Stories of Innovation

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® Nashville

FIRST SOUTH FINANCIAL

BANKING WITH FRIENDS

The Story of First South Financial’s Strength, Innovation, and Community Impact. For nearly seven decades, First South Financial has stood as a trusted partner in helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve their financial goals. What began as a modest effort to provide accessible banking services has grown into one...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Peoplr

Peoplr - Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results

Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results

ELEVATOR PITCH Peoplr is a team of Human Resources experts who tackle all kinds of headaches and turn them into great business results by providing flexible and cost-effective strategies that address a company’s human resources needs. From start-ups to thriving Fortune 100 companies, Peoplr has each client covered with expert...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

ESPACE RÉGIONAL ACCÉLÉRATION ET CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES

Depuis près de 15 ans, Chaudière-Appalaches Économique (CAÉ) a pour mission de stimuler le développement économique en soutenant la cohérence et la mise en commun des actions et des services de ses membres, en concertation avec les organismes partenaires du développement économique et dans le respect de leurs mandats. Parmi...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CIC Labs

Powering Breakthroughs at CIC Philadelphia

CIC builds and operates a global network of innovation campuses where startups, scale-ups, corporations and public entities connect, work, and grow. Founded in 1999, CIC manages innovation-focused workspace, laboratories, and event space across North America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, CIC develops bespoke programming, builds and enables industry clusters, and provides...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

ECOURT REPORTERS

TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE AND BOOK LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

eCourt Reporters is a court reporter/women-owned company. eCourt Reporters was created out of a need for locating qualified, experienced court reporters and legal videographers. eCourt Reporters’ app is a custom-built, high-tech, innovative technology to schedule court reporters and other legal services. Karen Renee, CEO; Judy Gerulat, COO; and Justin Furst,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

BOSCH

COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION: BOSCH IN CURITIBA 45-YEARS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY

Recognized worldwide for its commitment to innovation, investment in research and development (R&D), as well as its broad commitment to sustainability, Bosch provides innovative solutions for the Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, Energy and Construction Technology sectors. For 70 years in Brazil, Bosch has been recognized in the national market...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

BLOCKCHAIN CENTER

MIAMI – A CENTRAL PLACE FOR BUILDING THE DECENTRALIZED FUTURE

When the Blockchain Center opened its doors, it marked a defining moment in the history of Miami’s Tech Scene. From the beginning, the vision of the blockchain center was to make Miami the crypto capital of the Americas and educate the masses. It was a physical location that became a...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

VUNANI FUND MANAGERS

HOW VUNANI HAS HARNESSED INNOVATION TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

We are a proudly Pan-African financial and diversified investment management company, active in nine African countries. We are fully committed to our promise of nurturing an integrated range of innovative products and services, in order to deliver positive, consistent return for our clients. This is premised on our value proposition...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

TECHARENA

WHERE INNOVATION BEGINS WITH HUMAN CONNECTION

Techarena is a Nordic-born platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that brings together thousands of founders, investors, business leaders, and policymakers every year. Through high-impact events, accelerator programs, and media channels, Techarena creates opportunities for cross-border collaboration and sustainable growth. From Local Competition to Global Platform What began in 2014 as...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

FIFTEEN

ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY

As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ECOPIA

ECOPIA-CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING

CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING

Since 2013, Ecopia AI has been on a mission to create a digital twin of the world using artificial intelligence (AI). Originally spun out of a Ph.D project at the University of Waterloo, Ecopia’s maps have grown from detailing a single small city to mapping entire continents while evolving from...

INNOVATE® Detroit

ANN ARBOR SPARK

Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County

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...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CATALYST BY WELLSTAR

LET’S DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO TO CREATE A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.

To push Wellstar’s legacy of innovation even further, Catalyst by Wellstar was created in 2021 as the first-of-its-kind innovation company and venture firm. A team of innovators, investors, and builders was assembled to harness the decades of experience and knowledge of Wellstar and shape the future of healthcare. Grounded in...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RETAIL CAPITAL

RETAIL CAPITAL-TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE

TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE

Retail Capital was born in 2011 as an idea on a white napkin. Those drawings became the framework of what ended up being the first Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) product for businesses in South Africa. Driven by a deep passion to support the SME sector, Retail Capital has since innovated...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

