Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SnapIT Solutions
USING TECHNOLOGY TO GROW PEOPLE
USING TECHNOLOGY TO GROW PEOPLE SnapIT Solutions, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is an innovative technology solutions and services company specializing in web and mobile applications, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, DevOps, IT Managed services and cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and 3Dphotogrammetry. Established in...
INNOVATION Quebec
COLAB
OPERATING SINCE 2019, COLAB IS A RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER
FOUR RESEARCH AREASDigital territoriesTo promote the development of digital, collaborative, and entrepreneurial skills among the ecosystem stakeholders. SMEs digital transitionSupport small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transition by fostering the digital skills of leaders, team managers and employees through digital transformation support. Digital entrepreneurship & leadershipStimulate digital entrepreneurship in...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PORTER HOUSE KC
GOING BEYOND SURFACE-LEVEL IMPACT
The Porter House KC is renowned in Kansas City for its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among the underrepresented. Its story is not just about an entrepreneurship support organization; it’s about a catalyst for change in Kansas City’s urban core, pushing the envelope of what it means to ‘scale deep’ in...
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™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® South Florida
BDB - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
PALM BEACH COUNTY’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: A NEW ERA OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION
Since 2020, Palm Beach County has undergone a significant economic shift, diversifying beyond its traditional strongholds in agriculture, construction, and tourism. While these sectors remain essential, a recent study highlights the emergence of three key industries: Finance, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Corporate Headquarters. This shift has been driven by intentional efforts...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
GUARDIANGAMER
GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW
Heidi is an entrepreneur and computer scientist who anticipates the needs of businesses and society as they’re transformed by digital technology. She earned her Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She is constantly seeking the edge of change and where she finds it, she...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
BOOMPLAATS
ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Boomplaats has been in the same family for over a century, nestled in the Maluti Mountains in the south-eastern Free State. This is South Africa’s only certified organic cattle, sheep, and pasture-raised pig farm. Regenerative farming isn’t a new agricultural method. This was the traditional farming way in previous centuries...
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™ Adelaide
ADELAIDE OVAL-PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
HOW ADELAIDE OVAL CONTINUES TO REDEFINE THE STADIUM EXPERIENCE AND EMBRACE ITS POTENTIAL
Ask almost any sports fan about Adelaide Oval, and you’ll likely hear a common response – that this storied venue is among the most picturesque anywhere on the planet. And yet its beauty goes much further than skin deep. In a world where stadiums are often monolithic and imposing, Adelaide...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DOTS
TURNING UNCERTAINTY INTO GROWTH FROM EUROPE’S EDGE
On the border city of Narva, Estonia – where Europe literally meets its edge – a bold experiment is reshaping how young people grow. DOTS isn’t another youth program or after-school club. It’s an operating system for life: a commitment-based “gym for personal development” where members train through real responsibilities,...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
ASTELLAS FARMA PORTUGAL
WE LIVE THE ASTELLAS WAY
Astellas Farma Portugal is an affiliate of Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, and globally one of the companies most focused on the investigation of innovative pharmaceutical products. Research and Development are at the center of everything we do, and this not only drives our work today, but also...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
CFI Workspace
Shaping the Future of Workplace Design
The spaces where people work, learn, and heal influence how they collaborate, perform, and grow. For more than four decades, CFI Workspace has helped organizations create environments that support those experiences through thoughtful workplace design and commercial furniture solutions. Founded in 1985, CFI Workspace partners with organizations across the Philadelphia...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY NEW BRUNSWICK
Excellence in Scholarly Leadership, Innovative Research, Student Success, and Community Engagement
Rutgers University–New Brunswick, a top 20 public university (U.S. News and World Report), is proud to show the world what excellence looks like. What fuels our innovation? Membership in the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of American Universities. More than 20 programs and schools in the nation’s top...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
Delta Care
Transforming Healthcare Efficiency with Seamless Technology Integration
In an era where healthcare systems face growing challenges, including aging populations, chronic health issues, and workforce shortages, technology offers a solution. However, the key to success lies not in technology itself but in how seamlessly it integrates into care environments. Delta Care, a Belgian innovator, bridges this gap with...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CMII GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
UNLEASHING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
At the heart of Georgia State University lies the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), a beacon of innovation and creativity in the bustling landscape of Georgia’s entertainment and creative economy. Established with the vision to empower students to carve successful careers in the creative industry, CMII stands as a pivotal...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Nashville State Community College
From Classroom to Career: Nashville State Powers Progress Through Education and Partnerships
A Good Fit. A Great Future. That’s how Nashville State Community College defines itself—serving diverse students from Nashville’s urban core to rural counties, each bringing unique backgrounds and experiences. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to how Nashville State serves its students and communities. In fact, with Vision 2030 – its...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Thrive Health
Making Healthcare Work Better for Everyone
Thrive Health is a digital healthcare platform company, founded in 2016 with a mission to make healthcare work better for everyone. The company provides an interactive patient engagement solution that enables healthcare providers to build custom clinical workflows, and offers patients enhanced access to their health data. Thrive Health’s innovative...
