Stories of Innovation
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Paradox of Innovation: Balancing Risk and Reward in New Ventures
Innovation is often romanticized as a series of lightbulb moments, where visionary thinkers disrupt industries with sheer creativity. But behind every successful moonshot lies a less glamorous, deeply pragmatic reality: the rigorous balancing of risk and reward. The paradox of modern innovation is that the boldest, most creative ideas often...
INNOVATION Quebec
CATALIS Québec
Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique, est déterminée à positionner le Québec sur l’échiquier mondial de la recherche clinique
Portée par un mandat gouvernemental et appuyée par le ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie et le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, CATALIS est un berceau d’innovation en recherche clinique. L’OBNL, créé en 2017, entreprend le mandat audacieux d’optimiser l’environnement de la recherche clinique au...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read
Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
DIGER/ GUACEMMI
MORE THAN 50 PATENTS
Strongly supported by human, technological and financial resources, the Seccional group is part of an innovation network with 16 companies operating in the most diverse areas, notably: telecommunications, lighting, energy, research and development, real estate, finance and the exclusive distribution and representation for Brazil of the Japanese tire brand Yokohama,...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
Venn Innovation
Helping Atlantic Canadian Companies Recognize Their Strengths and Potential to Become Globally Connective and Competitive
Since 2010, Venn Innovation has been helping founders and startup entrepreneurs who want to build scalable technology companies. We help them validate their technology, understand their markets through research and insights, connect them with mentors and experts, and access talent and capital through the collaborative technology ecosystem we are nurturing...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
NATURE'S FYND
TRANSFORMING HOW THE WORLD EATS WITH FY™, A NEW-TO-THE-WORLD, NUTRITIONAL FUNGI PROTEIN
The story of Nature’s Fynd™ begins millions of years ago, in an acidic hot spring located in what is today Yellowstone National Park when a remarkable microbe was born. In 2009, NASA-backed research on extremophiles led our co-founder to the park’s hot springs. He then isolated and discovered a remarkable...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNSTUCK LABS
Unleashing Potential
“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you need the right people to help you overcome challenges.”Unstuck Labs carves a unique path under the leadership of Wa’il Ashshowwaf, embodying innovation, collaboration, and relentless ambition. It’s a story not just of a company’s success but of transformation and belief in the...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
PARANÁ STATE
SECRETARIAT FOR INNOVATION, MODERNIZATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PARANÁ
According to the Connected Smart Cities 2023 ranking, Paraná holds a prominent national position, with ten cities from the state, including Curitiba, among the top hundred in the overall ranking. Moreover, Paraná is recognized as a leader in sustainability and innovation in Brazil, as indicated by the renowned Bright Cities...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SEBRAE/PR
ENCOURAGES COMPANIES TO PROMOTE INNOVATION IN THEIR BUSINESSES
Sebrae/PRWith the purpose of fostering entrepreneurship and developing micro and small businesses, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service of Paraná (Sebrae/PR) is a private institution that, since 1972, has been working with business consultancy and development, innovation, entrepreneurial education, startups and articulates the strengthening of the business environment....
INNOVATE™ Flanders
RIVER CLEANUP
From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers
River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...
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™ Antwerp Vol.2
NOBI
FUTURE-ORIENTED SMART LAMP ‘NOBI’ HELPS ELDERLY CARE TO PREPARE FOR THE SILVER TSUNAMI
Meet NobiAn Antwerp scale-up known for its AI-driven smart lamps, used for fall detection, fall prevention and lifestyle monitoring. When founding their company, Roeland Pelgrims, Stijn Verrept and Bert De Haes believed that everyone on this planet deserves to grow old in a dignified, safe and happy manner. Pretty ambitious...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
GETTING YOUR Z’S FHMRI SLEEP HEALTH is tech-ing up sleep
Tech and sleep aren’t necessarily always good bedfellows but in this case, they can be. Sleep health is undergoing a digital and technological innovation transformation. Developments are set to revolutionise the way sleep disorders are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. From the development of improved treatment identification platforms for doctors, to...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
SmartBox
Snack Intelligently
How many times have you walked into your office break-room, only to let out a heavy sigh when realizing just how limited your options are? All the junk food and none of the healthy snacks. Ever accidentally leave your lunch at home and have to resort to the candy bar...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT IN THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Our expertiseCreated in 2010, CRISPESH is an applied research and transfer center (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep du Vieux Montréal and Dawson College. We support organizations, communities and society to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Our expertise lies in the educational, professional and social inclusion of people with disabilities,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
MAUNGO CRAFT
RE-INTEGRATING ORPHAN CROPS BACK INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM, ONE FLAVOR AT A TIME
Morula also known as Marula is one such Orphan Crop. We are a food manufacturer that has formed symbiotic relationships with Morula oil companies and local farmers. We upcycle the fruit pulp that is typically underutilized, the processors press the seed to get seed oil and then they sell the...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
EMPIRE DREAMS
GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME
Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
MAGNETRON
STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE
Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...
