Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...

INNOVATION Quebec

COLAB

EN ACTIVITÉ DEPUIS 2019, COLAB EST UN CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET D’INNOVATION

QUATRE AXES DE RECHERCHETerritoires numériquesFavoriser le développement des compétences numériques, collaboratives et entrepreneuriales des acteur·trice·s de l’écosystème. Transition numérique des PMESupporter la transition numérique des PME en développant les compétences numériques des leaders, des gestionnaires et des employé·e·s, en les accompagnant dans une démarche de transformation numérique. Entrepreneuriat et apprentissages...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE-

TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD

Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...

INNOVATION Quebec

LA VAGUE

L’ACCÉLÉRATEUR INSULAIRE ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE

La Corporation d’innovation et de développement des Îles, LA VAGUE, est un organisme qui crée un lieu de convergence pour favoriser la synergie entre les acteurs socioéconomiques des Îles-de-laMadeleine et d’ailleurs. Sa vision est orientée vers une économie insulaire durable et créatrice de richesses. Elle offre de l’accompagnement spécialisé pour...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC DU SAGUENAY-LAC ST-JEAN

Les racinesDepuis près de 20 ans qu’au Saguenay–LacSaint-Jean – une région de plus de 275 000 habitants située à 500 km au nord-est de Montréal – des initiatives concertées sont déployées afin de stimuler l’innovation auprès des PME. Idéa innovation PME (2004-2010), puis Innovation 02 (2011-2019) ont généré tour à...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HONEST CHOCOLATE

HONEST CHOCOLATE- DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

Honest Chocolate was founded in 2010 by two friends Anthony Gird and Michael de Klerk. When they couldn’t find high quality, locally made chocolate on the retail shelf they decided to start making their own. When their friends couldn’t get enough of these homemade treats, Anthony and Michael realised there...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Trupanion

Medical Insurance for the life of your pet.

SUPERPOWERED PET INSURANCE On a breezy September day in 2006, Darryl Rawlings was sitting on a beach in a tent in Mexico enjoying the warm sun and crashing waves and having a chat with his wife. Trupanion, the pet medical insurance company Darryl had founded in Vancouver, B.C. in 1999,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Plenish

Helping you fill the blank spaces

Moving home is one of the most stressful events in anybody’s life. Compound that with experiencing major life milestones, such as having a baby, getting married, and completing a master’s degree all at the same time, and one has a living situation in urgent need of an update. Two friends,...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

RFLX

WE’RE A CREATIVE AGENCY DEDICATED TO ESPORTS, SPORTS AND LIFESTYLE MARKETING CONTENT

RFLX is an integrated suite of content marketing expertise, dedicated to the eSports, sports, and lifestyle industries in North America. Our purpose is to create online and offline experiences that are both captivating and exhilarating and allow brands to increase or establish their notoriety. RFLX was born out of a...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

TPR @ UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

Your partner for research and training on transport and regional economics

TPR was founded as a research group within the University of Antwerp in the mid-1990s. It is committed to being an international center of excellence for fundamental and applied academic training, research, and service provision in transport economics, logistics, and regional economics. Its mission is to enhance transport and logistics...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ÄIO

FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE STORY OF ÄIO

ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) – founded in January 2022 by Nemailla Bonturi (PhD, Brazil) and Petri-Jaan Lahtvee (PhD, Estonia), is not just a startup, spinoff or company — it’s a vision to revolutionize how the world produces fats and oils. How It All Began Nemailla and Petri-Jaan’s journey towards ÄIO...

INNOVATE® Georgia

EMORY

FOSTERING INNOVATION FOR A DATA AND TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN WORLD

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-20 ranked business school. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-ranked driving force for change. In a vibrant global city, it prepares the future’s brightest minds principled leaders who believe in equitable business practices, constant innovation, and the critical intersection of business...

