Tech firm Plasticity Labs closes
‘Sad announcement to share,’ co-founder says
KITCHENER — Tech firm Plasticity Labs announced Wednesday it is permanently closed.
The Kitchener company developed a platform to improve workplace happiness and employee engagement and performance; its Hero Generation program was used in schools to support student and staff wellbeing.
“On March 15th, we closed our doors at Plasticity thinking we’d be returning after March break but as it turns out we were closing the doors for the last time,” states a note posted on the company’s website from Jim Moss,
“chief happiness officer” and co-founder.
“While this is a sad announcement to share, Plasticity Labs was only a company. And ideas are far bigger. Thousands of organizations will close during this crisis, but the people and their desire to do good will find new ways to answer the needs of their communities. We are no different.”
Founded in 2013 by Jim and Jennifer Moss as The Smile Epidemic Inc., the company’s platform was used by more than 150 organizations to help improve employee health and happiness. The Hero Generation program for schools taught students social-emotional skills that complemented standard curriculum.
Recently, Plasticity Labs had made many of its Hero Generation learning materials free for parents to use during pandemic-prompted school closures.
“We are so grateful for the many positive lessons we have learned, the data we were able to collect and share, and the opportunity to educate so many people on the science of happiness,” Moss’ message said.
Moss paid tribute to the customers, investors and incubators that played a role in their journey, and thanked Plasticity’s more than 50 employees, volunteers and contractors. “We did our very best and our individual missions will find new pathways to success,” he said on Twitter.