Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NEXT

THE FUTURE OF STARTUP LAW

NEXT is a trailblazer in the innovative business sector, offering advanced startup-centric legal solutions. Born from the established law firm Shulman Rogers, NEXT is redefining legal services for startups and emerging growth companies. NEXT founder Anthony Millin drew from his experience as an entrepreneur, partner in an early-stage VC Fund,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TREE TOOLS

INNOVATIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOLS

In 2001, Tree Tools built its headquarters in the Curitiba Software Park, an area dedicated to software production, and since then has been part of the Curitiba City Council’s Tecnoparque program. Curitiba is an innovative city and was chosen in Barcelona, Spain, as the Smartest City in the World in...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATION Quebec

CÉPROCQ

Dès 2000, le CÉPROCQ s’est positionné comme une vitrine technologique à l’échelle pilote des procédés d’extraction et de séparation dans les domaines des technologies bioindustrielles et des technologies environnementales en faisant la promotion des procédés verts appelés communément procédés propres ou écoprocédés: fluides supercritiques, développement de solvants verts, minimisation et traitement des déchets et des rejets industriels, etc

Ainsi, le CÉPROCQ a, de façon précoce, fait asseoir ses priorités stratégiques sur la chimie verte et le développement durable devenus aujourd’hui incontournables dans la croissance de l’industrie. Le CÉPROCQ est l’un des rares centres au Québec, voire au Canada, à offrir une infrastructure de recherche à l’échelle pilote venant,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DESTINATION TORONTO

DESTINATION TORONTO-THE PLACE TO BE

THE PLACE TO BE

Toronto is the driving force behind Canada’s tech, finance, manufacturing, creative and service sectors. It’s also a cultural powerhouse. The most diverse city on the planet, Toronto is a place to convene, create, play, do business and launch the next great idea that could change the world.   Top of...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

METRO MLS

A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION

“Innovation is a cumulation of creativity and ingenuity with a splash of chaos that produces something of great substance.” Metro MLS has been reshaping the landscape of real estate in Wisconsin since its establishment in 1962. This powerhouse serves over 10,000 real estate professionals across the state, constantly pushing the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Julia Daviy

From Solar Energy Breakthroughs to Pioneering Sustainable 3D-Printed Fashion and Redefining Innovation

Julia Daviy has revolutionized sustainable manufacturing in the high-tech fashion industry. She created the world’s first sustainable collection of wearable clothing produced entirely using large-scale industrial 3D printers. Daviy also designed the first-ever collection of 3D-printed bags, both of which debuted at New York Fashion Weeks, disrupting traditional design practices...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub was chartered in 2015 by the Jacksonville business community under the leadership of Gary Chartrand. These leaders noticed that there was a disconnect between the skills that students would need to be ready for the careers of the 21st century, and the experiences that...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Path Ahead Ventures

Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is focused on ensuring the outdoor industry reflects the true diversity of the people who love, protect, and share life outside.

REI Co-op believes the vibrancy of the outdoor industry depends on the economic mobility and contributions of diverse communities as customers and creators. In 2020, we accelerated our efforts to advance racial equity across every piece of our business and wanted to set bold goals towards diversifying our supplier base,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CALGARY TECH JOURNAL

WHERE INNOVATORS MEET

Launched in 2022, Calgary Tech Journal (CTJ) strives to provide the most complete coverage of Calgary’s innovation ecosystem. CTJ builds and supports the local community, delivering the top tech and innovation stories and can’t miss links from around YYC, twice a week. Its articles and newsletters not only cover breaking...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

ART4L

SMARTPICK CONNECTS THE WAREHOUSE OPERATOR OF THE FUTURE

ART4L is a Belgian software technology company based in Ghent. Its flagship product is Smartpick and the companion Smartpick SDK. Smartpick aims to connect and guide warehouse operators in the best possible way. This is an important goal because the tasks of warehouse operators become increasingly difficult, while the availability...

INNOVATION Quebec

Génome Québec

A hidden jewel in Québec’s crown- Genomics – Attracting investment and talent

GÉNOME QUÉBEC was established in 2000, in the wake of the first whole sequencing of the human genome. Member of Genome Canada’s nationwide network, its mission is to support the strategic and scientific development of genomics in Québec. In collaboration with its partners, Génome Québec has invested more than $1...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NEWZOO

NEWZOO-TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

But Newzoo wasn’t its founder’s (Peter Warman and Thijs Hagoort) first venture into the world of business. Far from it. After becoming friends playing basketball in high school, the industrious duo sold custom-designed t-shirts. Those early days taught them a valuable lesson: custom production based on manuals does not scale...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

JIVA CONSULTING

TRANSFORMING HOW THE INDUSTRY TRANSFERS DEEPLY TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH DIVERSITY

Jiva is an independent training and consulting organization focused on the energy and infrastructure industries. Jiva has a unique differentiator in the knowledge-transfer services it offers: Jiva has developed a process that marries technical expertise and educational theory with a deep knowledge of effective communication and robust project management through...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS D’INNOVATION ET FAIT CROITRE LA CRÉATION DE VALEUR AU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT. Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NOWY.IO