AI Québec

CEuMONTRÉAL

CEuMONTRÉAL-Un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal

Un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal

MissionLe Centre d’entrepreneuriat de l’Université de Montréal (CEuMONTRÉAL) est un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal, tout en soutenant de façon concrète les entrepreneurs et la création d’entreprises scientifiques et technologiques dans divers domaines : sciences...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

P33

P33-DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

At P33, we started with one question: How does Chicago, and our region, stack up as a technology and innovation center? Through conversations with hundreds of technology and business leaders, founders, and tech workers, we learned we Chicago’s reputation as a tech center lags behind its perception.   We launched...

INNOVATION Quebec

Founded in 2017, the Maison de l’innovation sociale (MIS) is an NFP whose mission is to eliminate the obstacles between an idea with a positive social and environmental impact and its implementation. At MIS, we are interested in the precursor stage of a social innovation. We help very early-stage projects...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

Volume Design

Illuminated Signs from Experts

Volume Design is a leading Estonian company specializing in illuminated advertising solutions that help brands stand out both day and night. The company manufactures and installs striking signage that transforms visibility into identity and brings brands to life. Each project reflects a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success. For...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

OMC

OMC-OPEN INNOVATION: THE WAY TO PRODUCE LOCALLY

OPEN INNOVATION: THE WAY TO PRODUCE LOCALLY

Marc is a passionate engineer who has been active for more than 40 years in first-of-a-kind product development from the first multi-media computers to DVD recorders to smartphone chipsets and EUV light sources for the newest chip making machines of ASML. Marc spent most of his international career in The...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HOME OF MY OWN

HOME OF MY OWN-MANY SOUTH AFRICANS STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS IN GETTING AHEAD FINANCIALLY

MANY SOUTH AFRICANS STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS IN GETTING AHEAD FINANCIALLY

At Home of My Own, we are passionate about homeownership because:• It generates wealth for homeowners and their families• Creates a more stable home environment• Results in better educational and behavioral outcomes for children• Improves physical and mental health homeowners• Builds stronger and more engaged communities Our mission is to...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SOL NAVITAS

SOLAR VENTILATION FOR HEALTHIER, DRIER, SMARTER HOMES

Sol Navitas is an Estonian cleantech company on a mission to make buildings healthier, smarter, and more sustainable — by harnessing solar energy to drive ventilation, moisture control, and indoor climate solutions. At the heart of its approach is a simple belief: a building should support well-being, not compromise it....

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

FUNDERS & INVESTORSUnderstanding that early-stage companies have particularly unique challenges when it comes to securing capital, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) offers a suite of resources to support them throughout their lifecycle. As the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth, the Authority plays a pivotal role in...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CASA GRANDE

A PROBLEM, SOLUTION, OUTCOME APPROACH TO EDUCATION

For close to three decades, Casa Grande has focused its efforts on the design and development of innovative and motivational educational programs and platforms. The organization has been at the forefront of the region’s educational space with programs, such as One-on-One and platforms like: The New Virtual School and OE...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Duolingo

Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.

In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

GENO.ME

A REAL-WORLD APPROACH TO BETTER CLINICAL RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Geno.Me is a biotechnology company that was born from the idea of empowering people to take greater ownership of their health data, because it is a valuable and necessary asset to advance medical research. With a focus on creating better ways to treat populations that have diseases with a genetic...

INNOVATION Quebec

HACKING HEALTH

MONTRÉAL ET VILLE DE QUÉBEC

FACILITATEURS D’ÉCOSYSTÈMES LOCAUX D’INNOVATION EN SANTÉ LIÉS À 40 CHAPITRES HH AU CANADA ET DANS LE MONDE Hacking Health est un mouvement bénévole, à but non lucratif, né à Montréal en 2012. Aujourd’hui, l’organisation compte 40 chapitres sur les cinq continents et anime une communauté internationale de facilitateurs d’écosystèmes locaux...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...

