Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Aeroplicity

Simplifying Aerospace and Defense: The Aeroplicity Story

Aeroplicity has emerged as a transformative force in the aerospace and defense industry, with a mission to simplify and modernize supply chain and aftermarket operations. Leveraging cutting-edge aerospace-grade technologies, the company is reshaping how organizations manage data, compliance, and operational efficiency. At its core, Aeroplicity addresses the industry’s most pressing...

INNOVATE® Nashville

MOTUS DRIVE

PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS

Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ALTURA

ALTURA-WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING

WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING

Altura’s mission is to provide gamers with the ability to control and own their in-game items and the ability for game developers to integrate blockchain technology in their video games seamlessly. Altura’s NFT Project The current state of NFTs is comparable to that of the web in the 90s; static...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MadeiraMadeira

GET TO KNOW THE CURITIBA UNICORN THAT TRANSFORMED THE FURNITURE AND DECORATION MARKET IN THE COUNTRY

Established in 2009, MadeiraMadeira is now the largest online furniture and decoration platform in Latin America. Prior to its foundation, the company’s story began with brothers Daniel Scandian and Marcelo Scandian. Coming from an entrepreneurial family background, they grew up with the same values. During a challenging period in both...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol’s City of Film

Bristol’s City of Film - A UNESCO Creative City

A UNESCO Creative City

Bristol: a globally celebrated City of Film Since 2017, Bristol has been a UNESCO City of Film, one of 18 cities to hold this permanent global status recognising world-leading achievement in the field of film and the moving image. It is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network,...

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

AXELYS

AN ESSENTIAL MISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF QUÉBEC Axelys integrates innovations from Quebec’s public research into the mainstream of society. Our mission is at the heart of the new 2022 2027 Québec strategy to support research and investment in innovation, launched in May 2022 by the Quebec government. At Axelys,...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL HEALTH PARTNERS

BRISTOL HEALTH PARTNERS-Bringing Together The Best In Research And Innovation To Improve Health And Care Across Bristol

Bringing Together The Best In Research And Innovation To Improve Health And Care Across Bristol, North Somerset And South Gloucestershire

The Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) mission is to generate significant health gain and improvements in service delivery in the region by integrating, promoting and developing our strengths in health services, research, innovation and education. We are a strategic collaboration between the city region’s universities, major health...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THINCLAB

GIVE YOUR IDEAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

ThincLab is the University of Adelaide’s business incubator and provides start-ups with a dynamic space and community in which to nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and facilitate valuable connections and networks with mentors, investors, and experienced entrepreneurs. ThincLab supports students, alumni, staff and the wider community create and...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

INVEST BRISTOL + BATH

INVEST BRISTOL + BATH- How Invest Bristol & Bath Can Help You

How Invest Bristol & Bath Can Help You

Invest Bristol & Bath (IBB) is the inward investment agency for the West of England Combined Authority. Our team is here to support businesses interested in growing, innovating and collaborating in the West of England through a range of tailored services to help your business thrive. Our team is experienced,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

7FACTOR

BUILDING GOOD THINGS RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME, TAKES THOUGHTFUL INTENTION.

7Factor Software was founded on human-centric principles held fiercely true at every step in their work to design, develop, deploy, and maintain well-engineered software solutions for tech-forward enterprises and ambitious start-ups with great ideas and a commitment to quality. They tackle their clients’ most unique problems, empowering them to seize...

INNOVATE® Seattle

FROM THE CULTURE

REVOLUTIONIZING BLACK INNOVATION IN THE AI STARTUP ECOSYSTEM

From The Culture is redefining the tech game, empowering Black founders to thrive in the fast-paced world of startups. Specializing in AI-driven product development, strategic guidance, and expanded market access, this startup studio transforms visionary ideas into scalable ventures. It’s more than an incubator—it’s a community built to amplify Black...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TALE+

TALE+ -A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

TALE+ is a teletherapy company made up of a group of licensed, bilingual, speech language pathologists whose mission is to help others be more confident in their language of choice, while also supporting the professional growth of speech pathologists. Founded and based in Puerto Rico, TALE+’s focus is twofold: expanding...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SONICLEAN

Single product, single focus, single outcome

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...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ALPA KIDS

LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE

Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

PLAYMAKER RECRUITING

Is here to level the playing field for student athletes and coaches, providing more access to opportunities and resources

Playmaker Recruiting was born from the broken system that is college athlete recruiting, with the mission to help students and coaches navigate the complicated recruiting process, and provide greater access to opportunities at the next level. Having seen friends and family go through the college recruiting process, it was apparent...

INNOVATION Quebec

HEC Montreal’s Tech3Lab

The largest public user experience research laboratory in the world

HEC Montreal’s Tech3Lab specializes in the evaluation of user experience in the context of business technologies. The research conducted at the Tech3Lab is characterized by the use of tools derived from neuroscience to develop a rich understanding of the experience actually lived by users, whether they are consumers, employees or...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

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....