THOMAS MORE

THOMAS MORE-EMBRACING THE GLOBE

EMBRACING THE GLOBE, STIMULATING SUSTAINABILITY

Thomas More Research: collaborations to stimulate innovation in the bioeconomy We stimulate & support innovationThomas More’s research group RADIUS has years of experience with innovation in the field of the bioeconomy. Bioeconomy refers to all the economic aspects of the use of natural resources, more specifically biomass. With our innovations...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol & Bath Cyber

Bristol & Bath Cyber -Is Passionate About Bringing People Together From Different Backgrounds Into Cyber. Diversity Is Key To Enabling Our Industry To Flourish

Is Passionate About Bringing People Together From Different Backgrounds Into Cyber. Diversity Is Key To Enabling Our Industry To Flourish

Bristol and Bath Cyber is a community of cyber entrepreneurs, employers, practitioners, educators, investors and collaborators (and those with a general interest!), who engage on a regular basis to share expertise and wisdom, to encourage innovation and best practice, and to act as a cyber focal point for the region....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ISACA ATLANTA CHAPTER

INNOVATING WITH A LEGACY OF SERVICE

Founded nearly four decades ago, the ISACA Atlanta Chapter has evolved significantly over the years while steadfastly adhering to its mission of serving its members, partners, and communities. With nearly 3,000 members across the state, this mission has only gained importance, prompting the current board to innovate and reinforce the...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE

ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MARS

MARS-Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BUILD IN SE

Is a collaborative network of startup founders, funders, and ecosystem supporters who build in the Southeast. #BuildInSE

In 2018, Build In SE was launched with a mission to increase the number of startup success stories in the Southeastern U.S. by leveraging a collaborative, cross-regional network. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Build In SE defines the Southeast as a collection of 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ) and Michael Ward Jr

Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ)and Michael Ward Jr

Innovatively Redefining Career Readiness and Eliminating the Skills Gap in Tech

Throughout history, a lack of career readiness and workforce development have stunted the advancement of society and its ability to overcome challenges. Take, for example, the industrial revolution where we witnessed mass migration to the North for factory jobs, the call for nurses and doctors in our healthcare system as...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

KOMMA BOARD

KOMMA BOARD -BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

In 2013, Komma Board started out as a consulting company in ICT & Finance. Our business model is atypical, as we act as a subcontractor to main ICT or Finance contractors for multinational or international Fortune 500 companies. Acting as an independent partner, this specific market position allows Komma Board...

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® Nashville

FIRST SOUTH FINANCIAL

BANKING WITH FRIENDS

The Story of First South Financial’s Strength, Innovation, and Community Impact. For nearly seven decades, First South Financial has stood as a trusted partner in helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve their financial goals. What began as a modest effort to provide accessible banking services has grown into one...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Peoplr

Peoplr - Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results

Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results

ELEVATOR PITCH Peoplr is a team of Human Resources experts who tackle all kinds of headaches and turn them into great business results by providing flexible and cost-effective strategies that address a company’s human resources needs. From start-ups to thriving Fortune 100 companies, Peoplr has each client covered with expert...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

ESPACE RÉGIONAL ACCÉLÉRATION ET CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES

Depuis près de 15 ans, Chaudière-Appalaches Économique (CAÉ) a pour mission de stimuler le développement économique en soutenant la cohérence et la mise en commun des actions et des services de ses membres, en concertation avec les organismes partenaires du développement économique et dans le respect de leurs mandats. Parmi...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CIC Labs

Powering Breakthroughs at CIC Philadelphia

CIC builds and operates a global network of innovation campuses where startups, scale-ups, corporations and public entities connect, work, and grow. Founded in 1999, CIC manages innovation-focused workspace, laboratories, and event space across North America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, CIC develops bespoke programming, builds and enables industry clusters, and provides...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

ECOURT REPORTERS

TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE AND BOOK LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

eCourt Reporters is a court reporter/women-owned company. eCourt Reporters was created out of a need for locating qualified, experienced court reporters and legal videographers. eCourt Reporters’ app is a custom-built, high-tech, innovative technology to schedule court reporters and other legal services. Karen Renee, CEO; Judy Gerulat, COO; and Justin Furst,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

BOSCH

COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION: BOSCH IN CURITIBA 45-YEARS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY

Recognized worldwide for its commitment to innovation, investment in research and development (R&D), as well as its broad commitment to sustainability, Bosch provides innovative solutions for the Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, Energy and Construction Technology sectors. For 70 years in Brazil, Bosch has been recognized in the national market...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

