Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
Stateside Brands
An Innovative Leader
Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
iTOUCH
FROM ZERO TO BILLION$
In a world where data has become the currency of our supposed future resulting in valuations of businesses from zero to billions within a relatively short while, you need to ask yourself this question; How am I benefitting from the data-sets I have in my business, if at all? And...
Global Innovation Spotlight
More Than Play:
How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time
“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...
INNOVATE® Nashville
SolidBase Structural Engineers
Solid Foundations, Strong Futures
THE STORY OF SOLIDBASE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS For SolidBase Structural Engineers (SBSE), every project begins with one guiding principle — that a structure is only as strong as the foundation it’s built on. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, SBSE has earned a reputation as a trusted name in residential and commercial structural...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND
A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES
SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...
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® Nashville
NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ADVANCING REGIONAL PROSPERITY THROUGH INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP
ABOUT PARTNERSHIP 2030 The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2030 is the Nashville region’s public-private economic development initiative dedicated to Middle Tennessee’s long-term economic prosperity. The Partnership was formed in 1990 to maintain and grow the Nashville region’s economy by creating jobs through relocating and expanding businesses, attracting and...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
JUST ESPORTS
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD FOR EACH AND EVERY GAMER
Just Esports is an organization that is dedicated to working on justice initiatives in the esports and gaming space. Much of their work focuses on educational programs aimed at empowering others to promote justice in their respective groups and providing individuals with the best tools to build out esports communities...
INNOVATE® Georgia
DC BLOX
PIONEERING THE SOUTHEAST DIGITAL FRONTIER
In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Southeastern United States, DC BLOX has positioned itself as a linchpin in the accelerating digital transformation that is sweeping across industries. The urgency of this transformation is underscored by several key factors, each playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of...
INNOVATE® Georgia
BLACKROCK
CHARTING THE WAY FORWARD
For BlackRock, continuous innovation is key. BlackRock’s Aladdin® business—which provides an investment management platform for institutional investors and wealth managers—is at the heart of the company’s tech innovation. Aladdin provides a unified investment management platform that gives clients a full view of their portfolio, across public and private markets—and enables...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
ALTURA
WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING
Altura’s mission is to provide gamers with the ability to control and own their in-game items and the ability for game developers to integrate blockchain technology in their video games seamlessly. Altura’s NFT Project The current state of NFTs is comparable to that of the web in the 90s; static...
INNOVATION Quebec
MITACS
Est une organisation nationale sans but lucratif qui donne des ailes à l’innovation canadienne grâce à des partenariats efficaces visant à élaborer des solutions aux problèmes les plus urgents du monde.
Mitacs aide les organisations à atteindre leurs objectifs commerciaux, finance l’innovation et crée des possibilités d’emploi dans le but de favoriser la croissance économique et la productivité, et d’améliorer la qualité de vie des Canadiennes et Canadiens. Ces efforts sont soutenus par le financement généreux du gouvernement du Québec et...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK
ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the largest co-located multi-disciplinary robotics research centre in the UK. It is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol and home to over 300 academics, industry practitioners, and researchers from all over the world. Together, they are world leaders...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SUCESU PR
USER COMPANIES WORKING TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND ASSERTIVE DECISION MAKING
SUCESU-PR – Association of Computer and Telecommunications Users of Paraná, a non-profit entity, was created in 1970 by a group of users who met to debate and seek solutions together, being the most traditional entity in the area of computing. Participating in important events in the history of information technology...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
PLUTOVETS
DISRUPTING PET HEALTHCARE
PlutoVets is rewriting the rules of veterinary care by combining in-home visits, digital-first convenience, and a full-service clinic into one seamless, empathetic experience. The mission is simple: to deliver care that puts both pets and pet parents first. The Convenience Revolution Taking a stressed animal to the clinic is one...
INNOVATION Quebec
MYCÉLIUM
Is Quebec City’s incubator-accelerator dedicated to food manufacturing companies looking to improve the existing food supply with an innovative product or process that has a positive and lasting impact on health, the economy, society or on the environment
MYCÉLIUM boasts an innovative incubation model enhanced by the involvement of the regional business network, stakeholders’ expertise and access to the talent of several scientists from the Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels de l’Université Laval (INAF), the largest research centre in Canada dedicated to food and nutrition....
