Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

AECIC

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBA

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBAThe Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba – CIC), was founded on July 8, 1973. It is the largest neighborhood in the city of Curitiba in terms of geographic area (43.38km²). Today Cidade Industrial is the most populous neighborhood in Curitiba with approximately 220,000...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

SUCCES KOFFIE

SUCCES KOFFIE -A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES

A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES

Succes Koffie is a coffee roaster/brand with a never ending passion for nature, experiences and a little rebellion. As a team they channel these interests into their coffees and the way they engage with their customers. Tom Arts, CEO The journey of Succes Koffie started more than 130 years ago...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

BEDENK

BEDENK - INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

Why?The world around us is changing ever faster. At the same time innovation is no longer just about products or technology. It’s also about services, internal structure and processes, business models, and customer experience… Every aspect of how you do business, must be scrutinized.   Organizations have to keep up...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

SAMYR QURESHI

SAMYR QURESHI

Knack

A PLACE FOR NEW BEGINNINGSSamyr Qureshi is a proud Gator (University of Florida) graduate and the Co-Founder & CEO at Knack, an education technology startup that helps institutions power and scale peer-to-peer tutoring programs. I moved to the United States when I was six years old, and Tampa was the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PHALANX

FROM CLUELESS TO COVERED Businesses Choose Phalanx as their First Step in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity can be complex and difficult to navigate for cybersecurity professionals. This sentiment is multiplied for business executives trying to decipher the ecosystem to protect their data, and even more importantly, their customers’ data. Established with a vision to redefine cybersecurity for businesses lacking specialized personnel, Phalanx has quickly become...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCORD

FAIRE CROÎTRE LES ENTREPRISES ET LES RENDRE PLUS COMPÉTITIVES GRÂCE À LA DÉMARCHE ACCORD

Lancée en avril 2002, la démarche ACCORD vise à créer un environnement propice au développement des entreprises. Elle favorise la collaboration entre celles-ci et des organisations dans un domaine particulier et un territoire précis. Depuis plus de 20 ans, cette stratégiede développement régional demeure un outil important pour stimuler l’économie...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

Imagi

Reimagining Technology Education for an Inclusive Future

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, imagi stands at the forefront of transforming education to ensure that the digital and AI revolution is inclusive, equitable, and future-proof. Founded with the vision of creating an environment where every child, regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic background see themselves as creators...

INNOVATION Quebec

QUÉBEC QUANTIQUE

ENABLING THE QUEBEC QUANTUM ECOSYSTEM

Quebec is currently well positioned and has all the right ingredients to be at the forefront of the next wave of disruptive innovations stemming from advances in quantum science and technology. In addition to the presence of internationally renowned researchers such as Gilles Brassard and Alexandre Blais, the numerous investments...

INNOVATION Quebec

CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS D’INNOVATION EN BIOTECHNOLOGIE (CQIB)

LE CQIB, AU CŒUR DE L’ÉCOSYSTÈME ENTREPRENEURRIAL EN SCIENCES DE LA VIE

Les lecteurs de cette publication sont bien placés pour le savoir : le Québec est un terreau incroyablement fertile pour l’innovation. Si on génère autant d’innovations en sol québécois, c’est notamment parce que nous avons en place des organisations mobilisatrice qui catalyse notre expertise et notre savoir. Parmi ces organisations,...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Driven

Ending legal debt traps with smart payments

In the U.S., over 11 million people havehad their driver’s licenses suspendeddue to unpaid fines. This isn’t just aninconvenience – it’s a direct hit to financialstability. Losing the ability to drive meanslosing access to jobs, education, andessential services. In cities like Detroit,where public transit is unreliable, asuspended license can mean...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pitch Night MIA

Pitch Night MIA - A monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together

Monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together

Pitch Night MIA is a monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together for a night of entertainment, education and collaboration.     Miami right now is buzzing with an influx of innovative people, businesses, and opportunities. With everything being so new, it can be challenging for founders...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

INFORMA FINANCIAL

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW

INFORMA FINANCIAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. Informa’s founder, Cliff Pipke, began this business out of a desire to help service the insurance needs of families, as well as those of the small business owner. As Informa’s...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DATABANK

TAG25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK

“Atlanta is one of the most sought-after markets for data center capacity across all segments of our customer base – enterprises, technology, and hyperscale public cloud providers,” said Raul Martynek, DataBank CEO. “And now with new AI applications coming online, we’re seeing an entirely new driver of demand that promises...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

TEKCYTE

LIFE-THREATENING VASCULAR STENTS PROBLEMS MAY SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST

TekCyte’s next-generation medical device coating technology BIOINVISIBLE™ is helping to create safer and better outcomes for patients. Currently, vascular medical device complications result in implant failure rates of up to 30%, leaving many patients requiring additional medical intervention and surgery. These complications can cause patients significant discomfort, morbidity, and in...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

TAKASA

UNLOCK A WORLD OF SUSTAINABLE POSSIBILITIES WITH TAKASA

Takasa is a premium organic lifestyle company that is devoted to sourcing the finest materials, partnering with fair-trade and clean manufacturers, and delivering exceptional value to customers. With a passion for exceptionally high-quality materials and socially conscious manufacturing processes, Takasa is focused on combining thoughtfully designed premium products for those...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CONPRMETIDOS

CONPRMETIDOS-MORE THAN WORDS: INNOVATING OUR WAY TO A STABLE

MORE THAN WORDS: INNOVATING OUR WAY TO A STABLE, PRODUCTIVE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT PUERTO RICO TEN YEARS OF COMMITMENT AND PROGRESS

Founded in 2012, ConPRmetidos is a female-led non-profit that is proving that Puerto Ricans can build a global model of community-driven success. By harnessing the talent and energy of individuals, organizations and the private sector, in Puerto Rico and abroad, ConPRmetidos consistently supports the most impactful grassroots organizations while breaking...

INNOVATE® Detroit

PURPOSE JOBS

The Startup Storytellers

Everyone has heard about Apple, or Meta, or Uber. But what about StockX, or Autobooks, or KLA? When the economy crashed in 2008, it was standard for Michiganders to graduate from school here and find work in another state. Many flocked to tech jobs on the coasts. But in the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PodTechs

Internationalization: Podcasting Across Languages with Artificial Voices

In the halls of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., two organizations met in 2019. PodTechs and Baycrest became partners in podcasting. Fast forward half a decade later, and in 2024, the duo accomplished a rare feat: Defy Dementia, which unpacks the significant effects of caregiving on brain health,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MASICORP

MASICORP -SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

It all began with a visit to the Masiphumelele township in Cape Town, in 1999, when John and Carol Thompson from the US, were holidaying in South Africa, and ventured inside what was previously known as ‘’Site 5’’. Like most townships in South Africa, Masi (short for Masiphumelele) was established...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CENTRALSERVER

PIONEERING CLOUD SOLUTIONS AT THE HEART OF CURITIBA

Founded in 2000 by visionary technologists Juliano Simões and Rui Suzuki, CentralServer has emerged as a trailblazer in the cloud computing landscape, firmly anchored in the vibrant city of Curitiba, Brazil. With an unwavering commitment to driving digital transformation, CentralServer has established itself as a hub of technological innovation, offering...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

MKE TECH HUB

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION DRIVING A FUTURE OF IMPACT

Shaped by a rich industrial legacy, Milwaukee is evolving into a beacon of modern innovation. With biohealth, AI, water, energy technology, smart manufacturing, and financial services leading the way, Milwaukee’s dynamic ecosystem is not only thriving, but attracting attention from investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators worldwide. Here, tradition meets technology, and...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

GATEWAY FOR FUTURE INNOVATIONS

The University of Antwerp serves as a gateway for future innovations, playing a pivotal role within Antwerp’s thriving innovation ecosystem and beyond. It contributes significantly to driving innovation and fostering societal and economic impact, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in cutting-edge research and innovation. A key driver in...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Sightera

Complex Patient-Derived Biology Meets AI-Drug Design

Sightera Biosciences accelerates drug discovery with an innovative approach that combines chemical structure analysis with complex patient-relevant preclinical models to design novel therapies. Due to the organization’s exclusive research collaboration with the DrugVision.AI screening platform of the University of Antwerp/UZA, it can produce exclusive datasets from patient-derived models to train...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

AECIC

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBA

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBAThe Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba – CIC), was founded on July 8, 1973. It is the largest neighborhood in the city of Curitiba in terms of geographic area (43.38km²). Today Cidade Industrial is the most populous neighborhood in Curitiba with approximately 220,000...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

SUCCES KOFFIE

SUCCES KOFFIE -A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES

A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES

Succes Koffie is a coffee roaster/brand with a never ending passion for nature, experiences and a little rebellion. As a team they channel these interests into their coffees and the way they engage with their customers. Tom Arts, CEO The journey of Succes Koffie started more than 130 years ago...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

BEDENK

BEDENK - INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

Why?The world around us is changing ever faster. At the same time innovation is no longer just about products or technology. It’s also about services, internal structure and processes, business models, and customer experience… Every aspect of how you do business, must be scrutinized.   Organizations have to keep up...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

SAMYR QURESHI

SAMYR QURESHI

Knack

A PLACE FOR NEW BEGINNINGSSamyr Qureshi is a proud Gator (University of Florida) graduate and the Co-Founder & CEO at Knack, an education technology startup that helps institutions power and scale peer-to-peer tutoring programs. I moved to the United States when I was six years old, and Tampa was the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PHALANX

FROM CLUELESS TO COVERED Businesses Choose Phalanx as their First Step in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity can be complex and difficult to navigate for cybersecurity professionals. This sentiment is multiplied for business executives trying to decipher the ecosystem to protect their data, and even more importantly, their customers’ data. Established with a vision to redefine cybersecurity for businesses lacking specialized personnel, Phalanx has quickly become...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCORD

FAIRE CROÎTRE LES ENTREPRISES ET LES RENDRE PLUS COMPÉTITIVES GRÂCE À LA DÉMARCHE ACCORD

Lancée en avril 2002, la démarche ACCORD vise à créer un environnement propice au développement des entreprises. Elle favorise la collaboration entre celles-ci et des organisations dans un domaine particulier et un territoire précis. Depuis plus de 20 ans, cette stratégiede développement régional demeure un outil important pour stimuler l’économie...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

Imagi

Reimagining Technology Education for an Inclusive Future

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, imagi stands at the forefront of transforming education to ensure that the digital and AI revolution is inclusive, equitable, and future-proof. Founded with the vision of creating an environment where every child, regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic background see themselves as creators...

INNOVATION Quebec

QUÉBEC QUANTIQUE

ENABLING THE QUEBEC QUANTUM ECOSYSTEM

Quebec is currently well positioned and has all the right ingredients to be at the forefront of the next wave of disruptive innovations stemming from advances in quantum science and technology. In addition to the presence of internationally renowned researchers such as Gilles Brassard and Alexandre Blais, the numerous investments...

INNOVATION Quebec

CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS D’INNOVATION EN BIOTECHNOLOGIE (CQIB)

LE CQIB, AU CŒUR DE L’ÉCOSYSTÈME ENTREPRENEURRIAL EN SCIENCES DE LA VIE

Les lecteurs de cette publication sont bien placés pour le savoir : le Québec est un terreau incroyablement fertile pour l’innovation. Si on génère autant d’innovations en sol québécois, c’est notamment parce que nous avons en place des organisations mobilisatrice qui catalyse notre expertise et notre savoir. Parmi ces organisations,...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Driven

Ending legal debt traps with smart payments

In the U.S., over 11 million people havehad their driver’s licenses suspendeddue to unpaid fines. This isn’t just aninconvenience – it’s a direct hit to financialstability. Losing the ability to drive meanslosing access to jobs, education, andessential services. In cities like Detroit,where public transit is unreliable, asuspended license can mean...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pitch Night MIA

Pitch Night MIA - A monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together

Monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together

Pitch Night MIA is a monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together for a night of entertainment, education and collaboration.     Miami right now is buzzing with an influx of innovative people, businesses, and opportunities. With everything being so new, it can be challenging for founders...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

INFORMA FINANCIAL

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW

INFORMA FINANCIAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. Informa’s founder, Cliff Pipke, began this business out of a desire to help service the insurance needs of families, as well as those of the small business owner. As Informa’s...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DATABANK

TAG25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK

“Atlanta is one of the most sought-after markets for data center capacity across all segments of our customer base – enterprises, technology, and hyperscale public cloud providers,” said Raul Martynek, DataBank CEO. “And now with new AI applications coming online, we’re seeing an entirely new driver of demand that promises...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

TEKCYTE

LIFE-THREATENING VASCULAR STENTS PROBLEMS MAY SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST

TekCyte’s next-generation medical device coating technology BIOINVISIBLE™ is helping to create safer and better outcomes for patients. Currently, vascular medical device complications result in implant failure rates of up to 30%, leaving many patients requiring additional medical intervention and surgery. These complications can cause patients significant discomfort, morbidity, and in...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

TAKASA

UNLOCK A WORLD OF SUSTAINABLE POSSIBILITIES WITH TAKASA

Takasa is a premium organic lifestyle company that is devoted to sourcing the finest materials, partnering with fair-trade and clean manufacturers, and delivering exceptional value to customers. With a passion for exceptionally high-quality materials and socially conscious manufacturing processes, Takasa is focused on combining thoughtfully designed premium products for those...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CONPRMETIDOS

CONPRMETIDOS-MORE THAN WORDS: INNOVATING OUR WAY TO A STABLE

MORE THAN WORDS: INNOVATING OUR WAY TO A STABLE, PRODUCTIVE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT PUERTO RICO TEN YEARS OF COMMITMENT AND PROGRESS

Founded in 2012, ConPRmetidos is a female-led non-profit that is proving that Puerto Ricans can build a global model of community-driven success. By harnessing the talent and energy of individuals, organizations and the private sector, in Puerto Rico and abroad, ConPRmetidos consistently supports the most impactful grassroots organizations while breaking...

INNOVATE® Detroit

PURPOSE JOBS

The Startup Storytellers

Everyone has heard about Apple, or Meta, or Uber. But what about StockX, or Autobooks, or KLA? When the economy crashed in 2008, it was standard for Michiganders to graduate from school here and find work in another state. Many flocked to tech jobs on the coasts. But in the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PodTechs

Internationalization: Podcasting Across Languages with Artificial Voices

In the halls of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., two organizations met in 2019. PodTechs and Baycrest became partners in podcasting. Fast forward half a decade later, and in 2024, the duo accomplished a rare feat: Defy Dementia, which unpacks the significant effects of caregiving on brain health,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MASICORP

MASICORP -SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

SUPPORTING EDUCATION IN MASIPHUMELELE – REAL CHANGE IS A TEAM EFFORT

It all began with a visit to the Masiphumelele township in Cape Town, in 1999, when John and Carol Thompson from the US, were holidaying in South Africa, and ventured inside what was previously known as ‘’Site 5’’. Like most townships in South Africa, Masi (short for Masiphumelele) was established...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CENTRALSERVER

PIONEERING CLOUD SOLUTIONS AT THE HEART OF CURITIBA

Founded in 2000 by visionary technologists Juliano Simões and Rui Suzuki, CentralServer has emerged as a trailblazer in the cloud computing landscape, firmly anchored in the vibrant city of Curitiba, Brazil. With an unwavering commitment to driving digital transformation, CentralServer has established itself as a hub of technological innovation, offering...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

MKE TECH HUB

A LEGACY OF INNOVATION DRIVING A FUTURE OF IMPACT

Shaped by a rich industrial legacy, Milwaukee is evolving into a beacon of modern innovation. With biohealth, AI, water, energy technology, smart manufacturing, and financial services leading the way, Milwaukee’s dynamic ecosystem is not only thriving, but attracting attention from investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators worldwide. Here, tradition meets technology, and...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

GATEWAY FOR FUTURE INNOVATIONS

The University of Antwerp serves as a gateway for future innovations, playing a pivotal role within Antwerp’s thriving innovation ecosystem and beyond. It contributes significantly to driving innovation and fostering societal and economic impact, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in cutting-edge research and innovation. A key driver in...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Sightera

Complex Patient-Derived Biology Meets AI-Drug Design

Sightera Biosciences accelerates drug discovery with an innovative approach that combines chemical structure analysis with complex patient-relevant preclinical models to design novel therapies. Due to the organization’s exclusive research collaboration with the DrugVision.AI screening platform of the University of Antwerp/UZA, it can produce exclusive datasets from patient-derived models to train...

Ecosystems