Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® South Florida

CITY OF BOCA RATON – OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WHERE BUSINESS THRIVES AND INNOVATION FLOURISHES

Boca Raton is not just a city; it’s a dynamic ecosystem where businesses, both established and emerging, find the resources and support they need to thrive. The City’s Office of Economic Development serves as the strategic partner for businesses aiming to establish roots, expand operations, and harness the competitive advantages...

From Chatbots to Autonomy

Robotic arm playing chess against a thoughtful man, representing AI as a business partner

How Conversational AI is Building a New Operating System for Global Business

Conversational AI evolution in recent years changed the very logic of synergy between businesses and digital systems. Previously, chatbots were viewed as an auxiliary tool for responding to basic inquiries. Today, however, they are steadily evolving into a next-generation interface — the one through which companies organize their processes with...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

3PARK

GROWING ADVENTURES IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

What if playgrounds could grow with the forest instead of replacing it? At 3park, the team designs and builds adventure parks that blend safety, creativity, and sustainability. Born in Estonia, 3park believes play should bring people together and strengthen communities. Their parks are more than climbing frames: they are safe...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

E-ZINC

E-ZINC- “METALLIZING ENERGY” FOR LONG-DURATION STORAGE

"METALLIZING ENERGY” FOR LONG-DURATION STORAGE

e-Zinc is a company based in Toronto, Canada that has developed a breakthrough electrochemical technology for storing energy in zinc metal. This affordable, flexible, and long-duration energy storage solution is positioned to enable the world’s energy markets to be fully powered by renewable energy, enabling a zero-carbon energy future.  ...

INNOVATION Quebec

ICI

CCTT IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PRINTABILITY

A printed product is much more than colour on paper! It delivers a message, draws attention, surprises and protects; it evolves with our needs, growing smarter every day. INNOVATION in industrial researchLooking to add smart features to your products? Want to develop functional inks, use nanomaterials or improve the circularity...

INNOVATE® Georgia

BLACKROCK

CHARTING THE WAY FORWARD

For BlackRock, continuous innovation is key. BlackRock’s Aladdin® business—which provides an investment management platform for institutional investors and wealth managers—is at the heart of the company’s tech innovation. Aladdin provides a unified investment management platform that gives clients a full view of their portfolio, across public and private markets—and enables...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Buzzy Rocket

Strategic marketing for startups shaping the future

Buzzy Rocket is a boutique startup marketing firm dedicated to helping early-stage and high-growth companies build awareness, engagement, and momentum through clear, credible storytelling and strategic execution. Founded in 2011, the firm partners with founders who are developing innovative solutions to real-world problems, positioning those companies so the audiences who...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

ELIXIR D’ANVERS

ELIXIR D’ANVERS-ARTISAN LIQUEUR. UNIQUE TASTE. UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY. 160 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

ARTISAN LIQUEUR. UNIQUE TASTE. UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY. 160 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

19th of March 1863, in a house in a suburb of Antwerp, François-Xavier de Beukelaer – after finishing his studies as a doctor and pharmacist – discovered early in the morning after years of research, the recipe for a delicious liqueur: Elixir d’Anvers. Elixir d’Anvers soon became famous for his...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

BOTSWANA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (BIUST)

EMBRACING BOTSWANA’S TRANSFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) is a research-intensive University and the only specialised University in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). It aims to increase: The mission of BIUST is to produce world-class research and innovation in science, engineering and technology contributing to industry growth and...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

NINETEEN 21

NINETEEN 21-UNORTHODOX THINKING

UNORTHODOX THINKING

Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)

AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTGN

LE CTGN, VOTRE PARTENAIRE POUR UNE UTILISATION PLUS RESPONSABLE DE L’ÉNERGIE

Fondé en 1992, le CTGN est un centre de recherche et développement, à but non lucratif, spécialisé dans les technologies énergétiques. Bien que l’utilisation du gaz naturel soit à l’origine de sa raison d’être, le CTGN travaille activement, depuis 2007, à l’intégration des énergies nouvelles, notamment le gaz naturel renouvelable, l’hydrogène,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SENSOWELL

TRANSFORMING SLEEP INTO A LIFE-SAVING SCIENCE

Modern medicine is extraordinary – but it often arrives too late. By the time patients enter a hospital, many health conditions have already compromised their quality of life. Sensowell was created to turn this model on its head, leading a shift from reactive treatments to proactive prevention. The company’s mission...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Stateside Brands

An Innovative Leader

Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

STEMSEL

Empowering Adelaide’s Youth through STEMSEL Foundation’s Revolutionary runlinc Technology

STEMSEL Foundation Inc is a not-for-profit organization based in Adelaide that is dedicated to empowering the youth through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Founded by engineer and educator Peng Choo and Miroslav Kostecki in 2014, the foundation strives to engage and inspire young people to pursue STEM related...