BLOCKCHAIN CENTER

MIAMI – A CENTRAL PLACE FOR BUILDING THE DECENTRALIZED FUTURE

When the Blockchain Center opened its doors, it marked a defining moment in the history of Miami’s Tech Scene. From the beginning, the vision of the blockchain center was to make Miami the crypto capital of the Americas and educate the masses. It was a physical location that became a...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

VUNANI FUND MANAGERS

HOW VUNANI HAS HARNESSED INNOVATION TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

We are a proudly Pan-African financial and diversified investment management company, active in nine African countries. We are fully committed to our promise of nurturing an integrated range of innovative products and services, in order to deliver positive, consistent return for our clients. This is premised on our value proposition...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

TECHARENA

WHERE INNOVATION BEGINS WITH HUMAN CONNECTION

Techarena is a Nordic-born platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that brings together thousands of founders, investors, business leaders, and policymakers every year. Through high-impact events, accelerator programs, and media channels, Techarena creates opportunities for cross-border collaboration and sustainable growth. From Local Competition to Global Platform What began in 2014 as...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

FIFTEEN

ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY

As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ECOPIA

ECOPIA-CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING

CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING

Since 2013, Ecopia AI has been on a mission to create a digital twin of the world using artificial intelligence (AI). Originally spun out of a Ph.D project at the University of Waterloo, Ecopia’s maps have grown from detailing a single small city to mapping entire continents while evolving from...

INNOVATE® Detroit

ANN ARBOR SPARK

Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County

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...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CATALYST BY WELLSTAR

LET’S DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO TO CREATE A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.

To push Wellstar’s legacy of innovation even further, Catalyst by Wellstar was created in 2021 as the first-of-its-kind innovation company and venture firm. A team of innovators, investors, and builders was assembled to harness the decades of experience and knowledge of Wellstar and shape the future of healthcare. Grounded in...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RETAIL CAPITAL

RETAIL CAPITAL-TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE

TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE

Retail Capital was born in 2011 as an idea on a white napkin. Those drawings became the framework of what ended up being the first Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) product for businesses in South Africa. Driven by a deep passion to support the SME sector, Retail Capital has since innovated...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

THOMAS MORE

THOMAS MORE-EMBRACING THE GLOBE

EMBRACING THE GLOBE, STIMULATING SUSTAINABILITY

Thomas More Research: collaborations to stimulate innovation in the bioeconomy We stimulate & support innovationThomas More’s research group RADIUS has years of experience with innovation in the field of the bioeconomy. Bioeconomy refers to all the economic aspects of the use of natural resources, more specifically biomass. With our innovations...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol & Bath Cyber

Bristol & Bath Cyber -Is Passionate About Bringing People Together From Different Backgrounds Into Cyber. Diversity Is Key To Enabling Our Industry To Flourish

Is Passionate About Bringing People Together From Different Backgrounds Into Cyber. Diversity Is Key To Enabling Our Industry To Flourish

Bristol and Bath Cyber is a community of cyber entrepreneurs, employers, practitioners, educators, investors and collaborators (and those with a general interest!), who engage on a regular basis to share expertise and wisdom, to encourage innovation and best practice, and to act as a cyber focal point for the region....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ISACA ATLANTA CHAPTER

INNOVATING WITH A LEGACY OF SERVICE

Founded nearly four decades ago, the ISACA Atlanta Chapter has evolved significantly over the years while steadfastly adhering to its mission of serving its members, partners, and communities. With nearly 3,000 members across the state, this mission has only gained importance, prompting the current board to innovate and reinforce the...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST

PUERTO RICO SCIENCE

ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MARS

MARS-Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BUILD IN SE

Is a collaborative network of startup founders, funders, and ecosystem supporters who build in the Southeast. #BuildInSE

In 2018, Build In SE was launched with a mission to increase the number of startup success stories in the Southeastern U.S. by leveraging a collaborative, cross-regional network. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Build In SE defines the Southeast as a collection of 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ) and Michael Ward Jr

Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ)and Michael Ward Jr

Innovatively Redefining Career Readiness and Eliminating the Skills Gap in Tech

Throughout history, a lack of career readiness and workforce development have stunted the advancement of society and its ability to overcome challenges. Take, for example, the industrial revolution where we witnessed mass migration to the North for factory jobs, the call for nurses and doctors in our healthcare system as...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

KOMMA BOARD

KOMMA BOARD -BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

In 2013, Komma Board started out as a consulting company in ICT & Finance. Our business model is atypical, as we act as a subcontractor to main ICT or Finance contractors for multinational or international Fortune 500 companies. Acting as an independent partner, this specific market position allows Komma Board...

Ecosystems