INNOVATION Quebec

COLAB

EN ACTIVITÉ DEPUIS 2019, COLAB EST UN CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET D’INNOVATION

QUATRE AXES DE RECHERCHETerritoires numériquesFavoriser le développement des compétences numériques, collaboratives et entrepreneuriales des acteur·trice·s de l’écosystème. Transition numérique des PMESupporter la transition numérique des PME en développant les compétences numériques des leaders, des gestionnaires et des employé·e·s, en les accompagnant dans une démarche de transformation numérique. Entrepreneuriat et apprentissages...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE-

TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD

Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...

INNOVATION Quebec

LA VAGUE

L’ACCÉLÉRATEUR INSULAIRE ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE

La Corporation d’innovation et de développement des Îles, LA VAGUE, est un organisme qui crée un lieu de convergence pour favoriser la synergie entre les acteurs socioéconomiques des Îles-de-laMadeleine et d’ailleurs. Sa vision est orientée vers une économie insulaire durable et créatrice de richesses. Elle offre de l’accompagnement spécialisé pour...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC DU SAGUENAY-LAC ST-JEAN

Les racinesDepuis près de 20 ans qu’au Saguenay–LacSaint-Jean – une région de plus de 275 000 habitants située à 500 km au nord-est de Montréal – des initiatives concertées sont déployées afin de stimuler l’innovation auprès des PME. Idéa innovation PME (2004-2010), puis Innovation 02 (2011-2019) ont généré tour à...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HONEST CHOCOLATE

HONEST CHOCOLATE- DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

Honest Chocolate was founded in 2010 by two friends Anthony Gird and Michael de Klerk. When they couldn’t find high quality, locally made chocolate on the retail shelf they decided to start making their own. When their friends couldn’t get enough of these homemade treats, Anthony and Michael realised there...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Trupanion

Medical Insurance for the life of your pet.

SUPERPOWERED PET INSURANCE On a breezy September day in 2006, Darryl Rawlings was sitting on a beach in a tent in Mexico enjoying the warm sun and crashing waves and having a chat with his wife. Trupanion, the pet medical insurance company Darryl had founded in Vancouver, B.C. in 1999,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Plenish

Helping you fill the blank spaces

Moving home is one of the most stressful events in anybody’s life. Compound that with experiencing major life milestones, such as having a baby, getting married, and completing a master’s degree all at the same time, and one has a living situation in urgent need of an update. Two friends,...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

RFLX

WE’RE A CREATIVE AGENCY DEDICATED TO ESPORTS, SPORTS AND LIFESTYLE MARKETING CONTENT

RFLX is an integrated suite of content marketing expertise, dedicated to the eSports, sports, and lifestyle industries in North America. Our purpose is to create online and offline experiences that are both captivating and exhilarating and allow brands to increase or establish their notoriety. RFLX was born out of a...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

TPR @ UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

Your partner for research and training on transport and regional economics

TPR was founded as a research group within the University of Antwerp in the mid-1990s. It is committed to being an international center of excellence for fundamental and applied academic training, research, and service provision in transport economics, logistics, and regional economics. Its mission is to enhance transport and logistics...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ÄIO

FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE STORY OF ÄIO

ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) – founded in January 2022 by Nemailla Bonturi (PhD, Brazil) and Petri-Jaan Lahtvee (PhD, Estonia), is not just a startup, spinoff or company — it’s a vision to revolutionize how the world produces fats and oils. How It All Began Nemailla and Petri-Jaan’s journey towards ÄIO...

INNOVATE® Georgia

EMORY

FOSTERING INNOVATION FOR A DATA AND TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN WORLD

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-20 ranked business school. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-ranked driving force for change. In a vibrant global city, it prepares the future’s brightest minds principled leaders who believe in equitable business practices, constant innovation, and the critical intersection of business...

