Stories of Innovation

READY PLAYER ONE“What if I actually owned my digital games and in-game items?” That’s been the question on most gamers’ minds.   With limited solutions and some gamers resorting to the shady secondhand grey market to make use of their content outside of the game, David Hanson and Nicolas Gilot,...

Established in 2004 through a visionary initiative that included the University of Michigan and other community leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was created to transform Ann Arbor into a national hub for innovation, business, and talent. Today, it is a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Ann Arbor SPARK helps drive...

Next AI est un réseau d’accélération de développement d’entrepreneur.e.s et d’entreprises de classe mondiale pour les startups utilisant l’intelligence artificielle. Peu importe leur emplacement au Canada, les fondateur. trice.s ont la possibilité de rejoindre l’écosystème, que ce soit en suivant le programme à distance ou en personne aux sites de...

Munai is a healthtech whose impact in the healthcare field is noteworthy, driving significant transformations through the application of advanced technological solutions, particularly leveraging Artificial Intelligence. Its commitment extends beyond technological advancements; it’s rooted in the core mission of reshaping healthcare by generating personalized and scalable solutions that empower healthcare...

For the past 15 years, Techstars has been running 3-month tech accelerators across the world. Names such as SendGrid, Digital Ocean, Latch, Classpass, Remitly and Kepler Aerospace are some of the 3000 alumni companies to have graduated from a Techstars program.   For 5 years Techstars has operated in Toronto....

What Dyne DoesDyne is a B2B SaaS company that specialises in providing cutting-edge analytics for all types of restaurants. Its innovative software utilises AI and machine learning to help restaurants optimise their internal operations and ultimately increase profitability. Their platform’s current key features offer a wide range of functionality, from...

Building the foundation for a better, safer world. For the general public, words such as “innovative” and “dynamic” aren’t commonly used to describe the manufacturing industry. But in an industry criticized for being slow to change, Sentry Equipment—a century-old, Oconomowoc-based manufacturing powerhouse—has solidified its position as a proud outlier driving...

At Thnks, our mission is to leverage technology and the science of gratitude to help establish and build strong relationships for the modern world, through efficient, personalized, and thoughtful appreciation. Thnks has created a movement in workplaces with over 15,000 Thnks sent every week — helping business professionals improve their...

Since its founding in 2014 in Stockholm’s historic Garnisonen building, K-märkt has been rewriting the rulebook for what a modern, sustainable food company can be. From its very first day, the brand has challenged the industry with one radical idea: great food at scale can – and must – coexist...

The mission of the Chicago Furniture Bank (CFB) is to provide dignity, stability, and comfort to Chicagoans facing poverty by allowing our clients to handpick an entire home’s worth of furnishings for free. As the country’s largest furniture bank, we furnish 15 client homes per day through partnerships with our...

BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND CAREERS Waterloo Region is a catalyst for innovation. Its thriving ecosystem of startups, global tech giants and research institutions is driving collaboration to shape the future. Within this dynamic landscape is Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, a leader in polytechnic education that has become...

In 2003, Matt Meltzer graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. He thought employers would line up to hire him. He was wrong. With zero job offers, Matt flew down to South America with a backpack. After living and working in Buenos Aires for one year, Matt returned...

“CMC provides access to leading-edge platforms for innovators to design, prototype, and test their ideas. From early-stage researchers to emerging entrepreneurs, CMC has tools and expertise to accelerate your R&D.” – Gordon Harling, President and CEO, CMC Microsystems CMC Microsystems is a not-for-profit organization accelerating research and innovation in advanced...

Join the world’s leading community of ambitious people who are ready to build. We believe the world is missing out on the best potential founders, and we’re on a mission to change that.   Entrepreneur First (EF) is a global leader in cofounder matching, with a track record of 10+...

Europe stands at a turning point. Global supply chains are increasingly shaped by geopolitical shifts, critical technologies are still developed elsewhere, and many European industries struggle with succession and growth. To safeguard prosperity, the continent needs to build its own strength. A Europe-first economy means homegrown technologies, resilient supply chains,...

Rugby isn’t the same as it was 20, or even 10, years ago. COVID-19 had also left a profound impact on sport. Such are the changes that the Sharks’ competition isn’t always facing them on the rugby pitch on Saturday afternoons. Instead, this team competes against other industries and entertainment...

ON THE PATH TO ZERO™ Decarbonization innovator First Mode develops and manufactures clean energy solutions for heavy industry, including the mining sector, which contributes 4-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. In 2022, First Mode in partnership with Anglo American debuted the world’s largest zero-emissions truck by retrofitting a Komatsu...

Single product, single focus, single outcome NEXT GENERATION CLEANING TECHNOLOGYSoniclean is an established multi-award-winning medical device company boasting over 30 years of ultrasonic technology research and development for the primary purpose of cleaning surgical instruments. Soniclean’s commitment and focus is on user and patient safety, providing a machine with this...

Lanaudière Économique (LÉ) a été fondé en 1991 afin de répondre aux besoins et aux enjeux communs de développement économique des six MRC du territoire. Le mandat de LÉ est de propulser les entreprises et les projets innovants de Lanaudière, le tout en collaboration avec les autres organismes en développement...

Global leader in clean energy, New Holland Agriculture, a CNH brand and headquartered in Curitiba, is one of the most innovative companies in the agricultural sector in the world. Investment in new technologies and sustainable solutions is constant – always seeking to improve the experience of its customers. This culture...

The Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) is an intriguing invention from Sweden’s capital. Much like Stockholm—a city comprised of several islands, each with its distinct character, yet contributing to a cohesive whole—SSES unites six leading universities to create a globally-unique nexus of entrepreneurial education. Established in 1999 with the support...

In a world where storytelling has the power to inspire, educate, and connect people, two Georgetown MBA students, Dumi and Paul, have embarked on a mission to democratize the podcasting medium with their innovative startup, Shanda Studio. Born out of Dumi’s personal experience growing up in Zimbabwe, where media freedom...

In the transportation industry every extra minute and every extra mile eats away at a fleet’s profit. MobiusAI is helping fleets operate at their best. The industry struggles with inefficient planning, outdated software, and razor-thin margins, but Mobius is using AI to empower fleets for excellence. From Research to Real-World...

The continuous will of Physiotherapist António Gaspar to assist people led him to open, in 2018, his current clinic, António Gaspar – Physio Therapy & Performance. This project seeks to respond to an insufficiency in the Portuguese Physiotherapy market, which was the provision of multidisciplinary health care in the recovery...