Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Detroit
Plug and Play Detroit
Driving the Future of Mobility
A city synonymous with automotive innovation, Plug and Play’s Detroit operation is making waves with its groundbreaking approach to mobility. As a global leader in fostering innovation, Plug and Play has established itself as a critical player in the tech ecosystem. However, in Detroit, the organization is doing more than...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO
FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?
Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Achieving Excellence — At Scale
U of T consistently ranks as one of the world’s Top 25 universities, and it’s the hub of Toronto’s innovation ecosystem. For nearly 200 years, some of society’s most daring thinkers have gathered here to unlock human potential and bring about positive change. It’s where Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
DRONE CADETS
Is A Unique Drone Education Program Designed To Produce Safe And Responsible Drone Pilots Of Any Age
WHAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF DRONE CADETS? In 2016 Sgt. Tony Reid, was a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a jail in New York City, working with incarcerated adolescents 16 to 18 years old. For 8 long years, he witnessed first-hand the plight of young men of color who became...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
SC TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
SOUTH CAROLINA’S TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE
In a state known for its industrious spirit and manufacturing strength, the South Carolina Technical College System has quietly – and powerfully – become the engine driving economic growth, workforce transformation, and social mobility. With 16 colleges strategically located across the state, this system isn’t just preparing students for jobs...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Creative Destruction Lab
University of Washington Fosters Innovation on the World Stage
University of Washington Fosters Innovation on the World Stage In pursuit of the lofty goal of accelerating its innovation-to-impact cycle, the University of Washington invited Creative Destruction in, launching a Seattle site with Advanced Manufacturing and Computational Health streams aimed at disrupting production and revolutionizing diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. In...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOV & EXPORT PME
INTRODUCING INNOV & EXPORT PME
In a demanding and constantly evolving global market, innovation is essential for developing manufacturing companies and increasing the strength of the Lower St. Lawrence region’s economy. Innov & Export PME is a regional development organization that operates in several enterprises in the Lower St. Lawrence region. As the name suggests,...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT IN THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Our expertiseCreated in 2010, CRISPESH is an applied research and transfer center (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep du Vieux Montréal and Dawson College. We support organizations, communities and society to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Our expertise lies in the educational, professional and social inclusion of people with disabilities,...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Drobot
Human-Centered Automation, Born in South Carolina
In a manufacturing world grappling with worker shortages, rising costs, and the relentless complexity of “high-mix, low-volume” production, one Greenville-based startup is quietly reimagining what it means for humans and robots to work together. Drobot Inc. is pioneering a new generation of Collaborative Mobile Robots (CMRs) – machines designed not...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Forbes Gilham Group
A dedicated group of seasoned financial advisory professionals
A dedicated group of seasoned financial advisory professionals who coordinate the various skills and background of each team member to meet the needs of their client base. The Forbes Gilham Group of Wells Fargo Advisors takes a different approach to the needs of business owners and families. They have ability...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SPRINGFOUR
How A Social Impact Fintech Is Improving The Financial Health For Millions
When a financial institution’s customers are financially healthy, everyone wins. SpringFour, an award-winning social impact fintech and a Certified B Corporation, connects financial institutions’ customers with resources that help them make their payments and get back on their feet. With a digital-based platform of more than 20,000 vetted financial resources,...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
CareerBeacon
A Human Approach to HR Technology
While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BluWave
Expertly Connecting Businesses with Best-in-Class Solutions
When business leaders face high-stakes decisions, they don’t have the luxury of time or guesswork. BluWave was built precisely for these moments. Founded by private equity veteran Sean Mooney, BluWave is a groundbreaking market network that expertly connects business leaders with the exact specialized third-party advisory firms, technology solutions, and...
