Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

WAKE

BORN IN CURITIBA TO REVOLUTIONIZE DIGITAL RETAIL

Founded in 2006, Fbits was born in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, located in the southern region of Brazil, as a result of the Tecnoparque program, which drives innovative local projects. Curitiba is a reference in innovation and was recently elected the Smartest City in the World....

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CO-OP

SINCE THE BEGINNING, WATERLOO’S CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS

Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of University of Waterloo students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YIEDI

YIEDI -A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Just over eight years ago the founder of YIEDI, Jayshree Naidoo and Jay Naidoo her business and life partner, sat across from a branding expert and outlined the vision for the company. They went on to describe a model that they had created, it was still drawn on a napkin...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

FLÖDE

REWRITING FASHION’S DNA THROUGH SCALABLE UPCYCLING AND RADICAL RESPONSIBILITY

FLÖDE is a research-driven upcycling studio and remanufacturing lab founded in 2024 with one purpose: to prove that sustainable fashion production is not only possible, it’s necessary, scalable, and better by design. Where others see textile waste, Flöde sees a vast, untapped resource. Beyond waste: How Flöde turns discarded clothing...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Altus

Altus - Making Financial Services Faster

Making Financial Services Faster

Our mission is to eliminate paper from financial services; leaving our clients free to focus on a digital future and reducing costs for consumers. In 2005 a small group of technical evangelists concluded it was time to tackle the mountains of paper still driving large parts of the financial services...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Epochal Intelligence

The Focus is Unlocking Access to Information and Building Communities Within the IT Space

The Midwest’s tech scene isn’t just growing – it’s booming, with Wisconsin heavily contributing. Milwaukee has transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a digital dynamo, attracting major players and cementing its status as an emerging tech hub where innovation meets Midwestern grit. The opportunities here are continuing to emerge every...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INNOVATE™ Alberta

ENVOY

ENVOY- MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees.   At Envoy...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Hacks to Shield Expensive Gear

Forklift lifting stacked equipment cases.

3 Proven Hacks to Shield Expensive Gear To shield expensive industrial gear effectively, implement impact-resistant custom casing and utilize specialized heavy-haul logistics. Adopting proactive risk-mitigation strategies like real-time shock monitoring prevents catastrophic damage and ensures operational continuity.  Unplanned downtime costs global manufacturers approximately $1.4 trillion annually, equivalent to 11% of...

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™ Curitiba

CARAVELA

A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA

CARAVELA-A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, FOCUSING ON PRE-SEED, SEED, AND SERIES A ROUNDS. They employ a sector-agnostic strategy, aiming to build a diverse portfolio of 25-30 companies in each of their funds. Caravela is known both for their go-to market approach, having analyzed more...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

FROM DISCOVERY TO IMPACT: HOW KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET INNOVATIONS TRANSFORMS LIFE SCIENCE

Innovation is essential for advancing healthcare and ensuring better patient outcomes. However, bringing deeptech Life Science innovations to market is a long and complex journey—one that requires not just groundbreaking research but also substantial investments, regulatory navigation, and perseverance. At KI Innovations, we support researchers and entrepreneurs in transforming scientific...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

TROY JESSEE CONSTRUCTION

CARE BY DESIGN

“An emphasis on long-term relationships, coupled with an ethic that treats everyone with the highest degree of respect, has created beautiful construction and bonds that enrich the community.” How much architecture can you fit in a building? That’s a line as old as the construction industry itself – and one...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

NanosTech

PIONEERING A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRANSITION

NanosTech, born from the innovative crucible of the University of Calgary, exemplifies the transformative potential of ground-breaking catalytic research. In 2021, it found a new home under the umbrella of Vorsana Environmental Inc., further cementing its position as a catalyst for change within the nanocatalyst and catalyst technologies landscape. NanosTech...

INNOVATE® Nashville

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY-Was the first university in Nashville to offer weekend and evening formats for adults who are balancing school

Was the first university in Nashville to offer weekend and evening formats for adults who are balancing school, work and family life

Located in the heart of Nashville, Trevecca offers students an exciting, fulfilling college experience as they pursue a personal calling in a thriving city. A Christian liberal arts university, Trevecca’s diverse, supportive community is a safe haven for spiritual and personal growth, vocational discernment and opportunities for service.   Growth...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

Palaceo

Palaceo - We Are A Group Of Companies

We Are A Group Of Companies, Within Several Emerging Areas Of The Creative Industry, Our Activity Is Based On A Multidisciplinary Of Businesses, Such As Entertainment, Tourism, Design, Digital Marketing, Computer Technology, Video And Music. These Businesses Operate With A Common Premise: A Complete And Global Offer Of Services, Achieved Through Close Cooperation Between Companies.

