MEC is launching MEC Tonic, a new division delivering tech-first solutions to clients via start-ups and early stage companies, Jason Dormieux, joint CEO MEC and MEC Tonic, announced recently.
MEC Tonic will work with brands and start-ups to create successful partnerships.
The new launch will be led by Hannah Blake, MEC’s Director of Open Innovation.
Blake joined in February 2015 from BBC Worldwide Labs, where she was programme manager. She will report to Ben Poole, MEC’s recently appointed Chief Digital Officer.
Blake has been building the division with MEC’s Head of Mobile Jide Sobo and group strategy director Toby Strangewood.
MECs new division is already working with a portfolio of leading UK start-ups including Seenit, Openr, Rezonence, and US companies, Quid and Affinio, but MEC is also introducing an Intrapreneurs programme to encourage innovation from within the agency.
“Technology continues to disrupt client marketing strategies. For brands to be on the front foot we need to take innovation via new companies and business models seriously. We’re excited by MEC Tonic’s new approach to delivering growth for our clients and our industry, ” Jason Dormieux, the joint CEO of MEC and MEC Tonic explained.
Blake said: “There is a growing ecosystem of support and mentoring for start-ups but very little exists to educate and challenge established companies on working with emerging technology. Brands need to work faster, take risks, allocate budget and dedicate resource if they want to deliver innovation successfully.”
Propietrary process
MEC Tonic has developed a roprietary process to help brands realise successful business outcomes from start-up and technology partnerships.
Stage one is designed to educate and inspire clients, helping them understand how technology can transform their business.
Stage two will help increase tech-first responses to client briefs as well as pro-actively spot off-brief, innovative opportunities through technology such as iBeacons, artificial intelligence or virtual reality. This stage will be supported by a team of newly appointed innovation pioneers from across MEC who will help match the right start-up to a client opportunity.
Stage three is a consultative service designed to source new technology against clients’ wider business challenges via a six month ‘Sprint’. This culminates in an accelerated partnership between a client and the most promising start-up, funded by a ring-fenced budget agreed at the start.
Image over the headline.- © MEC.