INNOVATION Quebec
Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)
Is part of the Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance, implemented by the ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec in 2018
The organization was created in 2018, following a regional consultation and consensus-building process to establish the proper positioning of the organization. The complementarity of the organization’s mission along with all the partners of the development and innovation ecosystem in the region led to the creation of a new entity in...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
CHICAGO INNOVATION
EDUCATING, CONNECTING AND CELEBRATING INNOVATORS IN THE CHICAGO REGION
Established in 2002 as the Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago Innovation has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to empower Chicago’s innovation ecosystem. Its vision is to solidify the Chicago region as a global hub of innovation and ensure that innovation is for...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Prince Concepts
Transforming Space, Elevating Detroit
Prince Concepts isn’t simply in the business of real estate—it’s in the business of transformation. Led by visionary developer Philip Kafka, this firm is rewriting the rules of urban development, turning overlooked spaces into thriving, purpose-driven communities. With a philosophy that values space as a living, breathing entity rather than...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
HELMES
DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE For over 30 years, Helmes has been a trusted partner in digital transformation, specializing in software engineering and consulting services. Headquartered in Estonia—a global leader in digital innovation—Helmes operates in 20 locations worldwide with a team of over 1,500 experts. The company...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Willowglen Systems
The future of Scada technology, SentientQ transforming the future of Automation
Wayne Karpoff, CEO of Willowglen Systems, and his team of Scada rock stars are making innovative improvements to the rail transportation and energy industries. “We reimagined SCADA to meet the needs of the future. And it all started here in Alberta.” — Wayne Karpoff, CEO at Willowglen Systems. Innovation is...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SnapIT Solutions
USING TECHNOLOGY TO GROW PEOPLE
USING TECHNOLOGY TO GROW PEOPLE SnapIT Solutions, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is an innovative technology solutions and services company specializing in web and mobile applications, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, DevOps, IT Managed services and cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and 3Dphotogrammetry. Established in...
INNOVATION Quebec
COLAB
OPERATING SINCE 2019, COLAB IS A RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER
FOUR RESEARCH AREASDigital territoriesTo promote the development of digital, collaborative, and entrepreneurial skills among the ecosystem stakeholders. SMEs digital transitionSupport small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transition by fostering the digital skills of leaders, team managers and employees through digital transformation support. Digital entrepreneurship & leadershipStimulate digital entrepreneurship in...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PORTER HOUSE KC
GOING BEYOND SURFACE-LEVEL IMPACT
The Porter House KC is renowned in Kansas City for its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among the underrepresented. Its story is not just about an entrepreneurship support organization; it’s about a catalyst for change in Kansas City’s urban core, pushing the envelope of what it means to ‘scale deep’ in...
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™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® South Florida
BDB - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
PALM BEACH COUNTY’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: A NEW ERA OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION
Since 2020, Palm Beach County has undergone a significant economic shift, diversifying beyond its traditional strongholds in agriculture, construction, and tourism. While these sectors remain essential, a recent study highlights the emergence of three key industries: Finance, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Corporate Headquarters. This shift has been driven by intentional efforts...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
GUARDIANGAMER
GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW
Heidi is an entrepreneur and computer scientist who anticipates the needs of businesses and society as they’re transformed by digital technology. She earned her Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She is constantly seeking the edge of change and where she finds it, she...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
BOOMPLAATS
ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Boomplaats has been in the same family for over a century, nestled in the Maluti Mountains in the south-eastern Free State. This is South Africa’s only certified organic cattle, sheep, and pasture-raised pig farm. Regenerative farming isn’t a new agricultural method. This was the traditional farming way in previous centuries...
