What Free zone does

Free zone, doing business as deRabane (formerly DRAKKAR Digital), is a Montreal-based communication, marketing and technology agency that has operated for 12+ years serving enterprise clients in Canada and France. The firm is organized around six service "fibers" — Stratégique, Créative, Numérique, Publique, Média and Événementielle — and distinguishes itself through a cross-Atlantic France-Canada go-to-market posture, leveraging founders' cumulative experience on both sides of the Atlantic to support clients seeking bilateral market entry or bilingual market presence. Named enterprise clients include Amazon Web Services (translation and adaptation for the Canadian French market), Le Devoir (digital project management and platform integration), the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), SLA Québec (communications mandate) and Quandela (positioning on the Canadian quantum scene).

The agency's core technology is the Omerlo platform, an integrated content management system for press, network, organizational and event media that supports creation, management and distribution of digital content across web, iOS and Android applications. Omerlo operates as a formal sub-brand and is integrated into client engagements such as the Le Devoir digital ecosystem deployment. A second sub-brand, Talent, functions as an internal recruitment division offering talent acquisition, headhunting and retention services, combining recruitment process with marketing capability to serve the same enterprise buyer.

The business model is professional services, with revenue generated through bespoke consulting engagements and project-based contracts. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct and relationship-driven, primarily via the corporate website and a dedicated portfolio platform. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity recorded in the available data. The agency completed a full rebrand from DRAKKAR Digital to deRabane in February 2026, reflecting an evolution of positioning rather than a change in underlying business mechanics.

Name

Free zone

Website

https://zonefranche.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

deRabane is a Montreal-based communication, marketing and technology agency serving enterprise clients across Canada and France, with a France-Canada cross-border positioning. It operates six service lines and two sub-brands: the Omerlo content management platform and the Talent recruitment division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

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. Professional Services - Communication & Marketing: Full-service agency providing communication, marketing and technology services including strategic, creative, digital, public relations, media and event expertise. Revenue generated through consulting engagements and service contracts.
2. Digital Project Services: Digital project management and integration services including web projects, content management systems implementation, and technology integration for media organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Free zone is a public relations firm that helps clients build strong relationships with all those who matter to them. It operates within a broader communication, marketing, and technology agency that delivers strategic, creative, digital, public relations, media, and event services, supported by an in-house content management platform (Omerlo) and a professional recruitment division (Talent). Engagements are customized per client and delivered as professional service contracts across Canadian and French markets.

Product overview

deRabane is a unified marketing and communication agency that transitioned from DRAKKAR Digital in February 2026. The agency operates both a technology product (Omerlo, a media content management platform) and service offerings organized across six 'fibers' of expertise: Stratégique, Créative, Numérique, Publique, Média, and Événementielle. The agency also encompasses Talent, a recruitment sub-brand. The core Omerlo platform enables organizations to create, manage, and distribute digital content across Web and mobile applications, while the service fibers provide strategic, creative, digital, public relations, media, and event management capabilities. The agency differentiates through its France-Canada cross-border expertise spanning both Canadian French and French markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Omerlo: An innovative platform for designing and operating press, network, organization, and event media. It provides features for creating, managing, and distributing digital content on the web and in iOS and Android applications.
• Talent

Products and services

• Omerlo An innovative content management platform that enables design and operation of press, network, organizational, and event media; provides functionality to create, manage, and distribute digital content on the Web and in dedicated iOS and Android applications.
• Talent Professional recruitment agency offering a comprehensive range of consulting services including talent acquisition, headhunting, and retention solutions, combining recruitment efficiency with marketing power to attract the best talent.
• Public Relations Services (Publique) Public relations services including media relations, public affairs, and strategic positioning for organizations on public platforms.
• Strategic Services (Stratégique) Strategic consulting including strategic planning and advisory to help organizations define their direction and achieve objectives.
• Creative Services (Créative) Creative design and content services encompassing visual design, creative concept development, and brand expression across various touchpoints.
• Digital Services (Numérique) Digital services including web development, digital project management, and integration of digital platforms and ecosystems.
• Media Services (Média) Media planning and buying services including advertising strategy, media channel optimization, and campaign deployment.
• Event Services (Événementielle) Event management services including professional event planning, organization, and execution for corporate and public gatherings.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OmerlocoreTechnology or IntegrationOmerlo is an innovative platform that allows designing and operating press, network, organization and event media. deRabane integrates this platform for clients requiring content management and digital distribution capabilities across web and mobile applications.
• Talent DivisionminorOthersInternal recruitment division (talentderabane.com) providing professional recruitment services including talent acquisition, headhunting and retention solutions. Combines recruitment efficiency with marketing power to attract the best talent for clients.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global public relations firm with a Toronto/Montreal presence serving enterprise clients across multiple sectors including technology and government. Comparable on PR services and enterprise client roster, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and communications agency with technology, corporate, and public affairs practices. Comparable on enterprise PR work (e.g., AWS-type accounts) and integrated communications services, though operating at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Publicis Groupe Canada: Global communications holding company with significant Canadian presence offering advertising, PR, digital, and media services. Comparable on the full integrated agency model, though operating within a multinational network rather than as an independent.
• Havas Canada: Global advertising and communications network with Canadian operations including creative, media, and PR capabilities. Comparable on the full-service agency model spanning strategic, creative, digital, PR, and media services, though within a much larger holding company structure.
• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and communications agency with deep enterprise and technology practice experience. Comparable on enterprise PR mandates and cross-market capabilities, though substantially larger and globally diversified.

Direct peers

• Lg2: Quebec-based independent creative and communications agency serving major Canadian brands with strategy, creative, digital, and media services. Closely comparable on geography (Quebec), multi-disciplinary service offering, and Quebec-headquartered positioning.
• Sid Lee: Montreal-headquartered creative and communications agency with international offices and a reputation for integrated brand work. Comparable as a Quebec-based independent agency offering strategy, creative, digital, and content services to enterprise clients.
• NATIONAL Public Relations: One of Canada's largest public relations and communications firms, with bilingual capability across English and French Canada. Directly comparable to deRabane as a Canadian PR agency competing for French-market mandates and national accounts.
• Adviso: Quebec-based digital marketing and strategy consultancy serving enterprise clients across Canada. Comparable on Quebec geography, digital/strategic service mix, and enterprise-segment focus, though more digital-specialized than deRabane's full-service agency model.
• TACT Intelligence-conseil: Quebec-based communications and public affairs consultancy with strong ties to business associations and government relations. Comparable on Quebec geography, B2B/association client base (similar to FCCQ/SLA Québec), and integrated communications offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZoneFrancheRP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Free zone