Driving growth
Ready to drive the growth of your business?
Let's work togetherTo succeed, you must surround yourself with the right people
When it comes to driving a company's growth, defining a well thought-out and structured growth strategy is essential. You would certainly want to surround yourself with specialized resources who have the expertise to support and advise you. These resources will quickly become true business partners, adding value to the growth plan at all stages of its development.
When meeting a need becomes an entrepreneurial driver
Founded by two former students of Université Laval in photonic optics, Laserax is a young and growing technology company. Its innovative products—intelligent and high-performance laser solutions for marking and cleaning—and its modular offer have enabled the SME to quickly increase its market share in Canada in the aluminum, steel and automotive parts sectors. To remain competitive in a constantly evolving market, Laserax wants to continue growing, while ensuring it has the means to achieve its ambitions.
Interview with Xavier Godmaire, President and CEO, Laserax
Note: The information between brackets describes the visual and audio content of the video that is not dialogue or narration.
[A young man with short brown hair is being interviewed.]
Xavier Godmaire: Laserax is the story of two students who joined forces to start a company.
[Under a clear blue sky, the varied architecture of Old Quebec spreads at the foot of Château Frontenac.]
[Text on screen: From start to growth.]
Xavier Godmaire: Xavier Godmaire, president and co-founder of Laserax and proud entrepreneur from the Quebec City region.
[Xavier stands and smiles in front of a laser marking chamber.]
Xavier Godmaire: At its core, Laserax is the story of two young entrepreneurs, two students at Université Laval specializing in photonics who decided to take the opportunity to work with a large manufacturer and start a business to fulfill a need.
[Xavier and his partner walk into an open-concept office and stop behind a man working on a desktop computer. Sitting at a table in a conference room, they examine a metal cylinder.]
Xavier Godmaire: Laserax is an industrial laser equipment supplier selling solutions for the laser marking
or cleaning industry.
[A laser beam inscribes Laserax's contact information, product information and a QR code onto a pallet of metal bars. A conveyor belt carries the freshly-inscribed product out of the inscription chamber, and then it gets picked up by a forklift.]
Xavier Godmaire: Our clients come from the aluminum or steel industries as well as the automotive parts sector.
[Xavier and his partner talk in front of a white board.]
Xavier Godmaire: I've always been very creative, with a lot of ideas, and I think that's why I became an entrepreneur - the opportunity to turn these ideas into reality and see them through.
[A 3D model of a laser machine rotates on a computer screen.]
Xavier Godmaire: Laserax had to grow fast since it's a technology business, so it's been really important for me to challenge our ideas in order to make sure that the products we offer and the capital that we invest are adequate.
[In the Laserax factory, a man wearing safety goggles and ear plugs examines wires on a laser machine.]
Xavier Godmaire: That is why we work with Roland, for example. We talk every week about everything, from finances to how to increase the company's value and generate growth, so we're really close partners in this venture.
[A man wearing safety goggles moves a large mechanical arm over a block of rusty metal and uses it to move a laser beam across the block to remove the rust.]
Xavier Godmaire: Last year, we went from 15% to 70% in the international market.
[On a white background, a red world map displays thumb tacks concentrated mainly in Quebec, the United States and Western Europe.]
Xavier Godmaire: We want to concentrate our efforts there and establish ourselves in the U.S., Mexico, Europe and the Middle East to become a world leader in our industry.
[Xavier and his partner examine a piece of metal on a conference room table. Laserax employees work on computers.]
Xavier Godmaire: The pride I get from being Laserax's co-founder is in building something that's bigger than us, something that I know will become a household name in Quebec and known throughout the world.
[A metal cylinder is placed on a tray which pivots into the inscription chamber. An employee enters a code on a control screen and the Laserax logo is laser engraved on the cylinder.]
Xavier Godmaire: If you want to stretch your limits, you have to surround yourself well and embrace challenge. In that regard, having a great partner opens up possibilities for us.
[Image on screen: Desjardins Capital logo]
"To push your boundaries, you have to reach out and get the right people around you, and challenge your own ideas. When you have a partner of choice on your side, you really can go the distance!" - Xavier Godmaire, CEO, Laserax
Desjardins Capital's analysis
For Laserax, everything went very fast. Its two founders, Xavier Godmaire and Alex Fraser, launched their business with a multinational industrial company as their first client. Amid quick and positive market response, the number of contracts increased. The company then grew at a frenetic pace to meet demand. To ensure its growth, Laserax needed to structure itself, strengthen its teams and refine its growth strategy.
Laserax's strengths
- High-performing products
- Enhanced value proposition
- Niche market
- Growth potential
Can you plan for sustained and controlled growth?
Several factors must be taken into account when planning your company's growth strategy. The impacts of all future transformations must be considered to ensure solid growth that optimizes the company's value and performance at each stage of its growth.
Above all, your company must avoid jeopardizing its financial stability. Does your company have the internal resources to move forward or does it need to look for financial partners?
Desjardins Capital is investing in Quebec's next generation of flagship companies. For many years, we've been working with numerous local entrepreneurs who, like you, are looking to drive the growth of their business.
Don't hesitate to call on our specialists. They'll support you throughout a well-planned growth process.
Desjardins Capital's support
"Desjardins Capital came in during our company's startup phase. They immediately saw Laserax's potential and put us in touch with Inno-centre experts who helped us grow. Desjardins Capital also helped set up an advisory committee that allowed us to better focus our efforts and clearly define our business niche and strategy. They also encouraged us to have a more business than scientific perspective. By providing financing, Desjardins Capital made it possible to execute our strategic plan. Without the advice, support and proximity of our Investment Manager, Roland Léger, we would not have been able to grow so quickly." - Xavier Godmaire, PDG de LaserAX