Stories of Innovation

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...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)

A Vision Realized

The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...

INNOVATE® Miami

Radical Partners

Radical Partners - We’re an accelerator for social impact

We’re an accelerator for social impact

We’re an accelerator for social impact. We scout for people solving the issues that matter most to the future of our region and help them scale their impact. We mobilize locals to get engaged in strengthening our region, and we connect organizations and leaders to increase greater change together. Miami...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KNIFE CAPITAL

KNIFE CAPITAL - IS A SOUTH AFRICAN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM FOCUSING ON INNOVATION-DRIVEN VENTURES WITH PROVEN TRACTION

IS A SOUTH AFRICAN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM FOCUSING ON INNOVATION-DRIVEN VENTURES WITH PROVEN TRACTION

Established in 2010 as the incarnation of the South African venture capital division of ‘Here Be Dragons’ – a privately owned emerging market investment group founded by internet entrepreneur and cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth. By leveraging knowledge, networks & funding, Knife Capital accelerates the international expansion of entrepreneurial businesses that achieved...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MAGNETRON

STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE

Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

Freeborn & Peters LLP

Freeborn & Peters LLP-Is A Chambers-Ranked

Is A Chambers-Ranked, Leading Mid-Size Law Firm With Global Capabilities And A Vast Array Of Practice Areas

Freeborn is proud to deliver sector-specific legal advice that stems from decades of experience and a rich understanding of business and industry perspectives. Along with providing exceptional legal services, each Freeborn attorney embodies the firm’s five Core Values, integrity, caring, effectiveness, teamwork, and commitment, through high standards of client service...

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,...

United Nations Lesotho

UNDP

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

SUPPORT ON DIGITIZATION UNDP helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP is working for a Lesotho that is empowered and more resilient to create and sustain growth that will improve people’s lives. LEHOKELA DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY POLICING UNDP Lesotho, through...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PILOTOMAIL

PILOTOMAIL-REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE ALL ACCESS AND MANAGE OUR POSTAL MAIL

REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE ALL ACCESS AND MANAGE OUR POSTAL MAIL

PilotoMail was born in a high traffic mailroom at Piloto 151 coworking spaces in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Stolberg siblings, Sofia and Juan Carlos, had been running the first and largest coworking operation on the Island for 6 years, and, as more entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals and corporates joined their membership...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Redbrick LMD

Building the Future of Urban Living

Redbrick LMD is reshaping Washington, D.C.’s skyline and redefining urban living. This organization is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, transforming the region’s real estate development landscape. With a focus on long-term societal trends and a commitment to community, Redbrick is not just constructing buildings; it’s crafting legacies. A...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Grove

Redefining How the Internet Connects Itself

When Arthur Sabintsev describes Grove, he leans into vivid analogies. “Imagine an open-air bazaar,” says the CEO and co-founder. “Vendors are hawking their blueberries or camels or rugs, and you need chocolate from Bolivia. You go to a local guide, and that guide takes you to the best Bolivian chocolate...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NIKO PARTNERS

NIKO PARTNERS-COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS IN WHICH THEY COMPETE

COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS IN WHICH THEY COMPETE

When consumers and students think of the video game industry and esports, they think of the excitement and entertainment of it all – but rarely about the data that guides the strategy of a business and of the game development plan. A market research firm provides the data that helps...

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

IMMIGRANT TECHIES ALBERTA

CREATING AN INVITATION FOR IMMIGRANTS INTO ALBERTA TECH EMPOWERING NEWCOMERS THROUGH RESKILL CALGARY

When Wunmi Adekanmbi first stepped into the Alberta tech scene out of sheer curiosity in 2019, she had no idea what awaited her. To her pleasant surprise, she discovered a vibrant and innovative community governed by a social contract of giving first, with a strong support system and valuable industry...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

VOSSCHEMIE

VOSSCHEMIE- BECOMES V-SURE- A CHEMISTRY WITH NATURE

BECOMES V-SURE -A CHEMISTRY WITH NATURE

OUR STORY BEGAN IN 1968. THAT IS WHEN OUR FOUNDER REMI DE MOOR ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH KLAUS WILLEM VOSS, OWNER OF THE GERMAN COMPANY VOSSCHEMIE. MARC AND CLAUDIA, REMI’S CHILDREN, TOOK OVER IN 2009. TO THIS DAY, WE ARE STILL A GENUINE AND SOLID FAMILY BUSINESS. Our DNA:...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MARYLAND SPORTS COMMISSION

About MSC and What they doIn 2008, when the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (now Department of Commerce) partnered to create the Office of Sports Marketing – (later rebranded as the Maryland Sports Commission in 2016) – their intention was clear: Become the...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Venture Partners

Shaping the Future of Tech in Detroit and Beyond

Founded in 2010 by Dan Gilbert, the visionary behind Rocket Companies and Rocket Mortgage, Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) is at the forefront of Detroit’s entrepreneurial renaissance. Gilbert’s leadership in reshaping industries through his companies extends seamlessly into DVP, a venture capital firm committed to investing in bold entrepreneurs and game-changing...

