SWAT Media Group

What SWAT Media Group does

SWAT Media Group Inc. is a privately held, founder-led full-service marketing agency headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, with operational roots in the Greater Sudbury area. Founded by Rick Comtois, who has over 25 years of experience in brand management, consumer marketing, and advertising (including a prior role as National Promotions Manager at Labatt's), the firm operates a "collective" model in which a small in-house team is augmented by best-in-class industry and creative partners assembled on a per-project basis.

The agency delivers six integrated service lines: Strategy & Branding, Responsive Web Design, Film & Video Production, Media Buying & Placement, Advertising & Promotions, and On-Demand Services. Production work leverages modern capture technologies including UAV-based aerial videography and 360-degree VR cameras for virtual business tours, alongside standard digital and OOH media buying capabilities across social, search, radio, TV, and billboards. The On-Demand Services offering extends the firm's positioning from project-based engagements into a flexible, pay-for-time-and-services-rendered model that functions as an outsourced marketing department for clients.

Commercially, SWAT Media Group runs a consultative direct-sales motion with discovery consultations and project-based pricing, supplemented by the On-Demand Services retainer model. The customer base is heavily skewed to small and mid-sized businesses across Ontario, with named clients spanning manufacturing (BPT Components, Darby Manufacturing), hospitality and food (Verdicchio Ristorante, District 1351, 1351 Kitchens), dental (Valley Dental Clinic), sports (Sudbury Cubs, Barrie Curling Club, Peterborough Petes, LVX Gymnastics), nonprofit (Elgin Street Mission), and a small number of enterprise projects for TELUS and CBC Hockey Night In Canada. Geographic reach spans Canada and the United States, though publicly disclosed work is concentrated in Ontario.

Name

SWAT Media Group

Legal name

SWAT Media Group Inc.

Website

https://swatmediagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SWAT Media Group is a founder-led, Ottawa-based full-service marketing agency offering branding, web design, film and video production, media buying, advertising, and on-demand marketing services primarily to SMBs across Ontario, with select Canadian and US engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing and Advertising Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830), Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAAABAA

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Media Planning & Buying Agencies

SECONDARYBPAFADAH

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYBPAFADAF

Media Relations & Press Office Services

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYMPADADAK

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

Keywords

• Media buying services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Responsive web design
• Film and video production
• Advertising and promotions

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Strategy & Branding: Brand strategy development, creative strategy, brand positioning, and brand architecture services for long-term goals and sustainable growth
2. Creative & Production Services: Film & video production, responsive web design, advertising & promotions - one-time project-based services
3. Media Buying & Placement: Strategic media buying services placing ad creatives in optimal media properties across digital, TV, radio, and outdoor formats
4. On-Demand Services: Flexible on-demand marketing support model - clients pay only for time and services rendered, nothing more, no hidden costs. Functions as extension of existing team without in-house staffing obligations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SWAT Media Group is a full-service media agency that delivers six integrated services: Strategy & Branding, Responsive Web Design, Film & Video Production, Media Buying & Placement, Advertising & Promotions, and an On-Demand marketing department offering. The agency operates as a "collective," partnering with vetted industry and creative professionals to plan, produce, and place marketing content across digital, broadcast, and out-of-home channels for SMB and mid-market clients in Canada and the United States.