A Vision Born from Wanderlust

People travel and take holidays for many different reasons. “Think about shoes,” says Branda Fan, Founder of Nowy. “We all have different styles and needs, and no one else can tell you if a pair is actually comfortable. Just like that, travel isn’t one-size-fits-all. We might all be heading somewhere...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

FUTUREVAULT

Believes that INFORMATION IS AN ASSET CLASS and should be treated as such. The company’s B2C blockchain endeavor is creating a novel utility token that will not only benefit consumers by having more control over their personal information, but by being able to MONETIZE it as they choose

Founded in 2015 by one of Canada’s most prolific finance, media, and technology financiers, G Scott Paterson, along with marketing ace, Michael Bradley, FutureVault has been at the forefront of innovation by providing modern and sophisticated document management solutions via white-labeled Digital Vaults to financial institutions, wealth management firms, and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SwitchPoint Ventures

We build companies around pioneering technologies.

Our journey began a decade ago, here in Nashville – a city known for creativity and reinvention. That same spirit shaped how we approach innovation: with collaboration, grit, and a builder’s mindset. At SwitchPoint Ventures, we build companies around pioneering technologies – particularly in AI, data science, and digital innovation...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

E‑ESTONIA BRIEFING CENTRE

WHERE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT MEETS THE WORLD

The e-Estonia Briefing Centre serves as Estonia’s front door for public sector officials, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to experience digital government in action, while also showcasing Estonia as an innovative and digitally advanced nation. Established to share the lessons of a nation that digitalised 100% of public services, the...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UNIVERSIDADE POSITIVO

STANDS AS A PILLAR OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH A RICH HISTORY OF 35-YEARS

Focused on professional excellence, the university has played a pivotal role in shaping over 10 thousand entrepreneurs in the past 20 years, leading to the establishment of 24 thousand businesses nationwide. Committed to sustainable development since 2019, Universidade Positivo incorporates the United Nation’s sustainable development goals into every facet of...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RAILRUNNER

RAILRUNNER - NECESSITY IS ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF INNOVATION

NECESSITY IS ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF INNOVATION, INITIATED BY CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, FACTORS OF INFLUENCE, ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS AND JUST A DESIRE TO WORK BETTER AND SMARTER

With the rapid growth of the logistics industry, it became necessary to develop systems limiting the handling of cargo to speed up the delivery process. During the 1990’s the late Harry Wicks, of Buffalo, NY, USA developed and patented early RailRunner concepts for a bimodal transportation system designed to take...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NEXT

THE FUTURE OF STARTUP LAW

NEXT is a trailblazer in the innovative business sector, offering advanced startup-centric legal solutions. Born from the established law firm Shulman Rogers, NEXT is redefining legal services for startups and emerging growth companies. NEXT founder Anthony Millin drew from his experience as an entrepreneur, partner in an early-stage VC Fund,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TREE TOOLS

INNOVATIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOLS

In 2001, Tree Tools built its headquarters in the Curitiba Software Park, an area dedicated to software production, and since then has been part of the Curitiba City Council’s Tecnoparque program. Curitiba is an innovative city and was chosen in Barcelona, Spain, as the Smartest City in the World in...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATION Quebec

CÉPROCQ

Dès 2000, le CÉPROCQ s’est positionné comme une vitrine technologique à l’échelle pilote des procédés d’extraction et de séparation dans les domaines des technologies bioindustrielles et des technologies environnementales en faisant la promotion des procédés verts appelés communément procédés propres ou écoprocédés: fluides supercritiques, développement de solvants verts, minimisation et traitement des déchets et des rejets industriels, etc

Ainsi, le CÉPROCQ a, de façon précoce, fait asseoir ses priorités stratégiques sur la chimie verte et le développement durable devenus aujourd’hui incontournables dans la croissance de l’industrie. Le CÉPROCQ est l’un des rares centres au Québec, voire au Canada, à offrir une infrastructure de recherche à l’échelle pilote venant,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DESTINATION TORONTO

DESTINATION TORONTO-THE PLACE TO BE

THE PLACE TO BE

Toronto is the driving force behind Canada’s tech, finance, manufacturing, creative and service sectors. It’s also a cultural powerhouse. The most diverse city on the planet, Toronto is a place to convene, create, play, do business and launch the next great idea that could change the world.   Top of...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

METRO MLS

A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION

“Innovation is a cumulation of creativity and ingenuity with a splash of chaos that produces something of great substance.” Metro MLS has been reshaping the landscape of real estate in Wisconsin since its establishment in 1962. This powerhouse serves over 10,000 real estate professionals across the state, constantly pushing the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Julia Daviy

From Solar Energy Breakthroughs to Pioneering Sustainable 3D-Printed Fashion and Redefining Innovation

Julia Daviy has revolutionized sustainable manufacturing in the high-tech fashion industry. She created the world’s first sustainable collection of wearable clothing produced entirely using large-scale industrial 3D printers. Daviy also designed the first-ever collection of 3D-printed bags, both of which debuted at New York Fashion Weeks, disrupting traditional design practices...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub

The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub was chartered in 2015 by the Jacksonville business community under the leadership of Gary Chartrand. These leaders noticed that there was a disconnect between the skills that students would need to be ready for the careers of the 21st century, and the experiences that...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Path Ahead Ventures

Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is focused on ensuring the outdoor industry reflects the true diversity of the people who love, protect, and share life outside.