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™ Adelaide
ADELAIDE OVAL-PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
HOW ADELAIDE OVAL CONTINUES TO REDEFINE THE STADIUM EXPERIENCE AND EMBRACE ITS POTENTIAL
Ask almost any sports fan about Adelaide Oval, and you’ll likely hear a common response – that this storied venue is among the most picturesque anywhere on the planet. And yet its beauty goes much further than skin deep. In a world where stadiums are often monolithic and imposing, Adelaide...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DOTS
TURNING UNCERTAINTY INTO GROWTH FROM EUROPE’S EDGE
On the border city of Narva, Estonia – where Europe literally meets its edge – a bold experiment is reshaping how young people grow. DOTS isn’t another youth program or after-school club. It’s an operating system for life: a commitment-based “gym for personal development” where members train through real responsibilities,...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
ASTELLAS FARMA PORTUGAL
WE LIVE THE ASTELLAS WAY
Astellas Farma Portugal is an affiliate of Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, and globally one of the companies most focused on the investigation of innovative pharmaceutical products. Research and Development are at the center of everything we do, and this not only drives our work today, but also...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
CFI Workspace
Shaping the Future of Workplace Design
The spaces where people work, learn, and heal influence how they collaborate, perform, and grow. For more than four decades, CFI Workspace has helped organizations create environments that support those experiences through thoughtful workplace design and commercial furniture solutions. Founded in 1985, CFI Workspace partners with organizations across the Philadelphia...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY NEW BRUNSWICK
Excellence in Scholarly Leadership, Innovative Research, Student Success, and Community Engagement
Rutgers University–New Brunswick, a top 20 public university (U.S. News and World Report), is proud to show the world what excellence looks like. What fuels our innovation? Membership in the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of American Universities. More than 20 programs and schools in the nation’s top...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
Delta Care
Transforming Healthcare Efficiency with Seamless Technology Integration
In an era where healthcare systems face growing challenges, including aging populations, chronic health issues, and workforce shortages, technology offers a solution. However, the key to success lies not in technology itself but in how seamlessly it integrates into care environments. Delta Care, a Belgian innovator, bridges this gap with...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CMII GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
UNLEASHING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
At the heart of Georgia State University lies the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), a beacon of innovation and creativity in the bustling landscape of Georgia’s entertainment and creative economy. Established with the vision to empower students to carve successful careers in the creative industry, CMII stands as a pivotal...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Nashville State Community College
From Classroom to Career: Nashville State Powers Progress Through Education and Partnerships
A Good Fit. A Great Future. That’s how Nashville State Community College defines itself—serving diverse students from Nashville’s urban core to rural counties, each bringing unique backgrounds and experiences. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to how Nashville State serves its students and communities. In fact, with Vision 2030 – its...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Thrive Health
Making Healthcare Work Better for Everyone
Thrive Health is a digital healthcare platform company, founded in 2016 with a mission to make healthcare work better for everyone. The company provides an interactive patient engagement solution that enables healthcare providers to build custom clinical workflows, and offers patients enhanced access to their health data. Thrive Health’s innovative...
INNOVATION Quebec
Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)
Is part of the Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance, implemented by the ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec in 2018
The organization was created in 2018, following a regional consultation and consensus-building process to establish the proper positioning of the organization. The complementarity of the organization’s mission along with all the partners of the development and innovation ecosystem in the region led to the creation of a new entity in...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
CHICAGO INNOVATION
EDUCATING, CONNECTING AND CELEBRATING INNOVATORS IN THE CHICAGO REGION
Established in 2002 as the Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago Innovation has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to empower Chicago’s innovation ecosystem. Its vision is to solidify the Chicago region as a global hub of innovation and ensure that innovation is for...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Prince Concepts
Transforming Space, Elevating Detroit
Prince Concepts isn’t simply in the business of real estate—it’s in the business of transformation. Led by visionary developer Philip Kafka, this firm is rewriting the rules of urban development, turning overlooked spaces into thriving, purpose-driven communities. With a philosophy that values space as a living, breathing entity rather than...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
HELMES
DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE For over 30 years, Helmes has been a trusted partner in digital transformation, specializing in software engineering and consulting services. Headquartered in Estonia—a global leader in digital innovation—Helmes operates in 20 locations worldwide with a team of over 1,500 experts. The company...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Willowglen Systems
The future of Scada technology, SentientQ transforming the future of Automation
Wayne Karpoff, CEO of Willowglen Systems, and his team of Scada rock stars are making innovative improvements to the rail transportation and energy industries. “We reimagined SCADA to meet the needs of the future. And it all started here in Alberta.” — Wayne Karpoff, CEO at Willowglen Systems. Innovation is...