Our
Services

We’ll help you make your next big plan a success.

Whether you are a business, industry association, economic development group or university, we can help you with your growth initiative.

Our services are designed to support the growth of new and existing business enterprises, new sector clusters and strategic economic initiatives.

Each service includes research, analysis, strategy, representation and execution support so that you have access to all of the tools and resources needed to make evidence-based decisions and take your project over the finish line – getting you tangible results faster.

 

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” – Winston Churchill

Are you validating a concept but do not know where to begin? Is your business focused in the right areas and the right markets? We can help.

You have a limited amount of time, money and human resources . If you use those resources on a specific area of focus, you will make more of an impact than if you apply them to many different areas. We build strategies that will help to focus your efforts and position you to get results. We’ll hone in on the right opportunities, messaging, and tactical solutions so you can maximize your outcomes. 

Having a good strategy allows you to say no – even to the good ideas – ideas that may lead you away from your overall goal. 

We’ll help you focus and develop strategies in the following areas:

  • Feasibility review and analysis
  • Opportunity analysis
  • Marketing and business development
  • Short- and long-term strategic planning
  • Government relations
  • Focus and positioning statements
  • Value proposition development
  • Market validation
  • Competitor analysis

This suite of services is designed for start-up ventures, SMEs, industry associations, community organizations, and academia.

Does your community have unique sector strengths and capabilities that have the potential for national and international leadership? We can help.

Sector strengths and capabilities have the potential for the creation of focused clusters that can drive economic prosperity. Clusters are groups of interconnected businesses and institutions in close proximity that benefit from their mutual connections. Clusters stimulate innovation and new business formation in a key industry sector.

 

 

 

Stiletto supports the growth of clusters and niche sectors because we understand the impact their success has on the national economy.

This suite of services is designed for regional and national industry associations, and all levels of government.

We support cluster growth through:

  • Reviews of sector ecosystems
  • Stakeholder consultations
  • Ecosystem mapping
  • Gap analysis
  • Opportunity identification
  • Strategy, execution and implementation assistance

Are you ready to enter a new market, but do not know where to begin? We can help.

Exporting is a key driver of Canada’s economic growth and provides companies with a strategic way to expand their markets beyond the borders of Canada’s relatively small domestic market. While Canadian companies struggle to grow in our tepid domestic economy, the weak Canadian dollar is giving the advantage to export-oriented firms. According to HSBC, just 10% of Canadian companies are selling abroad and a mere 550 companies account for 70% of Canadian goods exports.

An export plan is an extension of your business plan. It allows you to evaluate the potential benefits and risks for your company and details the approach to achieve your international sales objectives. Capturing this information in a logical plan can provide you with credibility when dealing with lenders.

 

We have worked extensively in international markets, particularly the United States, Europe, Brazil and China and we have considerable experience with domestic federal and provincial programs for both investment and trade opportunities. We’ll support your enterprise through one or a combination of the following services:

  • Market research
  • Trend analysis
  • Competitor profiling
  • Competitor positioning
  • Corporate position
  • Target market analysis
  • Export market strategy
  • National and international business development

This suite of services is designed to help SMEs companies get to market or expand their domestic and international presence. It is also designed for economic development organizations, provincial governments and industry associations to mobilize foreign direct investment strategies.

Are you wasting hours writing proposals that are not resulting in sales? Are you unsure how to navigate government programs? We can help.

Proposal and grant writing is time consuming and requires specialized expertise. Experience in writing grant applications and proposals has been proven to increase the odds of success.

Stiletto will help you clarify your message and find the right projects and programs to pursue.  We’ll show you how to maximize your output and minimize your investments of time and money.

 

This service is designed for industry associations, startup ventures, and SMEs.

We’ll support you through:

  • Reviews of your existing materials
  • Guidance and/or preparation of presentations
  • Coaching on “perfecting your pitch”
  • Strategic reviews of appropriate grants for your organization
  • Undertaking government relations on your behalf – helping to shepherd your proposals through the government approval process to ensure the right information is presented to the right audience.

Our
Case Studies

Our
Team

We will tailor our team of professionals to your specific needs and project demands. Our associates are experts in their field, from seasoned consultants to up and coming talent. We have a passion for our work – and we deliver.

Laura is the President and CEO of Stiletto and Co-Founder and Former Managing Director for the Canadian Association of University Research Parks. She has nearly 25 years’ experience in successfully conceptualizing and executing business strategies for communities and companies. An award-winning business person, she has a passion for merging traditional industries with high-tech solutions and creating clusters of innovation.    

Laura O’Blenis

President & CEO
Sonya provides Stiletto with expertise in corporate strategy, marketing and communications, business planning, program launch and positioning. She’s the founder of Sonya Shorey Consulting and has extensive experience in communications, branding and change management strategies; government relations; and successful proposals and funding applications for national tech and innovation players.

Sonya Shorey

Senior Communications Strategist
Austin offers 30+ years of experience with research and technology parks and technology-related economic growth. Having served in leadership roles with Innovation Place, and AURP Canada and AURP international, he has been recognized by the International Association of Science Parks as a research park expert. Austin is a trained facilitator of the Pacific Institute’s Investment in Excellence program and a co-founder of TALM Services.

Austin Beggs

Research and Technology Park Strategist
David has more than 25 years’ experience as a consultant and working with industry, not-for-profit organizations and governments across Canada. David was named by Progress Magazine as one of the foremost economic development thinkers in Atlantic Canada. David has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and has completed additional education from from Harvard University in Boston and the University of Waterloo.    

