Jacobb

What Jacobb does

JACOBB (Centre d'intelligence artificielle appliquée) is a Montreal-based applied artificial intelligence research and technology transfer center established in 2019 as a Collège Center for Technology Transfer (CCTT) through a joint partnership between John Abbott College and Collège Bois-de-Boulogne. The organization operates within Quebec's publicly funded college technology-transfer system and is a member of the Synchronex network of 59 CCTTs, with Myriam Côté (former MILA Executive Director and collaborator of Yoshua Bengio) leading its research and innovation agenda.

JACOBB delivers applied AI services through three interconnected pillars: applied research mandates (data analytics, big data, business intelligence, machine learning engineering, and deep learning), technical and strategic advisory (autonomous multi-agent systems, predictive systems, feasibility studies), and AI dissemination and digital literacy (specialized training, awareness programs, scientific monitoring). Its documented AI capabilities span recommendation engines, predictive analytics, autonomous agents, generative AI, process automation, and knowledge retrieval, including proprietary hybrid AI architectures combining fuzzy logic, neural networks, and semantic graphs in expert-human reinforcement learning loops (notably with Edilex for legal contract drafting).

JACOBB generates revenue primarily through professional-services applied research mandates with SMEs, startups, and public-sector organizations, supplemented by training and dissemination services, with capacity substantially underwritten by government co-financing — most notably a CAD 2.6 million MEI grant in December 2020 to lead the FORCE.IA consortium of seven CCTTs. The center maintains active partnerships with MITACS, MILA, Synchronex, FORCE.IA partner CCTTs, and AI-product companies such as Illuxi, and serves Quebec-based clients across AI, connected objects, digital technologies, and advanced electronics sectors.

Name

Jacobb

Legal name

JACOBB

Website

https://jacobb.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JACOBB is a Montreal-based applied AI research and technology transfer center (CCTT) that helps Quebec SMEs, startups, and public-sector organizations integrate AI — covering data science, machine learning, deep learning, and autonomous multi-agent systems — through funded applied research mandates and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Applied Research Services: JACOBB generates revenue through service mandates and applied research projects with enterprises and organizations. They collaborate with client internal teams on data analytics and applied AI projects, charging for technical assistance and research services.
2. Government Funding: JACOBB receives financial support from government bodies including the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI). The FORCE.IA initiative received over $2.6 million in government funding to accelerate co-financing of industrial solution development.
3. Training and Dissemination: Revenue from dissemination activities including specialized training, awareness-raising activities, and participation in educational programs for AI literacy.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jacobb (Centre d'intelligence artificielle appliquée) is a College Center for Technology Transfer (CCTT) delivering applied AI research, technical consulting, and AI literacy services. It provides customized applied AI solutions spanning data science, machine learning engineering, deep learning, and autonomous multi-agent systems to Quebec-based businesses, startups, and public organizations through service mandates and project-based engagements.

