Stiletto

What Stiletto does

Stiletto is a privately held, Fredericton-based market research and strategic planning consulting firm founded in 2010 that operates at the intersection of industry, government, and academia. It serves research and technology parks, innovation districts, economic development agencies, academic institutions, businesses, and non-profit organizations across Canada, the United States, and select international markets including Europe, Brazil, and China. The firm operates through direct client engagement on a project-based, quote-based model with multi-year contract cadence, and reports having closed more than $350 million in deals, grants, and new revenue opportunities for more than 200 clients.

Stiletto delivers its services through five core service lines: Develop Your Park, Cluster, or Community; Drive Economic and Workforce Development; Launch Your Strategic Initiative; Grow Your Business Through Export; and Win Proposals & Secure Funding. Underlying these offerings are proprietary methodologies including a Sustainable Development Goal Impact Measurement Process for quantifying social impact using the UN's 17 SDGs, ecosystem asset and inventory mapping tools, economic and social impact modeling with forecasting, and a six-step AI Implementation Model framework published as an insight report. The firm relies on a team of approximately 20 professionals with 175+ combined years of specialized experience, supported by long-standing institutional partnerships with the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) and the University Economic Development Association (UEDA).

Revenue is generated entirely through professional services fees tied to customized engagements rather than software products or platform licensing. Pricing is non-public and tailored to each project scope and client budget, with explicit willingness to work within client financial constraints. No software products, APIs, or digital distribution channels are offered, and the firm has no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external ownership structure.

Name

Stiletto

Legal name

Stiletto

Website

https://thinkstiletto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiletto is a Fredericton-based boutique consultancy that provides market research, strategic planning, and economic impact advisory services to research parks, innovation districts, government agencies, post-secondary institutions, and businesses across North America and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG), Market, Shopper & Category Insights / Research Services (CRAOAOAI)

Keywords

• Strategic consulting services
• Economic development consulting
• Market research services
• Research park advisory
• Workforce development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for market research, strategic planning, economic development strategy, program development, and business planning. Engagements are project-based with end-to-end support including research, strategy development, representation, and execution support.
2. Proposal and Grant Writing Services: Fee-based services for writing successful funding applications and navigating government programs. Includes identifying funding opportunities, representing clients at meetings, writing proposals and grant applications, and developing marketing materials.
3. Funding Support and Deal Facilitation: Stiletto has worked with more than 200 companies and communities and closed more than $350 million in deals, grants, and new revenue opportunities on behalf of clients. Revenue is generated through successful facilitation and representation fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stiletto is a market research and strategic planning consulting firm that delivers project-based professional services to research and technology parks, economic development agencies, post-secondary institutions, government bodies, and businesses. Core offerings cover research park and innovation district development, economic and workforce development strategy, program design and launch, export growth strategy, and proposal/grant writing. Each engagement includes research, stakeholder engagement, customized strategy development, financial modeling, and implementation support delivered as a strategic extension of the client's team.