INNOVATE® Nashville
MOTUS DRIVE
PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS
Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ZAGITAS
THE ZAGITAS STORY ACTUALLY BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDER’S PASSION TO SIMPLIFY AND IMPROVE PEOPLE’S WORK THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Carlos Secada as a child with his parents and sister lived alone in the middle of the Amazon jungle. He grew up deprived of any initiative coming from modernity and technology. It was only after returning to the city and studying, that he managed to start working for Accenture, and...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
TryCycle Data Systems
Simplicity Is Our Cutting Edge
Big problems don’t always require big solutions. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are the most subtle and nuanced. That’s exactly the approach that TryCycle Data Systems took when CEO John MacBeth of Ottawa, decided to tackle the huge problems associated with Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. Deconstructing...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
SENTRY EQUIPMENT
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER, SAFER WORLD
Building the foundation for a better, safer world. For the general public, words such as “innovative” and “dynamic” aren’t commonly used to describe the manufacturing industry. But in an industry criticized for being slow to change, Sentry Equipment—a century-old, Oconomowoc-based manufacturing powerhouse—has solidified its position as a proud outlier driving...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THINCLAB
GIVE YOUR IDEAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
ThincLab is the University of Adelaide’s business incubator and provides start-ups with a dynamic space and community in which to nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and facilitate valuable connections and networks with mentors, investors, and experienced entrepreneurs. ThincLab supports students, alumni, staff and the wider community create and...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
FIENTA
REDEFINING TICKETING FOR THE RELATIONSHIP ERA
When Fienta first launched, it was built to solve a deeper problem: how can event organisers build stronger relationships with their audiences – not just sell tickets? A decade later, the Estonia-based company has grown from a grassroots solution into a global platform, helping event organisers in more than 50...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)
AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SOFTPATH SYSTEM’S BOLD PLAY
REDEFINING STAFFING WITH AI
Softpath System, LLC, a trailblazer in the staffing industry, has long been recognized for its commitment to excellence and innovation. Softpath System, LLC is an award-winning technology consulting and talent management company catering to commercial and government agencies nationwide. Founded in 1999, they have since been providing their customers with...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
Stateside Brands
An Innovative Leader
Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
iTOUCH
FROM ZERO TO BILLION$
In a world where data has become the currency of our supposed future resulting in valuations of businesses from zero to billions within a relatively short while, you need to ask yourself this question; How am I benefitting from the data-sets I have in my business, if at all? And...
Global Innovation Spotlight
More Than Play:
How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time
“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...
INNOVATE® Nashville
SolidBase Structural Engineers
Solid Foundations, Strong Futures
THE STORY OF SOLIDBASE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS For SolidBase Structural Engineers (SBSE), every project begins with one guiding principle — that a structure is only as strong as the foundation it’s built on. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, SBSE has earned a reputation as a trusted name in residential and commercial structural...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND
A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES
SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...
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® Nashville
NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ADVANCING REGIONAL PROSPERITY THROUGH INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP
ABOUT PARTNERSHIP 2030 The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2030 is the Nashville region’s public-private economic development initiative dedicated to Middle Tennessee’s long-term economic prosperity. The Partnership was formed in 1990 to maintain and grow the Nashville region’s economy by creating jobs through relocating and expanding businesses, attracting and...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
JUST ESPORTS
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD FOR EACH AND EVERY GAMER
Just Esports is an organization that is dedicated to working on justice initiatives in the esports and gaming space. Much of their work focuses on educational programs aimed at empowering others to promote justice in their respective groups and providing individuals with the best tools to build out esports communities...
INNOVATE® Georgia
DC BLOX
PIONEERING THE SOUTHEAST DIGITAL FRONTIER
In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Southeastern United States, DC BLOX has positioned itself as a linchpin in the accelerating digital transformation that is sweeping across industries. The urgency of this transformation is underscored by several key factors, each playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of...
INNOVATE® Georgia
BLACKROCK
CHARTING THE WAY FORWARD
For BlackRock, continuous innovation is key. BlackRock’s Aladdin® business—which provides an investment management platform for institutional investors and wealth managers—is at the heart of the company’s tech innovation. Aladdin provides a unified investment management platform that gives clients a full view of their portfolio, across public and private markets—and enables...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
ALTURA
WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING
Altura’s mission is to provide gamers with the ability to control and own their in-game items and the ability for game developers to integrate blockchain technology in their video games seamlessly. Altura’s NFT Project The current state of NFTs is comparable to that of the web in the 90s; static...