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...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RESPEK NATURE

RESPEK NATURE-PLANTS SPEKBOOM

PLANTS SPEKBOOM, A CO2 CAPTURING INDIGENOUS SUCCULENT, ON TRACTS OF DENUDED LAND NEAR GRAAFF-REINET AND IN THE LARGER KAROO REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2020, RESPEK IS A BLENDED DIGITAL AND BOTANICAL CARBON OFFSET PROGRAMME.

The hardy spekboom is considered a pioneer species within the Karoo thicket biome. This means that the plant itself can assist in the regeneration of the indigenous brush, with many other species benefitting from its shade and the nutrients it brings into the soil. As a succulent, spekboom is the...

INNOVATE® South Florida

CORAL GABLES - THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS A LEADING SMART CITY

Coral Gables was founded on innovation, being one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Today, we’re known internationally as a Smart City, leveraging information and communication technologies and intelligent connected infrastructure to benefit our residents, employees, businesses, and visitors, as well as make our city more...

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® Georgia

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

As the current Fall 2024 academic year unfolds, Clark Atlanta University is experiencing a remarkable surge in student interest and enrollment, cementing its position as one of the most sought-after Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. With a record-breaking number of applications and the largest incoming freshman...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

FLAMEHAWK STUDIOS

FLAMEHAWK STUDIOS-“PLAY YOUR HOMEWORK” WITH THE MECHANICAL WORLD OF DR. GEARBOX

"PLAY YOUR HOMEWORK” WITH THE MECHANICAL WORLD OF DR. GEARBOX

Flamehawk Studios is a “games for good” startup that focuses on three main themes: e-learning, diversity and inclusion, and charity. Flamehawk’s first effort is The Mechanical World of Dr. Gearbox. Teachers may consider it a remote learning tool but students consider it a fun game that is clearly inspired by...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE

SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE: Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies

Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s 2021 DV Counts Report, agencies were unable to provide emergency shelter to 1,982 adults and 1,184 children nationwide in just one day. Annualized, that’s 723,430 adults and 432,160 children who are left without access to emergency domestic violence shelters each year....

INNOVATE® South Florida

CITY OF BOCA RATON – OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WHERE BUSINESS THRIVES AND INNOVATION FLOURISHES

Boca Raton is not just a city; it’s a dynamic ecosystem where businesses, both established and emerging, find the resources and support they need to thrive. The City’s Office of Economic Development serves as the strategic partner for businesses aiming to establish roots, expand operations, and harness the competitive advantages...

From Chatbots to Autonomy

Robotic arm playing chess against a thoughtful man, representing AI as a business partner

How Conversational AI is Building a New Operating System for Global Business

Conversational AI evolution in recent years changed the very logic of synergy between businesses and digital systems. Previously, chatbots were viewed as an auxiliary tool for responding to basic inquiries. Today, however, they are steadily evolving into a next-generation interface — the one through which companies organize their processes with...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

3PARK

GROWING ADVENTURES IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

What if playgrounds could grow with the forest instead of replacing it? At 3park, the team designs and builds adventure parks that blend safety, creativity, and sustainability. Born in Estonia, 3park believes play should bring people together and strengthen communities. Their parks are more than climbing frames: they are safe...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

E-ZINC

E-ZINC- “METALLIZING ENERGY” FOR LONG-DURATION STORAGE

"METALLIZING ENERGY” FOR LONG-DURATION STORAGE

e-Zinc is a company based in Toronto, Canada that has developed a breakthrough electrochemical technology for storing energy in zinc metal. This affordable, flexible, and long-duration energy storage solution is positioned to enable the world’s energy markets to be fully powered by renewable energy, enabling a zero-carbon energy future.  ...

INNOVATION Quebec

ICI

CCTT IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PRINTABILITY

A printed product is much more than colour on paper! It delivers a message, draws attention, surprises and protects; it evolves with our needs, growing smarter every day. INNOVATION in industrial researchLooking to add smart features to your products? Want to develop functional inks, use nanomaterials or improve the circularity...

