Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

EDISON PARTNERS

EDISON PARTNERS-WE’RE AN INTEGRATED TEAM OF INVESTORS AND OPERATORS THAT LIVE AND BREATHE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY COMPANIES AT THE GROWTH STAGE. Edison Partners is a leading growth equity firm that invests in high-growth, capital-efficient companies in the fintech, enterprise software and healthcare IT sectors. Over our 37-year...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CSC CORPTAX

CSC CORPTAX — MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF TAX TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF TAX TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

CSC Corptax® provides technology-based tax solutions to corporate tax departments worldwide. We transform tax reporting for clients through software, business process expertise, and award-winning support, helping them achieve breakthrough performance using the first and only single system on the market for end-to-end tax. Our unmatched automation aligns tax processes, enhances...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN (SICKKIDS)

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN (SICKKIDS)- PIONEERING A NEW APPROACH TO PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE THROUGH PRECISION CHILD HEALTH

PIONEERING A NEW APPROACH TO PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE THROUGH PRECISION CHILD HEALTH

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is transforming the future of child health through an innovative approach we call Precision Child Health. Building on our long legacy of paediatric clinical and research innovation, and a 2022 ranking as the top children’s hospital in the world*, over the next decade we’ll...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

NLP Logix

NLP Logix - Embrace Or Die: The Case For AI

Embrace Or Die: The Case For AI

“Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its mark and has begun transforming every industry, government, and the lives of everyone on the planet,” states Ted Willich, NLP Logix Chief Executive. Ted is one of three founders of the company. He, along with Matt Berseth and Robert Marsh, started the company in...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TARSUS ON DEMAND

TARSUS ON DEMAND-ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

We are living in an era where hybrid and multi-cloud business environments are on an increase, and this has put the spotlight on the critical role ISVs play. Now is the time for Independent Software Vendors to capitalise on the great opportunities presented to them through assisting consumers to efficiently...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

THE PARTY SCIENTIST

Upholding a culture of human connection and freedom of expression

“The Promise of Crypto is more freedom of expression and playful connection”, says The Party Scientist. His mission is to uphold the ethos of blockchain: community; which he believes is the elixir of life. If you attend enough crypto conferences, you’ll probably meet the guy wearing a labcoat hauling around...

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™ South Africa

AGGREKO

AGGREKO- GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

South Africa will have to make a distinct shift to embrace the new norms in global climate and energy landscape discussions. Current infrastructure relies heavily on fuels that are not necessarily the most environmentally friendly, and this poses a threat to the country’s role in a global energy sector with...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

YORK UNIVERSITY

YORK UNIVERSITY-A COMMUNITY OF CHANGE MAKERS WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

A COMMUNITY OF CHANGE MAKERS WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

York University is a leading international teaching and research University, and a driving force for positive change. Located in Toronto, Canada, York University is home to one of the largest and most diverse student bodies in Canada with 59,000 students from 178 countries. International partners are collaborating with VISTA to...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

JOAQUIM CHAVES SAÚDE (JCS)

JOAQUIM CHAVES SAÚDE (JCS)-INNOVATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH

INNOVATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH

Joaquim Chaves Saúde (JCS) is a Portuguese group operating in the health sector since 1959, which participates with great skill and quality in the progress of medicine, always maintaining the highest standards while providing customers with the best healthcare. Dr. Joaquim Chaves Dr. Joaquim Chaves (founder of the current JCS...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ENCAST

DEEPENS CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE, BRANDS, AND CAUSES

Our ecosystem simultaneously uplifts personal interactions, culture, brand affinity, and social impact. THE PROBLEMAbout 10,000 baby boomers retire daily. Millennials and Zoomers are taking their place, currently representing over 60% of the U.S. workforce. Younger generations care deeply about social causes. organizations who give them a greater purpose – other...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

intoGo - Find Fun Faster

intoGo - Find Fun Faster

Find Fun Faster with intoGo! The app showcases everything fun to do in our region by tapping simple categories such as Brunch, Cool Date Ideas, Family Fun, and Local Events. intoGo is our cities easiest and most detailed mobile resource for where to go and what’s going on. ,  ...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FLOORSPACE

TRANSFORMING THE COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE - FLOORSPACE’S EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Floorspace originated from Matt Carlson’s experience in the industry, while working as Executive Vice President at a prominent commercial real estate brokerage. During his tenure, Matt observed the challenges faced by both seasoned brokers and young professionals aspiring to enter the commercial real estate industry. Certain hurdles like limited and...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

CrossCountry Consulting

Where Expertise, Technology, and Human Insight Converge

Northern Virginia is a region defined by motion: technological, economic, and organizational change shape its daily rhythm. For the companies that power it, transformation is no longer a future goal but a present demand. Finance leaders must modernize operations, manage enterprise complexity, and adopt emerging technologies quickly. They must achieve...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

COPPERBOX

COPPERBOX- Leadership. Inspired.

Leadership. Inspired.

Although leadership is hard work, the work of developing leaders is at its essence ‘heart work.’ That became increasingly clear to Wayland Lum as he thought about how to help business executives achieve transformational change in their leadership. “I started Copperbox because I believed that we could do leadership development...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The Positive Life Company

The Positive Life Company - In a World of Chaos

In a World of Chaos, Our Happiness Is Being Tested Everyday

In a world of chaos, our happiness is being tested everyday. According to the World Happiness Report, the United States is the unhappiest it has ever been. Finding innovative ways to protect and sustain our happiness levels is the basis of The Positive Life Company.   We believe that, through...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION -WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER

WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957

The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KENNIE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ONE PLAY AT A TIME

Let a theatrical play be the way that immerses you in storytelling so powerful, it will live with you forever. Kennie Playhouse Theatre (KPT) is one of the city’s hidden jewels, a thriving artistic hub that brings dynamic, thought-provoking, and spirit-lifting stories to the stage for everyone to enjoy. From...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DC BLOX

PIONEERING THE SOUTHEAST DIGITAL FRONTIER

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Southeastern United States, DC BLOX has positioned itself as a linchpin in the accelerating digital transformation that is sweeping across industries. The urgency of this transformation is underscored by several key factors, each playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

TECHNORI

TECHNORI-Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago

Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago, Our Mission Has Been Simple; Help Founders More Easily Raise Startup Funds By Building a Community Around Tech And Investing

Before Chicago became a tech hub featuring world-renowned incubators like 1871 and more than a dozen unicorns, there was Technori – a small group of early adopters and startup founders on a mission to turn Chicago into the largest and most diverse tech community in the world. And, what began...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

EDISON PARTNERS

EDISON PARTNERS-WE’RE AN INTEGRATED TEAM OF INVESTORS AND OPERATORS THAT LIVE AND BREATHE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY COMPANIES AT THE GROWTH STAGE. Edison Partners is a leading growth equity firm that invests in high-growth, capital-efficient companies in the fintech, enterprise software and healthcare IT sectors. Over our 37-year...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CSC CORPTAX

CSC CORPTAX — MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF TAX TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF TAX TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

CSC Corptax® provides technology-based tax solutions to corporate tax departments worldwide. We transform tax reporting for clients through software, business process expertise, and award-winning support, helping them achieve breakthrough performance using the first and only single system on the market for end-to-end tax. Our unmatched automation aligns tax processes, enhances...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN (SICKKIDS)

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN (SICKKIDS)- PIONEERING A NEW APPROACH TO PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE THROUGH PRECISION CHILD HEALTH

PIONEERING A NEW APPROACH TO PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE THROUGH PRECISION CHILD HEALTH

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is transforming the future of child health through an innovative approach we call Precision Child Health. Building on our long legacy of paediatric clinical and research innovation, and a 2022 ranking as the top children’s hospital in the world*, over the next decade we’ll...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

NLP Logix

NLP Logix - Embrace Or Die: The Case For AI

Embrace Or Die: The Case For AI

“Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its mark and has begun transforming every industry, government, and the lives of everyone on the planet,” states Ted Willich, NLP Logix Chief Executive. Ted is one of three founders of the company. He, along with Matt Berseth and Robert Marsh, started the company in...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TARSUS ON DEMAND

TARSUS ON DEMAND-ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

We are living in an era where hybrid and multi-cloud business environments are on an increase, and this has put the spotlight on the critical role ISVs play. Now is the time for Independent Software Vendors to capitalise on the great opportunities presented to them through assisting consumers to efficiently...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

THE PARTY SCIENTIST

Upholding a culture of human connection and freedom of expression

“The Promise of Crypto is more freedom of expression and playful connection”, says The Party Scientist. His mission is to uphold the ethos of blockchain: community; which he believes is the elixir of life. If you attend enough crypto conferences, you’ll probably meet the guy wearing a labcoat hauling around...

