Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Detroit

POCKETNEST

Financial Wellness for the Next Generation

Many people think having a “financial plan” means having a budget, a retirement savings account, and maybe a small cash reserve. But, those basic financials are only scratching the surface and exclude some key details like estate documents, saving strategies, or debt elimination plans. With that popular—and lacking—mindset, it’s perhaps...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

HEX 20

BRINGING SPACE CLOSER

HEX20 is an Australian space company that specializes in providing cost-effective platforms, advanced sensor technologies, and customized hardware for the SmallSat and CubeSat markets. The company aims to design and develop state-of-the-art, scalable platforms and subsystems for small satellites. Their products are derived from flight heritage programs, focusing on creating...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ABILITIE

ABILITIE-LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH IMPACT

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH IMPACT

Abilitie offers world-class leadership development experiences that inspire, shape and develop people through differentiated learning programs, tools for self-discovery, and networks that expand opportunities.   The most transformational training hinges on experiential learning. This belief drives Abilitie’s team-based leadership simulations which put participants under pressure in rich, complex environments that...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO-FOPR

FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?

Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...

INNOVATION Quebec

INÉDI

CCTT IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Industrial designers contribute to the creation of the products that you interact with. Whether you are a farmer, athlete, therapist, circus performer or manufacturer, it is likely that an industrial designer has been involved in the design of the experiences, services and products that you use on a daily basis....

INNOVATE® Nashville

VENDENGINE

DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY

In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIMMI

CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS

Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

TRIPLE HELIX GROUP

TRIPLE HELIX GROUP - TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS

TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS

Material reincarnation or trying to preserve existing molecules at their end of life, is the core business of Triple Helix Molecules as a Service, THX in short. The Antwerp based start-up takes specific waste streams and transforms those back into valuable building blocks for the chemical industry or produces new...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FRESH CITY

FRESH CITY- CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omnichannel retailer. With the recent addition of Mama Earth to our family of brands that includes Mabel’s Bakery and The Healthy Butcher, Fresh City is now the largest organic online retailer in Ontario. After a decade, the impact and belief in our...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

WHEEL DATA STRATEGIES

STEERING ANALYTICS TOWARDS SOCIAL AND BUSINESS IMPACT

Executives and knowledge workers in corporate America view the world through the lens of their company’s products, services, and their profitability. Successful corporations adopt focused product development strategies that align with their corporate objectives and deliver projects using planned resources and expertise. Dr. Priya Sarathy, founder of Wheel Data Strategies...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT

FROM VISION TO IMPACT

Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Miami

AMR Healthcare Consulting

Developing custom healthcare software & delivering innovative technology solutions

WHO WE AREAMR Healthcare Consulting (AMR) is an award-winning, nurse-led technology firm developing custom software and delivering innovative consulting solutions for the healthcare industry. We are a team of nurses, physicians, technology experts, software developers, and project managers leveraging industry knowledge to offer the latest technology solutions for our clients....

INNOVATE™ Estonia

UP CATALYST

TURNING CO2 INTO ENERGY STORAGE: UP CATALYST REDEFINES BATTERY RAW MATERIALS

UP Catalyst is a European deep tech company headquartered in Estonia that produces climate-neutral carbon materials—such as battery-grade graphite and carbon nanotubes—directly from industrial CO2 emissions. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Gary Urb, Dr. Sander Ratso, Dr. Kätlin Kaare and Dr. Ivar Kruusenberg, the company is on a mission to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PHALANX

FROM CLUELESS TO COVERED Businesses Choose Phalanx as their First Step in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity can be complex and difficult to navigate for cybersecurity professionals. This sentiment is multiplied for business executives trying to decipher the ecosystem to protect their data, and even more importantly, their customers’ data. Established with a vision to redefine cybersecurity for businesses lacking specialized personnel, Phalanx has quickly become...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL-BRISTOL ONE CITY AND INNOVATION

BRISTOL ONE CITY AND INNOVATION

Bristol is known as a thriving and dynamic city. An award winning place to live, work and study with a young, diverse and growing population. Bristol is internationally recognised for innovative and high value industries such as advanced engineering and the low carbon sector. We have a strong professional and...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

COHO COLLECTIVE KITCHENS

THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COHO IS REDEFINING THE SPACE-AS-A-SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE FUTURE OF CULINARY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The shared kitchen industry, also known as commissaries, is a rapidly growing sector that is changing how people think about food and culinary entrepreneurship. When starting or scaling a business, food and beverage based entrepreneurs face significant challenges and risks and require significant investment in space, equipment, and overhead costs....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ELECTROLUX GROUP

SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY

Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE-

TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD

Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

LITTER KINGS

LITTER KINGS- AND A GREEN ECONOMY

AND A GREEN ECONOMY

With a staff complement of close to 10 employees on a full-time basis, Litter Kings is a pronounced example of a local business that started from the bottom and relentlessly worked hard to ensure growth and sustainability of the company over the years. The company started running in 2013 when...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

CHARITABLE IMPACT

WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT

CHARITABLE IMPACT-WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT: HOW CHARITABLE IMPACT IS TRANSFORMING THE EXPERIENCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY The charitable sector in Canada is facing significant challenges due to a decrease in the number of people donating to charity and the amount they give as a percentage...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)-INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN THE PORT SECTOR Innovate to Compete Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd is responsible for the operations of 16 port terminals across seven of South Africa’s ports. More than 9,000 employees work diligently every day to ensure that containers, cars, bulk, and break-bulk cargo...

INNOVATE® Detroit

POCKETNEST

Financial Wellness for the Next Generation

Many people think having a “financial plan” means having a budget, a retirement savings account, and maybe a small cash reserve. But, those basic financials are only scratching the surface and exclude some key details like estate documents, saving strategies, or debt elimination plans. With that popular—and lacking—mindset, it’s perhaps...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

HEX 20

BRINGING SPACE CLOSER

HEX20 is an Australian space company that specializes in providing cost-effective platforms, advanced sensor technologies, and customized hardware for the SmallSat and CubeSat markets. The company aims to design and develop state-of-the-art, scalable platforms and subsystems for small satellites. Their products are derived from flight heritage programs, focusing on creating...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ABILITIE

ABILITIE-LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH IMPACT

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH IMPACT

Abilitie offers world-class leadership development experiences that inspire, shape and develop people through differentiated learning programs, tools for self-discovery, and networks that expand opportunities.   The most transformational training hinges on experiential learning. This belief drives Abilitie’s team-based leadership simulations which put participants under pressure in rich, complex environments that...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO

FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO-FOPR

FOPR, SEEDING THE FUTURE?

Since 2015, based in Washington, DC, Friends of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit social impact organization, has focused its objectives on mobilizing a network of partners to accelerate economic opportunities for the people of Puerto Rico. This organization collaborates with economic development through different business initiatives, as well as education and...

INNOVATION Quebec

INÉDI

CCTT IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Industrial designers contribute to the creation of the products that you interact with. Whether you are a farmer, athlete, therapist, circus performer or manufacturer, it is likely that an industrial designer has been involved in the design of the experiences, services and products that you use on a daily basis....

INNOVATE® Nashville

VENDENGINE

DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY

In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIMMI

CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS

Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

TRIPLE HELIX GROUP

TRIPLE HELIX GROUP - TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS

TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS

Material reincarnation or trying to preserve existing molecules at their end of life, is the core business of Triple Helix Molecules as a Service, THX in short. The Antwerp based start-up takes specific waste streams and transforms those back into valuable building blocks for the chemical industry or produces new...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FRESH CITY

FRESH CITY- CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

CONNECTING TORONTONIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING & QUALITY FOOD

Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omnichannel retailer. With the recent addition of Mama Earth to our family of brands that includes Mabel’s Bakery and The Healthy Butcher, Fresh City is now the largest organic online retailer in Ontario. After a decade, the impact and belief in our...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

WHEEL DATA STRATEGIES

STEERING ANALYTICS TOWARDS SOCIAL AND BUSINESS IMPACT

Executives and knowledge workers in corporate America view the world through the lens of their company’s products, services, and their profitability. Successful corporations adopt focused product development strategies that align with their corporate objectives and deliver projects using planned resources and expertise. Dr. Priya Sarathy, founder of Wheel Data Strategies...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT

FROM VISION TO IMPACT

Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Miami

AMR Healthcare Consulting

Developing custom healthcare software & delivering innovative technology solutions

WHO WE AREAMR Healthcare Consulting (AMR) is an award-winning, nurse-led technology firm developing custom software and delivering innovative consulting solutions for the healthcare industry. We are a team of nurses, physicians, technology experts, software developers, and project managers leveraging industry knowledge to offer the latest technology solutions for our clients....

INNOVATE™ Estonia

UP CATALYST

TURNING CO2 INTO ENERGY STORAGE: UP CATALYST REDEFINES BATTERY RAW MATERIALS

UP Catalyst is a European deep tech company headquartered in Estonia that produces climate-neutral carbon materials—such as battery-grade graphite and carbon nanotubes—directly from industrial CO2 emissions. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Gary Urb, Dr. Sander Ratso, Dr. Kätlin Kaare and Dr. Ivar Kruusenberg, the company is on a mission to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PHALANX

FROM CLUELESS TO COVERED Businesses Choose Phalanx as their First Step in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity can be complex and difficult to navigate for cybersecurity professionals. This sentiment is multiplied for business executives trying to decipher the ecosystem to protect their data, and even more importantly, their customers’ data. Established with a vision to redefine cybersecurity for businesses lacking specialized personnel, Phalanx has quickly become...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL-BRISTOL ONE CITY AND INNOVATION

BRISTOL ONE CITY AND INNOVATION

Bristol is known as a thriving and dynamic city. An award winning place to live, work and study with a young, diverse and growing population. Bristol is internationally recognised for innovative and high value industries such as advanced engineering and the low carbon sector. We have a strong professional and...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

COHO COLLECTIVE KITCHENS

THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COHO IS REDEFINING THE SPACE-AS-A-SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE FUTURE OF CULINARY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The shared kitchen industry, also known as commissaries, is a rapidly growing sector that is changing how people think about food and culinary entrepreneurship. When starting or scaling a business, food and beverage based entrepreneurs face significant challenges and risks and require significant investment in space, equipment, and overhead costs....

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ELECTROLUX GROUP

SHAPING LIVING FOR THE BETTER FOR OVER A CENTURY

Since 1996 in Curitiba, the city is a hub for global innovation in home appliances. Founded in 1919 by Axel Wenner-Gren in Sweden and present in more than 120 countries, Electrolux Group is a global leader in household and professional appliances. For over a century, the company has been dedicated...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE-

TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD

Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

LITTER KINGS

LITTER KINGS- AND A GREEN ECONOMY

AND A GREEN ECONOMY

With a staff complement of close to 10 employees on a full-time basis, Litter Kings is a pronounced example of a local business that started from the bottom and relentlessly worked hard to ensure growth and sustainability of the company over the years. The company started running in 2013 when...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

CHARITABLE IMPACT

WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT

CHARITABLE IMPACT-WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT: HOW CHARITABLE IMPACT IS TRANSFORMING THE EXPERIENCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY The charitable sector in Canada is facing significant challenges due to a decrease in the number of people donating to charity and the amount they give as a percentage...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)

TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS (TPT)-INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PORTS

INNOVATION IN THE PORT SECTOR Innovate to Compete Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd is responsible for the operations of 16 port terminals across seven of South Africa’s ports. More than 9,000 employees work diligently every day to ensure that containers, cars, bulk, and break-bulk cargo...

Ecosystems