Stories of Innovation

INNOVATION Quebec

GREENUXLAB

A LAB THAT CREATES A FICTIONAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO PREDICT SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR

Launched in the fall of 2018, the GreenUXlab is an ecosystem for co-creation, research, evaluation of devices, and point-of-sale innovation aimed at positive impact consumption. It serves as the main research infrastructure of ESG UQAM’s Observatoire de la consommation responsable (Responsible Consumption Observatory), a study and strategic watch unit focused...

INNOVATE® Seattle

DEFINED.AI

ENABLING CREATORS OF THE FUTURE - TRANSFORMING AI TRAINING, ONE DATASET AT A TIME

At Defined.ai, our commitment is to enable the builders of AI with ethically sourced data and deliver conversational AI to digitally low-resourced markets. I had the idea of founding the company when I realized how the Conversational AI market was becoming mainstream, and everyone was building multilingual voice search and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Potluck

And the Reimagining of Social Tech

In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

BRBATEL

WAS FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER 2020 BY ENTREPRENEURS

BRBATEL WAS FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER 2020 BY ENTREPRENEURS LUCAS FLORES, GABRIEL NASSER, AND MARCOS MENDONÇA WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING TECHNOLOGY TO THE DEBT CAPITAL MARKET (DCM), USING A UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY FOR ORIGINATION AND STRUCTURING DEVELOPED BY THE COMPANY ITSELF. The company originated more than 1,100 deals through its over...

INNOVATE® Seattle

SEATTLEU

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. ACCELERATING ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERS FOR THE COMMON GOOD As uncertainty across environmental and social changes becomes the norm, we need innovative leaders who are prepared to take on those challenges. That is why Seattle University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) is where innovation meets...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Launch Tennessee

Advances legacy of innovation

Public-private partnership Launch Tennessee has spent more than a decade creating a unique statewide startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs in all 95 counties across the Volunteer State by providing capital, commercialization support, and connections. “It’s a great privilege to work on behalf of the entire state to boost innovation and entrepreneurship,”...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Opera

Setting the Scene for Opera's Future

Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Ellingson Group

THE STARTUP WHISPERER: A GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Employee Benefits | Sea-Mountain Insurance THE STARTUP WHISPERER: A GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. The Company Ellingson Group has redefined what it means to be an employee benefits brokerage by specializing in the unique needs of startups, tech companies, and venture capital firms. These industries are the engines of economic...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

BLUEBIST

BLUEBIST-PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR NEW AGE OBSTACLES

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR NEW AGE OBSTACLES

Blue Bist is a boutique consulting company based in Chicago, IL. We specialize in change management, team dynamics, and operations transformations. We provide fractional and remote COO, CPO, and CTO support to startups and mentor first-time founders on how to scale. We are a diverse, professional, woman-owned business with a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

BICKFORD'S GROUP

LEADER IN BEVERAGE INNOVATION

The Bickford’s Group is an Every day, the group strives to make the ordinary, extraordinary. independently owned collection of companies headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. The group has a rich history that dates back to 1839 when William Bickford opened a small apothecary in Rundle Street after moving to Australia....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BRICKEYE

BRICKEYE-Mission-Critical Insights To Drive Safety

Mission-Critical Insights To Drive Safety, Resilience, And Sustainability

Brickeye is a leader in industrial internet of things (IoT) and data analytics for risk mitigation in construction and infrastructure management. We empower customers to build and manage their projects and assets safer, smarter, and better. By integrating actionable, real-time data from IoT-enabled sensors and predictive analytics, we enable customers...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Auditmacs

Auditmacs - Digital transformation in the IOT age is more about people and the multiplier effect than it is about Technology

Digital transformation in the IOT age is more about people and the multiplier effect than it is about Technology

As the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation sweep rapidly across the globe, people often focus too much on the technology. Sometimes we need to ask the question … “Why?” Why are we doing this? Just because we can do something with technology isn’t always a good reason that...

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...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DOCSIE

DOCSIE - IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING

IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING, COLLABORATIVE EDITING AND CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ANALYTICS

Docsie has one simple mission: helping businesses everywhere to write better documentation using reader insights, and removing barriers around web publishing and team collaboration.   Docsie brings product, support and development teams together, alongside their tools, in one AIpowered knowledge management system. Docsie breaks down silos and creates a fluid,...