INNOVATE™ Alberta

STARTUP TNT

HAVE FUN. MAKE FRIENDS. BUILD COMPANIES.

That’s the motto of Startup TNT. An organization that fosters community, connection, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the tech ecosystem while raising millions of dollars for local startups from local investors. Through a range of engaging events and programs, Startup TNT aims to empower entrepreneurs, connect new and seasoned investors with...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Design Core Detroit

Plays a Critical Role in Amplifying the Impact of Detroit’s Innovation Community

With over a century of innovation in automobiles, a groundbreaking music scene, amazing architecture and one-of-a-kind fashion labels, DETROIT has long been a place where technical possibility meets great design. Few creative communities truly match the diversity and depth of Detroit’s design roots: a fact well reflected by its designation...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRUPO GUAYACÁN-Building Local Entrepreneurship From The Ground Up

Very few people were talking about entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico when Grupo Guayacan, Inc. was born in 1996. Founded by Enrique “Ricky” Adsuar as a private sector mission-driven nonprofit organization, it has served entrepreneurs with a unique model that has coupled private equity investment with a series of programs to...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

FACIAP

INNOVATION: THE CORE OF FACIAP’S PHILOSOPHY

Innovation and the promotion of corporate development are ingrained in the ethos of the Trade and Business Associations Federation of the State of Paraná (FACIAP). Headquartered in Curitiba, FACIAP represents over 75% of the municipalities in Paraná. Since its establishment in 1959, FACIAP has recognized innovation as a crucial factor...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)- IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR

IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL) WAS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1998 BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT, AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY COMPANY OPERATING ALONG COMMERCIAL LINES AND AT ARM’S LENGTH FROM GOVERNMENT

WITH A MANDATE TO FINANCE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK OF OVER 22 000 KM, SANRAL LEADS THE WAY ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN A POST-COVID SOUTH AFRICA.   Innovation is at the forefront of SANRAL’s agenda in the infrastructure development space. In recent years the Agency has increasingly...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL ROBOTICS LABORATORY

BRISTOL ROBOTICS LABORATORY-THE PRIMARY MISSION OF BRL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF BRL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL ROLE OF ROBOTICS AND EMBEDDED INTELLIGENCE

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK, and one of the largest co-located robotics research centres in Europe. It is a partnership between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol and home to...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Aeroplicity

Simplifying Aerospace and Defense: The Aeroplicity Story

Aeroplicity has emerged as a transformative force in the aerospace and defense industry, with a mission to simplify and modernize supply chain and aftermarket operations. Leveraging cutting-edge aerospace-grade technologies, the company is reshaping how organizations manage data, compliance, and operational efficiency. At its core, Aeroplicity addresses the industry’s most pressing...

INNOVATE® Nashville

MOTUS DRIVE

PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS

Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ALTURA

ALTURA-WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING

WHERE BLOCKCHAIN MEETS GAMING

Altura’s mission is to provide gamers with the ability to control and own their in-game items and the ability for game developers to integrate blockchain technology in their video games seamlessly. Altura’s NFT Project The current state of NFTs is comparable to that of the web in the 90s; static...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MadeiraMadeira

GET TO KNOW THE CURITIBA UNICORN THAT TRANSFORMED THE FURNITURE AND DECORATION MARKET IN THE COUNTRY

Established in 2009, MadeiraMadeira is now the largest online furniture and decoration platform in Latin America. Prior to its foundation, the company’s story began with brothers Daniel Scandian and Marcelo Scandian. Coming from an entrepreneurial family background, they grew up with the same values. During a challenging period in both...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol’s City of Film

Bristol’s City of Film - A UNESCO Creative City

A UNESCO Creative City

Bristol: a globally celebrated City of Film Since 2017, Bristol has been a UNESCO City of Film, one of 18 cities to hold this permanent global status recognising world-leading achievement in the field of film and the moving image. It is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network,...

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

AXELYS

AN ESSENTIAL MISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF QUÉBEC Axelys integrates innovations from Quebec’s public research into the mainstream of society. Our mission is at the heart of the new 2022 2027 Québec strategy to support research and investment in innovation, launched in May 2022 by the Quebec government. At Axelys,...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL HEALTH PARTNERS

BRISTOL HEALTH PARTNERS-Bringing Together The Best In Research And Innovation To Improve Health And Care Across Bristol

Bringing Together The Best In Research And Innovation To Improve Health And Care Across Bristol, North Somerset And South Gloucestershire

The Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) mission is to generate significant health gain and improvements in service delivery in the region by integrating, promoting and developing our strengths in health services, research, innovation and education. We are a strategic collaboration between the city region’s universities, major health...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THINCLAB

GIVE YOUR IDEAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

ThincLab is the University of Adelaide’s business incubator and provides start-ups with a dynamic space and community in which to nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and facilitate valuable connections and networks with mentors, investors, and experienced entrepreneurs. ThincLab supports students, alumni, staff and the wider community create and...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

INVEST BRISTOL + BATH

INVEST BRISTOL + BATH- How Invest Bristol & Bath Can Help You

How Invest Bristol & Bath Can Help You

Invest Bristol & Bath (IBB) is the inward investment agency for the West of England Combined Authority. Our team is here to support businesses interested in growing, innovating and collaborating in the West of England through a range of tailored services to help your business thrive. Our team is experienced,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

7FACTOR

BUILDING GOOD THINGS RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME, TAKES THOUGHTFUL INTENTION.

