time, payload capacity, and overall performance.
“We help drone designers make better drones,” says Joffrey Ferry, VP of Global Sales.
Tyto was founded in 2014 by two master’s students at the University of Ottawa, Charles Blouin and Dominic Robillard. While building a small helicopter drone, they developed a compact test bench to measure and compare propulsion systems. The tool quickly proved more valuable than the drone itself.
As the global UAV sector expanded, so did demand for professional testing equipment. Tyto evolved from a small engineering project to a company of 25 full-time employees, with all of its equipment designed and manufactured in Gatineau.
Exporting was never a future ambition, it was built into the business model.
“Our market is global,” Joffrey explains. “The drone market in Canada is very small. From the very beginning, we were selling outside Canada.”
Today, approximately 99% of Tyto’s sales are international. Its customers include defence companies, drone delivery firms, agricultural UAV manufacturers, research universities, and emerging urban air mobility developers.
For a growing company, that global focus represents both opportunity and risk.
Each international trade show or market visit represents a significant investment of time and resources. Without the right partners and preparation, those investments can quickly become costly learning experiences.
By 2019, Tyto was ready to strengthen its international distribution network and expand its presence in priority markets. That’s when the company began working with Trade Commissioners and accessing funding through our CanExport SMEs program.
One of Tyto’s priorities was expanding its distributor network in key regions. Trade Commissioners helped identify and assess potential partners, provided market intelligence on sector dynamics and regulatory considerations, and conducted background checks. This helped reduce risk before the company committed resources on the ground.
At the same time, CanExport funding enabled Tyto to attend trade shows, conduct in-market visits, and meet distributors and clients face-to-face.
“It made it possible for us to actually go and meet people,” Joffrey says. “Those trips are expensive, especially for a company our size.”
Without CanExport support, Tyto estimates it would likely attend only half as many international trade shows each year. Instead of choosing between one or two priority markets, the company has been able to pursue multiple opportunities simultaneously, accelerating its international growth.
China illustrates how sustained engagement, with Trade Commissioners and the CanExport program, can transform a company’s position in a market.
Just a few years ago, Tyto had no sales in China, today it’s their second-largest market.
With the support of Trade Commissioners, the company identified and assessed a local distributor. A CanExport-funded trip to Shenzhen enabled Tyto to attend a major industry trade show, meet its distributor in person, and connect with more than 20 potential clients.
“In markets like China, building relationships in person is extremely important,” Joffrey notes.
Sales grew steadily, eventually making China Tyto’s second-largest market after the United States.
This experience highlights the importance of local market insight and the value of building relationships in person when expanding internationally.
China illustrates how sustained engagement, with Trade Commissioners and the CanExport program, can transform a company’s position in a market.
Just a few years ago, Tyto had no sales in China, today it’s their second-largest market.
With the support of Trade Commissioners, the company identified and assessed a local distributor. A CanExport-funded trip to Shenzhen enabled Tyto to attend a major industry trade show, meet its distributor in person, and connect with more than 20 potential clients.
“In markets like China, building relationships in person is extremely important,” Joffrey notes.
Sales grew steadily, eventually making China Tyto’s second-largest market after the United States.
This experience highlights the importance of local market insight and the value of building relationships in person when expanding internationally.
As defence spending increased across Europe, Tyto saw rising demand from military and dual use drone manufacturers, particularly in Eastern Europe.
To strengthen its presence in the region, the company participated in the Międzynarodowy Salon Przemysłu Obronnego (MSPO) defence trade show in Poland in 2024, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Tyto attended with a clear objective: meet Ukrainian drone manufacturers and expand its network across the European defence sector.
Through participation in the Canada Pavilion, organized by Trade Commissioners, Tyto gained both visibility and practical support. Meetings with targeted partners were arranged in advance, allowing the team to focus on strategic conversations rather than initial introductions.
“It was very different from going alone,” Joffrey says. “The meetings were organized ahead of time, which made a big difference.”
Being part of the Canada Pavilion offered advantages beyond logistics. The Pavilion positioned Tyto under a recognized national brand, reinforcing Canada’s reputation in advanced aerospace and defence technologies. It increased visibility, strengthened credibility with international buyers, and reduced booth construction and setup costs.
At the conference, Tyto met with three Ukrainian drone manufacturers and a major Polish company. Shortly after the event, the company secured a sale with one of the Ukrainian firms and entered advanced discussions with others in the region.
For Tyto, the value went beyond a single transaction. Defence-oriented trade shows are significantly more expensive than commercial UAV exhibitions, but they provide access to decision-makers in fast-growing sectors. CanExport funding made participation feasible and allowed Tyto to strengthen its presence in a strategically important market.
“With Europe investing heavily in defence, it’s important for us to be present,” Joffrey explains.
While the United States remains Tyto’s single largest market, its share of sales has declined significantly, from roughly 60% to about 30%, as the company has expanded into new markets in Europe and Asia. Diversification has become a deliberate strategic priority.
“Not relying too heavily on one market is very important for us,” Joffrey says. “Diversification isn’t just about growth, it’s about resilience.”
Europe, China, and the Middle East are key focus regions moving forward. The company continues to expand distributor relationships, attend targeted trade shows, and build on connections established through earlier visits.
Recent participation in the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) in Abu Dhabi and upcoming plans for Eurosatory in Paris reflect a continued commitment to defence and advanced mobility markets, supported by both CanExport funding and ongoing engagement with Trade Commissioners abroad.
For a Canadian SME operating in a highly specialized niche with only a handful of competitors worldwide, timing, credibility, and local intelligence are critical.
CanExport funding helps reduce financial barriers to international expansion, allowing companies to test markets and pursue opportunities with greater confidence. Our Trade Commissioners complement this support by providing market insight, vetted connections, meeting facilitation, and on-the-ground support that reduces risk and accelerates progress.
For Tyto Robotics, the combination has helped turn trade show participation into measurable sales, transform emerging markets into major revenue streams, and position the company for long-term global growth.
For Canadian SMEs considering international expansion, the experience highlights a practical approach. Carefully selecting target markets, relying on strong local intelligence, and building relationships in person can make the difference between exploratory travel and sustainable export success.
For Joffrey, the message is straightforward: international growth happens on the ground.
“You can’t build international business from behind a desk,” he says. “You have to be in the market, meet people, and build relationships.”
Looking to diversify your exports? We help Canadian companies of all sizes succeed in international markets through export advisory services, funding, accelerator programs, and tailored support at trade missions and events.
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