REI Co-op believes the vibrancy of the outdoor industry depends on the economic mobility and contributions of diverse communities as customers and creators. In 2020, we accelerated our efforts to advance racial equity across every piece of our business and wanted to set bold goals towards diversifying our supplier base,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CALGARY TECH JOURNAL

WHERE INNOVATORS MEET

Launched in 2022, Calgary Tech Journal (CTJ) strives to provide the most complete coverage of Calgary’s innovation ecosystem. CTJ builds and supports the local community, delivering the top tech and innovation stories and can’t miss links from around YYC, twice a week. Its articles and newsletters not only cover breaking...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

ART4L

SMARTPICK CONNECTS THE WAREHOUSE OPERATOR OF THE FUTURE

ART4L is a Belgian software technology company based in Ghent. Its flagship product is Smartpick and the companion Smartpick SDK. Smartpick aims to connect and guide warehouse operators in the best possible way. This is an important goal because the tasks of warehouse operators become increasingly difficult, while the availability...

INNOVATION Quebec

Génome Québec

A hidden jewel in Québec’s crown- Genomics – Attracting investment and talent

GÉNOME QUÉBEC was established in 2000, in the wake of the first whole sequencing of the human genome. Member of Genome Canada’s nationwide network, its mission is to support the strategic and scientific development of genomics in Québec. In collaboration with its partners, Génome Québec has invested more than $1...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NEWZOO

NEWZOO-TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

But Newzoo wasn’t its founder’s (Peter Warman and Thijs Hagoort) first venture into the world of business. Far from it. After becoming friends playing basketball in high school, the industrious duo sold custom-designed t-shirts. Those early days taught them a valuable lesson: custom production based on manuals does not scale...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

JIVA CONSULTING

TRANSFORMING HOW THE INDUSTRY TRANSFERS DEEPLY TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH DIVERSITY

Jiva is an independent training and consulting organization focused on the energy and infrastructure industries. Jiva has a unique differentiator in the knowledge-transfer services it offers: Jiva has developed a process that marries technical expertise and educational theory with a deep knowledge of effective communication and robust project management through...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS D’INNOVATION ET FAIT CROITRE LA CRÉATION DE VALEUR AU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT. Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NOWY.IO

A Vision Born from Wanderlust

People travel and take holidays for many different reasons. “Think about shoes,” says Branda Fan, Founder of Nowy. “We all have different styles and needs, and no one else can tell you if a pair is actually comfortable. Just like that, travel isn’t one-size-fits-all. We might all be heading somewhere...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

FUTUREVAULT

Believes that INFORMATION IS AN ASSET CLASS and should be treated as such. The company’s B2C blockchain endeavor is creating a novel utility token that will not only benefit consumers by having more control over their personal information, but by being able to MONETIZE it as they choose

Founded in 2015 by one of Canada’s most prolific finance, media, and technology financiers, G Scott Paterson, along with marketing ace, Michael Bradley, FutureVault has been at the forefront of innovation by providing modern and sophisticated document management solutions via white-labeled Digital Vaults to financial institutions, wealth management firms, and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SwitchPoint Ventures

We build companies around pioneering technologies.

Our journey began a decade ago, here in Nashville – a city known for creativity and reinvention. That same spirit shaped how we approach innovation: with collaboration, grit, and a builder’s mindset. At SwitchPoint Ventures, we build companies around pioneering technologies – particularly in AI, data science, and digital innovation...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

E‑ESTONIA BRIEFING CENTRE

WHERE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT MEETS THE WORLD

The e-Estonia Briefing Centre serves as Estonia’s front door for public sector officials, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to experience digital government in action, while also showcasing Estonia as an innovative and digitally advanced nation. Established to share the lessons of a nation that digitalised 100% of public services, the...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UNIVERSIDADE POSITIVO

STANDS AS A PILLAR OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH A RICH HISTORY OF 35-YEARS

Focused on professional excellence, the university has played a pivotal role in shaping over 10 thousand entrepreneurs in the past 20 years, leading to the establishment of 24 thousand businesses nationwide. Committed to sustainable development since 2019, Universidade Positivo incorporates the United Nation’s sustainable development goals into every facet of...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RAILRUNNER

RAILRUNNER - NECESSITY IS ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF INNOVATION

NECESSITY IS ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF INNOVATION, INITIATED BY CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, FACTORS OF INFLUENCE, ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS AND JUST A DESIRE TO WORK BETTER AND SMARTER

With the rapid growth of the logistics industry, it became necessary to develop systems limiting the handling of cargo to speed up the delivery process. During the 1990’s the late Harry Wicks, of Buffalo, NY, USA developed and patented early RailRunner concepts for a bimodal transportation system designed to take...

Ecosystems