Having been based in the municipality of Oeiras for some years, in 2017, due to spatial limitations resulting from our growth and consequent creation of new jobs, we sought to unite with those in similar areas of entrepreneurship, in order to seek spaces for rent. Because of our strong, coworking...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | SC Fraunhofer

The Palmetto Applied Research Council

The SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (the Alliance) is South Carolina’s unique applied research partnership designed to help companies innovate faster, de-risk new technologies, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in advanced industries. Managed by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) and its applied research arm, Palmetto Applied Research Council,...

INNOVATE® Maryland

TEDCO

LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET – A MISSION IN ACTION

As a state filled with brilliant minds, access to world-class laboratories and researchers, and high-ranking universities, it only makes sense for Maryland to lead efforts to support the innovation derived from these assets to the commercial market. At the center of this vision stands TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation); founded...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SAHMRI

Is South Australia’s independent, not-for-profit health and medical research institute

SAHMRI is South Australia’s independent, not-for-profit health and medical research institute. It sits at the nexus of health and medical research in South Australia, facilitating diverse and innovative collaborations that deliver better, more equitable, health and health care to people across the state and beyond. SAHMRI was created in 2009...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

HELLO ADSALES BOTSWANA

HELLO ADSALES BOTSWANA- BOLSTERING NEW FRONTIERS OF MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

BOLSTERING NEW FRONTIERS OF MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

Hello AdSales Botswana is a Television and digital sales organization. They manage advertising and sponsorship for some of the leading television channels in SubSaharan Africa such as Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Arabic, The English, Spanish, Italian Football Premier League, StarLife TV, and CBC Television Zambia amongst others. This focused...

INNOVATION Quebec

MAIN

EST LE MOUVEMENT DES ACCÉLÉRATEURS D’INNOVATION DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2016, nous avons la conviction que la collaboration et la mutualisation des pratiques et des ressources (le mouvement) de tous ceux et celles qui par leur accompagnement permettent de réaliser en moins de temps qu’il n’en faudrait autrement (les accélérateurs), peuvent décupler l’impact des startups (l’innovation) de toutes les...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

BioNJ

Helping New Jersey’s Life Sciences Industry Bring Medical Innovation to Patients Around the World

For more than 30 years, BioNJ has been the life sciences trade association for New Jersey – representing close to 400 research–based life sciences organizations and stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem from the largest biopharmaceutical companies to early–stage start–ups. Because Patients Can’t Wait®, BioNJ is dedicated to ensuring a vibrant...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

WAKE

BORN IN CURITIBA TO REVOLUTIONIZE DIGITAL RETAIL

Founded in 2006, Fbits was born in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, located in the southern region of Brazil, as a result of the Tecnoparque program, which drives innovative local projects. Curitiba is a reference in innovation and was recently elected the Smartest City in the World....

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CO-OP

SINCE THE BEGINNING, WATERLOO’S CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS

Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of University of Waterloo students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YIEDI

YIEDI -A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Just over eight years ago the founder of YIEDI, Jayshree Naidoo and Jay Naidoo her business and life partner, sat across from a branding expert and outlined the vision for the company. They went on to describe a model that they had created, it was still drawn on a napkin...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

FLÖDE

REWRITING FASHION’S DNA THROUGH SCALABLE UPCYCLING AND RADICAL RESPONSIBILITY

FLÖDE is a research-driven upcycling studio and remanufacturing lab founded in 2024 with one purpose: to prove that sustainable fashion production is not only possible, it’s necessary, scalable, and better by design. Where others see textile waste, Flöde sees a vast, untapped resource. Beyond waste: How Flöde turns discarded clothing...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Altus

Altus - Making Financial Services Faster

Making Financial Services Faster

Our mission is to eliminate paper from financial services; leaving our clients free to focus on a digital future and reducing costs for consumers. In 2005 a small group of technical evangelists concluded it was time to tackle the mountains of paper still driving large parts of the financial services...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Epochal Intelligence

The Focus is Unlocking Access to Information and Building Communities Within the IT Space

The Midwest’s tech scene isn’t just growing – it’s booming, with Wisconsin heavily contributing. Milwaukee has transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a digital dynamo, attracting major players and cementing its status as an emerging tech hub where innovation meets Midwestern grit. The opportunities here are continuing to emerge every...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INNOVATE™ Alberta

ENVOY

ENVOY- MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees.   At Envoy...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Hacks to Shield Expensive Gear

Forklift lifting stacked equipment cases.

3 Proven Hacks to Shield Expensive Gear To shield expensive industrial gear effectively, implement impact-resistant custom casing and utilize specialized heavy-haul logistics. Adopting proactive risk-mitigation strategies like real-time shock monitoring prevents catastrophic damage and ensures operational continuity.  Unplanned downtime costs global manufacturers approximately $1.4 trillion annually, equivalent to 11% of...

