Connect with us

Technology

Ludia Back in Québec Hands: A new era for Canada’s largest independent mobile game studio

Published

2 years ago

on

New Local Ownership to Support Growth, with 50 Jobs Created and Acquisitions Planned

MONTRÉAL, March 4, 2025 /CNW/ – Montréal-based video game studio Ludia is back in Canadian hands following a buyout led by local shareholders and members of its senior management team. The acquisition from U.S.-based Jam City was finalized in recent days, marking a significant milestone for the studio.

As part of this transition, Jimmy Gendron has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, tasked with steering Ludia into a new era of growth and innovation.

“This return to independence marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Ludia. I am thrilled about our future, driven by the talent of our team and the support of top-tier financial partners. We now have the opportunity to bring an ambitious vision to life, delivering games that captivate millions of players worldwide,” said Gendron.

Additionally, Alexandre Thabet, who founded Ludia back in 2007, is rejoining the company as a shareholder and will serve as Chairman of the Board.

“It is with great emotion and immense pride that I take part in this announcement today. Thanks to local financial backing and one of the most experienced leadership teams in Canada’s mobile gaming industry, Ludia is poised to move towards its ambitions for the future,” added Thabet.

This transaction is backed by major investors, including Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Investissement Québec, BDC Capital Growth Equity Partners, Export Development Canada (EDC), and Groupe W, with additional support from National Bank. Dominic Bécotte, Ludia’s former Chief Financial Officer, also played a key role in the transaction as a consultant.

A Promising Future for Ludia
With its return to Canadian ownership, Ludia has become the largest independent mobile game studio in the country, further solidifying Montréal and Quebec’s position as one of the world’s top video game hubs. The company’s headquarters, located in the heart of Old Montréal, currently employ over 130 people.

Driven by a growth-focused business plan, Ludia aims to create 50 new jobs over the next year while developing new games. With the backing of its financial partners, the company also intends to explore new acquisition opportunities to fuel its expansion.

Quotes

“Investissement Québec is proud to help bring Ludia’s ownership back to Québec. As a key player in the video game industry, Ludia now has the flexibility to grow and expand internationally while remaining firmly rooted locally. By investing $18,2 million in the company, Investissement Québec is fulfilling its mission to support Québec excellence in key sectors of our economy and foster the creation of world-class champions right here at home.”
— Claude Farrier, Executive Vice President, Private Equity, Investissement Québec

“Thanks to the leadership of Jimmy Gendron and Alexandre Thabet, Ludia is returning to its Québec roots. We are proud to partner with them to support the continued growth of a mobile gaming industry leader founded here in 2007. The Fonds’ investment reflects our commitment to backing local entrepreneurs and growing Québec businesses. Having an engaged and experienced leadership team in place is a major asset—not only for Ludia but also for the future of Québec’s entertainment industry.”
— Saloua Benkhouya, Vice President, Private Equity and Impact Investments, Entertainment and Services, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

“EDC is thrilled to support Ludia’s return to Canada and its promising next phase of growth. With its roots in Québec, Ludia has established itself as a leader in the mobile gaming industry, captivating global audiences with its innovative creations. EDC’s investment will help the company achieve its ambitious goals and showcase the strength of Canada’s digital industry on the world stage.”
— Guillermo Freire, Senior Vice President, Mid-Market Group, EDC

“BDC Growth Equity Partners is proud to join forces with Alex Thabet, Jimmy Gendron, and his team to mark this new chapter in Ludia’s growth. Together, we share the ambition of building a world-class Canadian company. With our extensive experience in this industry, we firmly believe that Ludia, being based in Montréal, can leverage a deep talent pool, an innovative environment, and strong support to drive its development forward. The company is well-positioned for a bright and prosperous future.”
— Maxime Tourangeau, Partner and Regional Team Lead, Growth Equity Partners, BDC Capital

“This is a unique opportunity to invest alongside seasoned professionals who have demonstrated their ability to create successful games. We also seized the chance to bring a company back to Québec ownership—an action that strengthens our local economy and preserves our expertise in this industry.”
— Nicolas Bélanger, Founder and Partner, Groupe W Investissements

About Ludia

Founded in 2007, Ludia is the largest independent mobile game studio in Canada. The studio has established itself as a key player in the industry by developing over 50 games based on popular franchises and original licenses, including Jurassic World Alive, Jurassic World: The Game, Dragons: Rise of Berk, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Legends, Family Feud, and many more.

Since its inception, the studio has generated over CAD 1.3 billion in revenue, with more than 500 million downloads, and attracts over 3.5 million players each month.

Recognized by Apple as “Canada’s Best Game Maker,” Ludia has also been named among GamesIndustry.biz’s “Best Places to Work 2018” and “Montréal’s Top Employers 2021.” The company employs over 130 people at its headquarters in Montréal.

For more information, visit www.ludia.com.

SOURCE Ludia

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

Published

11 minutes ago

on

October 24, 2026

By

Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

Continue Reading

Technology

STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

Published

1 hour ago

on

October 24, 2026

By

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

Continue Reading

Technology

Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

Published

1 hour ago

on

October 24, 2026

By

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending