In January 2026 we will celebrate 25 years of existence. Such occasion encourages reflection and paths to different futures. In that quarter of a century we have seen and done many things.
The beginnings were a regrouping after a thunderous separation from what at the time was a rapidly growing corporation. It was a period of rediscovering our identity and operating a start-up again. We did consulting in our competence areas, both locally and internationally; we joined a start-up with an exciting vision for linking web sites to the enterprise call centre in text, voice, and video. We dabbled through the long winding way of registering a patent and maintaining it in key jurisdictions after it was granted.
We learned the realities of corporate deceit with an American company that claimed interest in acquiring that start-up only to go and implement their own similar solution despite existing NDA; we learned that NDAs and other legal instruments are only as powerful as the deep pockets needed to enforce them and survive the multi-year battles in the courts; we learned about the challenges of scaling or expanding into a new market; and we experienced the power of serendipity that made us cross path with the first graduate program in strategic foresight and innovation at OCAD University.
That encounter triggered a risky and courageous pivoting away from IT into business modeling, futures, design thinking, and sustainability. Over the following decade much experience was gained and significant new knowledge acquired, leading to opportunities at important U.S. universities and corporations. COVID-19 asked hard questions about many aspects of our life including where home really is. The answer to that one was unequivocally: Toronto.
Now nearing the 25 years mark, it is time to reflect again and consider a different phase of life. One of the consequences of that reflection is that this web site will be retired in the first quarter of 2026. So, a sincere thank you to all who were involved in any form with us throughout these years. May you have as interesting and rewarding sailings as we have.