The clearing and custody space was long overdue for disruption. Legacy providers dominated with rigid systems, poor support and cumbersome integrations. When the team behind RQD* spun off in 2020, they had a bold vision – but needed a brand and go-to-market launch powerful enough to break through inertia in a conservative industry.
“We knew we only had one chance to make a first impression. Forefront helped us make the most of it.”
— Michael Sanocki, CEO
We began by distilling RQD*’s core narrative – “clearing is required” – and turning it into a brand promising an essential alternative for broker-dealers. From there, we architected the naming, messaging, visual identity and launch framework to convey credibility, boldness and technical rigor.
“Forefront’s deep knowledge of our business, creative acumen and media savvy had a major impact on our launch.”
— Michael Sanocki, CEO
With the brand foundation in hand, we built a distinctive visual system – complete with gradients, patterns and an asterisk motif tied to the new RQD* name – that stood out in a sea of legacy clearing brands. The website brought messaging and design into harmony, showing RQD*’s value proposition with clarity and confidence. Behind the scenes, we created sales decks, press releases, media outreach plans and media training sessions for public appearances. By launch day, RQD* had every tool in place to introduce itself on its own terms.
“Forefront worked highly independently, enabling us to focus on other aspects of our launch while leaving brand-building to the experts.”
— Michael Sanocki, CEO
RQD* emerged with a bold, coherent brand and a fully equipped launch platform, giving it a strong market foothold from day one. Its media debut captured attention across trade outlets, helping the firm start its journey as a credible disruptor in clearing and custody.
