Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

Why Lean Innovation Thrives on Agile Digital Foundations

Lean innovation loves speed, but it worships clarity. That combination sounds simple until a team tries to run experiments on a digital base held together with wishful thinking and last year’s duct tape. Ideas don’t die because they’re unworkable. They die because the system can’t change without breaking, because data...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Union Kitchen

HOW A FOOD BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IN WASHINGTON,DC IS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT BIG CPG BRANDS

Cullen Gilchrist founded Union Kitchen in 2012 to partner with food businesses of all sizes to grow and scale their success. Cullen got his start in the food industry with his sister and friends when they opened the Blind Dog Cafe. Faced with the challenge of increased demand and not...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Jenno Co.

We help teams understand their market, articulate their value, and bring their bold ideas to life.

Working in a space where passionate problem solvers and innovative risk-takers intersect is a privilege you must experience to understand. It means you’re part of a community. Even if that community spans regions, disciplines, and industries, the passion we bring to improving both the present and the future is what...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Upling

Delivering Equity, One Order at a Time.

In a world that often overlooks the most vulnerable, Upling is doing more than just delivering cannabis — it’s delivering purpose, access, and social equity. This Maryland-based, AI-powered cannabis delivery platform is rewriting the rules of healthcare access and digital entrepreneurship, all while confronting long-standing injustices in the cannabis industry....

INNOVATE® Georgia

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

SHAPING GENERATIONS OF BLACK MALE LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND CHANGE MAKERS FOR OVER 150 YEARS

Founded in 1867, Morehouse College stands as the nation’s only institution created to educate men of color. As Georgia’s top-ranked liberal arts college for men, Morehouse is a trailblazer in higher education, fostering a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The College has become a vital...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

ClearlyAgile

A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa

Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

SHARKS RUGBY UNION

SHARKS RUGBY UNION- NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE

NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE

Rugby isn’t the same as it was 20, or even 10, years ago. COVID-19 had also left a profound impact on sport. Such are the changes that the Sharks’ competition isn’t always facing them on the rugby pitch on Saturday afternoons. Instead, this team competes against other industries and entertainment...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ROCKET

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NICHE INNOVATION AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Having started in 2019 as a web-only reality show for local startups, Rocket has now developed into a full universe of multi-platform content and unforgettable live experiences with the goal to foment, give visibility, and highlight the positive impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in everyone’s lives. Though an important topic...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

SUPERNOVA

SUPERNOVA AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY: EMPOWERING ATLANTIC CANADA’S YOUTH THROUGH STEM EDUCATION

SuperNOVA: Empowering Youth Through STEM Education Across Atlantic Canada SuperNOVA, a non-profit organization based at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a network member of Actua, has gained widespread recognition for providing high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programming across Atlantic Canada. Founded in 1996, SuperNOVA provides hands-on...

INNOVATION Quebec

MERINOV

À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA

Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Aeroplicity

Simplifying Aerospace and Defense: The Aeroplicity Story

Aeroplicity has emerged as a transformative force in the aerospace and defense industry, with a mission to simplify and modernize supply chain and aftermarket operations. Leveraging cutting-edge aerospace-grade technologies, the company is reshaping how organizations manage data, compliance, and operational efficiency. At its core, Aeroplicity addresses the industry’s most pressing...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Forcura

Forcura-Designed Specifically For The Complexity Of Home Health And Hospice Agencies

Designed Specifically For The Complexity Of Home Health And Hospice Agencies

Craig Mandeville, CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based healthcare technology provider Forcura founded his company for personal reasons, hoping to lessen the time his wife spent driving back and forth to her employer’s home healthcare agency. In her role at the time, Heather Mandeville helped patients who were leaving a hospital transition...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

BUSINESS RITES INVESTMENTS (BSSR)

BEGAN OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER 2020 AND HAS BEEN FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON HIGH QUALITY AND COSTEFFECTIVE BIG DATA SOLUTIONS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES

We are advancing at a tremendous pace and with the involvement of skilled and experienced people working in the organization. BSSR is currently doing business with local SMEs and is actively taking part in hackathons and competitions, developing innovative solutions, and becoming key players in the country’s digital transformation. The...