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™ Curitiba

CARAVELA

A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA

CARAVELA-A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, FOCUSING ON PRE-SEED, SEED, AND SERIES A ROUNDS. They employ a sector-agnostic strategy, aiming to build a diverse portfolio of 25-30 companies in each of their funds. Caravela is known both for their go-to market approach, having analyzed more...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

FROM DISCOVERY TO IMPACT: HOW KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET INNOVATIONS TRANSFORMS LIFE SCIENCE

Innovation is essential for advancing healthcare and ensuring better patient outcomes. However, bringing deeptech Life Science innovations to market is a long and complex journey—one that requires not just groundbreaking research but also substantial investments, regulatory navigation, and perseverance. At KI Innovations, we support researchers and entrepreneurs in transforming scientific...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

TROY JESSEE CONSTRUCTION

CARE BY DESIGN

“An emphasis on long-term relationships, coupled with an ethic that treats everyone with the highest degree of respect, has created beautiful construction and bonds that enrich the community.” How much architecture can you fit in a building? That’s a line as old as the construction industry itself – and one...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

NanosTech

PIONEERING A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRANSITION

NanosTech, born from the innovative crucible of the University of Calgary, exemplifies the transformative potential of ground-breaking catalytic research. In 2021, it found a new home under the umbrella of Vorsana Environmental Inc., further cementing its position as a catalyst for change within the nanocatalyst and catalyst technologies landscape. NanosTech...

INNOVATE® Nashville

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY-Was the first university in Nashville to offer weekend and evening formats for adults who are balancing school

Was the first university in Nashville to offer weekend and evening formats for adults who are balancing school, work and family life

Located in the heart of Nashville, Trevecca offers students an exciting, fulfilling college experience as they pursue a personal calling in a thriving city. A Christian liberal arts university, Trevecca’s diverse, supportive community is a safe haven for spiritual and personal growth, vocational discernment and opportunities for service.   Growth...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

Palaceo

Palaceo - We Are A Group Of Companies

We Are A Group Of Companies, Within Several Emerging Areas Of The Creative Industry, Our Activity Is Based On A Multidisciplinary Of Businesses, Such As Entertainment, Tourism, Design, Digital Marketing, Computer Technology, Video And Music. These Businesses Operate With A Common Premise: A Complete And Global Offer Of Services, Achieved Through Close Cooperation Between Companies.

Having been based in the municipality of Oeiras for some years, in 2017, due to spatial limitations resulting from our growth and consequent creation of new jobs, we sought to unite with those in similar areas of entrepreneurship, in order to seek spaces for rent. Because of our strong, coworking...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | SC Fraunhofer

The Palmetto Applied Research Council

The SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (the Alliance) is South Carolina’s unique applied research partnership designed to help companies innovate faster, de-risk new technologies, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in advanced industries. Managed by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) and its applied research arm, Palmetto Applied Research Council,...

INNOVATE® Maryland

TEDCO

LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET – A MISSION IN ACTION

As a state filled with brilliant minds, access to world-class laboratories and researchers, and high-ranking universities, it only makes sense for Maryland to lead efforts to support the innovation derived from these assets to the commercial market. At the center of this vision stands TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation); founded...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SAHMRI

Is South Australia’s independent, not-for-profit health and medical research institute

SAHMRI is South Australia’s independent, not-for-profit health and medical research institute. It sits at the nexus of health and medical research in South Australia, facilitating diverse and innovative collaborations that deliver better, more equitable, health and health care to people across the state and beyond. SAHMRI was created in 2009...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

HELLO ADSALES BOTSWANA

HELLO ADSALES BOTSWANA- BOLSTERING NEW FRONTIERS OF MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

BOLSTERING NEW FRONTIERS OF MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

Hello AdSales Botswana is a Television and digital sales organization. They manage advertising and sponsorship for some of the leading television channels in SubSaharan Africa such as Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Arabic, The English, Spanish, Italian Football Premier League, StarLife TV, and CBC Television Zambia amongst others. This focused...

INNOVATION Quebec

MAIN

EST LE MOUVEMENT DES ACCÉLÉRATEURS D’INNOVATION DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2016, nous avons la conviction que la collaboration et la mutualisation des pratiques et des ressources (le mouvement) de tous ceux et celles qui par leur accompagnement permettent de réaliser en moins de temps qu’il n’en faudrait autrement (les accélérateurs), peuvent décupler l’impact des startups (l’innovation) de toutes les...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

BioNJ

Helping New Jersey’s Life Sciences Industry Bring Medical Innovation to Patients Around the World

For more than 30 years, BioNJ has been the life sciences trade association for New Jersey – representing close to 400 research–based life sciences organizations and stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem from the largest biopharmaceutical companies to early–stage start–ups. Because Patients Can’t Wait®, BioNJ is dedicated to ensuring a vibrant...

Ecosystems