INNOVATION Quebec
REAI
TRANSFORMING MANUFACTURERS ONE PROJECT AT A TIME
For the past 18 years, REAI has been a non-profit organization bringing together members specialized in automation, robotics and services from all areas of automation expertise and manufacturing niches. As part of MEIE’s digital transformation offensive, we are pursuing our mission to stimulate collaboration between innovative companies as part of...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
IDERIS
6-YEARS OF HISTORY OF BRAZIL’S LARGEST MARKETPLACE INTEGRATOR
Ideris was born in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, located in the southern region of Brazil, in the year 2017. The company is the result of the Tecnoparque program, which drives innovative local projects. Curitiba is a reference for innovation in Brazil, and in 2023, it was...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HUMAN ROBOTICS
SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH SMART ROBOTS
In the heart of Brazil’s technological innovation landscape stands Human Robotics, a company that has distinguished itself as a pioneer in the field of autonomous robotics. Founded by Olivier Smadja, in 2017, a French entrepreneur who has made Brazil his home for over 26 years, Human Robotics is a testament...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
POLYCADE
Reimagining Arcade Gaming For The Modern Day
Polycade is the gaming platform for in-person play. The Polycade software powers PC-based consoles and arcade machines, including their proprietary commercial-grade two and four-player arcade machines. The software features are designed to support in-person and location-based gaming, while connecting these physical communities with their digital counterparts — features like small-pond...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE
MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB
THE MANDATE OF THE BDIH IS TO CATALYSE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF BOTSWANA’S ECONOMY, TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
The Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to commercialise innovative and tech driven solutions. The Hub does this by: The BDIH owns two subsidiary companies, the first being the Botswana Innovation Hub Property (Pty) Ltd (BIHP). BIHP leverages the strategic infrastructure that includes the Science and Technology Park and...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
KEVANE GRANT THORTON
Accounting Experts, Kevane Grant Thornton Continues to Lead the Industry
Kevane Grant Thornton (KGT) continues to grow successfully and provide the community with accounting and tax-related needs. Through the years, KGT continues to support numerous businesses and personal goals for many. We have steadily become the leading professional service firm in Puerto Rico to provide accounting, audits, tax, and advisory...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
DYNAMIK FOCUS
Creating local and digital activations at events or on streaming platforms to help promote your product or service
Dynamik Focus was Founded in October 2016 By Aziza Brown. After varying experiences with previous esports teams, and seeing a need for representation and structure in the growing esports space, she partnered with former teammate Devin Harris, and Dynamik Focus was born. Soon after the organization was founded, Dynamik Focus...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
VALO
VALO, which means great courage, strength and moral worth, is a South Australian business founded in 2012 aiming to reach international markets in premium stadium lighting. With thousands of stadia across the world, the opportunities to place VALO and its South Australian innovations on the map are almost endless. Based...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE RESILIENCE FACTORY
DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT DOES
Gabi Lowe and Pippa Shaper are Certified Life Coaches – experts in creating and teaching Authentic Resilience. Their mission is to train people to learn the tools and skills of authentic resilience, to recover from difficulties; to equip them with strategies to endure and overcome life’s challenges with a sustainable...
INNOVATION Quebec
IRCM
Plus d’un demi-siècle de science inspirée par la vie, et l’aventure ne fait que commencer
L’IRCM, c’est une histoire d’amour de plus d’un demi-siècle entre le Québec, le Canada d’une part, et la recherche de haut niveau et des soins cliniques les plus avancés d’autre part. Fondé en 1967 par le grand chercheur et humaniste, Dr Jacques Genest, l’IRCM devenait alors le premier centre au...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Plug and Play Detroit
Driving the Future of Mobility
A city synonymous with automotive innovation, Plug and Play’s Detroit operation is making waves with its groundbreaking approach to mobility. As a global leader in fostering innovation, Plug and Play has established itself as a critical player in the tech ecosystem. However, in Detroit, the organization is doing more than...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO
FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?
Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Achieving Excellence — At Scale
U of T consistently ranks as one of the world’s Top 25 universities, and it’s the hub of Toronto’s innovation ecosystem. For nearly 200 years, some of society’s most daring thinkers have gathered here to unlock human potential and bring about positive change. It’s where Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
DRONE CADETS
Is A Unique Drone Education Program Designed To Produce Safe And Responsible Drone Pilots Of Any Age
WHAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF DRONE CADETS? In 2016 Sgt. Tony Reid, was a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a jail in New York City, working with incarcerated adolescents 16 to 18 years old. For 8 long years, he witnessed first-hand the plight of young men of color who became...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
SC TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
SOUTH CAROLINA’S TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE
In a state known for its industrious spirit and manufacturing strength, the South Carolina Technical College System has quietly – and powerfully – become the engine driving economic growth, workforce transformation, and social mobility. With 16 colleges strategically located across the state, this system isn’t just preparing students for jobs...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Creative Destruction Lab
University of Washington Fosters Innovation on the World Stage
University of Washington Fosters Innovation on the World Stage In pursuit of the lofty goal of accelerating its innovation-to-impact cycle, the University of Washington invited Creative Destruction in, launching a Seattle site with Advanced Manufacturing and Computational Health streams aimed at disrupting production and revolutionizing diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. In...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOV & EXPORT PME
INTRODUCING INNOV & EXPORT PME
In a demanding and constantly evolving global market, innovation is essential for developing manufacturing companies and increasing the strength of the Lower St. Lawrence region’s economy. Innov & Export PME is a regional development organization that operates in several enterprises in the Lower St. Lawrence region. As the name suggests,...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT IN THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Our expertiseCreated in 2010, CRISPESH is an applied research and transfer center (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep du Vieux Montréal and Dawson College. We support organizations, communities and society to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Our expertise lies in the educational, professional and social inclusion of people with disabilities,...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Drobot
Human-Centered Automation, Born in South Carolina
In a manufacturing world grappling with worker shortages, rising costs, and the relentless complexity of “high-mix, low-volume” production, one Greenville-based startup is quietly reimagining what it means for humans and robots to work together. Drobot Inc. is pioneering a new generation of Collaborative Mobile Robots (CMRs) – machines designed not...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Forbes Gilham Group
A dedicated group of seasoned financial advisory professionals
A dedicated group of seasoned financial advisory professionals who coordinate the various skills and background of each team member to meet the needs of their client base. The Forbes Gilham Group of Wells Fargo Advisors takes a different approach to the needs of business owners and families. They have ability...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SPRINGFOUR
How A Social Impact Fintech Is Improving The Financial Health For Millions
When a financial institution’s customers are financially healthy, everyone wins. SpringFour, an award-winning social impact fintech and a Certified B Corporation, connects financial institutions’ customers with resources that help them make their payments and get back on their feet. With a digital-based platform of more than 20,000 vetted financial resources,...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
CareerBeacon
A Human Approach to HR Technology
While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BluWave
Expertly Connecting Businesses with Best-in-Class Solutions
When business leaders face high-stakes decisions, they don’t have the luxury of time or guesswork. BluWave was built precisely for these moments. Founded by private equity veteran Sean Mooney, BluWave is a groundbreaking market network that expertly connects business leaders with the exact specialized third-party advisory firms, technology solutions, and...
