Canadian companies aren’t just facing higher costs, they’re redesigning their supply chains in real time. Nearly two-thirds say they’re restructuring their networks due to tariff uncertainty, and more than half of Canadian manufacturers report that current trade pressures threaten their ability to stay afloat.
For brands dependent on packaging, the stakes are especially sharp. Sourcing still takes months, and every extra week means higher costs, unpredictable timelines, and real operational risk.
That’s the gap Waterloo-based Laibl is aiming to close. Co-founded by CEO Jamie Lo and CPO Nick Jessop, Laibl is building an AI platform that replaces today’s slow, manual packaging procurement with a fast, automated experience.
Building on Waterloo’s startup soil
Jessop grew up in the region’s tech community, learning the craft of product building through hands-on roles across the ecosystem. It’s experience that now shapes Laibl’s product vision.
“I really launched my career in Waterloo when I started at Mappedin,” said Jessop. “I got to dip my hands in a lot of different things, not only product design, but even branching off into some software development and marketing, then I really moved into product management.”
Why he walked away from a full-time job
“I decided to leave Hive and explore the entrepreneurial side. It was a pivotal point to just kind of take the leap and not have the cushion of a full-time job and really go for it.”
He joined the Antler Canada accelerator program to connect co-founders and fast-track startup solutions.
“I was able to build that network of people whom I wouldn't have organically met in the ecosystem,” he said. “That program led me to where I am today. That’s where I met Jamie.”
The two founders quickly aligned around a shared frustration: packaging procurement was slow, manual, and stuck in outdated processes.
“When Jamie and I connected, I saw where there was a hole in the market,” said Jessop. “I felt drawn to Laibl because I love seeing an industry like this, where it's very antiquated and outdated, and there's so much opportunity to modernize it and automate it. That’s what I love about working in tech.”
The AI concierge behind the platform
Laibl’s early research made it clear that brands weren’t struggling with strategy; they were struggling with time. So the team built a tool focused on cutting through complexity and returning results fast.
“We were iterating on an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and trying to get validation from companies. What was the need? What were the pain points? There must be a solution in this area,” said Lo. “So we built a platform that helps brands in the beauty, food, retail, pet, healthcare and mostly consumer packaged goods space to automate their sourcing process when trying to find packaging.”
What differentiates Laibl is its simplicity. For brands, sourcing can begin with a plain-language chat.
“You can start with just having a conversation. It's as easy as texting a wish list to a friend to create that initial sourcing request,” said Jessop. “And then from there, we're automatically pairing you with that high-quality vetted supplier and doing all the outreach on your behalf. We reduce all that back and forth.”
The pressure to reshore fast
Rising tariffs and unstable trade routes continue to push brands into rethinking where and how they source packaging. Laibl’s timing reflects a broader shift toward North American production.
“Brands are moving fast to bring packaging back within North America due to tariffs and trade tensions,” said Lo. “Our AI analyzes their needs, timelines, and location, then suggests the right suppliers, and it keeps learning as we onboard more brands and suppliers.”
Turning eight weeks of work into eight days
Laibl’s value becomes clearer when applied to real projects. Early collaborations have shown how much time and cost can be recovered when brands match with the right suppliers faster.
“L’Occitane en Provence wanted to do their direct mailing out of a US provider. So, what we found was that we could source a US and Canadian provider and use the Canadian provider for all of their Canadian customers,” explained Jessop. “This is like 1.6 million direct mailers. Laibl supported bringing that business all back to Canada. We're helping local producers within Canada to avoid shipping back and forth across the border. And we’re supporting the local supplier base.”
“We're currently sourcing all their packaging projects in North America, reducing the sourcing time from eight weeks down to eight days,” he said.
By working with vetted domestic suppliers, Laibl is helping brands reduce risk and giving Canadian manufacturers a more consistent pipeline.
Powered by Waterloo Region’s ecosystem
Laibl’s momentum is tied closely to the community around it. Talent, connections, and the density of founders building side-by-side are all central to Waterloo Region’s tech advantage.
“Waterloo kind of stands on its own,” he said. “We actually just hired someone, a software developer whom I had met through the ecosystem. It’s great to be part of that network.”
Communitech has become part of that foundation of Laibl’s early-stage growth as well.
“Communitech is such an amazing space,” said Jessop. “The resources and PR support have been amazing. We just started meeting some other great founders and advisory coaches. Honestly, it feels like the energy is coming back to Waterloo again.
“It’s not just about the talent here,” said Lo. “It’s about access to advisors, other founders, and a network that’s willing to share and help each other. That’s what makes building in Waterloo special.”
The long-term bet on autonomous sourcing
Laibl’s roadmap stretches far beyond today’s matchmaking. The team is aiming for an end-to-end marketplace where AI handles sourcing automatically.
“The overarching vision would be this autonomous sourcing marketplace where brands simply describe what they want and then AI handles everything from preparing the request to moving things into production, managing that supplier relationship, working end-to-end,” said Jessop.
“We want to be seen as a trusted player in the packaging space, not just another tool,” said Lo.
Watch this space
Global supply chains aren’t calming down anytime soon, and brands are under pressure to source locally, efficiently, and reliably. Laibl is betting that the next wave of resilience won’t come from more spreadsheets or more calls, it’ll come from autonomy and empowering brands with choice.
As they scale, the question becomes whether Laibl can evolve from a helpful platform into the infrastructure companies depend on to navigate a more uncertain future.
Looking to move faster, innovate smarter, and connect with Canada’s tech ecosystem? Discover how Communitech helps founders and companies turn big ideas into action.