Building a data platform to support consumer packaged goods launches for goCPG

Parker Christie and Dushyant Puri, SMART Centre

This project addressed a common challenge for consumer-packaged goods brands: turning scattered public data and informal launch notes into clear, repeatable business decisions. The work was carried out in two phases. The first phase focused on identifying relevant datasets and designing a wireframe that mapped the full product launch journey. The second phase developed a minimum viable product (MVP), a working prototype platform that helps brands interpret public market data and track their own launch progress in a structured way. 

The platform allows brands to move through a guided, stage-based launch process, capturing key metrics and short reflections on what worked well and what did not. These structured updates generate a growing dataset that can be analyzed to identify patterns and insights across multiple product launches. Together, the dataset framework and the MVP platform provide brands with a clearer path to plan, launch, and learn from their market entry strategies. 

Following completion of the project, goCPG plans to expand testing with additional brands while continuing product development and fundraising. User feedback and real-world launch data will help refine the platform and strengthen the dataset over time, supporting future analytical tools and models that can provide deeper insights into successful product launches. 

We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).