INNOVATION Quebec
MITACS
Est une organisation nationale sans but lucratif qui donne des ailes à l’innovation canadienne grâce à des partenariats efficaces visant à élaborer des solutions aux problèmes les plus urgents du monde.
Mitacs aide les organisations à atteindre leurs objectifs commerciaux, finance l’innovation et crée des possibilités d’emploi dans le but de favoriser la croissance économique et la productivité, et d’améliorer la qualité de vie des Canadiennes et Canadiens. Ces efforts sont soutenus par le financement généreux du gouvernement du Québec et...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK
ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the largest co-located multi-disciplinary robotics research centre in the UK. It is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol and home to over 300 academics, industry practitioners, and researchers from all over the world. Together, they are world leaders...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SUCESU PR
USER COMPANIES WORKING TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND ASSERTIVE DECISION MAKING
SUCESU-PR – Association of Computer and Telecommunications Users of Paraná, a non-profit entity, was created in 1970 by a group of users who met to debate and seek solutions together, being the most traditional entity in the area of computing. Participating in important events in the history of information technology...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
PLUTOVETS
DISRUPTING PET HEALTHCARE
PlutoVets is rewriting the rules of veterinary care by combining in-home visits, digital-first convenience, and a full-service clinic into one seamless, empathetic experience. The mission is simple: to deliver care that puts both pets and pet parents first. The Convenience Revolution Taking a stressed animal to the clinic is one...
INNOVATION Quebec
MYCÉLIUM
Is Quebec City’s incubator-accelerator dedicated to food manufacturing companies looking to improve the existing food supply with an innovative product or process that has a positive and lasting impact on health, the economy, society or on the environment
MYCÉLIUM boasts an innovative incubation model enhanced by the involvement of the regional business network, stakeholders’ expertise and access to the talent of several scientists from the Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels de l’Université Laval (INAF), the largest research centre in Canada dedicated to food and nutrition....
INNOVATE® Nashville
MOTUS DRIVE
PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS
Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ZAGITAS
THE ZAGITAS STORY ACTUALLY BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDER’S PASSION TO SIMPLIFY AND IMPROVE PEOPLE’S WORK THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Carlos Secada as a child with his parents and sister lived alone in the middle of the Amazon jungle. He grew up deprived of any initiative coming from modernity and technology. It was only after returning to the city and studying, that he managed to start working for Accenture, and...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
TryCycle Data Systems
Simplicity Is Our Cutting Edge
Big problems don’t always require big solutions. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are the most subtle and nuanced. That’s exactly the approach that TryCycle Data Systems took when CEO John MacBeth of Ottawa, decided to tackle the huge problems associated with Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. Deconstructing...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
SENTRY EQUIPMENT
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER, SAFER WORLD
Building the foundation for a better, safer world. For the general public, words such as “innovative” and “dynamic” aren’t commonly used to describe the manufacturing industry. But in an industry criticized for being slow to change, Sentry Equipment—a century-old, Oconomowoc-based manufacturing powerhouse—has solidified its position as a proud outlier driving...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THINCLAB
GIVE YOUR IDEAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
ThincLab is the University of Adelaide’s business incubator and provides start-ups with a dynamic space and community in which to nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and facilitate valuable connections and networks with mentors, investors, and experienced entrepreneurs. ThincLab supports students, alumni, staff and the wider community create and...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
FIENTA
REDEFINING TICKETING FOR THE RELATIONSHIP ERA
When Fienta first launched, it was built to solve a deeper problem: how can event organisers build stronger relationships with their audiences – not just sell tickets? A decade later, the Estonia-based company has grown from a grassroots solution into a global platform, helping event organisers in more than 50...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)
AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SOFTPATH SYSTEM’S BOLD PLAY
REDEFINING STAFFING WITH AI
Softpath System, LLC, a trailblazer in the staffing industry, has long been recognized for its commitment to excellence and innovation. Softpath System, LLC is an award-winning technology consulting and talent management company catering to commercial and government agencies nationwide. Founded in 1999, they have since been providing their customers with...