Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ALT TEX

ALT TEX-FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION

FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION

Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDER INSTITUTE

FOUNDER INSTITUTE-Since Its Inception In 2009

Since Its Inception In 2009, The Founder Institute Has Always Maintained One Guiding Principle; “There Are A Lot Of Big Problems In The World, And We Are Here To Help Founders Build Companies That Will Solve Them.”

OriginsFrom its Silicon Valley origins, Co-founders Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan have built an unparalleled global network of over 5,000 Portfolio Companies, across 200 cities with the largest mentor network in the world of 21,000 Mentors, innovators, investors and ecosystem builders. With chapters on every continent except Antarctica and $30B...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Myya

Innovating Post-Mastectomy Care

At the heart of Myya lies a deeply personal mission inspired by the life and challenges faced by the Founder and CEO, Jasmine Jones. Witnessing her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer and the subsequent difficulties in finding supportive, well-fitting post-mastectomy bras and prostheses ignited a passion within Jasmine to create...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATOR

For nearly 15 years, our mission at ChaudièresAppalaches Économique (CAE) has been to stimulate economic development by pooling our members’ assets and services, as well as those of our economic development partners. CAE’s services include business mentoring, entrepreneurship outreach, and support for eco-friendly businesses and eco-innovation. Since 2018, CAE has...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Beacon HR

MAINTAINING PEACE OF MIND FOR FOUNDERS WITH FLEXIBLE TALENT SOLUTIONS

Beacon HR is in the business of transforming companies to help them become stronger, more modern, and more resilient. Change seems to be the only constant in this era of the Great Resignation, followed by a recessionary environment. Scrambling to come up with short-term actions and pivots to stay competitive...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

INSPIRING INNOVATION AROUND AN ENDURING PURPOSE

What never changes: Christ-centeredness and transformative experiences.What drives change: Curiosity and courage. For more than 134 years, Lipscomb University has been a Christ-centered academic institution rooted in purpose-driven education. Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Lipscomb is one of the few institutions in the nation offering educational pathways from...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

FLORIDA MAN GAMING

FLORIDA MAN GAMING-Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG

Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG

Florida Man Gaming is a Tampa, Fl-based esports organization that has brought innovation to the community through partnerships with like-minded local businesses intending to help bridge the gap in our community.   Florida Man Gaming is an American esports gaming community founded in 2019 with the vision to bring a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Crowd Capital

Crowd Capital - We make investors happy by keeping families in their homes

We make investors happy by keeping families in their homes

Crowd Capital is a game changing social impact fintech operating at the intersection of crowd financing, investment platforms, and real estate. We help defaulting borrowers secure their homes while delivering above market average financial returns to our customers in a frictionless and transparent way. By leveraging machine learning and mobile...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NUMEDICO

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION WITH MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND AFFORDABLE DRUG DELIVERY METHODS. SPACE RESEARCH FOR REAL-WORLD PROBLEMSPushing the boundaries of medical research all the way into orbit, Numedico’s latest business venture is a partnership with satellite infrastructure provider ResearchSat to explore newmethods to administer medication....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Code/+/Trust

Agile, On-Shore Product Studio for End-to-End Software Development

At Code/+/Trust, we’re more than just a development shop, we’re your strategic co-founders, product visionaries, and fractional CTOs. What do bourbon barrels, jails, and hospitals have in common? They’re all part of the industries our clients have disrupted with our help. We use a flexible, industry-agnostic process: discovery, user research,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CHEFS WAREHOUSE

CHEFS WAREHOUSE -WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

As businesses go, restaurants aren’t for the faint of heart. The hospitality industry is one of cutthroat competition. This industry demands discipline, dedication, constant innovation, passion, opportunity, and perseverance from restaurateurs, managers, kitchen staff, and front-of-house staff. Creating fine-dining cuisine is as much an art form as it is the science...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOVATION MARITIME

CCTT DU SECTEUR MARITIME

Créativité et savoir-faire au service de l’industrie maritime. Actif depuis plus de vingt ans dans le secteur maritime, Innovation maritime (IMAR) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié à l’Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ). La mission du CCTT est de contribuer au développement du secteur maritime et stimuler l’excellence par...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MIDTOWN YOUTH ACADEMY

Fighting for youth through boxing and books

In establishing Midtown Youth Academy in 1977, Golden Gloves champ Eugene “Thunder” Hughes began with a make-shift boxing ring and a noble goal: draw at-risk youth away from the mean and drug-infested streets of Washington, D.C., and guide them to a successful path in life. “We let them knock themselves...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ICOSAGEN

ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH

On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TESE TECHNOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE URBANISM AND CULTURE

Located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, and affiliated with the Tecnoparque, a City Hall program, TESE Technology Architecture Urban Planning and Culture is part of a group of companies founded by Mirna Cortopassi Lobo, Rodrigo and Diogo Cortopassi Lobo in 1987. The scope of TESE is wide and operates...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KOLT Creatives

KOLT Creatives- UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Untapped potential: a breeding ground for innovation and disruption. South Africa is overflowing with infinite talent. Unlocking their potential means unlocking opportunities. Millennials are excelling by themselves and for themselves. South Africa’s students and junior talent are the very essence of untapped potential. They are breaking down barriers. Alexa Georga...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHIFT CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

SHIFT Capital’s Blueprint for Just Communities A Philadelphia-born B Corporation is rewriting the rules of real estate — proving that purpose and profit can build something greater than either alone. In the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked by conventional real estate investment, SHIFT Capital has spent nearly a decade...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

P360

THE IMPACT OF P360’S INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The life sciences industry is about improving people’s lives. It operates in an incredibly competitive and complex environment where being ahead of the curve is critical. And getting their life-enhancing products to physicians, specialists and other healthcare professionals requires that companies be proactive in adopting innovative technologies that help them...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRUPO GUAYACÁN-Building Local Entrepreneurship From The Ground Up

Very few people were talking about entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico when Grupo Guayacan, Inc. was born in 1996. Founded by Enrique “Ricky” Adsuar as a private sector mission-driven nonprofit organization, it has served entrepreneurs with a unique model that has coupled private equity investment with a series of programs to...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

PCG SOFTWARE

PCG SOFTWARE- THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award-winning, youth-led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices. From left to right: Michael Mavuso –...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | Palmeto AI Corridor

Advancing AI Excellence Through Research, Collaboration, and Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence is one of SC Competes’ priority “critical technologies” for growing South Carolina’s economy and talent base. With the launch of its Palmetto AI Corridor in 2021, SC Competes acts as a connector and catalyst: we convene industry–academic–government partners, map opportunities and gaps, seed pilot programs, and translate AI...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ALT TEX

ALT TEX-FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION

FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION

Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDER INSTITUTE

FOUNDER INSTITUTE-Since Its Inception In 2009

Since Its Inception In 2009, The Founder Institute Has Always Maintained One Guiding Principle; “There Are A Lot Of Big Problems In The World, And We Are Here To Help Founders Build Companies That Will Solve Them.”

OriginsFrom its Silicon Valley origins, Co-founders Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan have built an unparalleled global network of over 5,000 Portfolio Companies, across 200 cities with the largest mentor network in the world of 21,000 Mentors, innovators, investors and ecosystem builders. With chapters on every continent except Antarctica and $30B...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Myya

Innovating Post-Mastectomy Care

At the heart of Myya lies a deeply personal mission inspired by the life and challenges faced by the Founder and CEO, Jasmine Jones. Witnessing her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer and the subsequent difficulties in finding supportive, well-fitting post-mastectomy bras and prostheses ignited a passion within Jasmine to create...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATOR

For nearly 15 years, our mission at ChaudièresAppalaches Économique (CAE) has been to stimulate economic development by pooling our members’ assets and services, as well as those of our economic development partners. CAE’s services include business mentoring, entrepreneurship outreach, and support for eco-friendly businesses and eco-innovation. Since 2018, CAE has...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Beacon HR

MAINTAINING PEACE OF MIND FOR FOUNDERS WITH FLEXIBLE TALENT SOLUTIONS

Beacon HR is in the business of transforming companies to help them become stronger, more modern, and more resilient. Change seems to be the only constant in this era of the Great Resignation, followed by a recessionary environment. Scrambling to come up with short-term actions and pivots to stay competitive...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

INSPIRING INNOVATION AROUND AN ENDURING PURPOSE

What never changes: Christ-centeredness and transformative experiences.What drives change: Curiosity and courage. For more than 134 years, Lipscomb University has been a Christ-centered academic institution rooted in purpose-driven education. Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Lipscomb is one of the few institutions in the nation offering educational pathways from...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

FLORIDA MAN GAMING

FLORIDA MAN GAMING-Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG

Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG

Florida Man Gaming is a Tampa, Fl-based esports organization that has brought innovation to the community through partnerships with like-minded local businesses intending to help bridge the gap in our community.   Florida Man Gaming is an American esports gaming community founded in 2019 with the vision to bring a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Crowd Capital

