Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Surprising Innovations for Better Sleep Tonight

A man sleeping comfortably.

3 Surprising Innovations for Better Sleep Tonight Maya Liu, a robotics founder, blanked during a crucial investor pitch due to exhaustion. Chronic sleep debt saps an innovator’s edge faster than almost anything else. Her turnaround began not with coffee, but with smarter sleep technology. Tonight, you can tap into similar...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Find South African Food in Canada

Howzit Canada logo alongside the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) branding, set against a scenic Canadian landscape, representing a hub for South African expats to find goods, businesses, and community support in Canada.

HowZit Canada Leads the Way

For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Rhoads Industries

Forging the Future of American Manufacturing

For more than a century, Rhoads Industries, Inc. has quietly evolved alongside the American industrial landscape. What began in 1896 as a small Philadelphia-based operation has grown into a key contributor to the nation’s maritime and defense infrastructure. The company’s origins trace back to Samuel Rhoads, whose early patents for...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MEDIDO HEALTH

MEDIDO HEALTH-Building the platform that enables next-generation pharmacy-based healthcare services

Building the platform that enables next-generation pharmacy-based healthcare services

Medido Health is a software development company focused on building tools that enable the transformation of pharmacy-based healthcare services that significantly improve clinical outcomes. Knostos, the company’s software-as-a-service platform, is an event-driven platform that enables its users to support diverse and complex programs of care in real time while effectively...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ESPAT

ESPAT-CHANGING THE WORLD

CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE PIXEL AT A TIME

ESPAT (Esports Pixels and Technology) is a technology company that is utilizing the legacy digital media licensing model to help gaming and esports IP holders monetize their digital assets. Through computer vision and machine learning technology, the company is converting traditional licensed assets into interactive, commerce-enabled experiences for viewers/consumers. As...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Matidor.com

Matidor.com- “Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

“Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

SENSO

SENSO-TRANSFORMING THE BORROWER EXPERIENCE FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE

TRANSFORMING THE BORROWER EXPERIENCE FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE

Senso is a leading intelligence and engagement platform designed to help mortgage lenders increase interest income growth and lifetime value by proactively engaging borrowers leading up to their next home purchase or refinance transaction. How It All Came Together Founded in the heart of Toronto’s innovation ecosystem in 2017, founders...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

DC DAO AND ETHDC

Building a Web3 Hub in the Nation’s Capital

“Our mission is to build a vibrant community that empowers connection, champions innovation, and works with leading industry participants to add a builder-focused voice to forward-thinking policies.” DC DAO and ETHDC are at the forefront of a transformative movementin the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. As a steward of...

INNOVATION Quebec

Concordia-University

THE SECURITY RESEARCH CENTRE (SRC)

The Security Research Centre (SRC) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary training, R&D and innovation unit that provides practical and efficient technological solutions to cybersecurity related problems of the government and industry. The SRC has over 75 cybersecurity researchers, including 55 doctoral and Master thesis students, 20 faculty members, among which six...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RED DEER POLYTECHNIC

Creating Solutions for Industry

The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CANADIAN BLOCKCHAIN CONSORTIUM

ADVOCATING FOR THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL ASSETS SECTOR

Uniting diverse companies, individuals, and organizations from across the national innovation ecosystem, the Canadian Blockchain Consortium is the country’s advocate for the blockchain technology and cryptocurrency sector. The Consortium was launched in 2016 as the Alberta Blockchain Consortium by the late energy and technology pioneer Suzanne West, who had a...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FARPOINT

ENGINEERING AI SOLUTIONS FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Farpoint has established itself as an influential entity. Led by founder and CEO, Nicholas Ning, Farpoint is an AI consulting firm that thrives at the crossroads of technological innovation and practical application. Farpoint’s unique selling proposition lies in its ability to...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

SPOON

SPOON-CHOOSE YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

CHOOSE YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

Founded in 2012 by Paulina Salach and Gustavo Antonetti, Spoon is Puerto Rico’s leading tour operator and travel planning & logistics company with a specialization in culinary experiences. We craft immersive, authentic, and educational gastronomic & cultural experiences for the leisure and corporate markets. On the leisure segment we service...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

USCREEN

BUILDING A MORE CONNECTED CREATOR FUTURE THROUGH THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIPS

USCREEN IS AN ALL-IN-ONE MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM BUILT FOR VIDEO CREATORS. Uscreen started as a bootstrapped company in 2014 with just an idea to start streaming DVDs and quickly pivoted to helping their customers sell video on demand subscriptions. Early customers include Yoga with Adriene and Sarah Beth Yoga, two highly...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

REVOLUTION

Pioneering the Next Wave of Innovation

Founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case, the DC-based investment firm Revolution emerged in 2005 with a bold mission: to invest in startups around the country – highlighting venture opportunity beyond Silicon Valley and partnering with founders who recognize thetransformative impact of policy and regulation in helping them build market-defining companies....

