Research at Queen'sFour of Queen ý ’s Partnerships and Innovation's (QPI) supported startups recently participated in a dynamic one-day workshop led by Andrew Jackson, the creator of the . The session, which took place on May 8, 2025, guided participants through a series of hands-on exercises designed to uncover and articulate the unique qualities that set their companies apart in their respective competitive markets.
Jackson, a seasoned executive with leadership experience at companies like JetForm (Adobe), InSystems (Oracle), and MD Financial (Scotiabank), has become a trusted partner in QPI ý ’s entrepreneurial programming over the last ten years. His 5D Differentiation™ methodology has helped startups and scale-ups alike sharpen their messaging, align internal teams, and attract the right customers and investors.
“It was great to be back working with Queen ý ’s Partnerships and Innovation,” said Jackson, who last worked with QPI as a co-developer and co-facilitator of the Wings Acceleration Program under the first Scale Up Platform project from 2019-2023. “I am always impressed and inspired by the calibre of companies being supported by QPI. And this particular cohort was special because I’d already worked with each of them through Wings and I could see how far they had come since the last time we worked together."
The workshop is part of QPI ý ’s ongoing commitment to providing high-impact resources and programming for startups poised to grow through the Scale Platform, supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
The four companies, Demagel, LenSense, , and , each explored the differentiated messaging framework, completed a 5D assessment, and then received tailored recommendations to refine their positioning, all in the course of the one-day workshop. Each participant was also provided with an additional hour of 1:1 coaching from Jackson after the workshop.
“I was really impressed by the process,” says Prashant Agrawal, co-founder of Plantee, who attended the session. “It was a great follow up to Wings and one of the best workshops I’ve attended."
“The level of engagement from the participants was outstanding. It ý ’s always exciting to see founders gain clarity and confidence in how they present their value,” says Rick Boswell, Assistant Director, Programs and Operations at QPI, who shared Jackson ý ’s enthusiasm and sentiment about the companies who attended. “We’re looking forward to working with Andrew again for another iteration of this workshop next year."
Queen ý ’s Partnerships and Innovation (QPI) offered the 5D Differentiation workshop, along with many other programs and services, with support from the , through the , an initiative led by Invest Ottawa in Eastern Ontario and in which QPI is a regional partner.