AI Québec

CEuMONTRÉAL

CEuMONTRÉAL-Un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal

Un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal

MissionLe Centre d’entrepreneuriat de l’Université de Montréal (CEuMONTRÉAL) est un organisme à but non lucratif qui a pour mission de développer une culture entrepreneuriale et d’innovation à l’Université de Montréal, tout en soutenant de façon concrète les entrepreneurs et la création d’entreprises scientifiques et technologiques dans divers domaines : sciences...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

P33

P33-DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

At P33, we started with one question: How does Chicago, and our region, stack up as a technology and innovation center? Through conversations with hundreds of technology and business leaders, founders, and tech workers, we learned we Chicago’s reputation as a tech center lags behind its perception.   We launched...

INNOVATION Quebec

Founded in 2017, the Maison de l’innovation sociale (MIS) is an NFP whose mission is to eliminate the obstacles between an idea with a positive social and environmental impact and its implementation. At MIS, we are interested in the precursor stage of a social innovation. We help very early-stage projects...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

Volume Design

Illuminated Signs from Experts

Volume Design is a leading Estonian company specializing in illuminated advertising solutions that help brands stand out both day and night. The company manufactures and installs striking signage that transforms visibility into identity and brings brands to life. Each project reflects a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success. For...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

OMC

OMC-OPEN INNOVATION: THE WAY TO PRODUCE LOCALLY

OPEN INNOVATION: THE WAY TO PRODUCE LOCALLY

Marc is a passionate engineer who has been active for more than 40 years in first-of-a-kind product development from the first multi-media computers to DVD recorders to smartphone chipsets and EUV light sources for the newest chip making machines of ASML. Marc spent most of his international career in The...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HOME OF MY OWN

HOME OF MY OWN-MANY SOUTH AFRICANS STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS IN GETTING AHEAD FINANCIALLY

MANY SOUTH AFRICANS STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS IN GETTING AHEAD FINANCIALLY

At Home of My Own, we are passionate about homeownership because:• It generates wealth for homeowners and their families• Creates a more stable home environment• Results in better educational and behavioral outcomes for children• Improves physical and mental health homeowners• Builds stronger and more engaged communities Our mission is to...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SOL NAVITAS

SOLAR VENTILATION FOR HEALTHIER, DRIER, SMARTER HOMES

Sol Navitas is an Estonian cleantech company on a mission to make buildings healthier, smarter, and more sustainable — by harnessing solar energy to drive ventilation, moisture control, and indoor climate solutions. At the heart of its approach is a simple belief: a building should support well-being, not compromise it....

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

FUNDERS & INVESTORSUnderstanding that early-stage companies have particularly unique challenges when it comes to securing capital, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) offers a suite of resources to support them throughout their lifecycle. As the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth, the Authority plays a pivotal role in...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CASA GRANDE

A PROBLEM, SOLUTION, OUTCOME APPROACH TO EDUCATION

For close to three decades, Casa Grande has focused its efforts on the design and development of innovative and motivational educational programs and platforms. The organization has been at the forefront of the region’s educational space with programs, such as One-on-One and platforms like: The New Virtual School and OE...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Duolingo

Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.

In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

GENO.ME

A REAL-WORLD APPROACH TO BETTER CLINICAL RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Geno.Me is a biotechnology company that was born from the idea of empowering people to take greater ownership of their health data, because it is a valuable and necessary asset to advance medical research. With a focus on creating better ways to treat populations that have diseases with a genetic...

INNOVATION Quebec

HACKING HEALTH

MONTRÉAL ET VILLE DE QUÉBEC

FACILITATEURS D’ÉCOSYSTÈMES LOCAUX D’INNOVATION EN SANTÉ LIÉS À 40 CHAPITRES HH AU CANADA ET DANS LE MONDE Hacking Health est un mouvement bénévole, à but non lucratif, né à Montréal en 2012. Aujourd’hui, l’organisation compte 40 chapitres sur les cinq continents et anime une communauté internationale de facilitateurs d’écosystèmes locaux...

Ecosystems