Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ABARCA HEALTH

ABARCA HEALTH-A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

Abarca was founded to deliver a better way in healthcare. For more than fifteen years, the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and technology company has been delivering on that promise for its health plan clients and their members through: A smarter platform: Abarca built DarwinTM, its healthcare technology platform, in-house from the...

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC

CCTT EN STRATÉGIE ET PRODUCTIVITÉ NUMÉRIQUE

Productique Québec est le centre de transfert de technologie du Cégep de Sherbrooke. Il a pour mission d’améliorer la productivité et de stimuler l’innovation dans les entreprises en favorisant l’acquisition du savoir et du savoir-faire en technologies numériques et dans les applications technologiques des sciences quantiques. À sa fondation en...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

INCONMAT

wapping steel for fibreglass, Inconmat’s Tuf-Bar is crucial to sustainable infrastructure.

CONCRETE CANCER – A $13 BILLION PROBLEMConcrete cancer is a significant issue in Australia, costing billions of dollars in infrastructure repairs annually. The problem stems from a material known as rebar, which is the steel bar and mesh used to provide strength and reinforcement in concrete infrastructure such as bridges,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Imagine Chaleur

Driving Innovation in the Chaleur Region

Something exciting is happening in northeastern New Brunswick. A new wave of economic development is taking shape, blending the region’s traditional strengths with fresh, forward-thinking initiatives. At the heart of this transformation is Imagine Chaleur, the regional economic development agency for the Chaleur Region, working to create a thriving business...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

THE CO-OP AT SHOAL CREEK

FOSTERING INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY IN KANSAS CITY

The Co-Op at Shoal Creek was born from the pandemic’s unprecedented surge in home-based businesses, offering a sanctuary for growth, innovation, and community. It provides co-working offices, conference rooms, and event spaces thoughtfully designed to inspire and elevate work experiences to new heights. “We exist to help small businesses thrive...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SIGMA

A TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY IN CYBERSECURITY

Five years ago, Sigma stood at the forefront of a seismic shift. As a telecommunications veteran with over three decades of experience, Sigma faced a bold decision: to embrace the dynamic and complex world of cybersecurity. This pivot, driven by a profound purpose and commitment to client evolution, catapulted Sigma...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol Private Equity Club

Bristol Private Equity Club

ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Private Equity Club (BPEC) was founded by Jerry Barnes alongside five local influential and successful entrepreneurs in May 2016 and has, to date, provided circa £6M to 18 Bristol-based tech companies, some of whom are progressing to being globally-recognised leaders in their specialised sector. These investments have...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Haskell

Haskell - Delivering integrated AEC solutions that ensure certainty of outcome

Delivering integrated AEC solutions that ensure certainty of outcome

Haskell, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida since its inception in 1965, is a leading global architecture, engineering, construction, and consulting firm with $1+ billion in annual revenue, 1,500 employees, and 20+ office locations around the globe. The company was founded by a single visionary named Preston Haskell who saw inefficiencies in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TEMBICI

INNOVATIVE BIKE SHARING SYSTEM REVOLUTIONIZES THE CITY’S MOBILITY

Tembici is the leading company in micromobility technology in Latin America, responsible for over 250 million bike journeys. Recognized as one of Brazil’s most promising and innovative startups, the company has, in recent years, contributed to a potential saving of 46,000 tons of CO2. In 2022, the company conducted the...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

POPULAR AND PUERTO RICO

BANKING ON THE ISLAND’S FUTURE

Popular is an intricate part of Puerto Rico’s history. We are the longest serving and the largest financial institution in the Island, and a top 50 U.S. financial institution by assets. We play an important role in Puerto Rico’s economy, and we have supported its communities for over 130 years...

INNOVATE® Detroit

DETROIT’S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE

The Detroit Development Fund’s 25-Year Journey

DETROIT’S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE-The Detroit Development Fund’s 25-Year Journey Towards Inclusive Prosperity In the heart of Detroit’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape, the Detroit Development Fund (DDF) has emerged as a devoted ally for local businesses, catalyzing economic growth and fostering lasting community development. Over the past 25 years, this organization, originally known...

