Investor / Partner for New Canadian Firm SquareKnot

In Vancouver, SquareKnot Analytics, the 'survey panel and personal budgeting app' launched recently by former Ipsos execs Mike Rodenburgh and Josh Cormie, has received an undisclosed strategic investment from business consultancy and development firm Hover Group.

SquareKnot was launched in June with the aim of addressing the challenges of unreliable consumer recall and fraudulent survey responses. The firm combines actual consumer spending data collected by its Wilbur budgeting app - covering two years of spending & savings behaviour - with surveys of verified Canadian users.

Hover Group says the move is part of its strategy to build a leading marketing syndicate through acquisitions, key investments and partnerships. Specifically, it will align with the work of an existing Hover asset, Black Rock Marketing Group (BRMG). Hover's commitment extends beyond financial backing, adding the support of its industry network and expertise in technology, analytics and consultancy and promises SquareKnot faster product development and new options for marketing.

BRMG's services include brand development, ad campaigns, digital transformation, customer engagement and experiential marketing. The firm will now get direct access to SquareKnot's consumer insights and analytics capabilities, enhancing its ability to engage consumers and build brands.
Alex Verdurmen, Partner at Hover Group says the investment is 'a key part of our mission to create an influential, integrated marketing syndicate that thrives on data-driven insights and innovative strategies'.

Cormie (pictured below) says the partnership will allow the new firm to scale faster and push boundaries in data analytics. He adds: 'Together, we're poised to deliver groundbreaking, data-driven solutions that reshape how businesses interact with consumers'.

Web sites: www.blackrockmarketing.com and www.squareknotanalytics.com .

pictured: Mike Rodenburgh and Josh Cormie