INNOVATE® South Florida

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE ALLIANCE

WORK IN THE CLOUD. LIVE IN THE SUN.™

Greater Fort Lauderdale has played an important role as a birthplace of global technology and innovation. This is evident in the products, services, and devices people use daily, including personal computers, mobile phones, mixed reality, satellite radio, and even pet products. Greater Fort Lauderdale is the launchpad for such household...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...

INNOVATION Quebec

NOVIKA

Novika-40 ans à créer demain. Ensemble

40 ans à créer demain. Ensemble.

La physique chez Novika, c’est bien plus qu’une science; c’est le quotidien. Le nôtre et le vôtre. Depuis quarante ans, nous appliquons nos compétences au développement de produits technologiques et de procédés industriels d’exception. Nous mesurons, comprenons, contrôlons et utilisons les phénomènes physiques pour qu’ils deviennent votre compétitivité, votre qualité...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Opera

Setting the Scene for Opera's Future

Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SwitchPoint Ventures

We build companies around pioneering technologies.

Our journey began a decade ago, here in Nashville – a city known for creativity and reinvention. That same spirit shaped how we approach innovation: with collaboration, grit, and a builder’s mindset. At SwitchPoint Ventures, we build companies around pioneering technologies – particularly in AI, data science, and digital innovation...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SIME

WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE

In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...

INNOVATION Quebec

VECTOR INSTITUTE

VECTOR INSTITUTE-CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND ACCELERATE RESPONSIBLE ADOPTION OF AI

CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND ACCELERATE RESPONSIBLE ADOPTION OF AI

As the city where Geoffrey Hinton pioneered deep learning, Toronto has deep roots in artificial intelligence research. The Vector Institute amplifies and leverages this strength in fundamental research for Ontario’s economic benefit by smoothing the path from lab discovery to commercial use.   With marquee facilities for collaboration, Vector hosts...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CHANGED

CHANGED-ON A MISSION TO MAKE STUDENT LOAN DEBT REPAYMENT EFFECTIVE AND PAIN FREE THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF EVERYDAY DECISIONS

ON A MISSION TO MAKE STUDENT LOAN DEBT REPAYMENT EFFECTIVE AND PAIN FREE THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF EVERYDAY DECISIONS

WHAT WE DO ChangEd is an all-in-one debt management platform helping people build a better relationship with debt so they can reach their financial dreams sooner. ChangEd allows people with debt to link all their loans and spending accounts on one platform. We then analyze their debt load and develop...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Surprising Innovations for Better Sleep Tonight

A man sleeping comfortably.

3 Surprising Innovations for Better Sleep Tonight Maya Liu, a robotics founder, blanked during a crucial investor pitch due to exhaustion. Chronic sleep debt saps an innovator’s edge faster than almost anything else. Her turnaround began not with coffee, but with smarter sleep technology. Tonight, you can tap into similar...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Find South African Food in Canada

Howzit Canada logo alongside the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) branding, set against a scenic Canadian landscape, representing a hub for South African expats to find goods, businesses, and community support in Canada.

HowZit Canada Leads the Way

For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Rhoads Industries

Forging the Future of American Manufacturing

For more than a century, Rhoads Industries, Inc. has quietly evolved alongside the American industrial landscape. What began in 1896 as a small Philadelphia-based operation has grown into a key contributor to the nation’s maritime and defense infrastructure. The company’s origins trace back to Samuel Rhoads, whose early patents for...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MEDIDO HEALTH

MEDIDO HEALTH-Building the platform that enables next-generation pharmacy-based healthcare services

Building the platform that enables next-generation pharmacy-based healthcare services

Medido Health is a software development company focused on building tools that enable the transformation of pharmacy-based healthcare services that significantly improve clinical outcomes. Knostos, the company’s software-as-a-service platform, is an event-driven platform that enables its users to support diverse and complex programs of care in real time while effectively...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ESPAT

ESPAT-CHANGING THE WORLD

CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE PIXEL AT A TIME

ESPAT (Esports Pixels and Technology) is a technology company that is utilizing the legacy digital media licensing model to help gaming and esports IP holders monetize their digital assets. Through computer vision and machine learning technology, the company is converting traditional licensed assets into interactive, commerce-enabled experiences for viewers/consumers. As...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Matidor.com

Matidor.com- “Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

“Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

SENSO

SENSO-TRANSFORMING THE BORROWER EXPERIENCE FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE

TRANSFORMING THE BORROWER EXPERIENCE FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE

Senso is a leading intelligence and engagement platform designed to help mortgage lenders increase interest income growth and lifetime value by proactively engaging borrowers leading up to their next home purchase or refinance transaction. How It All Came Together Founded in the heart of Toronto’s innovation ecosystem in 2017, founders...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

DC DAO AND ETHDC

Building a Web3 Hub in the Nation’s Capital

“Our mission is to build a vibrant community that empowers connection, champions innovation, and works with leading industry participants to add a builder-focused voice to forward-thinking policies.” DC DAO and ETHDC are at the forefront of a transformative movementin the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. As a steward of...

INNOVATION Quebec

Concordia-University

THE SECURITY RESEARCH CENTRE (SRC)

The Security Research Centre (SRC) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary training, R&D and innovation unit that provides practical and efficient technological solutions to cybersecurity related problems of the government and industry. The SRC has over 75 cybersecurity researchers, including 55 doctoral and Master thesis students, 20 faculty members, among which six...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RED DEER POLYTECHNIC

Creating Solutions for Industry

The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CANADIAN BLOCKCHAIN CONSORTIUM

ADVOCATING FOR THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL ASSETS SECTOR

Uniting diverse companies, individuals, and organizations from across the national innovation ecosystem, the Canadian Blockchain Consortium is the country’s advocate for the blockchain technology and cryptocurrency sector. The Consortium was launched in 2016 as the Alberta Blockchain Consortium by the late energy and technology pioneer Suzanne West, who had a...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FARPOINT

ENGINEERING AI SOLUTIONS FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Farpoint has established itself as an influential entity. Led by founder and CEO, Nicholas Ning, Farpoint is an AI consulting firm that thrives at the crossroads of technological innovation and practical application. Farpoint’s unique selling proposition lies in its ability to...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

SPOON

SPOON-CHOOSE YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

CHOOSE YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

Founded in 2012 by Paulina Salach and Gustavo Antonetti, Spoon is Puerto Rico’s leading tour operator and travel planning & logistics company with a specialization in culinary experiences. We craft immersive, authentic, and educational gastronomic & cultural experiences for the leisure and corporate markets. On the leisure segment we service...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

USCREEN

BUILDING A MORE CONNECTED CREATOR FUTURE THROUGH THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIPS

USCREEN IS AN ALL-IN-ONE MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM BUILT FOR VIDEO CREATORS. Uscreen started as a bootstrapped company in 2014 with just an idea to start streaming DVDs and quickly pivoted to helping their customers sell video on demand subscriptions. Early customers include Yoga with Adriene and Sarah Beth Yoga, two highly...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

REVOLUTION

Pioneering the Next Wave of Innovation

Founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case, the DC-based investment firm Revolution emerged in 2005 with a bold mission: to invest in startups around the country – highlighting venture opportunity beyond Silicon Valley and partnering with founders who recognize thetransformative impact of policy and regulation in helping them build market-defining companies....

INNOVATE® South Florida

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE ALLIANCE

WORK IN THE CLOUD. LIVE IN THE SUN.™

Greater Fort Lauderdale has played an important role as a birthplace of global technology and innovation. This is evident in the products, services, and devices people use daily, including personal computers, mobile phones, mixed reality, satellite radio, and even pet products. Greater Fort Lauderdale is the launchpad for such household...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...

INNOVATION Quebec

NOVIKA

Novika-40 ans à créer demain. Ensemble

40 ans à créer demain. Ensemble.

La physique chez Novika, c’est bien plus qu’une science; c’est le quotidien. Le nôtre et le vôtre. Depuis quarante ans, nous appliquons nos compétences au développement de produits technologiques et de procédés industriels d’exception. Nous mesurons, comprenons, contrôlons et utilisons les phénomènes physiques pour qu’ils deviennent votre compétitivité, votre qualité...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Detroit Opera

Setting the Scene for Opera's Future

Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SwitchPoint Ventures

We build companies around pioneering technologies.

Our journey began a decade ago, here in Nashville – a city known for creativity and reinvention. That same spirit shaped how we approach innovation: with collaboration, grit, and a builder’s mindset. At SwitchPoint Ventures, we build companies around pioneering technologies – particularly in AI, data science, and digital innovation...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SIME

WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE

In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...

INNOVATION Quebec

VECTOR INSTITUTE

VECTOR INSTITUTE-CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND ACCELERATE RESPONSIBLE ADOPTION OF AI

CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND ACCELERATE RESPONSIBLE ADOPTION OF AI

As the city where Geoffrey Hinton pioneered deep learning, Toronto has deep roots in artificial intelligence research. The Vector Institute amplifies and leverages this strength in fundamental research for Ontario’s economic benefit by smoothing the path from lab discovery to commercial use.   With marquee facilities for collaboration, Vector hosts...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CHANGED

CHANGED-ON A MISSION TO MAKE STUDENT LOAN DEBT REPAYMENT EFFECTIVE AND PAIN FREE THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF EVERYDAY DECISIONS

ON A MISSION TO MAKE STUDENT LOAN DEBT REPAYMENT EFFECTIVE AND PAIN FREE THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF EVERYDAY DECISIONS

WHAT WE DO ChangEd is an all-in-one debt management platform helping people build a better relationship with debt so they can reach their financial dreams sooner. ChangEd allows people with debt to link all their loans and spending accounts on one platform. We then analyze their debt load and develop...

Ecosystems