Product overview

Stiletto is a market research and strategic planning consulting firm (not a software product company) that offers five core service lines: Develop Your Park, Cluster, or Community; Drive Economic and Workforce Development; Launch Your Strategic Initiative; Grow Your Business Through Export; and Win Proposals & Secure Funding. Additionally, they have published an AI Implementation Model framework as an insight report. All offerings are professional consulting services rather than software products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Develop Your Park, Cluster, or Community Strategic consulting for research and technology parks, innovation clusters, hubs, districts, and communities. Includes validation, articulation, funding acquisition, launch support, and strategic refinement for organizations operating at the intersection of academia, government, and business.
• Drive Economic and Workforce Development End-to-end consulting for strategic planning and program development covering economic development strategies, workforce development plans, immigration strategies, succession planning, and economic and social impact assessments for government agencies, industry associations, and post-secondary institutions.
• Launch Your Strategic Initiative Consulting to validate, articulate, and advance unique projects or strategic initiatives. Includes concept development, business planning, program development, feasibility analysis, and go-to-market plans for organizations launching new programs or strategic projects.
• Grow Your Business Through Export Export strategy services including export plans, competitive matrices, market intelligence, financial modeling, feasibility assessments, and funding support for businesses seeking international market expansion and growth.
• Win Proposals & Secure Funding Proposal writing and grant application support including program alignment, consultations, application preparation, and supporting materials. Has helped clients close more than $350 million in deals, grants, and new revenue opportunities across 200+ engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 256% revenue increase in one year for Pump House Brewery following export strategy implementation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of University Research Parks (AURP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for annual AURP Economic Impact Report and AURP Benchmarking Survey. Stiletto conducts research and produces reports on research park and innovation district economic impacts, occupancy levels, and industry trends.
• University Economic Development Association (UEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for annual UEDA Membership Impact and Engagement Report. Survey research showing how higher education institutions advance economic development, job creation, and tech transfer.
• Fredericton Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOO Jenna Evans serves as board member, providing connection to local business community and economic development network.
• United Way of Greater MonctonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Economist David Campbell serves as board member, connecting to social impact and community development sector.
• Innovation PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam member Austin Beggs served in leadership roles, bringing expertise in research park governance modeling and launching new organizational structures.
• Statistics Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Business Intelligence Katherine VanZutphen is a member, providing pro bono statistical support to non-profit organizations.
• Women Who Do Data (W2D2)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Business Intelligence Katherine VanZutphen is a member, supporting advancement of women and underrepresented professionals in data.
• Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Business Intelligence Katherine VanZutphen helped pioneer and develop the Edinburgh Consultancy Bootcamp connecting academia and industry on experiential learning projects.
• Pacific InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Advisor Austin Beggs is a trained facilitator of the Pacific Institute's Investment in Excellence program.
• Jupia Consultants Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChief Economist David Campbell is President of this business and economic development consulting firm, potentially collaborating on client engagements.
• Aperture Capital ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCFO Lynda Savoie is President and CEO of this New Brunswick-based consulting firm specializing in corporate governance and financial management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camoin Associates: Economic development consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, economic impact analysis, workforce development, and grant writing for municipalities, states, and economic development organizations - a direct overlap with Stiletto's core service lines.
• TIP Strategies: Economic development and cluster strategy consulting firm serving cities, regions, and organizations on strategic planning, target industry analysis, and workforce development - directly comparable in methodology and customer base to Stiletto.
• AngelouEconomics: Economic development consulting firm providing target industry studies, workforce analysis, and strategic planning for communities and regions - closely aligned with Stiletto's economic development and workforce strategy offerings.
• Avalanche Consulting: Data-driven economic development and strategy consulting firm serving regions, states, and universities on economic strategy, workforce development, and impact analysis - comparable in approach and client types to Stiletto.
• Fourth Economy Consulting: Community and economic development consulting firm focused on strategic planning, market research, and stakeholder engagement for regions, universities, and nonprofits - a direct niche peer to Stiletto's strategy and planning work.
• Source Strategies Inc. Economic development research and consulting firm providing market intelligence, target industry analysis, and strategic plans for communities and economic development organizations - overlapping with Stiletto's research-driven engagements.
• Jupia Consultants Inc. Business and economic development consulting firm led by David Campbell (Stiletto's Chief Economist), providing economic development strategic plans, economic impact analysis, immigration strategy, and sector development - a direct peer with shared leadership.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company (Public Sector Practice): Global management consulting firm with public sector and economic development practices advising governments and institutions on strategy, transformation, and impact - a broader incumbent operating in adjacent strategy consulting territory to Stiletto.
• Deloitte Consulting (Government & Public Services): Global consulting firm with extensive government and economic development advisory practices - a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in strategy, economic analysis, and workforce development relative to Stiletto.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large nonprofit applied science and technology organization that manages research parks and conducts economic impact analysis for governments and institutions - a broader incumbent operating adjacent to Stiletto's research park and innovation district niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiletto-make-a-point

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

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 Stiletto