Digital Proving Ground for Canada

In Canada Tony Chapman, founder and head of creative agency Capital C, is to launch a 'one-stop global market research and product development firm'. Launch Labs will merge private, public and academic sector expertise to strengthen the country's place in the digital revolution.

Online at www.capitalc.typepad.com , Chapman says he aims to create 'an organization where best-in-class product engineers, branding experts, intellectual property lawyers and media strategists have access to high-level analysis of global markets', in order to combat 'a serious threat to Canada's global economic standing' and make it 'a testing ground for any product in any country.'

Launch Lab will offer fee-based work and subscriptions, and will also take a stake in businesses whose potential it considers high. Initial comments suggest clients will have access to 'supercomputers' to gather data and 'slice it and dice it geographically, psychographically and behaviorally'. The Lab aims to validate new products and offerings constantly from a market perspective, as it helps to prototype and develop them.

Ontario's University of Waterloo will be a partner, providing a location for the new firm and for a launch meeting planned for June where 'top people' from the three sectors will be invited to give the project impetus.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.