INNOVATION Quebec
SCALE AI
VERS UNE ÉCONOMIE PROPULSÉE PAR L’IA POUR LE CANADA
En tant que grappe d’innovation mondiale du Canada en IA, Scale AI agit comme un pôle d’investissement et d’innovation pour accélérer l’adoption et l’intégration rapide de l’intelligence artificielle dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement, à travers des projets porteurs pour l’économie d’ici. Véritable lien pancanadien entre les différents piliers de la communauté...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
FLORIDA MAN GAMING
Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG
Florida Man Gaming is a Tampa, Fl-based esports organization that has brought innovation to the community through partnerships with like-minded local businesses intending to help bridge the gap in our community. Florida Man Gaming is an American esports gaming community founded in 2019 with the vision to bring a...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
WARONA LAW OFFICE
MOLAO WARONA ROTLHE
What’s in a name?In this case – everything! Warona is a Setswana pronoun, which translates to “ours” in English. The fact of the matter is the law is “ours” – all of us, made by us to govern and protect us. It also happens to be the middle name of...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been operating out of its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, NJ since the 1970s. Across the country, more than 5,000 employees work together to reshape and revolutionize the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Paradox of Innovation: Balancing Risk and Reward in New Ventures
Innovation is often romanticized as a series of lightbulb moments, where visionary thinkers disrupt industries with sheer creativity. But behind every successful moonshot lies a less glamorous, deeply pragmatic reality: the rigorous balancing of risk and reward. The paradox of modern innovation is that the boldest, most creative ideas often...
INNOVATION Quebec
CATALIS Québec
Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique, est déterminée à positionner le Québec sur l’échiquier mondial de la recherche clinique
Portée par un mandat gouvernemental et appuyée par le ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie et le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, CATALIS est un berceau d’innovation en recherche clinique. L’OBNL, créé en 2017, entreprend le mandat audacieux d’optimiser l’environnement de la recherche clinique au...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read
Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
DIGER/ GUACEMMI
MORE THAN 50 PATENTS
Strongly supported by human, technological and financial resources, the Seccional group is part of an innovation network with 16 companies operating in the most diverse areas, notably: telecommunications, lighting, energy, research and development, real estate, finance and the exclusive distribution and representation for Brazil of the Japanese tire brand Yokohama,...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
Venn Innovation
Helping Atlantic Canadian Companies Recognize Their Strengths and Potential to Become Globally Connective and Competitive
Since 2010, Venn Innovation has been helping founders and startup entrepreneurs who want to build scalable technology companies. We help them validate their technology, understand their markets through research and insights, connect them with mentors and experts, and access talent and capital through the collaborative technology ecosystem we are nurturing...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
NATURE'S FYND
TRANSFORMING HOW THE WORLD EATS WITH FY™, A NEW-TO-THE-WORLD, NUTRITIONAL FUNGI PROTEIN
The story of Nature’s Fynd™ begins millions of years ago, in an acidic hot spring located in what is today Yellowstone National Park when a remarkable microbe was born. In 2009, NASA-backed research on extremophiles led our co-founder to the park’s hot springs. He then isolated and discovered a remarkable...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNSTUCK LABS
Unleashing Potential
“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you need the right people to help you overcome challenges.”Unstuck Labs carves a unique path under the leadership of Wa’il Ashshowwaf, embodying innovation, collaboration, and relentless ambition. It’s a story not just of a company’s success but of transformation and belief in the...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
PARANÁ STATE
SECRETARIAT FOR INNOVATION, MODERNIZATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PARANÁ
According to the Connected Smart Cities 2023 ranking, Paraná holds a prominent national position, with ten cities from the state, including Curitiba, among the top hundred in the overall ranking. Moreover, Paraná is recognized as a leader in sustainability and innovation in Brazil, as indicated by the renowned Bright Cities...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SEBRAE/PR
ENCOURAGES COMPANIES TO PROMOTE INNOVATION IN THEIR BUSINESSES
Sebrae/PRWith the purpose of fostering entrepreneurship and developing micro and small businesses, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service of Paraná (Sebrae/PR) is a private institution that, since 1972, has been working with business consultancy and development, innovation, entrepreneurial education, startups and articulates the strengthening of the business environment....
