Below are some of our case studies across a variety of business sectors, featuring companies and their pain points that sought professional advice, coaching, and information from our organization and advisors.

Expanding Market Share

A fast-growing product-based business needed help strengthening its business foundation while determining how to expand its online market presence.

  • Reviewing the existing business model and management structure

  • Clarifying the founder’s goals, capacity and business offerings

  • Reviewing the business plan, financial goals and potential capital needs

  • Assessing market challenges and opportunities

  • Clarifying market positioning and target-market messaging

  • Reviewing online competitive and wholesale challenges

Priorities & Plan Sequencing

An innovative company had several interconnected priorities and needed help determining how to sequence them into a realistic go-to-market plan.

  • Market research & strong review of competitors – the strengths and weaknesses.

  • What is the company’s unique value proposition and customer persona?  What is their positioning in the market?

  • Developing a market-entry roadmap

  • Refining the company’s services/product offering

Concept Assessment

An early-stage MedTech concept needed to be assessed before the founders invested significant resources into technical development.

  • Clearly defining the problem being solved

  • Separating known facts from assumptions and unknowns

  • Identifying users, beneficiaries and economic buyers

  • Mapping procurement and decision-making considerations

  • Understanding adoption barriers and existing alternatives

  • Exploring regulatory and business constraints

  • Considering possible commercial models

  • Determining whether the concept should move forward, pause or pivot with a feasibility & readiness roadmap

Strategic Planning for Growth

A product-based company needed stronger evidence about its target customer and consumer demand while also developing a strategy for product development, commercialization and growth.

  • Conducting primary market research through a product sampling focus groups to determine consumer response, preferences and purchase intent

  • Developing a demographic and behavioural profile of the target customer

  • Collecting both qualitative feedback and quantitative survey data

  • Developing strategic recommendations based on the research

  • Establishing short and long-term business priorities

  • Developing an implementation plan and connecting the company with relevant partners and resources 

Distribution & Capacity Building

An established product company was considering expanding into a large wholesale distribution channel and needed to determine whether the opportunity aligned with its business model, finances, operational capacity and founders’ goals.

  • Founder readiness and strategic goals

  • LCBO versus alternative sales channels

  • Production and operational capacity

  • Margins and financial viability

  • Compliance and administrative requirements

  • Sales and marketing requirements

  • Risks and different growth scenarios

Confidence, Clarity, and Commitment

An early-stage founder had a product concept but needed greater confidence and clarity before committing additional resources to development.

  • Test assumptions underlying the product concept

  • Explore what problem the product solves and for whom

  • Assess alternatives, adoption barriers and scalability

  • Refine the ideal customer profile

  • Develop a clearer value proposition and messaging direction

  • Determine whether to and how to proceed

E-Commerce Goals

A business wanted to strengthen its online sales and marketing approach but needed strategic guidance to determine how to position the business, communicate with customers and turn its ideas into an actionable plan.

  • Understanding the existing business model and e-commerce goals

  • Developing an e-commerce and marketing strategy

  • Clarifying market positioning and brand messaging

  • Identifying appropriate marketing tactics and communication objectives

  • Determining how marketing budget should be allocated

  • Creating an implementation workplan with priorities and accountability

International Distribution

A company preparing to sell or distribute products internationally needed guidance to establish the processes, accounts and documentation required to export successfully.

  • Understanding regulatory requirements for entering an international market

  • Providing initial regulatory guidance related to an in-country distributor

  • Setting up CERS registration

  • Establishing relationships/accounts with freight forwarders

  • Obtaining shipping rates and quotes for different trade lanes

  • Reviewing labelling and packaging considerations

  • Developing required export documentation

  • Establishing a shipping process

  • Supporting implementation of the new export/logistics process 

Cross-Border Trading & Logistics

A technology/equipment company preparing to demonstrate its product to prospective customers in the U.S., specialized support to navigate cross-border trade, customs and logistics.

  • Determining U.S. import requirements for demonstration equipment

  • Preparing commercial invoices, packing lists, tariff classifications and other customs documentation

  • Establishing a U.S. customs broker relationship

  • Advising on customs clearance, temporary/permanent entry and return of equipment to Canada

  • Planning transportation, timelines and logistics

  • Identifying cross-border risks and mitigation strategies

  • Reviewing trade and customs considerations affecting future U.S. commercialization

  • Developing a repeatable customs and logistics framework

Tariffs, FDA, and Shipping

A Canadian product company was significantly impacted by the tariffs; they needed specialized guidance to understand and navigate FDA requirements before they could continue to market their products there, and determine strategies to avoid additional costs.

  • Reviewing products, formulations, ingredient lists and supporting documentation

  • Determining applicable FDA product classifications

  • Identifying ingredient, labelling and other regulatory requirements

  • Reviewing ingredients for compliance, allergens and prohibited substances

  • Flagging potential compliance issues

  • Developing an FDA registration plan

  • Preparing registration documentation

  • Supporting FDA submission and responding to questions

  • Providing final documentation and guidance for future registrations or updates 

Defence Readiness Assessment

A company wanted to enter the defence market but needed an experienced advisor to assess its current operations, identify existing strengths, and determine which gaps to address before pursuing defence opportunities.

  • Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the company’s current defence readiness

  • Identifying what the company is already doing well and where improvements are required

  • Identifying processes, documentation or requirements that are not yet in place

  • Reviewing current certifications, regulatory and compliance requirements, and operational practices to prioritize what should to be addressed

  • Identifying gaps that could limit the company’s ability to qualify for or pursue defence opportunities

  • Developing a practical, sequenced defence-readiness roadmap outlining what needs to happen and in what order

Defence Sector Growth & Market Expansion

An established defence-sector company wanted to expand its network, pursue new contracts and identify opportunities to take on additional work within the defence supply chain.

  • Assessing the company’s capacity and readiness to take on additional defence work

  • Identifying areas of the defence market that align with the company’s capabilities and growth goals

  • Researching and prioritizing relevant procurement opportunities, contracts and potential projects

  • Identifying potential opportunities across the aerospace and defence industry sectors

  • Identifying prime contractors, industry partners and other defence-sector stakeholders and, where appropriate, supporting introductions

  • Exploring strategic partnerships that could strengthen the company’s ability to pursue larger opportunities

  • Connecting the company with relevant industry resources, programs and networks

  • Developing a focused plan for pursuing priority opportunities and expanding the company’s presence in the defence sector