Stirling-based Dogfish Mobile has rebranded as Vidatec, and vowed to invest in innovation and technology that improves peoples’ lives.

The rebrand of the enterprise web and mobile app development firm follows its multi-million-pound acquisition by the Dundee-based Insights Group in June 2017.

As part of the relaunch, Vidatec has moved to new offices within the Stirling Innovation Park at Stirling University. Coinciding with a 40% growth in staff headcount over the past year, the new offices are four times the size of its existing footprint, allowing for greater investment in R&D and business development.

Vidatec, headed up by former CTO at Insights Group, Greig Johnston, intends to tap into Dogfish’s heritage in mobile app development, as well as its experience in health and care technology. The business will now have a clear focus on using the power of technology to improve people’s experiences of life.

The importance of purpose

Johnston said: “The Dogfish brand has served us well but we wanted a name that could reflect our purpose, and that’s very important. We want to have a real purpose and we want to make a difference in the world.

“We’re probably most proud of our work with Public Health England, and the Couch To 5k app, helping people to become more aware of sugar and fat in their diet, and encouraging them to live healthier lifestyles. We have a track record of helping to change the behaviour and attitudes of people, so that’s why we really want to focus on healthcare technology.”

Under the new Vidatec brand, the business will focus on three core pillars – health and wellbeing, social good, and a better working world, enabling it to refine its technology offering. This will see it 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.

Johnston said: “Our focus will be to build on the business’s existing work in the health and care technology space. 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.”

The company also announced plans for operational expansion into Mumbai, India, and Austin, USA.

Johnston said: “Scotland is an absolutely fantastic place for technology companies to be based and work in. We’ve got a lot of talent here – university in the likes of Stirling, Dundee and Edinburgh are pumping out great talent.

“I think there’s a real buzz around Scotland’s tech industry now, and the Government is doing a lot more and is really starting to invest in technology, particularly around mobile health.

“With our plans for international expansion, we now need to think about we can best position our resources.”

According to Polly Purvis, chief executive of ScotlandIS, said: “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.”