INNOVATE™ Flanders
RIVER CLEANUP
From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers
River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...
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™ Antwerp Vol.2
NOBI
FUTURE-ORIENTED SMART LAMP ‘NOBI’ HELPS ELDERLY CARE TO PREPARE FOR THE SILVER TSUNAMI
Meet NobiAn Antwerp scale-up known for its AI-driven smart lamps, used for fall detection, fall prevention and lifestyle monitoring. When founding their company, Roeland Pelgrims, Stijn Verrept and Bert De Haes believed that everyone on this planet deserves to grow old in a dignified, safe and happy manner. Pretty ambitious...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
GETTING YOUR Z’S FHMRI SLEEP HEALTH is tech-ing up sleep
Tech and sleep aren’t necessarily always good bedfellows but in this case, they can be. Sleep health is undergoing a digital and technological innovation transformation. Developments are set to revolutionise the way sleep disorders are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. From the development of improved treatment identification platforms for doctors, to...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
SmartBox
Snack Intelligently
How many times have you walked into your office break-room, only to let out a heavy sigh when realizing just how limited your options are? All the junk food and none of the healthy snacks. Ever accidentally leave your lunch at home and have to resort to the candy bar...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT IN THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Our expertiseCreated in 2010, CRISPESH is an applied research and transfer center (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep du Vieux Montréal and Dawson College. We support organizations, communities and society to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Our expertise lies in the educational, professional and social inclusion of people with disabilities,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
MAUNGO CRAFT
RE-INTEGRATING ORPHAN CROPS BACK INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM, ONE FLAVOR AT A TIME
Morula also known as Marula is one such Orphan Crop. We are a food manufacturer that has formed symbiotic relationships with Morula oil companies and local farmers. We upcycle the fruit pulp that is typically underutilized, the processors press the seed to get seed oil and then they sell the...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
EMPIRE DREAMS
GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME
Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
MAGNETRON
STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE
Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...
INNOVATION Quebec
SCALE AI
VERS UNE ÉCONOMIE PROPULSÉE PAR L’IA POUR LE CANADA
En tant que grappe d’innovation mondiale du Canada en IA, Scale AI agit comme un pôle d’investissement et d’innovation pour accélérer l’adoption et l’intégration rapide de l’intelligence artificielle dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement, à travers des projets porteurs pour l’économie d’ici. Véritable lien pancanadien entre les différents piliers de la communauté...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
FLORIDA MAN GAMING
Putting the “Florida Man” in Gaming With Tampa Local Esports Company FMG
Florida Man Gaming is a Tampa, Fl-based esports organization that has brought innovation to the community through partnerships with like-minded local businesses intending to help bridge the gap in our community. Florida Man Gaming is an American esports gaming community founded in 2019 with the vision to bring a...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
WARONA LAW OFFICE
MOLAO WARONA ROTLHE
What’s in a name?In this case – everything! Warona is a Setswana pronoun, which translates to “ours” in English. The fact of the matter is the law is “ours” – all of us, made by us to govern and protect us. It also happens to be the middle name of...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been operating out of its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, NJ since the 1970s. Across the country, more than 5,000 employees work together to reshape and revolutionize the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and...