Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMPLIFY CAPITAL

TARGETING QUANTITATIVE IMPACT OUTCOMES; DELIVERING DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE RETURNS

Amplify Capital is a Canadian-based investment fund that provides early-stage companies long-term equity solutions and strategic support to develop their business to solve challenges affecting our future. Led by veteran private equity executive Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify Capital invests exclusively in impact ventures that demonstrate significant, measurable impact alongside market-rate returns....

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE

ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

PARTSBADGER

ACCELERATING THE INNOVATION OF OTHERS

When Roy and Jimmy needed an enclosure machined for their small airborne electronics company, it took twelve inquiries over the course of weeks just to get a quote. When they finally did get a quote, it was cheaper to buy a CNC mill and make the machined parts themselves. So...

INNOVATION Quebec

MECANIUM

CCTT IN MECHATRONICS AND INDUSTRIAL MECHANICS

Our mission at MECANIUM is to support Quebec manufacturing SMEs by designing and achieving mechatronic solutions to help them increase their knowledge, productivity and competitiveness and optimize their products and processes. We are also committed to promoting knowledge dissemination through training and knowledge transfer. As an innovation centre for mechatronics...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CINI

EMOTIONS, FEELINGS, COLORS, AND FLAVORS!

Approaching its 120th anniversary in 2024, Cini is led by the fourth generation of the same family. How have they achieved so much success? Cini is a company that has been operating in the beverage market since 1904, spanning over a century in the beverage industry. Initially, when the Italian...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Centrepolis Accelerator

Empowering Hardtech Startups & Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing

Centrepolis Accelerator @ LTU is committed to strengthening supply chain resiliency to drive economic growth and innovation in Michigan. It offers hardtech startups and small to medium-sized manufacturers access to product development services and tailored funding solutions, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed. Centrepolis Accelerator @LTU’s...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

PS27 Female Founders Forum

PS27 Female Founders Forum-To Motivate and Improve the Skills of Female Founders

To Motivate and Improve the Skills of Female Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Intrepreneurs

The Female Founders Forum is an annual event, organized by PS27 Empowerment, to motivate and improve the skills of Female Founders, entrepreneurs, and intrepreneurs.   The event brings successful women role models together with early-stage female founders. Each year the event takes place on International Women’s Day. During the event,...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

VOLTERA

CATALYZING INNOVATION IN ADDITIVE ELECTRONICS

In 2013, Voltera set out to solve a long-standing challenge in the engineering community — creating an easy-to-use desktop PCB printer. By 2015, that vision had come to life with the launch of V-One, a compact PCB printer capable of drilling through-holes, printing conductive materials, dispensing solder paste, and reflowing...

INNOVATE® Seattle

FOUNDERS LIVE

FOUNDERS LIVE POWERS THE PULSE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AROUND THE WORLD

Founders Live is a global ecosystem for early-stage founders, startups, and entrepreneurs. They are on a mission to elevate entrepreneurship around the world, connecting entrepreneurs to the people, resources, capital, and exposure they need to truly become successful. The vast (and quickly growing) global platform, spanning 120 cities across more...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CAST GROUP

WITH OVER 33-YEARS OF HISTORY, CAST GROUP STANDS OUT AS A LEADING BRAZILIAN COMPANY IN IT

Specializing in IT and TA consulting and solutions, it offers comprehensive services, including development outsourcing, applications, infrastructure, SAP solutions implementation, 4.0 industry and digital transformation. Pelissari, one of Cast group’s companies, has a solid track record of over 20-years in the technology market, focusing primarily on ERP solutions. Specialized in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

HORUS SOLUTIONS

EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT HORUS SOLUTIONS INNOVATES WITH THE FALCON SOLUTION

Horus Solutions is a national company that stands out as a specialist in information management solutions. Since its foundation in 1995, Horus has played an important role in the business scene, offering excellent services throughout the national and international territories. As an official partner of leading software companies such as...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

LANTIS

THE INNOVATIVE NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE OOSTERWEEL LINK IN ANTWERP

The Oosterweel Link is a monumental infrastructure project aimed at completing the ringway around Antwerp, Belgium. This project, coordinated by Lantis (www.lantis.be), is designed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity, integrating groundbreaking techniques and sustainable practices. The innovative approach of this megaproject sets a new standard in Belgium with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ONWARD PLAY

ONWARD PLAY-WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....