Product overview

SWAT Media Group is a full-service media agency offering a unified portfolio of six integrated marketing services: Strategy & Branding, Responsive Web Design, Film & Video Production, Media Buying & Placement, Advertising & Promotions, and On-Demand Services. The agency operates as a collective model, collaborating with best-in-class industry partners to deliver comprehensive branding, advertising, and promotional solutions. Services range from brand strategy development and website creation to video production and on-demand marketing support, designed to work together to help clients write stories, create content, and build brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy & Branding Brand strategy and creative strategy service defining brand positioning, architecture, and identity (including logo design) to help businesses establish long-term goals and sustainable growth.
• Responsive Web Design Website design service ensuring optimal display across phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop screens with a consistent user experience and no redirects.
• Film & Video Production Video content creation using UAVs (drones) and VR cameras to deliver aerial drone videography, short films, business marketing videos, television commercials, and interactive virtual tours.
• Media Buying & Placement Strategic media buying service placing ad creatives in optimal media properties across social media, Google Ads, digital displays, radio, digital billboards, and television.
• Advertising & Promotions Advertising campaign creation and promotional material development to raise brand awareness, drive customer acquisition, promote sales, and differentiate brands from competition.
• On-Demand Services Flexible on-demand marketing support acting as an extension of the client's team, covering social media management, creative services, content writing, graphic design, website maintenance, and e-commerce management with pay-per-use pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client revenue tripled after engaging SWAT Media Group services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Incapture MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner collaboration for strategy, branding, and web design projects. Led by Cameron Perreau. Worked together on Sudbury Cubs Junior A Hockey launch video produced in less than one week.
• Riley Lake ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm and video production partner led by Jake Thomas. Collaborative partner in creating video content for sports and commercial projects including Sudbury Cubs Junior A Hockey launch.
• CBC (Hockey Night In Canada)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadcasting partner for PlayOn! 4on4 national mobile web app design and promotion project. SWAT Media Group designed the mobile web application for this national hockey initiative.
• TELUScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsorship partner including One Meal Sponsorship Fund and TELUS FFFP campaigns. SWAT Media Group has executed multiple community sponsorship campaigns for TELUS.
• Barrie Curling ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships marketing campaign. Tony Marquis as Chairperson. Campaign included media partners Rock 95 and 107.5 Kool FM.
• Rock 95minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships campaign. Broadcasting partner for campaign execution.
• 107.5 Kool FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for 2024 Everest Canadian Curling Club Championships campaign. Broadcasting partner for campaign execution.
• District 1351 (Verdicchio, Aniko Pasta, LVX Gymnastics, Natura Catering, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness district partners in Greater Sudbury West End. SWAT Media Group is a founding business partner of District 1351 alongside Aniko Pasta Artigianale, Crosscut Distillery, Great White North Pottery, Inspired Sudbury, LVX Gymnastics, Natura Catering & Events, Northern Hockey Academy, and Verdicchio Ristorante Enoteca.
• Northern Ontario Heritage Fund CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Mark Gregorini's Aniko Pasta Artigianale venture with funding through Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. SWAT Media Group provides marketing services for businesses that received NOHFC support.
• Peterborough PetesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsorship partner. SWAT Media Group has arranged VIP seat ticket promotions and sponsorship activations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lg2: Quebec-based independent creative and brand agency providing strategy, advertising, branding and digital services. Comparable scope (strategy, brand, advertising) targeting Canadian brands with a multi-disciplinary agency model.
• Cossette: Full-service Canadian marketing communications agency (now part of Dentsu) offering advertising, media, branding, and digital services. Direct competitor to SWAT in the Canadian mid-market and SMB agency space, with broader scale and national footprint.
• Sid Lee: Montreal-headquartered creative and brand agency providing advertising, branding, content and digital experience services. Competes for Canadian brand strategy and creative mandates across similar client segments.
• Taxi (TAXI/Y&R): Canadian full-service advertising agency offering brand strategy, creative, media planning and digital. Direct competitor serving Canadian clients with similar integrated agency services and SMB/mid-market focus.
• Dare Canada: Independent creative and digital agency with Canadian presence offering advertising, brand experience, and content services. Comparable scope serving brand clients with mid-sized full-service agency model.
• Juniper Park\TBWA: Toronto-based full-service agency within the TBWA network offering brand strategy, advertising, and digital marketing to Canadian clients. Comparable mid-sized independent-plus-network hybrid agency targeting SMB and mid-market accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Publicis Canada: Canadian arm of Publicis Groupe, one of the world's largest advertising and media services holding companies. Offers overlapping capabilities across media buying, advertising, branding and digital at much greater scale.
• Dentsu Creative Canada: Canadian operations of Dentsu Creative / Dentsu, a global advertising network offering creative, media, and CX services. Large incumbent with overlapping strategy, advertising and media-buying capabilities.
• WPP (Canadian operations): Global advertising and media holding company with multiple Canadian agency brands (Ogilvy, VMLY&R, Mindshare). Competes broadly with SWAT in integrated marketing services but with vastly larger scale and resources.

Emerging players

• Six Degrees (6degrees): Smaller Canadian integrated marketing agency offering brand, digital, and creative services. Closest size match to SWAT among Canadian independents and a peer in the smaller-agency segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swatmediagroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnhY87crfrYZzwhqHhUN8cw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/SWATMediaGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3290504/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/swatmediagroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SWAT Media Group