INNOVATE® Georgia

BLACKROCK

CHARTING THE WAY FORWARD

For BlackRock, continuous innovation is key. BlackRock’s Aladdin® business—which provides an investment management platform for institutional investors and wealth managers—is at the heart of the company’s tech innovation. Aladdin provides a unified investment management platform that gives clients a full view of their portfolio, across public and private markets—and enables...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Buzzy Rocket

Strategic marketing for startups shaping the future

Buzzy Rocket is a boutique startup marketing firm dedicated to helping early-stage and high-growth companies build awareness, engagement, and momentum through clear, credible storytelling and strategic execution. Founded in 2011, the firm partners with founders who are developing innovative solutions to real-world problems, positioning those companies so the audiences who...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

ELIXIR D’ANVERS

ELIXIR D’ANVERS-ARTISAN LIQUEUR. UNIQUE TASTE. UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY. 160 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

ARTISAN LIQUEUR. UNIQUE TASTE. UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY. 160 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

19th of March 1863, in a house in a suburb of Antwerp, François-Xavier de Beukelaer – after finishing his studies as a doctor and pharmacist – discovered early in the morning after years of research, the recipe for a delicious liqueur: Elixir d’Anvers. Elixir d’Anvers soon became famous for his...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

BOTSWANA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (BIUST)

EMBRACING BOTSWANA’S TRANSFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) is a research-intensive University and the only specialised University in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). It aims to increase: The mission of BIUST is to produce world-class research and innovation in science, engineering and technology contributing to industry growth and...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

NINETEEN 21

NINETEEN 21-UNORTHODOX THINKING

UNORTHODOX THINKING

Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)

AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTGN

LE CTGN, VOTRE PARTENAIRE POUR UNE UTILISATION PLUS RESPONSABLE DE L’ÉNERGIE

Fondé en 1992, le CTGN est un centre de recherche et développement, à but non lucratif, spécialisé dans les technologies énergétiques. Bien que l’utilisation du gaz naturel soit à l’origine de sa raison d’être, le CTGN travaille activement, depuis 2007, à l’intégration des énergies nouvelles, notamment le gaz naturel renouvelable, l’hydrogène,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SENSOWELL

TRANSFORMING SLEEP INTO A LIFE-SAVING SCIENCE

Modern medicine is extraordinary – but it often arrives too late. By the time patients enter a hospital, many health conditions have already compromised their quality of life. Sensowell was created to turn this model on its head, leading a shift from reactive treatments to proactive prevention. The company’s mission...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Stateside Brands

An Innovative Leader

Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

STEMSEL

Empowering Adelaide’s Youth through STEMSEL Foundation’s Revolutionary runlinc Technology

STEMSEL Foundation Inc is a not-for-profit organization based in Adelaide that is dedicated to empowering the youth through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Founded by engineer and educator Peng Choo and Miroslav Kostecki in 2014, the foundation strives to engage and inspire young people to pursue STEM related...

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...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RESPEK NATURE

RESPEK NATURE-PLANTS SPEKBOOM

PLANTS SPEKBOOM, A CO2 CAPTURING INDIGENOUS SUCCULENT, ON TRACTS OF DENUDED LAND NEAR GRAAFF-REINET AND IN THE LARGER KAROO REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2020, RESPEK IS A BLENDED DIGITAL AND BOTANICAL CARBON OFFSET PROGRAMME.

The hardy spekboom is considered a pioneer species within the Karoo thicket biome. This means that the plant itself can assist in the regeneration of the indigenous brush, with many other species benefitting from its shade and the nutrients it brings into the soil. As a succulent, spekboom is the...

INNOVATE® South Florida

CORAL GABLES - THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS A LEADING SMART CITY

Coral Gables was founded on innovation, being one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Today, we’re known internationally as a Smart City, leveraging information and communication technologies and intelligent connected infrastructure to benefit our residents, employees, businesses, and visitors, as well as make our city more...

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® Georgia

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

As the current Fall 2024 academic year unfolds, Clark Atlanta University is experiencing a remarkable surge in student interest and enrollment, cementing its position as one of the most sought-after Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. With a record-breaking number of applications and the largest incoming freshman...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

FLAMEHAWK STUDIOS

FLAMEHAWK STUDIOS-“PLAY YOUR HOMEWORK” WITH THE MECHANICAL WORLD OF DR. GEARBOX

"PLAY YOUR HOMEWORK” WITH THE MECHANICAL WORLD OF DR. GEARBOX

Flamehawk Studios is a “games for good” startup that focuses on three main themes: e-learning, diversity and inclusion, and charity. Flamehawk’s first effort is The Mechanical World of Dr. Gearbox. Teachers may consider it a remote learning tool but students consider it a fun game that is clearly inspired by...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE

SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE: Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies

Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s 2021 DV Counts Report, agencies were unable to provide emergency shelter to 1,982 adults and 1,184 children nationwide in just one day. Annualized, that’s 723,430 adults and 432,160 children who are left without access to emergency domestic violence shelters each year....

Ecosystems