INNOVATION Quebec
REAI
TRANSFORMING MANUFACTURERS ONE PROJECT AT A TIME
For the past 18 years, REAI has been a non-profit organization bringing together members specialized in automation, robotics and services from all areas of automation expertise and manufacturing niches. As part of MEIE’s digital transformation offensive, we are pursuing our mission to stimulate collaboration between innovative companies as part of...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
IDERIS
6-YEARS OF HISTORY OF BRAZIL’S LARGEST MARKETPLACE INTEGRATOR
Ideris was born in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, located in the southern region of Brazil, in the year 2017. The company is the result of the Tecnoparque program, which drives innovative local projects. Curitiba is a reference for innovation in Brazil, and in 2023, it was...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HUMAN ROBOTICS
SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH SMART ROBOTS
In the heart of Brazil’s technological innovation landscape stands Human Robotics, a company that has distinguished itself as a pioneer in the field of autonomous robotics. Founded by Olivier Smadja, in 2017, a French entrepreneur who has made Brazil his home for over 26 years, Human Robotics is a testament...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
POLYCADE
Reimagining Arcade Gaming For The Modern Day
Polycade is the gaming platform for in-person play. The Polycade software powers PC-based consoles and arcade machines, including their proprietary commercial-grade two and four-player arcade machines. The software features are designed to support in-person and location-based gaming, while connecting these physical communities with their digital counterparts — features like small-pond...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE
MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB
THE MANDATE OF THE BDIH IS TO CATALYSE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF BOTSWANA’S ECONOMY, TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
The Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to commercialise innovative and tech driven solutions. The Hub does this by: The BDIH owns two subsidiary companies, the first being the Botswana Innovation Hub Property (Pty) Ltd (BIHP). BIHP leverages the strategic infrastructure that includes the Science and Technology Park and...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
KEVANE GRANT THORTON
Accounting Experts, Kevane Grant Thornton Continues to Lead the Industry
Kevane Grant Thornton (KGT) continues to grow successfully and provide the community with accounting and tax-related needs. Through the years, KGT continues to support numerous businesses and personal goals for many. We have steadily become the leading professional service firm in Puerto Rico to provide accounting, audits, tax, and advisory...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
DYNAMIK FOCUS
Creating local and digital activations at events or on streaming platforms to help promote your product or service
Dynamik Focus was Founded in October 2016 By Aziza Brown. After varying experiences with previous esports teams, and seeing a need for representation and structure in the growing esports space, she partnered with former teammate Devin Harris, and Dynamik Focus was born. Soon after the organization was founded, Dynamik Focus...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
VALO
VALO, which means great courage, strength and moral worth, is a South Australian business founded in 2012 aiming to reach international markets in premium stadium lighting. With thousands of stadia across the world, the opportunities to place VALO and its South Australian innovations on the map are almost endless. Based...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE RESILIENCE FACTORY
DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT DOES
Gabi Lowe and Pippa Shaper are Certified Life Coaches – experts in creating and teaching Authentic Resilience. Their mission is to train people to learn the tools and skills of authentic resilience, to recover from difficulties; to equip them with strategies to endure and overcome life’s challenges with a sustainable...
INNOVATION Quebec
IRCM
Plus d’un demi-siècle de science inspirée par la vie, et l’aventure ne fait que commencer
L’IRCM, c’est une histoire d’amour de plus d’un demi-siècle entre le Québec, le Canada d’une part, et la recherche de haut niveau et des soins cliniques les plus avancés d’autre part. Fondé en 1967 par le grand chercheur et humaniste, Dr Jacques Genest, l’IRCM devenait alors le premier centre au...