Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab, housed in the UNF College of Education and Human Services, positions UNF to continue to be a major contributor to the STEM Education ecosystem in the Northeast Florida community. It is a place where regional preK-12 students, teachers, university faculty and students, and community/business partners can...

INNOVATE® Nashville

IDEMIA

IDEMIA-A twenty-year innovation journey positions Tennessee as the technology backbone of the fingerprinting background check industry

A twenty-year innovation journey positions Tennessee as the technology backbone of the fingerprinting background check industry

In March 1996, Casey Mayfield interviewed with a small biometrics company in Springfield, IL in a stylish business suit she’d purchased for $25 at a secondhand store. She met the owners, was fascinated with the technology, and signed on to be a Fingerprint Technician. She soon met Erik Wolle, who...

INNOVATE® Detroit

InvestNext

Fostering Growth and Potential

InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NERD STREET GAMERS

NERD STREET GAMERS-THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

Nerd Street Gamers is a national esports infrastructure that puts accessibility, integrity and opportunity at the forefront of everything they do. As gaming communities slowly began to gain traction on a small scale, the CEO of Nerd Street Gamers and Localhost, John Fazio, knew that individuals nationwide would soon realize...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ESTONIAN WEB3 CHAMBER

FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY PIONEERS TO GLOBAL WEB3 ADVOCATES

The story of the Estonian Web3 Chamber reflects the turbulent yet transformative journey of the digital asset industry in Estonia and beyond. Established more than a decade ago, the organisation has been at the heart of regulatory dialogue, industry representation, and international knowledge-sharing. Its evolution from the Estonian Cryptocurrency Association...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRITM

CRITM-An essential resource in promoting innovation in metal transformation

Une ressource incontournable pour l’innovation en transformation métallique

L’industrie de la transformation métallique revêt une importance majeure dans l’économie du Québec. Avec de multiples défis à relever en matière de main-d’œuvre, de compétitivité mondiale, de productivité, d’énergie et d’empreinte environnementale, les entreprises doivent se démarquer et innover constamment. C’est en 2014, pour répondre à ses enjeux, que le...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Amelia Toffee-True Love With Every Bite

Small batch, Handcrafted, Artisan toffee

Our unique recipes combine tradition and creativity with superior ingredients and finely curated flavorings. We promise true love with every bite. We are a small-batch, handcrafted, artisan toffee maker, creating uniquely flavored, all-natural toffee. Our incredibly indulgent dark chocolate almond toffee is made with ingredients such as orange, key lime,...

INNOVATION Quebec

HEXAGRAM

RÉSEAU DE RECHERCHE-CRÉATION EN ARTS, CULTURES ET TECHNOLOGIES

Hexagram est un regroupement stratégique interuniversitaire des Fonds de recherche du Québec dédié à la recherche-création abordant les relations entre les arts, les cultures et les technologies. Fondé en 2001, le réseau regroupe aujourd’hui 45 membres chercheurs et environ 200 membres étudiants issus de 8 institutions d’enseignement supérieur au Québec...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SPRO

End-to-end solutions for agribusiness

It is well known that agribusiness is one of the sectors responsible for sustaining Brazil’s trade balance and feeding the world. Its importance ranges from small rural producers to the agro-industries, with a turnover of 640 billion dollars in 2023. A pioneer in the development of end-to-end technological solutions for...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

FINAN3

FOCUSES ON ENGAGING WITH COMPANIES

FINAN3 FOCUSES ON ENGAGING WITH COMPANIES WITH AN INNOVATIVE BIAS, EITHER BY MAINTAINING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS OR BY BEING FULLY FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY AND THE SEARCH FOR NEW SOLUTIONS. The opportunity to facilitate business involving innovation and technology drives Finan3 Securitizadora, founded in 2021 by Pedro Henrique Reis, Rafael Maia, and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

More Than Play:

How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time

“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KPMG

Empowering Alberta’s Future Through Technology, Innovation and Collaboration

KPMG in Canada is proud to have been serving clients in Alberta for over 100 years. Today, they have one of the largest professional services firms in the province, providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services to public and private businesses. Their depth and diversity of experience and local presence are...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RINSA

Creating Impact for Entrepreneurs

The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Alberta Innovates with Economic Development Lethbridge/ Tecconnect, Lethbridge College, and the University of Lethbridge. Through trusted relationship building and a commitment to serving rural/remote and under-represented groups, RINSA has expanded to 14 members....

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

STEMFUSE

STEMFUSE-EDUCATION AND ESPORTS: How Esports can be used to reimagine Business and Multimedia Classrooms

EDUCATION AND ESPORTS: How Esports can be used to reimagine Business and Multimedia Classrooms

STEM Fuse is a developer of digital K-12 STEM and CTE curriculum and PD, working with 12,000+ schools across the country. We were founded in 2009 with the mission to help schools deliver engaging STEM programs to prepare students for the fastest growing career opportunities. The Founder, Carter Tatge, was...

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® Milwaukee

THE WATER COUNCIL

INNOVATING THE FUTURE: THE WATER COUNCIL’S VISIONARY JOURNEY

In the heart of Milwaukee, where the vast expanse of Lake Michigan meets the city’s vibrant streets, a transformation in water technology and stewardship is underway. This isn’t just a story of a city that grew from the rich waters of the Great Lakes; it’s a narrative of revolution, where...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATION Quebec

Pharmabio Développement

Since 1999, Pharmabio Développement, a sectoral committee for Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been proudly carrying out its mission to actively contribute to the workforce and employment development of companies in the sector

To support its mission, the mandate of Pharmabio Développement is as follows: According to recent estimates, Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry consists of some 280 companies and employs over 16,000 people. Vacancies in the industry are estimated at 1,325 currently and at more than 4,000 over a three-year projection. As...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ZUCARA THERAPEUTICS

ZUCARA THERAPEUTICS- HOPES TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO SLEEP SAFE AND SOUND WITHOUT FEAR OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

HOPES TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO SLEEP SAFE AND SOUND WITHOUT FEAR OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Diabetes affects more than 422 million people worldwide, and according to the World Health Organization, the disease will be the seventh leading cause of death in 2030. Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes use insulin therapy to control hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). Unfortunately, the most significant side effect of insulin therapy...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC Gaspésie

SUPPORTÉ PAR UN COMITÉ DE GOUVERNANCE IMPLIQUANT DES REPRÉSENTANTS DE CHAQUE MRC, MINISTÈRES, CRÉNEAUX D’EXCELLENCE DE LA GASPÉSIE ET DES SECTEURS PRIORITAIRES RÉGIONAUX (FORESTIER, TIC, AGRICOLE, TECHNOLOGIES PROPRES ET CELUI DE LA RECHERCHE ET DÉVELOPPEMENT), L’ESPACE RÉGIONAL D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DE LA GASPÉSIE (ERAC GASPÉSIE) PARTICIPE AU DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA RÉGION PAR LE SOUTIEN À L’ACCÉLÉRATION ET LA CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES MANUFACTURIÈRES ET TRANSFORMATRICES DANS LEUR DÉVELOPPEMENT À LONG TERME

L’équipe de l’ERAC Gaspésie, constituée d’experts en ingénierie et du domaine numérique, accompagne annuellement plus d’une quarantaine d’entreprises sur le territoire gaspésien selon cinq axes d’intervention, soit : L’accompagnement peut être personnalisé en fonction des besoins de l’entreprise. Nous offrons une banque de 40 heures d’accompagnement croissance, suivi, au besoin,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BUOYANCY

Empowering employment agencies to scale their impact through technology-enabled behaviour change

Buoyancy Works is a Calgary, Alberta-based wellness tech and behavioural insights company that empowers employment agencies to scale their impact through technology-enabled behaviour change techniques. The Buoyancy platform helps organizations scale programs, measure engagement, and support their clients through the emotional and motivational challenges of the job search. Buoyancy’s tools...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GOODFYND

Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses

Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

BioHub Maryland Training and Education Center at Montgomery County

ON THE RISE - Making Maryland the Biomanufacturing Global Leader

ON THE RISE – Making Maryland the Biomanufacturing Global Leader WORKFORCE INNOVATION STARTSWITH BIOHUB MARYLAND BioHub Maryland, a workforce initiative of the Maryland Tech Council, is set to bridge gaps in the state’s life sciences ecosystem and propel biomanufacturing in the National Capital Region. BioHub Maryland Training and Education Center...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab - A Major Contributor To The STEM Education Ecosystem

The UNF Step Lab, housed in the UNF College of Education and Human Services, positions UNF to continue to be a major contributor to the STEM Education ecosystem in the Northeast Florida community. It is a place where regional preK-12 students, teachers, university faculty and students, and community/business partners can...

INNOVATE® Nashville

IDEMIA

IDEMIA-A twenty-year innovation journey positions Tennessee as the technology backbone of the fingerprinting background check industry

A twenty-year innovation journey positions Tennessee as the technology backbone of the fingerprinting background check industry

In March 1996, Casey Mayfield interviewed with a small biometrics company in Springfield, IL in a stylish business suit she’d purchased for $25 at a secondhand store. She met the owners, was fascinated with the technology, and signed on to be a Fingerprint Technician. She soon met Erik Wolle, who...

INNOVATE® Detroit

InvestNext

Fostering Growth and Potential

InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NERD STREET GAMERS

NERD STREET GAMERS-THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

Nerd Street Gamers is a national esports infrastructure that puts accessibility, integrity and opportunity at the forefront of everything they do. As gaming communities slowly began to gain traction on a small scale, the CEO of Nerd Street Gamers and Localhost, John Fazio, knew that individuals nationwide would soon realize...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ESTONIAN WEB3 CHAMBER

FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY PIONEERS TO GLOBAL WEB3 ADVOCATES

The story of the Estonian Web3 Chamber reflects the turbulent yet transformative journey of the digital asset industry in Estonia and beyond. Established more than a decade ago, the organisation has been at the heart of regulatory dialogue, industry representation, and international knowledge-sharing. Its evolution from the Estonian Cryptocurrency Association...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRITM

CRITM-An essential resource in promoting innovation in metal transformation

Une ressource incontournable pour l’innovation en transformation métallique

L’industrie de la transformation métallique revêt une importance majeure dans l’économie du Québec. Avec de multiples défis à relever en matière de main-d’œuvre, de compétitivité mondiale, de productivité, d’énergie et d’empreinte environnementale, les entreprises doivent se démarquer et innover constamment. C’est en 2014, pour répondre à ses enjeux, que le...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Amelia Toffee-True Love With Every Bite

Small batch, Handcrafted, Artisan toffee

Our unique recipes combine tradition and creativity with superior ingredients and finely curated flavorings. We promise true love with every bite. We are a small-batch, handcrafted, artisan toffee maker, creating uniquely flavored, all-natural toffee. Our incredibly indulgent dark chocolate almond toffee is made with ingredients such as orange, key lime,...

INNOVATION Quebec

HEXAGRAM

RÉSEAU DE RECHERCHE-CRÉATION EN ARTS, CULTURES ET TECHNOLOGIES

Hexagram est un regroupement stratégique interuniversitaire des Fonds de recherche du Québec dédié à la recherche-création abordant les relations entre les arts, les cultures et les technologies. Fondé en 2001, le réseau regroupe aujourd’hui 45 membres chercheurs et environ 200 membres étudiants issus de 8 institutions d’enseignement supérieur au Québec...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SPRO

End-to-end solutions for agribusiness

It is well known that agribusiness is one of the sectors responsible for sustaining Brazil’s trade balance and feeding the world. Its importance ranges from small rural producers to the agro-industries, with a turnover of 640 billion dollars in 2023. A pioneer in the development of end-to-end technological solutions for...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

FINAN3

FOCUSES ON ENGAGING WITH COMPANIES

FINAN3 FOCUSES ON ENGAGING WITH COMPANIES WITH AN INNOVATIVE BIAS, EITHER BY MAINTAINING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS OR BY BEING FULLY FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY AND THE SEARCH FOR NEW SOLUTIONS. The opportunity to facilitate business involving innovation and technology drives Finan3 Securitizadora, founded in 2021 by Pedro Henrique Reis, Rafael Maia, and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

More Than Play:

How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time

“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KPMG

Empowering Alberta’s Future Through Technology, Innovation and Collaboration

KPMG in Canada is proud to have been serving clients in Alberta for over 100 years. Today, they have one of the largest professional services firms in the province, providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services to public and private businesses. Their depth and diversity of experience and local presence are...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RINSA

Creating Impact for Entrepreneurs

The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Alberta Innovates with Economic Development Lethbridge/ Tecconnect, Lethbridge College, and the University of Lethbridge. Through trusted relationship building and a commitment to serving rural/remote and under-represented groups, RINSA has expanded to 14 members....

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

STEMFUSE

STEMFUSE-EDUCATION AND ESPORTS: How Esports can be used to reimagine Business and Multimedia Classrooms

EDUCATION AND ESPORTS: How Esports can be used to reimagine Business and Multimedia Classrooms

STEM Fuse is a developer of digital K-12 STEM and CTE curriculum and PD, working with 12,000+ schools across the country. We were founded in 2009 with the mission to help schools deliver engaging STEM programs to prepare students for the fastest growing career opportunities. The Founder, Carter Tatge, was...

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® Milwaukee

THE WATER COUNCIL

INNOVATING THE FUTURE: THE WATER COUNCIL’S VISIONARY JOURNEY

In the heart of Milwaukee, where the vast expanse of Lake Michigan meets the city’s vibrant streets, a transformation in water technology and stewardship is underway. This isn’t just a story of a city that grew from the rich waters of the Great Lakes; it’s a narrative of revolution, where...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATION Quebec

Pharmabio Développement

Since 1999, Pharmabio Développement, a sectoral committee for Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been proudly carrying out its mission to actively contribute to the workforce and employment development of companies in the sector

To support its mission, the mandate of Pharmabio Développement is as follows: According to recent estimates, Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry consists of some 280 companies and employs over 16,000 people. Vacancies in the industry are estimated at 1,325 currently and at more than 4,000 over a three-year projection. As...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ZUCARA THERAPEUTICS

ZUCARA THERAPEUTICS- HOPES TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO SLEEP SAFE AND SOUND WITHOUT FEAR OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

HOPES TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO SLEEP SAFE AND SOUND WITHOUT FEAR OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Diabetes affects more than 422 million people worldwide, and according to the World Health Organization, the disease will be the seventh leading cause of death in 2030. Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes use insulin therapy to control hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). Unfortunately, the most significant side effect of insulin therapy...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC Gaspésie

SUPPORTÉ PAR UN COMITÉ DE GOUVERNANCE IMPLIQUANT DES REPRÉSENTANTS DE CHAQUE MRC, MINISTÈRES, CRÉNEAUX D’EXCELLENCE DE LA GASPÉSIE ET DES SECTEURS PRIORITAIRES RÉGIONAUX (FORESTIER, TIC, AGRICOLE, TECHNOLOGIES PROPRES ET CELUI DE LA RECHERCHE ET DÉVELOPPEMENT), L’ESPACE RÉGIONAL D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DE LA GASPÉSIE (ERAC GASPÉSIE) PARTICIPE AU DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA RÉGION PAR LE SOUTIEN À L’ACCÉLÉRATION ET LA CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES MANUFACTURIÈRES ET TRANSFORMATRICES DANS LEUR DÉVELOPPEMENT À LONG TERME

L’équipe de l’ERAC Gaspésie, constituée d’experts en ingénierie et du domaine numérique, accompagne annuellement plus d’une quarantaine d’entreprises sur le territoire gaspésien selon cinq axes d’intervention, soit : L’accompagnement peut être personnalisé en fonction des besoins de l’entreprise. Nous offrons une banque de 40 heures d’accompagnement croissance, suivi, au besoin,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BUOYANCY

Empowering employment agencies to scale their impact through technology-enabled behaviour change

Buoyancy Works is a Calgary, Alberta-based wellness tech and behavioural insights company that empowers employment agencies to scale their impact through technology-enabled behaviour change techniques. The Buoyancy platform helps organizations scale programs, measure engagement, and support their clients through the emotional and motivational challenges of the job search. Buoyancy’s tools...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GOODFYND

Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses

Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

BioHub Maryland Training and Education Center at Montgomery County

ON THE RISE - Making Maryland the Biomanufacturing Global Leader

ON THE RISE – Making Maryland the Biomanufacturing Global Leader WORKFORCE INNOVATION STARTSWITH BIOHUB MARYLAND BioHub Maryland, a workforce initiative of the Maryland Tech Council, is set to bridge gaps in the state’s life sciences ecosystem and propel biomanufacturing in the National Capital Region. BioHub Maryland Training and Education Center...

Ecosystems