INNOVATION Quebec

LLIO

CCTT EN INNOVATION OUVERTE

Le Laboratoire en innovation ouverte (LLio) est un centre collégial de transfert lié au Cégep de Rivièredu-Loup. Son champ d’expertise est l’innovation ouverte et collaborative. Sa mission est de faciliter l’adoption de pratiques d’innovation ouverte, notamment celles impliquant les usagers. Le LLio s’intéresse aux pratiques, acteurs et espaces d’innovation ouverte....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

UHN

UHN-Is the Leading and Largest Research Hospital in Canada. The Scope of Research and Complexity of Cases at UHN Has Made It a National and International Source of Discovery

Is the Leading and Largest Research Hospital in Canada. The Scope of Research and Complexity of Cases at UHN Has Made It a National and International Source of Discovery, Education and Excellence in Patient Care

The Michener Institute of Education at UHN is the only institution in Canada devoted exclusively to applied health sciences education, Michener is Canada’s first-ever merger between a hospital and a post-secondary health education institution and the only post-secondary institution devoted exclusively to specialized applied health education in the country.  ...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

7RIVERS

THE CONFLUENCE OF DATA AND STRATEGY

7Rivers is pioneering a path for businesses to navigate the uncharted waters of a new era of technology.With a keen focus on data modernization and artificial intelligence, 7Rivers is not just a technology services company but a leader for organizations ready to embark on a transformative journey, helping solve some...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)-INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN THE PORT SECTOR Innovate to Compete Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd is responsible for the operations of 16 port terminals across seven of South Africa’s ports. More than 9,000 employees work diligently every day to ensure that containers, cars, bulk, and break-bulk cargo...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

KRYPTOWATT

KRYPTOWATT-Mining of digital currencies has remained one of the hottest topics in the blockchain space over the years

Mining of digital currencies has remained one of the hottest topics in the blockchain space over the years, as crypto enthusiasts worldwide seek ways of improving their portfolios

However, crypto mining has also had its fair share of controversies, especially with environmentalists questioning the impact of the activity on the planet. However, Shawn Blackwell and his Krypto Watt team aim to make a difference with the launch of KryptoHeat.   KryptoHeat is designed to capture the heat generated...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF BC (BBABC)

UNITY – EXCELLENCE – LEGACY

The Black Business Association of BC was founded by Nerissa Allen and Clavia Alleyne out of a need and passion for helping businesses at a critical point of time, when the Covid 19 pandemic was ravaging small businesses. They set out on a journey to not only support businesses through...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Madrona

A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages

Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NEXTGENPRENEUR

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

NEXTGENPRENEUR is revolutionizing the future for young women and girls, transforming them into tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. This powerhouse of empowerment is an edtech and learning platform that arms middle and high-school-aged girls with crucial life and leadership skills missing from traditional education. Leading this bold initiative is Founder...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

IT-oLogy

Promote. Teach. Grow.

USC and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partnered with IBM in December 2008 to form the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. The Consortium was formed in part to encourage young people to learn the skills needed to manage enterprise systems, large-scale computers that process high volume transactions. Since its inception,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!

En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Why Lean Innovation Thrives on Agile Digital Foundations

Lean innovation loves speed, but it worships clarity. That combination sounds simple until a team tries to run experiments on a digital base held together with wishful thinking and last year’s duct tape. Ideas don’t die because they’re unworkable. They die because the system can’t change without breaking, because data...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Union Kitchen

HOW A FOOD BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IN WASHINGTON,DC IS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT BIG CPG BRANDS

Cullen Gilchrist founded Union Kitchen in 2012 to partner with food businesses of all sizes to grow and scale their success. Cullen got his start in the food industry with his sister and friends when they opened the Blind Dog Cafe. Faced with the challenge of increased demand and not...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Jenno Co.

We help teams understand their market, articulate their value, and bring their bold ideas to life.

Working in a space where passionate problem solvers and innovative risk-takers intersect is a privilege you must experience to understand. It means you’re part of a community. Even if that community spans regions, disciplines, and industries, the passion we bring to improving both the present and the future is what...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Upling

Delivering Equity, One Order at a Time.

In a world that often overlooks the most vulnerable, Upling is doing more than just delivering cannabis — it’s delivering purpose, access, and social equity. This Maryland-based, AI-powered cannabis delivery platform is rewriting the rules of healthcare access and digital entrepreneurship, all while confronting long-standing injustices in the cannabis industry....

INNOVATE® Georgia

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

SHAPING GENERATIONS OF BLACK MALE LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND CHANGE MAKERS FOR OVER 150 YEARS

Founded in 1867, Morehouse College stands as the nation’s only institution created to educate men of color. As Georgia’s top-ranked liberal arts college for men, Morehouse is a trailblazer in higher education, fostering a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The College has become a vital...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

ClearlyAgile

A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa

Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

SHARKS RUGBY UNION

SHARKS RUGBY UNION- NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE

NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE

Rugby isn’t the same as it was 20, or even 10, years ago. COVID-19 had also left a profound impact on sport. Such are the changes that the Sharks’ competition isn’t always facing them on the rugby pitch on Saturday afternoons. Instead, this team competes against other industries and entertainment...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ROCKET

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NICHE INNOVATION AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Having started in 2019 as a web-only reality show for local startups, Rocket has now developed into a full universe of multi-platform content and unforgettable live experiences with the goal to foment, give visibility, and highlight the positive impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in everyone’s lives. Though an important topic...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

SUPERNOVA

SUPERNOVA AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY: EMPOWERING ATLANTIC CANADA’S YOUTH THROUGH STEM EDUCATION

SuperNOVA: Empowering Youth Through STEM Education Across Atlantic Canada SuperNOVA, a non-profit organization based at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a network member of Actua, has gained widespread recognition for providing high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programming across Atlantic Canada. Founded in 1996, SuperNOVA provides hands-on...

