The leading provider of visual search in the retail market

Slyce is a visual search company that builds image recognition tech to identify products, barcodes and more with a simple mobile scanner. Slyce’s most notable accomplishment is the Slyce Visual Search SDK, a plug-and-play mobile solution that allows developers to harness advanced image recognition processing in one simple universal scanner.
Founded
2012
Website
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Founded
2012
Website
Share
Slyce is a visual search company that builds image recognition tech to identify products, barcodes and more with a simple mobile scanner. Slyce’s most notable accomplishment is the Slyce Visual Search SDK, a plug-and-play mobile solution that allows developers to harness advanced image recognition processing in one simple universal scanner.

The challenge we were facing.

Slyce was an idea without a team, an app with no funding and a glaring gap within an untapped multi-billion-dollar retail landscape. The challenge was to develop and commercialize image recognition software on an enterprise level equipped with customizable consumer applications.

How our team tackled it.

With the backing of private investors, government grants and loans, we raised $40M to build out a technology portfolio and infrastructure that attracted a strong retail clients base. 

From there, the management team designed a sustainable series of effective strategic acquisitions, which contained a human computing lab to further develop backbone technology. 

This organic process spawned the offspring of this collaboration: Partium.io, a leading enterprise parts search engine for industrial spare parts and home improvement components as a ready-to-use app or a customizable component to enhance an already-existing system.

The difference we made.

As Slyce evolved organically, it acquired Catchoom and then merged with Humai to become Partium in 2020.
The results of this amalgamation resulted in two Clio awards for TommyxSlyce. During the process, BIG took the company public on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange, then was subsequently acquired by a private company (Anzu Partners) in late 2017.

We equipped Slyce with $40m in secure, diversified funding and went public.

Slyce, the concept, was solid, but the missing segment was funding. With BIG’s resources and network, the idea was born when private investors, government grants and loans and a team of passionate and dedication professionals led Slyce along its path to profit and sustainability. In total, the collaboration raised $40M, managed shareholder communications and took the company public on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange successfully.

We built relationships and won business with major retail brands.

With visual search AI still a glimmer in the retail industry’s eye, Slyce had a unique opportunity (and challenge) to be first-to-market to both retailers and end users. BIG executed a business development strategy that positioned Slyce as the leader in visual search to build trust and brand recognition with major retailers. We managed the process from cold calling through contract negotiations, winning business with major retail brands including Neiman Marcus, Home Depot, Urban Outfitters, JCPenney and Toys“R”Us.

We built Slyce’s internal infrastructure without losing sight on product development.

Slyce needed to stay hyper-focused on building their app to beat the competition, but a team of 3 wasn’t going to cut it. We grew Slyce to a fully functioning company of 95. First, we designed internal operations and onboarding processes that ran seamlessly in the background; later, we integrated four acquired companies into functioning teams to add talent without hurdles. Finally, to maintain a shared vision, we facilitated quarterly and weekly meetings across the entire company.

Client
Success

Many companies would struggle to grow a visual scanning product concept into the world leader in visual search, but these are the kinds of opportunities we crave. 

 

As icing on the cake, Slyce went on to win the Nova Scotia Economic Impact Award and the Stevie Award for Startup of the Year.

Client
Success

Many companies would struggle to grow a visual scanning product concept into the world leader in visual search, but these are the kinds of opportunities we crave. 

 

As icing on the cake, Slyce went on to win the Nova Scotia Economic Impact Award and the Stevie Award for Startup of the Year.

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Jamie Clarke

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Jamie’s diverse career in the startup ecosystem has empowered him to understand the intricacies of collaboration and innovation; he has a keen eye for great ideas, and is able to quickly discern whether a market is ready for a shift. His operational experience informs his ability to craft a compelling narrative around a company’s finances, metrics, and growth potential to win partners and investors.

As BIG’s Chief Operating Officer, Jamie works to set and achieve project goals, plans, and timelines. He works alongside BIG’s executive management team to provide visionary organizational leadership and ensure operational controls are adhered to, timelines are met, and objectives are exceeded. Jamie is co-author of The Sustainable Startup, which he crafted alongside Cameron Chell. The book provides startups the guidance and structure they need to scale their team and business.

Erika Racicot

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

Erika practices her passion for turning ideas into reality every day. As a founding partner and CEO at Business Instincts Group, Erika has invested the past 12 years on the strategic development and growth of a plethora of companies and partnerships. Her key strengths are building repeatable, scalable systems across operations, product development, marketing, and human capital.

Erika is also a core member of creating and growing the BIG RIPKIT methodology, a strategic planning tool that benefits entrepreneurs by advancing their ideas into actionable and profitable businesses.

Erika completed her Independent Corporate Directors Designation in 2015, and garners experience in both private and public company board governances. She currently acts on both boards of Business Instincts Group and Pounce Holdings Inc.

Cameron Chell

CO-FOUNDER EMERITUS

Cameron has been an entrepreneur since age 14, and has since spent his career growing a diverse collection of high-potential ideas into revolutionary companies that have changed the way we experience the world.

At BIG, Cameron takes a hands-on leadership position in projects, infusing his principles of clarity, alignment and measurement into the culture of every BIG partner.

Cameron’s leadership was critical to the success of Urthecast, which he co-founded, Cold Bore Technologies, Slyce, Raptor Rig, Trace and Trax. Most recently, Cameron has served as an advisor to KodakCoin, one of the first compliant crypto currencies developed in partnership between Business Instincts Group, WENN Digital and ICOX Innovations. In addition to his work with BIG, Cameron is a popular motivational speaker on topics including technology, culture and overcoming adversity.