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™ South Africa

AGGREKO

AGGREKO- GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

South Africa will have to make a distinct shift to embrace the new norms in global climate and energy landscape discussions. Current infrastructure relies heavily on fuels that are not necessarily the most environmentally friendly, and this poses a threat to the country’s role in a global energy sector with...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

YORK UNIVERSITY

YORK UNIVERSITY-A COMMUNITY OF CHANGE MAKERS WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

A COMMUNITY OF CHANGE MAKERS WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

York University is a leading international teaching and research University, and a driving force for positive change. Located in Toronto, Canada, York University is home to one of the largest and most diverse student bodies in Canada with 59,000 students from 178 countries. International partners are collaborating with VISTA to...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

JOAQUIM CHAVES SAÚDE (JCS)

JOAQUIM CHAVES SAÚDE (JCS)-INNOVATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH

INNOVATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH

Joaquim Chaves Saúde (JCS) is a Portuguese group operating in the health sector since 1959, which participates with great skill and quality in the progress of medicine, always maintaining the highest standards while providing customers with the best healthcare. Dr. Joaquim Chaves Dr. Joaquim Chaves (founder of the current JCS...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ENCAST

DEEPENS CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE, BRANDS, AND CAUSES

Our ecosystem simultaneously uplifts personal interactions, culture, brand affinity, and social impact. THE PROBLEMAbout 10,000 baby boomers retire daily. Millennials and Zoomers are taking their place, currently representing over 60% of the U.S. workforce. Younger generations care deeply about social causes. organizations who give them a greater purpose – other...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

intoGo - Find Fun Faster

intoGo - Find Fun Faster

Find Fun Faster with intoGo! The app showcases everything fun to do in our region by tapping simple categories such as Brunch, Cool Date Ideas, Family Fun, and Local Events. intoGo is our cities easiest and most detailed mobile resource for where to go and what’s going on. ,  ...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FLOORSPACE

TRANSFORMING THE COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE - FLOORSPACE’S EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Floorspace originated from Matt Carlson’s experience in the industry, while working as Executive Vice President at a prominent commercial real estate brokerage. During his tenure, Matt observed the challenges faced by both seasoned brokers and young professionals aspiring to enter the commercial real estate industry. Certain hurdles like limited and...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

CrossCountry Consulting

Where Expertise, Technology, and Human Insight Converge

Northern Virginia is a region defined by motion: technological, economic, and organizational change shape its daily rhythm. For the companies that power it, transformation is no longer a future goal but a present demand. Finance leaders must modernize operations, manage enterprise complexity, and adopt emerging technologies quickly. They must achieve...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

COPPERBOX

COPPERBOX- Leadership. Inspired.

Leadership. Inspired.

Although leadership is hard work, the work of developing leaders is at its essence ‘heart work.’ That became increasingly clear to Wayland Lum as he thought about how to help business executives achieve transformational change in their leadership. “I started Copperbox because I believed that we could do leadership development...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The Positive Life Company

The Positive Life Company - In a World of Chaos

In a World of Chaos, Our Happiness Is Being Tested Everyday

In a world of chaos, our happiness is being tested everyday. According to the World Happiness Report, the United States is the unhappiest it has ever been. Finding innovative ways to protect and sustain our happiness levels is the basis of The Positive Life Company.   We believe that, through...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION

GAIRDNER FOUNDATION -WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER

WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957

The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KENNIE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ONE PLAY AT A TIME

Let a theatrical play be the way that immerses you in storytelling so powerful, it will live with you forever. Kennie Playhouse Theatre (KPT) is one of the city’s hidden jewels, a thriving artistic hub that brings dynamic, thought-provoking, and spirit-lifting stories to the stage for everyone to enjoy. From...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DC BLOX

PIONEERING THE SOUTHEAST DIGITAL FRONTIER

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Southeastern United States, DC BLOX has positioned itself as a linchpin in the accelerating digital transformation that is sweeping across industries. The urgency of this transformation is underscored by several key factors, each playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

TECHNORI

TECHNORI-Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago

Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago, Our Mission Has Been Simple; Help Founders More Easily Raise Startup Funds By Building a Community Around Tech And Investing

Before Chicago became a tech hub featuring world-renowned incubators like 1871 and more than a dozen unicorns, there was Technori – a small group of early adopters and startup founders on a mission to turn Chicago into the largest and most diverse tech community in the world. And, what began...

Ecosystems