Product overview

JACOBB (Centre d'intelligence artificielle appliquée) is an Applied Artificial Intelligence Center established as a CCTT (Centre collégial de transfert de technologie) through the partnership of John Abbott College and Collège Bois-de-Boulogne in Montreal. The organization operates three interconnected service pillars: (1) Innovation et recherche (Applied Research) providing data science and machine learning capabilities; (2) Conseils stratégiques et techniques (Technical Help) offering direct AI intervention within companies; and (3) Diffusion et littératie numérique (Dissemination and Information) focused on AI education and knowledge transfer. JACOBB functions as a research and technology transfer center rather than a software product company, delivering customized applied AI solutions to businesses and organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation et recherche (Applied Research) Applied AI research services that enhance innovation projects through data science (Data Analytics, Big Data, Business Intelligence) and machine learning (Machine Learning Engineering, Deep Learning with artificial neural networks), delivered via optimized roadmaps to accelerate technological responses and enable rapid AI integration into products or processes. Targeted at Quebec SMEs, startups, and organizations lacking internal AI expertise.
• Conseils stratégiques et techniques (Strategic and Technical Consulting) Technical assistance mandates collaborating with internal client teams at various project phases in data analytics and applied AI, including autonomous multi-agent systems design, AI tools implementation, autonomous decision-making systems transfer, predictive systems development, and feasibility studies. Targeted at enterprises seeking direct AI intervention within their organizations.
• Diffusion et littératie numérique (Dissemination and Digital Literacy) Knowledge transfer activities enabling customers to benefit from AI, including awareness campaigns, specialized training, event participation and organization, and scientific and technological monitoring. Targeted at businesses, educational institutions, and organizations seeking to build internal AI literacy and capability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74 innovation projects supported across key sectors including AI, connected objects, digital technologies, and advanced electronics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• John Abbott CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Abbott College is one of the two founding college partners of JACOBB. The center was established through collaboration between John Abbott College and Collège Bois-de-Boulogne. A board member (John Halpin, Director General) represents the college on JACOBB's board of directors.
• Collège Bois-de-BoulognecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollège Bois-de-Boulogne is the other founding college partner of JACOBB. The center was established through collaboration between this college and John Abbott College. Board representation includes Pascale Sirard (Director General) and Chantal Provost (Assistant Director of Studies).
• SynchronexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJACOBB is one of 59 members of Synchronex, the network of College Centers for Technology Transfer. This membership provides access to collaborative projects across the CCTT network and connections to 52 other CCTTs and QuébecInnove members. CEO Marie Gagné has emphasized the competitive advantage of CCTT collaboration.
• EdilexstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdilex is a Quebec innovator in LegalTech providing automated legal contract drafting software. They partnered with JACOBB to develop an intelligent cognitive recommendation system for complex contract drafting using hybrid AI. CEO Gabriel Morency serves on JACOBB's board of directors.
• FORCE.IA Partner CCTTs (CDRIN, CIMEQ, CIMMI, CRVI, CyberQuébec, Productique Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJACOBB leads the FORCE.IA initiative with six partner CCTTs: CDRIN (Matane), CIMEQ (Sainte-Thérèse), CIMMI (Quebec), CRVI (Lévis), CyberQuébec (Gatineau), and Productique Québec (Sherbrooke). Together they bring over 125 applied research professionals to accelerate AI adoption in Quebec businesses, supported by $2.6M in MEI funding.
• LiteratIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteratIA is a community of interest for higher education members interested in artificial intelligence. JACOBB collaborates with LiteratIA on educational content about AI technologies such as ChatGPT and generative model fine-tuning processes.
• IlluxistrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIlluxi partnered with JACOBB as a CCTT to reinforce their intellectual property and accelerate growth of their AI-based platform. This partnership illustrates how SMEs can leverage external expertise to innovate faster while protecting key assets.
• MILA (Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJACOBB benefits from connections to MILA through Director of Research Myriam Côté's 10 years of experience at MILA including as Executive Director, working with researchers including Yoshua Bengio. MILA is one of the world's leading AI research institutes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Element AI (now part of ServiceNow): Was a Montreal-based AI services firm founded in 2016 that delivered applied AI solutions to enterprises before being acquired by ServiceNow in 2020. Closely comparable in geography, business model, and customer base to JACOBB's commercial mandate work.
• IVADO: Montreal-based interdisciplinary research, training, and technology transfer institute in data science and AI. Operates a closely comparable applied AI model connecting researchers with enterprises, making it the most directly analogous Quebec peer in mandate and structure.
• Imagia: Montreal-based applied AI company specializing in healthcare and medical imaging AI solutions for enterprise clients. Similar Quebec-based AI services model with custom AI development and integration for SMEs.

Broad incumbents

• CGI Group: Quebec-founded global IT consulting firm with broad digital transformation and AI services. Represents the large-scale commercial IT services incumbent that competes for the same enterprise AI integration mandates JACOBB pursues with Quebec SMEs.
• Scale AI: Canadian AI supercluster funded under the federal Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. Provides funding and programs for AI adoption across Canadian industries at a national scope, versus JACOBB's regional Quebec focus, but overlapping on AI integration and SME enablement mandates.
• MILA (Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute): World-leading AI research institute in Montreal founded by Yoshua Bengio. Primarily a research organization rather than consulting center, but directly comparable as a Quebec AI ecosystem anchor with stronger brand and broader scope; closely connected to JACOBB through personnel and overlapping mandate.

Others

• Synchronex: Quebec network of 59 College Centers for Technology Transfer (CCTTs). JACOBB is a member of this network, and Synchronex serves as the parent ecosystem and collective funding channel for CCTT collaboration, making it an enabling/administrative peer rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jacobb.intelligence.artificielle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jacobb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Jacobb