INNOVATION Quebec

SEREX

CCTT EN TRANSFORMATION DES PRODUITS FORESTIERS

Le SEREX est l’expert en transformation des produits forestiers. Notre équipe accompagne les entreprises pour développer des solutions et des pratiques durables qui leur permettent de se positionner sur les marchés d’avenir. Notre force, c’est d’être à l’écoute de l’environnement technique et économique de nos clients et partenaires pour créer...

INNOVATE® Nashville

bundleN

OUR AGILE TEAM DELIVERS QUALITY SOFTWARE BEYOND EXPECTATION

Software should solve problems, not create them. However, the process of developing software has its own set of bugs. In 2021, 48-percent of software development projects ran over budget and a third over time, according to a Deloitte study. These project pitfalls stem from a lack of transparency and proper...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

Bank Zero

A SIMPLE YET ADVANCED DIGITAL BANK, FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Bank Zero is a unique and powerful App-based bank with Zero fees and a patented secure card. It caters for both individuals and businesses. Digital, social and financial connectedness is a reality and it’s also a very human trait. Bank Zero supports this directly in its innovative design. By friending...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GREENFUELS

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES AND CONTAMINATION ONE LANDFILL AT A TIME!”

Olmar López Vidal has over thirteen years of experience and has been involved with projects in Municipal Non-Hazardous Solid Waste s, primarily in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. His experience includes gas (LFG) systems, gas to energy systems (LFGTE), leachate treatment, leachate pumps, closure, post-closure maintenance and MRF (Materials...

INNOVATION Quebec

VESTECHPRO

Vestechpro est un Centre Collégial de Transfert de Technologie (CCTT) spécialisé circular economy. en habillement, affilié au Cégep Marie-Victorin, membre du Réseau des CCTT – Synchronex, et l’un des 64 centres d’accès à la technologie du réseau pancanadien Tech-Accès Canada. Le Centre figure aussi parmi les experts en pratiques d’affaires...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...

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...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)

A Vision Realized

The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...

INNOVATE® Miami

Radical Partners

Radical Partners - We’re an accelerator for social impact

We’re an accelerator for social impact

We’re an accelerator for social impact. We scout for people solving the issues that matter most to the future of our region and help them scale their impact. We mobilize locals to get engaged in strengthening our region, and we connect organizations and leaders to increase greater change together. Miami...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KNIFE CAPITAL

KNIFE CAPITAL - IS A SOUTH AFRICAN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM FOCUSING ON INNOVATION-DRIVEN VENTURES WITH PROVEN TRACTION

IS A SOUTH AFRICAN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM FOCUSING ON INNOVATION-DRIVEN VENTURES WITH PROVEN TRACTION

Established in 2010 as the incarnation of the South African venture capital division of ‘Here Be Dragons’ – a privately owned emerging market investment group founded by internet entrepreneur and cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth. By leveraging knowledge, networks & funding, Knife Capital accelerates the international expansion of entrepreneurial businesses that achieved...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MAGNETRON

STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE

Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

Freeborn & Peters LLP

Freeborn & Peters LLP-Is A Chambers-Ranked

Is A Chambers-Ranked, Leading Mid-Size Law Firm With Global Capabilities And A Vast Array Of Practice Areas

Freeborn is proud to deliver sector-specific legal advice that stems from decades of experience and a rich understanding of business and industry perspectives. Along with providing exceptional legal services, each Freeborn attorney embodies the firm’s five Core Values, integrity, caring, effectiveness, teamwork, and commitment, through high standards of client service...

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,...

United Nations Lesotho

UNDP

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

SUPPORT ON DIGITIZATION UNDP helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP is working for a Lesotho that is empowered and more resilient to create and sustain growth that will improve people’s lives. LEHOKELA DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY POLICING UNDP Lesotho, through...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PILOTOMAIL

PILOTOMAIL-REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE ALL ACCESS AND MANAGE OUR POSTAL MAIL

REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE ALL ACCESS AND MANAGE OUR POSTAL MAIL

PilotoMail was born in a high traffic mailroom at Piloto 151 coworking spaces in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Stolberg siblings, Sofia and Juan Carlos, had been running the first and largest coworking operation on the Island for 6 years, and, as more entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals and corporates joined their membership...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Redbrick LMD

Building the Future of Urban Living

Redbrick LMD is reshaping Washington, D.C.’s skyline and redefining urban living. This organization is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, transforming the region’s real estate development landscape. With a focus on long-term societal trends and a commitment to community, Redbrick is not just constructing buildings; it’s crafting legacies. A...