INNOVATION Quebec

Université de Sherbrooke

L’innovation fait partie intégrante de l’ADN de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Pour innover, elle ose penser autrement et prendre appui dans sa culture partenariale. Depuis sa création, l’UdeS a développé une étroite collaboration avec les différents milieux, tant celui des affaires, des industries que le monde communautaire. Aujourd’hui, cette proximité en...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Breadless

Fuel Your Next Move

In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

KISWE

POWERING THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIGITAL EVENTS THROUGH INTERACTIVE LIVESTREAMS

Kiswe is an award-winning technology company that helps partners fully monetize their content. Trusted by the world’s biggest entertainment and sports brands, Kiswe allows customers to seamlessly customize content for specific audiences, distribute content live or on-demand to their fans with branded ticketing and event websites, and create interactive experiences....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

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® Detroit

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

Transmission is Key to Unlocking Our Energy Future

From electric vehicles to renewable energy, the world is looking at electricity in a new way, and ITC is focused on building and maintaining a power grid that can handle it all. The path to a highly connected, advanced society in which vehicles and infrastructure talk to each other, drones...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE EN PRÉVENTION DE LA CYBERCRIMINALITÉ – UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

COMPRENDRE COMMENT PRÉVENIR LA CYBERCRIMINALITÉ, ET PROTÉGER SES VICTIMES CONTRE LES DOMMAGES QU’ELLE LEUR CAUSE

La Chaire de recherche en prévention de la cybercriminalité a été lancée en septembre 2018 à l’initiative de l’Université de Montréal, de Desjardins et de la Banque Nationale du Canada. Elle est dirigée par Benoît Dupont, professeur de criminologie et chercheur au Centre international de criminologie comparée de l’Université de...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Innovative Moving Solutions: How Technology Is Transforming the Relocation Industry

The moving industry has traditionally relied on manual labor and logistics, but recent innovations in technology are driving a significant transformation in how relocations are handled. From digital platforms that connect customers with movers to AI-powered solutions that streamline operations, technology is making moving faster, more efficient, and customer-centric. This...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UFPR

FOUNDED IN 1912, UFPR IS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN BRAZIL.

It was initially known as the University of Paraná, and it has been since then a national reference when it comes to teaching, research, and outreach services. Therefore, the UFPR historic building, located at Praça Santos Andrade, was chosen by Curitiba residents as the very symbol of the city. Initially,...

INNOVATION Quebec

GREENUXLAB

A LAB THAT CREATES A FICTIONAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO PREDICT SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR

Launched in the fall of 2018, the GreenUXlab is an ecosystem for co-creation, research, evaluation of devices, and point-of-sale innovation aimed at positive impact consumption. It serves as the main research infrastructure of ESG UQAM’s Observatoire de la consommation responsable (Responsible Consumption Observatory), a study and strategic watch unit focused...

INNOVATE® Seattle

DEFINED.AI

ENABLING CREATORS OF THE FUTURE - TRANSFORMING AI TRAINING, ONE DATASET AT A TIME

At Defined.ai, our commitment is to enable the builders of AI with ethically sourced data and deliver conversational AI to digitally low-resourced markets. I had the idea of founding the company when I realized how the Conversational AI market was becoming mainstream, and everyone was building multilingual voice search and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Potluck

And the Reimagining of Social Tech

In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

BRBATEL

WAS FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER 2020 BY ENTREPRENEURS

BRBATEL WAS FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER 2020 BY ENTREPRENEURS LUCAS FLORES, GABRIEL NASSER, AND MARCOS MENDONÇA WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING TECHNOLOGY TO THE DEBT CAPITAL MARKET (DCM), USING A UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY FOR ORIGINATION AND STRUCTURING DEVELOPED BY THE COMPANY ITSELF. The company originated more than 1,100 deals through its over...

INNOVATE® Seattle

SEATTLEU

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. ACCELERATING ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERS FOR THE COMMON GOOD As uncertainty across environmental and social changes becomes the norm, we need innovative leaders who are prepared to take on those challenges. That is why Seattle University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) is where innovation meets...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Launch Tennessee

Advances legacy of innovation

Public-private partnership Launch Tennessee has spent more than a decade creating a unique statewide startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs in all 95 counties across the Volunteer State by providing capital, commercialization support, and connections. “It’s a great privilege to work on behalf of the entire state to boost innovation and entrepreneurship,”...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Opera

Setting the Scene for Opera's Future

Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Ellingson Group

THE STARTUP WHISPERER: A GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Employee Benefits | Sea-Mountain Insurance THE STARTUP WHISPERER: A GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. The Company Ellingson Group has redefined what it means to be an employee benefits brokerage by specializing in the unique needs of startups, tech companies, and venture capital firms. These industries are the engines of economic...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