INNOVATE® Nashville

Frost Brown Todd

National in Scope. Excellence in Practice and Client Service.

Frost Brown Todd isn’t just a law firm—we’re a strategic collaborator and advisor to businesses nationwide. With more than 600 attorneys in key markets across the U.S., we bring solution-driven legal insight to every corner of commerce. Our firm is especially known for its strength in the middle market and...

INNOVATE® Miami

Brazil Society

Brazil Society - Born Of Its Founders’ Passion For Entrepreneurship And Brazilian Culture

Born Of Its Founders’ Passion For Entrepreneurship And Brazilian Culture

Brazil Society is the mastermind behind Brazil Fashion Forum and Sounds of Brazil, two of Miami’s most-anticipated events that bring high-level Brazilian culture and lifestyle into the heart of the city. Brazil Society curates not just special moments but also provides important, real sales and marketing results to its clients,...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO-FOPR

FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?

Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HILCO CONSUMER - RETAIL

INNOVATING FOR THE RETAIL LIFECYCLE – FROM BEGINNING TO END AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Can a business founded as a retail liquidation firm innovate to save retail? Hilco Consumer-Retail (HCR) is undoubtedly trying – and succeeding in BIG WAYS! Retail – and the consumer product businesses that feed them inventory – is among the most troubled sectors in the United States and worldwide. This...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCORD

PROMOTE BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH THE ACCORD INITIATIVE

Launched in April 2002, the ACCORD Initiative (concerted action for regional development cooperation) seeks to create an environment conducive to the development of businesses. It fosters collaboration between businesses and organizations in a specific field and territory. For more than 20 years, this regional development strategy has been a significant...

United Nations Lesotho

RCO

THE UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR OFFICE

The Office of the Resident Coordinator’s Support to Lesotho Strategic Leadership and Coordination The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) plays a pivotal role in supporting the work of the UN Resident Coordinator, who leads the UN Country Team (UNCT) in consultation with the Government of Lesotho. Together, they define...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

AXIOFORCE

MAKING REVOLUTIONARY SMART MATERIALS TO BRING FORCE SENSING TO APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE.

MAKING REVOLUTIONARY SMART MATERIALS TO BRING FORCE SENSING TO APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE. Axioforce is a sensor company based on a smart materials breakthrough made by Drs. Cory Berkland and Jonathan Miller at the University of Kansas. The two were working on a DoE sponsored project developing cushions that leverage...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

KEPLER

KEPLER -WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH Kepler Communications was founded in 2015 by a group of University of Toronto graduate students who met in the University of Toronto Aerospace Team, also known as UTAT. They noticed a massive renewal of interest and activity in...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SCHOOLTRY

BUILDING A SINGLE DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR EDUCATION WORLDWIDE

As education systems around the world shift rapidly toward digital operations, one company is quietly standing out. SchoolTry, a Stockholm-based tech company, has created a cloud-based platform that brings school management, digital learning, and career readiness together in one seamless system. Founded by software engineer Ismail Eleburuike, SchoolTry tackles a...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

B.EST SOLUTIONS

REDEFINING SECURE DIGITAL IDENTITY WHILE STRENGTHENING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS

Can a digital state be built from scratch with external expertise and support? B.EST Solutions has spent the past 15 years proving that it can. Founded with the mission of adapting Estonia’s pioneering digital state experience to new contexts, the company has become a trusted developer and operator of national...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMPLIFY CAPITAL

TARGETING QUANTITATIVE IMPACT OUTCOMES; DELIVERING DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE RETURNS

Amplify Capital is a Canadian-based investment fund that provides early-stage companies long-term equity solutions and strategic support to develop their business to solve challenges affecting our future. Led by veteran private equity executive Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify Capital invests exclusively in impact ventures that demonstrate significant, measurable impact alongside market-rate returns....