7Factor Software was founded on human-centric principles held fiercely true at every step in their work to design, develop, deploy, and maintain well-engineered software solutions for tech-forward enterprises and ambitious start-ups with great ideas and a commitment to quality. They tackle their clients’ most unique problems, empowering them to seize...

INNOVATE® Seattle

FROM THE CULTURE

REVOLUTIONIZING BLACK INNOVATION IN THE AI STARTUP ECOSYSTEM

From The Culture is redefining the tech game, empowering Black founders to thrive in the fast-paced world of startups. Specializing in AI-driven product development, strategic guidance, and expanded market access, this startup studio transforms visionary ideas into scalable ventures. It’s more than an incubator—it’s a community built to amplify Black...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TALE+

TALE+ -A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

A group of bilingual speech-language pathologists dedicated to helping others communicate better

TALE+ is a teletherapy company made up of a group of licensed, bilingual, speech language pathologists whose mission is to help others be more confident in their language of choice, while also supporting the professional growth of speech pathologists. Founded and based in Puerto Rico, TALE+’s focus is twofold: expanding...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

SONICLEAN

Single product, single focus, single outcome

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...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ALPA KIDS

LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE

Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

PLAYMAKER RECRUITING

Is here to level the playing field for student athletes and coaches, providing more access to opportunities and resources

Playmaker Recruiting was born from the broken system that is college athlete recruiting, with the mission to help students and coaches navigate the complicated recruiting process, and provide greater access to opportunities at the next level. Having seen friends and family go through the college recruiting process, it was apparent...

INNOVATION Quebec

HEC Montreal’s Tech3Lab

The largest public user experience research laboratory in the world

HEC Montreal’s Tech3Lab specializes in the evaluation of user experience in the context of business technologies. The research conducted at the Tech3Lab is characterized by the use of tools derived from neuroscience to develop a rich understanding of the experience actually lived by users, whether they are consumers, employees or...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

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....

INNOVATE™ Alberta

STARTUP TNT

HAVE FUN. MAKE FRIENDS. BUILD COMPANIES.

That’s the motto of Startup TNT. An organization that fosters community, connection, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the tech ecosystem while raising millions of dollars for local startups from local investors. Through a range of engaging events and programs, Startup TNT aims to empower entrepreneurs, connect new and seasoned investors with...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Design Core Detroit

Plays a Critical Role in Amplifying the Impact of Detroit’s Innovation Community

With over a century of innovation in automobiles, a groundbreaking music scene, amazing architecture and one-of-a-kind fashion labels, DETROIT has long been a place where technical possibility meets great design. Few creative communities truly match the diversity and depth of Detroit’s design roots: a fact well reflected by its designation...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRUPO GUAYACÁN-Building Local Entrepreneurship From The Ground Up

Very few people were talking about entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico when Grupo Guayacan, Inc. was born in 1996. Founded by Enrique “Ricky” Adsuar as a private sector mission-driven nonprofit organization, it has served entrepreneurs with a unique model that has coupled private equity investment with a series of programs to...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

FACIAP

INNOVATION: THE CORE OF FACIAP’S PHILOSOPHY

Innovation and the promotion of corporate development are ingrained in the ethos of the Trade and Business Associations Federation of the State of Paraná (FACIAP). Headquartered in Curitiba, FACIAP represents over 75% of the municipalities in Paraná. Since its establishment in 1959, FACIAP has recognized innovation as a crucial factor...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)- IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR

IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL) WAS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1998 BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT, AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY COMPANY OPERATING ALONG COMMERCIAL LINES AND AT ARM’S LENGTH FROM GOVERNMENT

WITH A MANDATE TO FINANCE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK OF OVER 22 000 KM, SANRAL LEADS THE WAY ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN A POST-COVID SOUTH AFRICA.   Innovation is at the forefront of SANRAL’s agenda in the infrastructure development space. In recent years the Agency has increasingly...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL ROBOTICS LABORATORY

BRISTOL ROBOTICS LABORATORY-THE PRIMARY MISSION OF BRL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF BRL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL ROLE OF ROBOTICS AND EMBEDDED INTELLIGENCE

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK, and one of the largest co-located robotics research centres in Europe. It is a partnership between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol and home to...

Ecosystems