Dogfish Mobile, a web and mobile apps development company, has been been relaunched as ‘Vidatec’, a new venture focused on developing technology aimed at ‘improving people’s lives’.
Dogfish Mobile was acquired in June last year by Dundee-based Insights Group in a multi-million pound deal and has since been undergoing an extensive rebranding and repositioning exercise.
As a result, the company will now focus on three ‘pillars’ – health and wellbeing, social good, and a better working world.
Dogfish Mobile – which was central-Scotland based – had been operating for almost 10 years as an enterprise web and mobile app development company, steered by founders Ross Tuffee and Paul Burrowes; as part of the agreement Tuffee is moving on from the business whilst Burrowes is set to remain.
It developed mobile solutions by using ‘habit-forming technology to drive greater user engagement and change how people behave’. Formed in 2009, the company built an impressive portofilo of clients including Merlin Entertainment, Diageo and Network Rail.
It also developed apps for Public Health England as part of its Change4Life and One You campaigns.
‘Couch to 5k’, the app designed to help absolute beginners become comfortable running in just 9 weeks, has been downloaded over 1 million times. The Sugar Smart and Food Scanner apps, focused on encouraging children to make smarter food choices has also been downloaded around 3 million times.
In a statement, the newco said it will evolve from simply being aimed at mobile services and applications, to now being able to deliver a ‘much greater suite of products and services, focused around this central proposition of bettering people’s lives through technology’.
The business will be headed up by former Chief Technology Officer at Insights Group, Greig Johnston, Vidatec, who said: “Dogfish has been a fantastic success story within the Scottish technology sector for almost 10 years. The business has been able to capitalise on the huge demand we now see for mobile technology by developing truly innovative applications to service these needs. We want to build on those existing skills to help drive the business forward under a more defined proposition which we believe better reflects who we are. That’s why we are relaunching as Vidatec.”
He said: “Our focus will be to build on the business’s existing work in the health and care technology space. Previously we were already doing this through our work with the likes of PHE. We believe we can push on even further, to develop new technologies that can bring real change to people, communities and businesses. The launch of Vidatec is just the start and over the coming weeks and months we plan on sharing further announcements which reinforce our commitment to bettering lives.”
As part of the relaunch, Vidatec will be relocating to new offices, within the Stirling Innovation Park, located at Stirling University. Coinciding with a 40 per cent growth in staff headcount over the past 12 months, the new offices are four times the size of its existing footprint, allowing for greater investment in R&D and business development. Vidatec is also going to be announcing its intention for international growth with new operations in India and the US, all of which will be supported by several strategic appointments within these regions.
According to Polly Purvis Chief Executive of ScotlandIS, Vidatec’s launch reinforces a recent industry survey which showed high confidence and growth across Scotland’s tech sector.
She said: “It’s very exciting to see Vidatec’s official launch. Dogfish was a leader within mobile app development, not only adding real value to customers but also giving a huge amount back to the Scottish technology community. Under the new leadership, the plans for Vidatec are seriously exciting and we’re looking forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength.”