INNOVATE® Maryland

Grove

Redefining How the Internet Connects Itself

When Arthur Sabintsev describes Grove, he leans into vivid analogies. “Imagine an open-air bazaar,” says the CEO and co-founder. “Vendors are hawking their blueberries or camels or rugs, and you need chocolate from Bolivia. You go to a local guide, and that guide takes you to the best Bolivian chocolate...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NIKO PARTNERS

NIKO PARTNERS-COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS IN WHICH THEY COMPETE

COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS IN WHICH THEY COMPETE

When consumers and students think of the video game industry and esports, they think of the excitement and entertainment of it all – but rarely about the data that guides the strategy of a business and of the game development plan. A market research firm provides the data that helps...

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

IMMIGRANT TECHIES ALBERTA

CREATING AN INVITATION FOR IMMIGRANTS INTO ALBERTA TECH EMPOWERING NEWCOMERS THROUGH RESKILL CALGARY

When Wunmi Adekanmbi first stepped into the Alberta tech scene out of sheer curiosity in 2019, she had no idea what awaited her. To her pleasant surprise, she discovered a vibrant and innovative community governed by a social contract of giving first, with a strong support system and valuable industry...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

VOSSCHEMIE

VOSSCHEMIE- BECOMES V-SURE- A CHEMISTRY WITH NATURE

BECOMES V-SURE -A CHEMISTRY WITH NATURE

OUR STORY BEGAN IN 1968. THAT IS WHEN OUR FOUNDER REMI DE MOOR ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH KLAUS WILLEM VOSS, OWNER OF THE GERMAN COMPANY VOSSCHEMIE. MARC AND CLAUDIA, REMI’S CHILDREN, TOOK OVER IN 2009. TO THIS DAY, WE ARE STILL A GENUINE AND SOLID FAMILY BUSINESS. Our DNA:...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MARYLAND SPORTS COMMISSION

About MSC and What they doIn 2008, when the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (now Department of Commerce) partnered to create the Office of Sports Marketing – (later rebranded as the Maryland Sports Commission in 2016) – their intention was clear: Become the...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Venture Partners

Shaping the Future of Tech in Detroit and Beyond

Founded in 2010 by Dan Gilbert, the visionary behind Rocket Companies and Rocket Mortgage, Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) is at the forefront of Detroit’s entrepreneurial renaissance. Gilbert’s leadership in reshaping industries through his companies extends seamlessly into DVP, a venture capital firm committed to investing in bold entrepreneurs and game-changing...

INNOVATION Quebec

SEREX

CCTT EN TRANSFORMATION DES PRODUITS FORESTIERS

Le SEREX est l’expert en transformation des produits forestiers. Notre équipe accompagne les entreprises pour développer des solutions et des pratiques durables qui leur permettent de se positionner sur les marchés d’avenir. Notre force, c’est d’être à l’écoute de l’environnement technique et économique de nos clients et partenaires pour créer...

INNOVATE® Nashville

bundleN

OUR AGILE TEAM DELIVERS QUALITY SOFTWARE BEYOND EXPECTATION

Software should solve problems, not create them. However, the process of developing software has its own set of bugs. In 2021, 48-percent of software development projects ran over budget and a third over time, according to a Deloitte study. These project pitfalls stem from a lack of transparency and proper...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

Bank Zero

A SIMPLE YET ADVANCED DIGITAL BANK, FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Bank Zero is a unique and powerful App-based bank with Zero fees and a patented secure card. It caters for both individuals and businesses. Digital, social and financial connectedness is a reality and it’s also a very human trait. Bank Zero supports this directly in its innovative design. By friending...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GREENFUELS

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES AND CONTAMINATION ONE LANDFILL AT A TIME!”

Olmar López Vidal has over thirteen years of experience and has been involved with projects in Municipal Non-Hazardous Solid Waste s, primarily in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. His experience includes gas (LFG) systems, gas to energy systems (LFGTE), leachate treatment, leachate pumps, closure, post-closure maintenance and MRF (Materials...

INNOVATION Quebec

VESTECHPRO

Vestechpro est un Centre Collégial de Transfert de Technologie (CCTT) spécialisé circular economy. en habillement, affilié au Cégep Marie-Victorin, membre du Réseau des CCTT – Synchronex, et l’un des 64 centres d’accès à la technologie du réseau pancanadien Tech-Accès Canada. Le Centre figure aussi parmi les experts en pratiques d’affaires...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...

Ecosystems