Stories of Innovation

FOUNDED IN 2008 IN MARYLAND WASHINGTON DC, 2U, INC. SET OUT TO CREATE THE WORLD’S BEST ONLINE EDUCATION AND THEY’VE BEEN DEFYING THE ODDS EVER SINCE. ALSO AROUND THE EXACT SAME TIME AND COINCIDING WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE MOOC REVOLUTION, GETSMARTER WAS ALSO FOUNDED. Early on in the industry,...

For nearly a century, Bell Labs has been revolutionizing the telecommunications industry from its headquarters in Murray Hill, New Jersey. The facility has been a hotbed of innovation for the renowned industrial research institute. Perhaps Bell Labs’ greatest brainchild, the transistor, was first demonstrated there in 1947. Groundbreaking inventions in...

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...

Since 2013, Ecopia AI has been on a mission to create a digital twin of the world using artificial intelligence (AI). Originally spun out of a Ph.D project at the University of Waterloo, Ecopia’s maps have grown from detailing a single small city to mapping entire continents while evolving from...

EMPOWERING MIAMI’S STARTUP TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM WITH CAPITAL AND MENTORSHIP Seedfunders Miami is an angel investing organization focused on helping early-stage startups develop to the point where they can attract venture capital funding. Our partners come from diverse backgrounds with expertise covering a wide range of real-world business challenges. With funding...

Lanaudière Économique (LÉ) was founded in 1991 to address the economic development needs and challenges of in the six regional county municipalities (MRCs) of the territory. LÉ propels innovative businesses and projects in Lanaudière, in collaboration with other economic development organizations in the region. Leveraging partnerships with over thirty regional,...

In the late 1990s, a visionary goal was conceived by a group of business and academic leaders in Washington state: to cultivate a flourishing landscape of thriving, innovation-driven enterprises within the expanding economy of Washington. At that point, the Washington state economy was based on manufacturing (primarily airplanes), agriculture (wheat,...

“Circle is focused on raising global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value by empowering businesses with digital currencies and blockchain technology.” Founded with the ambitious goal of raising global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value, Circle leverages the power of digital currencies and blockchain technology to...

Apple Rose Beauty is a natural skincare company that creates spa-quality organic beauty products with the tangible mission of supporting the fight to end human trafficking. Products are sold on Amazon, at boutiques, and through an e-commerce website with ingredients that are natural, certified organic, and wildcrafted, with a focus...

Their core product, Gameplan, helps players of all ages acquire real-world skills that aid professional development, cognitive abilities, promote healthy habits, and more.   Rasmus Sandstöm and Dan Andreasson started Learn2Esport in 2016 with the vision of engaging students through esports, and teaching them valuable life skills to prepare them...

Boast’s AI-powered platform maximizes R&D tax credits while accelerating access to funding The good news for companies of all sizes: Each year, the Canadian and U.S. federal governments provide businesses with more than $20 billion in research and development (R&D) credits. The bad news: application processes are cumbersome, time-consuming, and...

Benchmark Sixty is not your usual entrepreneurial story. It wasn’t an idea that was burning inside of a serial entrepreneur, or a strategically thought out plan. It was an “accidental startup” that sprouted from the pain points of an industry that was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What started as...

Tech-enabled companies and enterprises save 30-50% of their Cloud development and modernization cost and time with BOS. After building over 200 software products across industries spanning Clinical Research, HealthCare, Finance, Departments of Corrections, Defense, and Education in multiple geographies including North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, BOS CEO and Founder...

STATUS QUO IN SPINAL SURGERY IS NOT AN OPTION!No status quo is synonymous with innovation. Innovation must transform the way we deliver care to patients. On one side this has to involve patient-centered improvement by careful listening and precise information. On the other hand, surgical procedures must apply the principle...

“Regenerative medicine is the future, and not only is it the future, it’s a branch of medicine that Canada and the province of Ontario are actually quite good at.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau When it launched onto the scene in 2011, there was nothing else like it. Even today, ten years...

If you woke up tomorrow and decided to start a company, how would you do it? Where would you begin? The reality is that most founders start companies alone, spending the first few months in a metaphorical (or, oftentimes, literal) garage figuring out how to get off the ground and...

Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...

Did you know that 20% of the global meat production is consumed by dogs and cats? And that meat is the number one cause of pet allergies? The meat industry has an enormous negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contributes to numerous unwanted climate effects. Moreover, it harms...

PilotoMail was born in a high traffic mailroom at Piloto 151 coworking spaces in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Stolberg siblings, Sofia and Juan Carlos, had been running the first and largest coworking operation on the Island for 6 years, and, as more entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals and corporates joined their membership...

Photonics can be found everywhere: laser surgery, battery manufacturing, and quantum computers are among many other applications that benefit from light-based technologies. The presence of research centers and industries on Quebec soil has led to a fertile ground for innovation among deep tech start-ups and established businesses. Optonique, Québec’s Photonics...

Changing the way we live – and build our homes and lives – is no mean feat. That is precisely what iUnit sets out to do. It is a visionary real estate development/tech start-up spearheading a revolution in sustainable housing. Founded by Brice Leconte, iUnit is a trailblazer in merging...

The Innovation Factory has redefined coworking with its cutting-edge approach that’s taking the industry by storm. Founded in October 2020, this coworking space has quickly become a hub for entrepreneurs, startups, and freelancers who are seeking an innovative and collaborative work environment. What sets The Innovation Factory apart is its...

Qui sommes-nousLe GERAD est un centre de recherche interuniversitaire au cœur de l’intelligence numérique. Il se veut un pôle de référence en matière de mathématiques de la décision et de ses applications dans les systèmes complexes, en fédérant des chercheurs universitaires et industriels pour la réalisation de projets de recherche...

Taurus Helmets is a Brazilian company pioneer in the manufacture of helmets in Brazil. It has been in the market for over 40 years and hasestablished itself as the largest in the segment, with a market share of around 50%. It has national sales coverage with more than 12,000 points...