Crowd Capital - We make investors happy by keeping families in their homes

We make investors happy by keeping families in their homes

Crowd Capital is a game changing social impact fintech operating at the intersection of crowd financing, investment platforms, and real estate. We help defaulting borrowers secure their homes while delivering above market average financial returns to our customers in a frictionless and transparent way. By leveraging machine learning and mobile...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NUMEDICO

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION WITH MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND AFFORDABLE DRUG DELIVERY METHODS. SPACE RESEARCH FOR REAL-WORLD PROBLEMSPushing the boundaries of medical research all the way into orbit, Numedico’s latest business venture is a partnership with satellite infrastructure provider ResearchSat to explore newmethods to administer medication....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Code/+/Trust

Agile, On-Shore Product Studio for End-to-End Software Development

At Code/+/Trust, we’re more than just a development shop, we’re your strategic co-founders, product visionaries, and fractional CTOs. What do bourbon barrels, jails, and hospitals have in common? They’re all part of the industries our clients have disrupted with our help. We use a flexible, industry-agnostic process: discovery, user research,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CHEFS WAREHOUSE

CHEFS WAREHOUSE -WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

As businesses go, restaurants aren’t for the faint of heart. The hospitality industry is one of cutthroat competition. This industry demands discipline, dedication, constant innovation, passion, opportunity, and perseverance from restaurateurs, managers, kitchen staff, and front-of-house staff. Creating fine-dining cuisine is as much an art form as it is the science...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOVATION MARITIME

CCTT DU SECTEUR MARITIME

Créativité et savoir-faire au service de l’industrie maritime. Actif depuis plus de vingt ans dans le secteur maritime, Innovation maritime (IMAR) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié à l’Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ). La mission du CCTT est de contribuer au développement du secteur maritime et stimuler l’excellence par...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MIDTOWN YOUTH ACADEMY

Fighting for youth through boxing and books

In establishing Midtown Youth Academy in 1977, Golden Gloves champ Eugene “Thunder” Hughes began with a make-shift boxing ring and a noble goal: draw at-risk youth away from the mean and drug-infested streets of Washington, D.C., and guide them to a successful path in life. “We let them knock themselves...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ICOSAGEN

ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH

On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TESE TECHNOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE URBANISM AND CULTURE

Located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, and affiliated with the Tecnoparque, a City Hall program, TESE Technology Architecture Urban Planning and Culture is part of a group of companies founded by Mirna Cortopassi Lobo, Rodrigo and Diogo Cortopassi Lobo in 1987. The scope of TESE is wide and operates...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KOLT Creatives

KOLT Creatives- UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Untapped potential: a breeding ground for innovation and disruption. South Africa is overflowing with infinite talent. Unlocking their potential means unlocking opportunities. Millennials are excelling by themselves and for themselves. South Africa’s students and junior talent are the very essence of untapped potential. They are breaking down barriers. Alexa Georga...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHIFT CAPITAL

INVESTING WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

SHIFT Capital’s Blueprint for Just Communities A Philadelphia-born B Corporation is rewriting the rules of real estate — proving that purpose and profit can build something greater than either alone. In the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked by conventional real estate investment, SHIFT Capital has spent nearly a decade...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

P360

THE IMPACT OF P360’S INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The life sciences industry is about improving people’s lives. It operates in an incredibly competitive and complex environment where being ahead of the curve is critical. And getting their life-enhancing products to physicians, specialists and other healthcare professionals requires that companies be proactive in adopting innovative technologies that help them...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRUPO GUAYACÁN-Building Local Entrepreneurship From The Ground Up

Very few people were talking about entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico when Grupo Guayacan, Inc. was born in 1996. Founded by Enrique “Ricky” Adsuar as a private sector mission-driven nonprofit organization, it has served entrepreneurs with a unique model that has coupled private equity investment with a series of programs to...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

PCG SOFTWARE

PCG SOFTWARE- THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award-winning, youth-led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices. From left to right: Michael Mavuso –...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | Palmeto AI Corridor

Advancing AI Excellence Through Research, Collaboration, and Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence is one of SC Competes’ priority “critical technologies” for growing South Carolina’s economy and talent base. With the launch of its Palmetto AI Corridor in 2021, SC Competes acts as a connector and catalyst: we convene industry–academic–government partners, map opportunities and gaps, seed pilot programs, and translate AI...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

Ecosystems