INNOVATION Quebec

MERINOV

À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA

Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Aeroplicity

Simplifying Aerospace and Defense: The Aeroplicity Story

Aeroplicity has emerged as a transformative force in the aerospace and defense industry, with a mission to simplify and modernize supply chain and aftermarket operations. Leveraging cutting-edge aerospace-grade technologies, the company is reshaping how organizations manage data, compliance, and operational efficiency. At its core, Aeroplicity addresses the industry’s most pressing...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Forcura

Forcura-Designed Specifically For The Complexity Of Home Health And Hospice Agencies

Designed Specifically For The Complexity Of Home Health And Hospice Agencies

Craig Mandeville, CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based healthcare technology provider Forcura founded his company for personal reasons, hoping to lessen the time his wife spent driving back and forth to her employer’s home healthcare agency. In her role at the time, Heather Mandeville helped patients who were leaving a hospital transition...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

BUSINESS RITES INVESTMENTS (BSSR)

BEGAN OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER 2020 AND HAS BEEN FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON HIGH QUALITY AND COSTEFFECTIVE BIG DATA SOLUTIONS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES

We are advancing at a tremendous pace and with the involvement of skilled and experienced people working in the organization. BSSR is currently doing business with local SMEs and is actively taking part in hackathons and competitions, developing innovative solutions, and becoming key players in the country’s digital transformation. The...

INNOVATION Quebec

LLIO

CCTT EN INNOVATION OUVERTE

Le Laboratoire en innovation ouverte (LLio) est un centre collégial de transfert lié au Cégep de Rivièredu-Loup. Son champ d’expertise est l’innovation ouverte et collaborative. Sa mission est de faciliter l’adoption de pratiques d’innovation ouverte, notamment celles impliquant les usagers. Le LLio s’intéresse aux pratiques, acteurs et espaces d’innovation ouverte....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

UHN

UHN-Is the Leading and Largest Research Hospital in Canada. The Scope of Research and Complexity of Cases at UHN Has Made It a National and International Source of Discovery

Is the Leading and Largest Research Hospital in Canada. The Scope of Research and Complexity of Cases at UHN Has Made It a National and International Source of Discovery, Education and Excellence in Patient Care

The Michener Institute of Education at UHN is the only institution in Canada devoted exclusively to applied health sciences education, Michener is Canada’s first-ever merger between a hospital and a post-secondary health education institution and the only post-secondary institution devoted exclusively to specialized applied health education in the country.  ...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

7RIVERS

THE CONFLUENCE OF DATA AND STRATEGY

7Rivers is pioneering a path for businesses to navigate the uncharted waters of a new era of technology.With a keen focus on data modernization and artificial intelligence, 7Rivers is not just a technology services company but a leader for organizations ready to embark on a transformative journey, helping solve some...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)-INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN THE PORT SECTOR Innovate to Compete Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd is responsible for the operations of 16 port terminals across seven of South Africa’s ports. More than 9,000 employees work diligently every day to ensure that containers, cars, bulk, and break-bulk cargo...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

KRYPTOWATT

KRYPTOWATT-Mining of digital currencies has remained one of the hottest topics in the blockchain space over the years

Mining of digital currencies has remained one of the hottest topics in the blockchain space over the years, as crypto enthusiasts worldwide seek ways of improving their portfolios

However, crypto mining has also had its fair share of controversies, especially with environmentalists questioning the impact of the activity on the planet. However, Shawn Blackwell and his Krypto Watt team aim to make a difference with the launch of KryptoHeat.   KryptoHeat is designed to capture the heat generated...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF BC (BBABC)

UNITY – EXCELLENCE – LEGACY

The Black Business Association of BC was founded by Nerissa Allen and Clavia Alleyne out of a need and passion for helping businesses at a critical point of time, when the Covid 19 pandemic was ravaging small businesses. They set out on a journey to not only support businesses through...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Madrona

A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages

Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NEXTGENPRENEUR

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

NEXTGENPRENEUR is revolutionizing the future for young women and girls, transforming them into tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. This powerhouse of empowerment is an edtech and learning platform that arms middle and high-school-aged girls with crucial life and leadership skills missing from traditional education. Leading this bold initiative is Founder...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

IT-oLogy

Promote. Teach. Grow.

USC and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partnered with IBM in December 2008 to form the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. The Consortium was formed in part to encourage young people to learn the skills needed to manage enterprise systems, large-scale computers that process high volume transactions. Since its inception,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!

En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...

Ecosystems