Our Story & Team

Built in Canada, Driven by Data, Powered by People

NovaMind Digital was founded in 2017 with a clear mission: make advanced AI marketing tools accessible to Canadian businesses of every size. Today, our bilingual team of strategists and data scientists serves clients from Halifax to Vancouver.

Our Story

From a Toronto Startup to a National Practice

NovaMind Digital started in a co-working space on King Street in Toronto. Our two co-founders, both former marketing directors at Canadian technology firms, had grown frustrated by the gap between what AI could do in theory and what most marketing teams could access in practice. Enterprise-grade analytics platforms were priced far beyond reach for mid-market businesses, and the consultants who understood machine learning rarely spoke the language of marketers.

We set out to bridge that gap. The first version of our platform launched in early 2018, connecting Google Ads and Facebook advertising data into a single dashboard with automated anomaly detection. Within a year, we had expanded to cover organic search, email marketing, and social media analytics. By 2020, we opened a second office in Montreal to better serve francophone clients across Quebec and New Brunswick.

Today, NovaMind Digital employs a team of 38 professionals across our Toronto and Montreal offices. Our client base spans retail, professional services, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. What has not changed since day one is our commitment to plain-language reporting, bilingual support, and the belief that good data should inform every marketing decision.

NovaMind Digital team collaborating in bright modern Toronto office space with monitors showing analytics dashboards
Mission & Values

What Guides Everything We Do

Our mission is to make AI-powered marketing intelligence accessible, transparent, and actionable for businesses across Canada. These five values shape every decision we make.

Transparency First

Every report we produce shows the data behind the recommendation. We never hide behind jargon or black-box algorithms. If our AI suggests a change, you see exactly why. Clients access the same dashboards our strategists use, and every metric is explained in plain language.

Honest Projections

We present realistic forecasts based on your specific market, budget, and competitive landscape. We would rather under-promise and over-deliver than set expectations we cannot meet. If a campaign idea looks unlikely to produce results, we will tell you before spending a dollar.

Bilingual by Design

Canada is a bilingual country and our services reflect that reality. Every dashboard, report, and consultation is available in both English and French. Our Montreal team ensures francophone clients receive the same quality of service and strategic depth as anglophone ones.

Data Privacy

Client data stays on Canadian servers and is encrypted at every stage. We comply with PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25. We never sell, share, or repurpose client data for any reason other than the services we have been engaged to perform. Your data belongs to you.

Human + Machine

AI handles pattern recognition and data processing, but humans make the strategic calls. Every automated recommendation passes through a strategist before it reaches your campaigns. Technology accelerates our work; it does not replace the judgment and creativity of experienced marketers.

Long-Term Partnerships

We build relationships, not transactions. Our average client engagement lasts over two years because we focus on sustainable growth rather than quick wins. Monthly strategy sessions, quarterly reviews, and annual planning ensure we stay aligned with your evolving business objectives.

Leadership Team

Meet the People Behind NovaMind

Our leadership team brings together expertise in machine learning, digital strategy, and Canadian market dynamics.

professional headshot of female co-founder and CEO with confident expression in business attire

Sarah M. Thornton

Co-Founder & CEO

Former VP of Marketing at a Canadian SaaS company. 14 years of experience in digital strategy and business development across North American markets.

professional headshot of male co-founder and CTO wearing glasses in modern office setting

David L. Chen

Co-Founder & CTO

Machine learning engineer with a PhD from the University of Toronto. Built predictive models for two of Canada's largest retail brands before co-founding NovaMind.

professional headshot of female head of strategy with warm expression in bright office

Marie-Claire D.

Head of Strategy, Montreal

Leads our francophone practice and Quebec market operations. Previously managed digital campaigns for major retail and hospitality brands across Eastern Canada.

professional headshot of male head of data science with focused expression

James R. Okafor

Head of Data Science

Oversees our AI model development and quality assurance. Published researcher in predictive analytics with over a decade of experience in applied machine learning.

NovaMind at a Glance

Numbers That Reflect Our Growth

A snapshot of where NovaMind Digital stands today, built over eight years of steady, sustainable growth.

2017

Year Founded

38

Team Members

210+

Clients Served

2

Canadian Offices

Our Offices

Where to Find Us

Two locations, one unified team. We serve clients nationwide from Toronto and Montreal.

modern office building exterior in downtown Toronto financial district on Bay Street
Head Office

Toronto, Ontario

350 Bay Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON M5H 2S6
+1 (416) 792-3148
modern office space in downtown Montreal near Place Ville Marie with city skyline view
Bureau Francophone

Montréal, Québec

1250 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, Bureau 2200, Montréal, QC H3B 4W8
+1 (514) 613-7254
Client Perspectives

What Our Clients Say

Feedback from real clients who have partnered with NovaMind Digital to improve their marketing performance.

"Working with NovaMind changed how our team thinks about paid advertising. The AI dashboard pinpointed exactly where we were overspending and suggested budget shifts that improved our cost per lead within the first month. Their reporting is clear, honest, and always delivered on time."

LB

Laura B.

VP Marketing, Retail Chain · Toronto

"Le fait que l'équipe de Montréal offre un service complet en français a été déterminant pour nous. Les rapports bilingues nous permettent de communiquer facilement avec nos partenaires anglophones en Ontario tout en gardant notre équipe québécoise informée. Highly recommend for any bilingual Canadian operation."

PT

Philippe T.

Directeur numérique, Hospitality Group · Montréal

"We brought NovaMind on board specifically for their strategic consulting service. Their quarterly planning sessions helped us prioritize three high-impact channels and scale back on two that were underperforming. The data-backed approach removed a lot of internal debate and let us move faster."

RM

Rachel M.

CEO, SaaS Startup · Vancouver

Ready to See What AI Can Do for Your Marketing?

Request a complimentary audit of your digital marketing presence. Our team will identify opportunities and walk you through the findings with no cost or obligation.