BLUEBIST

BLUEBIST-PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR NEW AGE OBSTACLES

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR NEW AGE OBSTACLES

Blue Bist is a boutique consulting company based in Chicago, IL. We specialize in change management, team dynamics, and operations transformations. We provide fractional and remote COO, CPO, and CTO support to startups and mentor first-time founders on how to scale. We are a diverse, professional, woman-owned business with a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

BICKFORD'S GROUP

LEADER IN BEVERAGE INNOVATION

The Bickford’s Group is an Every day, the group strives to make the ordinary, extraordinary. independently owned collection of companies headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. The group has a rich history that dates back to 1839 when William Bickford opened a small apothecary in Rundle Street after moving to Australia....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BRICKEYE

BRICKEYE-Mission-Critical Insights To Drive Safety

Mission-Critical Insights To Drive Safety, Resilience, And Sustainability

Brickeye is a leader in industrial internet of things (IoT) and data analytics for risk mitigation in construction and infrastructure management. We empower customers to build and manage their projects and assets safer, smarter, and better. By integrating actionable, real-time data from IoT-enabled sensors and predictive analytics, we enable customers...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Auditmacs

Auditmacs - Digital transformation in the IOT age is more about people and the multiplier effect than it is about Technology

Digital transformation in the IOT age is more about people and the multiplier effect than it is about Technology

As the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation sweep rapidly across the globe, people often focus too much on the technology. Sometimes we need to ask the question … “Why?” Why are we doing this? Just because we can do something with technology isn’t always a good reason that...

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...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DOCSIE

DOCSIE - IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING

IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING, COLLABORATIVE EDITING AND CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ANALYTICS

Docsie has one simple mission: helping businesses everywhere to write better documentation using reader insights, and removing barriers around web publishing and team collaboration.   Docsie brings product, support and development teams together, alongside their tools, in one AIpowered knowledge management system. Docsie breaks down silos and creates a fluid,...

INNOVATION Quebec

Université de Sherbrooke

L’innovation fait partie intégrante de l’ADN de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Pour innover, elle ose penser autrement et prendre appui dans sa culture partenariale. Depuis sa création, l’UdeS a développé une étroite collaboration avec les différents milieux, tant celui des affaires, des industries que le monde communautaire. Aujourd’hui, cette proximité en...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Breadless

Fuel Your Next Move

In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

KISWE

POWERING THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIGITAL EVENTS THROUGH INTERACTIVE LIVESTREAMS

Kiswe is an award-winning technology company that helps partners fully monetize their content. Trusted by the world’s biggest entertainment and sports brands, Kiswe allows customers to seamlessly customize content for specific audiences, distribute content live or on-demand to their fans with branded ticketing and event websites, and create interactive experiences....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

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® Detroit

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

Transmission is Key to Unlocking Our Energy Future

From electric vehicles to renewable energy, the world is looking at electricity in a new way, and ITC is focused on building and maintaining a power grid that can handle it all. The path to a highly connected, advanced society in which vehicles and infrastructure talk to each other, drones...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAIRE DE RECHERCHE EN PRÉVENTION DE LA CYBERCRIMINALITÉ – UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

COMPRENDRE COMMENT PRÉVENIR LA CYBERCRIMINALITÉ, ET PROTÉGER SES VICTIMES CONTRE LES DOMMAGES QU’ELLE LEUR CAUSE

La Chaire de recherche en prévention de la cybercriminalité a été lancée en septembre 2018 à l’initiative de l’Université de Montréal, de Desjardins et de la Banque Nationale du Canada. Elle est dirigée par Benoît Dupont, professeur de criminologie et chercheur au Centre international de criminologie comparée de l’Université de...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Innovative Moving Solutions: How Technology Is Transforming the Relocation Industry

The moving industry has traditionally relied on manual labor and logistics, but recent innovations in technology are driving a significant transformation in how relocations are handled. From digital platforms that connect customers with movers to AI-powered solutions that streamline operations, technology is making moving faster, more efficient, and customer-centric. This...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UFPR

FOUNDED IN 1912, UFPR IS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN BRAZIL.

It was initially known as the University of Paraná, and it has been since then a national reference when it comes to teaching, research, and outreach services. Therefore, the UFPR historic building, located at Praça Santos Andrade, was chosen by Curitiba residents as the very symbol of the city. Initially,...

Ecosystems