David Campbell, MBA

Chief Economist
Lynda is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and leads the business modelling and financial strategies with Stiletto.  Her specialties include corporate governance, administration of corporate finance projects, raising capital, business modelling and financial analysis.  Lynda is also well versed in developing and providing interim financial management solutions. Lynda is also the President and CEO of Aperture Capital Consulting. 

Lynda Savoie, CPA

Chief Financial Analyst
Dr. Lukach is the Vice President of Strategy and Positioning at Stiletto. In this role, Ariella develops, communicates, executes and sustains strategic initiatives for new products and for large-scale initiatives, including regional innovation districts. She holds a PhD in Nanotechnology from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science from the Weizmann Institute of Science, and a Bachelor of Science from Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

Ariella Lukach, Phd

Vice President Strategy & Positioning
Sarah is the Chief Operating Officer with Stiletto. She specializes in optimizing operating capabilities to design and implement business strategies and improved processes for Stiletto and our clients.  She holds a Masters of Environment, specializing in climate change, from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from Queen's University.

Sarah Sloan, MA

Chief Operating Officer
Patricia is the Chief Information Officer for Stiletto. She is an information professional with more than 30 years of professional experience, specializing in customized business research, data insights, knowledge management, strategic planning, adult education and marketing communications. She holds a Masters in Information Studies (Library Science) from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Education (Distance Education) from Athabasca University.

Patricia Presti, MLS, MED

Chief Information Services & Lead Researcher
David is based in Silicon Valley and works with Stiletto to help identify partnerships and collaborations between Canada and the United States.  With a mission for advancing Canadian engagement and interest in Silicon Valley, he has an extensive network that includes Canada Moose Lounge, Expansion Quebec, and senior government and academic partners. David is a lawyer and a member of the Bar in both Ontario and Massachusetts.

David Stewart, LLB

In-Market Representative, Silicon Valley, USA
Dave has over 20 years of management and consulting experience, which includes business strategy, conceptualization and development of new solutions, business casing, feasibility analysis, planning and implementation. He is an entrepreneurial leader with a diverse range of experience across several vertical industries including financial, government, communications, healthcare and technology.

David Randall

Strategic Collaborator
Patrick serves as Stiletto’s senior policy and business analyst and provides strategic advice on federal and provincial programming to position clients for successful funding applications. A former Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, Patrick has more than twenty years in federal science and technology policy.  

Patrick McIntyre

Senior Policy & Business Analyst
As the Program Coordinator with Stiletto, Rachel works with clients on strategies for funding applications. Specializing in clean technology, cyber, agri-technology and advanced manufacturing, she holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Physics from McMaster University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.

Rachel Savidge, MSE

Program Coordinator

As Project Manager with Stiletto, Sam monitors progress and analyzes and manages project risk to keep projects on time and on budget for Clients. Sam excels at market positioning, mapping and matrix illustrations. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Honors in Marketing and Concentration in Accounting from the University of New Brunswick.

Samantha Gray

Project Manager
As the Marketing and Communications Officer for Stiletto, Sydney leads all marketing and communications strategies and material development for the team. Sydney holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the University of New Brunswick, and a Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry, also from the University of New Brunswick.

Sydney McAdam, MBA

Marketing & Communications Officer
As the Research Associate and Project Lead for Stiletto, Jenna conducts primary and secondary research and collects and analyzes data to assist the overall team in making evidence-based recommendations to clients. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors in Marketing from the University of New Brunswick.

Jenna Evans

Research Associate & Project Lead
Joshua  is the Senior Researcher for Stiletto. In this role, Josh conducts broad based research and writing services with expertise in a health, cleantech, food and beverage, and other sectors and topics. He specializes in high-level research and data analysis, as well as in effective, concise messaging and communication. Joshua holds a Masters of Arts in English literature from Carleton University, and has over ten years’ teaching and research experience at the post-secondary level.

Joshua Prescott, MA

Senior Researcher
Meg is Stiletto’s Director of Communications.  Her specialties are in concise messaging, consolidating information, interviewing and proofreading.  She also undertakes Stiletto’s survey design and development. Meg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

Meg Cumby

Director of Communications
View All Associates

Our
Clients

We have worked with over 100 companies and closed more than $350 million in grants, new revenue and deals since 2010.

Here are some examples of the great organizations we’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Make a Point
Stiletto

Get the guidance and tools you need to confidently move forward.  

You’re faced with a big opportunity, but you may lack the resources, expertise, or capacity to seize it and make the most of it. Other consulting firms don’t offer the specific expertise you need to get the results you desire.

That’s where we come in. Our expert team operates where science and technology meet business opportunity on the national and international stages. We use evidence-based research and strategy to identify new markets, validate concepts and fine tune value propositions so you can make the best-informed decisions for your organization.

We’ll help you focus your business, position your offering and bring clarity to your message in order to captivate investors, clients and partners.

Specializing in knowledge industries, commercialization, technology transfer and innovation, we bring a team of professionals to the table as problem solvers to help you dig deeper into complex issues and industries.

With Stiletto, you get a partner that is invested in your success. We go beyond delivering plans and materials, giving you personal guidance and advice on how to confidently move forward. We keep engaged with our clients even after the project is complete to ensure that they have what they need to continue the momentum.