Stories of Innovation

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

To support its mission, the mandate of Pharmabio Développement is as follows: According to recent estimates, Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry consists of some 280 companies and employs over 16,000 people. Vacancies in the industry are estimated at 1,325 currently and at more than 4,000 over a three-year projection. As...

In a few short years since launching in 2015, Yoco has grown into an African technology company that is ready to take on the world. With its focus on creating opportunities for small businesses, breaking down the barriers they face, and helping them to participate fully in a more inclusive...

“Interning at Illuminate helped me row both as an individual and professional by giving me a platform to test my leadership skills, and most importantly by providing me with an invaluable network of connections at my disposal. Believe it or not, but the most important lesson I took from my...

The company and its affiliate operate in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) fintech sub-sector. They empower CeFi (Centralized Finance) entities and democratize finance by allowing companies and individuals to “Be the Bank.” The company operates as a SaaS enterprise and is developing commercial-grade programs for the license to qualified entities. “Access...

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a...

JumpStart NJ Angel Network invests in early-stage growth companies with high potential and innovative technology that disrupts traditional businesses. The group of angel investors screens more than 100 companies each year and invests an average $1.5 million annually in leading-edge startups. Based in the Garden State, JumpStart NJ invests in...

Virtual reality is an essential tool for building compassion and expanding awareness about how we relate to failing and learning from those moments....

Picture this:You’re standing in the lobby of an office building waiting for the elevator. The only thing in view is an evacuation map posted on the wall so you take it in. Several minutes later, you’re sitting comfortably in a waiting room when the fire alarm goes off. Can you...

When you think of Detroit and the public relations industry, it may not be obvious at first how much they have in common. But anyone working in the PR industry in the city will tell you both have weathered significant changes over the past several decades. Founded in 1964 in...

“No somos un banco: ponemos el interés de nuestro cliente por encima de todo, sin comisiones ocultas ni letra pequeña. Nuestro círculo de éxito consiste en ofrecer más rentabilidad potencial gracias a las comisiones bajas y así crecer en número de clientes satisfechos que nos recomienden” destaca François Derbaix. Unai...

ZorroSign, Inc. is a global technology company with deep roots in the United Arab Emirates. Co-founded by a third-generation member of the Hadi family who have called Dubai their home for the last 55 years, the company uses blockchain technology for digital signatures to ensure superior privacy and security. ZorroSign...

The story of Nature’s Fynd™ begins millions of years ago, in an acidic hot spring located in what is today Yellowstone National Park when a remarkable microbe was born. In 2009, NASA-backed research on extremophiles led our co-founder to the park’s hot springs. He then isolated and discovered a remarkable...

sTARTUp Has ‘Tartu’ in its name – and that’s no coincidence. sTARTUp Day, Northern Europe’s most startup-minded business festival, is a unique event that thrives on the power of its community. Born from a shared vision in a sauna in 2015, it has evolved into a world-class gathering in Tartu,...

JIBE Ecommerce.JIBE is a digital ecommerce agency, originally founded in 2009 to help better-life brands transform into thriving ecommerce businesses by helping them navigate and build their growing technology ecosystem. In the decade or so since, JIBE has grown from building brochure business websites to a multidisciplinary team of developers,...

Meet Hazlnut, the company helping to bring new-age technology to the small businesses in their community. Today, people expect to have access to restaurants and retail stores on the web. Hazlnut is an all-in-one integrated solution that helps companies develop relationships with their customers through beautifully designed websites and custom...

ABOUT FORWARD LEARNINGForward Learning was founded in 1993 with the vision of promoting the effective use of technology for the development of individuals, companies, and society. Over the years they have worked with enthusiastic professionals to promote innovation through technology, creativity, personal and professional development. Their services include in-person and...

There’s never been a greater need for innovative thinkers to share ideas on how we can address the issues — environmental, political and social — facing our modern world. We need an event that unites world leaders, entrepreneurs, tech developers, journalists and talented people the world over; something to give...

It’s been over two decades since Hanini Group began contributing to Newark’s skyline. Our commitment to restoring and upholding Newark’s historic character is reflected in over $750 million worth of projects successfully delivered. We’ve been a part of this community since 2004 and, through careful restoration and rehabilitation projects, have...

Sourcetoad is a technology and innovation company that specialises in delivering software and development services for the cruise industry. Their flagship product is Cruise Director, a platform for synchronizing and managing guest and crew systems. Designing software for cruise lines can be tricky. Cruise ships are strange beasts; they have...

Venture Miami, the City of Miami’s economic development office, is committed to creating opportunities that fuel economic growth. At the heart of its mission is positioning Miami as a vibrant hub of innovation and technological advancement within the epicenter of South Florida’s rapid growth as one of the fastest-growing global...

Yet behind every breakthrough founder, there is a backbone of early believers – angels who provide not only capital, but experience, networks, and confidence at the most fragile stage of company building. For too long, this backbone has been fragmented. Individual angels operate in isolation, limiting their influence. Nordic Angels...

In the bustling landscape of the construction industry, a new player has emerged with a vision to revolutionize the way professionals estimate costs. Construction Check, founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by Leanda Thomas, the former CEO of Project Cost Solutions, Inc., is poised to become the leading platform for construction cost...

The Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC) is striving to create a healthy, inclusive, globally recognized innovation ecosystem supporting thriving ventures in the Calgary region. To accelerate the venture’s journey we leverage the connectivity, experience, and knowledge of our member network to identify and address ecosystem needs, enhance connections, and enable venture...