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE

ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

PARTSBADGER

ACCELERATING THE INNOVATION OF OTHERS

When Roy and Jimmy needed an enclosure machined for their small airborne electronics company, it took twelve inquiries over the course of weeks just to get a quote. When they finally did get a quote, it was cheaper to buy a CNC mill and make the machined parts themselves. So...

INNOVATION Quebec

MECANIUM

CCTT IN MECHATRONICS AND INDUSTRIAL MECHANICS

Our mission at MECANIUM is to support Quebec manufacturing SMEs by designing and achieving mechatronic solutions to help them increase their knowledge, productivity and competitiveness and optimize their products and processes. We are also committed to promoting knowledge dissemination through training and knowledge transfer. As an innovation centre for mechatronics...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CINI

EMOTIONS, FEELINGS, COLORS, AND FLAVORS!

Approaching its 120th anniversary in 2024, Cini is led by the fourth generation of the same family. How have they achieved so much success? Cini is a company that has been operating in the beverage market since 1904, spanning over a century in the beverage industry. Initially, when the Italian...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Centrepolis Accelerator

Empowering Hardtech Startups & Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing

Centrepolis Accelerator @ LTU is committed to strengthening supply chain resiliency to drive economic growth and innovation in Michigan. It offers hardtech startups and small to medium-sized manufacturers access to product development services and tailored funding solutions, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed. Centrepolis Accelerator @LTU’s...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

PS27 Female Founders Forum

PS27 Female Founders Forum-To Motivate and Improve the Skills of Female Founders

To Motivate and Improve the Skills of Female Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Intrepreneurs

The Female Founders Forum is an annual event, organized by PS27 Empowerment, to motivate and improve the skills of Female Founders, entrepreneurs, and intrepreneurs.   The event brings successful women role models together with early-stage female founders. Each year the event takes place on International Women’s Day. During the event,...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

VOLTERA

CATALYZING INNOVATION IN ADDITIVE ELECTRONICS

In 2013, Voltera set out to solve a long-standing challenge in the engineering community — creating an easy-to-use desktop PCB printer. By 2015, that vision had come to life with the launch of V-One, a compact PCB printer capable of drilling through-holes, printing conductive materials, dispensing solder paste, and reflowing...

INNOVATE® Seattle

FOUNDERS LIVE

FOUNDERS LIVE POWERS THE PULSE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AROUND THE WORLD

Founders Live is a global ecosystem for early-stage founders, startups, and entrepreneurs. They are on a mission to elevate entrepreneurship around the world, connecting entrepreneurs to the people, resources, capital, and exposure they need to truly become successful. The vast (and quickly growing) global platform, spanning 120 cities across more...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CAST GROUP

WITH OVER 33-YEARS OF HISTORY, CAST GROUP STANDS OUT AS A LEADING BRAZILIAN COMPANY IN IT

Specializing in IT and TA consulting and solutions, it offers comprehensive services, including development outsourcing, applications, infrastructure, SAP solutions implementation, 4.0 industry and digital transformation. Pelissari, one of Cast group’s companies, has a solid track record of over 20-years in the technology market, focusing primarily on ERP solutions. Specialized in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

HORUS SOLUTIONS

EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT HORUS SOLUTIONS INNOVATES WITH THE FALCON SOLUTION

Horus Solutions is a national company that stands out as a specialist in information management solutions. Since its foundation in 1995, Horus has played an important role in the business scene, offering excellent services throughout the national and international territories. As an official partner of leading software companies such as...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

LANTIS

THE INNOVATIVE NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE OOSTERWEEL LINK IN ANTWERP

The Oosterweel Link is a monumental infrastructure project aimed at completing the ringway around Antwerp, Belgium. This project, coordinated by Lantis (www.lantis.be), is designed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity, integrating groundbreaking techniques and sustainable practices. The innovative approach of this megaproject sets a new standard in Belgium with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ONWARD PLAY

ONWARD PLAY-WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....

INNOVATE® Nashville

Frost Brown Todd

National in Scope. Excellence in Practice and Client Service.

Frost Brown Todd isn’t just a law firm—we’re a strategic collaborator and advisor to businesses nationwide. With more than 600 attorneys in key markets across the U.S., we bring solution-driven legal insight to every corner of commerce. Our firm is especially known for its strength in the middle market and...

INNOVATE® Miami

Brazil Society

Brazil Society - Born Of Its Founders’ Passion For Entrepreneurship And Brazilian Culture

Born Of Its Founders’ Passion For Entrepreneurship And Brazilian Culture

Brazil Society is the mastermind behind Brazil Fashion Forum and Sounds of Brazil, two of Miami’s most-anticipated events that bring high-level Brazilian culture and lifestyle into the heart of the city. Brazil Society curates not just special moments but also provides important, real sales and marketing results to its clients,...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO-FOPR

FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?

Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HILCO CONSUMER - RETAIL

INNOVATING FOR THE RETAIL LIFECYCLE – FROM BEGINNING TO END AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Can a business founded as a retail liquidation firm innovate to save retail? Hilco Consumer-Retail (HCR) is undoubtedly trying – and succeeding in BIG WAYS! Retail – and the consumer product businesses that feed them inventory – is among the most troubled sectors in the United States and worldwide. This...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCORD

PROMOTE BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH THE ACCORD INITIATIVE

Launched in April 2002, the ACCORD Initiative (concerted action for regional development cooperation) seeks to create an environment conducive to the development of businesses. It fosters collaboration between businesses and organizations in a specific field and territory. For more than 20 years, this regional development strategy has been a significant...

United Nations Lesotho

RCO

THE UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR OFFICE

The Office of the Resident Coordinator’s Support to Lesotho Strategic Leadership and Coordination The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) plays a pivotal role in supporting the work of the UN Resident Coordinator, who leads the UN Country Team (UNCT) in consultation with the Government of Lesotho. Together, they define...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

AXIOFORCE

MAKING REVOLUTIONARY SMART MATERIALS TO BRING FORCE SENSING TO APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE.

MAKING REVOLUTIONARY SMART MATERIALS TO BRING FORCE SENSING TO APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE. Axioforce is a sensor company based on a smart materials breakthrough made by Drs. Cory Berkland and Jonathan Miller at the University of Kansas. The two were working on a DoE sponsored project developing cushions that leverage...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

KEPLER

KEPLER -WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE INTERNET OUTSIDE OF EARTH Kepler Communications was founded in 2015 by a group of University of Toronto graduate students who met in the University of Toronto Aerospace Team, also known as UTAT. They noticed a massive renewal of interest and activity in...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SCHOOLTRY

BUILDING A SINGLE DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR EDUCATION WORLDWIDE

As education systems around the world shift rapidly toward digital operations, one company is quietly standing out. SchoolTry, a Stockholm-based tech company, has created a cloud-based platform that brings school management, digital learning, and career readiness together in one seamless system. Founded by software engineer Ismail Eleburuike, SchoolTry tackles a...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

B.EST SOLUTIONS

REDEFINING SECURE DIGITAL IDENTITY WHILE STRENGTHENING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS

Can a digital state be built from scratch with external expertise and support? B.EST Solutions has spent the past 15 years proving that it can. Founded with the mission of adapting Estonia’s pioneering digital state experience to new contexts, the company has become a trusted developer and operator of national...

Ecosystems