INNOVATE® Nashville

ACQUIRE

ACQUIRE-The last time we had a technology this versatile

The last time we had a technology this versatile, it changed and improved every element of nearly every business

People used to wonder whether blockchain technology would survive. Then the question transitioned to “It’s not a matter of if, but when it will take hold?” Now the key question being asked is “who is using it and how?” To answer that question, you must understand that Web2 and Web3...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Clay County District Schools

Clay County District Schools - A proud tradition of excellence

A proud tradition of excellence

Clay County District Schools has a proud tradition of excellence. We have established our school system as one of the best in the state, if not in the country. Clay County District Schools has truly become an educational environment for which everyone can be proud. We have embraced a culture...

INNOVATE® Nashville

InPaceline

Riding Alongside Entrepreneurs

“You are the most qualified person to help the person you used to be.” This belief is the foundation of InPaceline, a venture studio model built by Clay Banks, a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor, and endurance athlete. After years of scaling mountains – both literal and entrepreneurial – Banks is...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

INNOVATION-DRIVEN WORLD-CLASS CARE AND RESEARCH

Innovation sits at the core of South Australia’s Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). Not only do we apply the latest evidence in health, education and research to ensure our patients receive world-class care, but we’re also creating the healthcare of the future. Our clinician scientists have designed a scientific breakthrough that...

INNOVATE® Georgia

WORKOPTI

WORKOPTI SAVES LEADERS TIME. WORKOPTI SAVES LEADERS MONEY.

WORKOPTI: Technology Built for Leaders in the AI Economy WORKOPTI, founded by our CTO Elkanah Reed, is revolutionizing executive decision-making by providing a platform designed for the AI economy. As the only AI-powered leadership platform, WORKOPTI integrates a data management engine that turns unstructured data into actionable insights. This helps...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMESAFER

GAMESAFER-SCALING SAFETY AND FAIR PLAY TO MILLIONS OF PLAYERS

SCALING SAFETY AND FAIR PLAY TO MILLIONS OF PLAYERS

GamerSafer’s mission is to scale safety and fair play experiences to millions of players worldwide. Fraud, crime, and toxicity are present in many online interactions, compromising user experience, lifetime value and engagement. The co-founders of GamerSafer, a former executive from the gaming industry and a social impact entrepreneur, both gamers...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ESFANDIARI

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION

Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Lighthouse for The Blind of The Palm Beaches

Providing Independence for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Providing Independence for the Blind & Visually Impaired TECH DOING GOOD Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches is a 501 (c )(3)non-profit organization committed to empowering individuals ages 0-expiration who are blind or visually impaired by providing essential services and support. Since its establishment in 1946, its mission...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ABARCA HEALTH

ABARCA HEALTH-A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

Abarca was founded to deliver a better way in healthcare. For more than fifteen years, the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and technology company has been delivering on that promise for its health plan clients and their members through: A smarter platform: Abarca built DarwinTM, its healthcare technology platform, in-house from the...

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC

CCTT EN STRATÉGIE ET PRODUCTIVITÉ NUMÉRIQUE

Productique Québec est le centre de transfert de technologie du Cégep de Sherbrooke. Il a pour mission d’améliorer la productivité et de stimuler l’innovation dans les entreprises en favorisant l’acquisition du savoir et du savoir-faire en technologies numériques et dans les applications technologiques des sciences quantiques. À sa fondation en...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

INCONMAT

wapping steel for fibreglass, Inconmat’s Tuf-Bar is crucial to sustainable infrastructure.

CONCRETE CANCER – A $13 BILLION PROBLEMConcrete cancer is a significant issue in Australia, costing billions of dollars in infrastructure repairs annually. The problem stems from a material known as rebar, which is the steel bar and mesh used to provide strength and reinforcement in concrete infrastructure such as bridges,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Imagine Chaleur

Driving Innovation in the Chaleur Region

Something exciting is happening in northeastern New Brunswick. A new wave of economic development is taking shape, blending the region’s traditional strengths with fresh, forward-thinking initiatives. At the heart of this transformation is Imagine Chaleur, the regional economic development agency for the Chaleur Region, working to create a thriving business...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

THE CO-OP AT SHOAL CREEK

FOSTERING INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY IN KANSAS CITY

The Co-Op at Shoal Creek was born from the pandemic’s unprecedented surge in home-based businesses, offering a sanctuary for growth, innovation, and community. It provides co-working offices, conference rooms, and event spaces thoughtfully designed to inspire and elevate work experiences to new heights. “We exist to help small businesses thrive...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SIGMA

A TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY IN CYBERSECURITY

Five years ago, Sigma stood at the forefront of a seismic shift. As a telecommunications veteran with over three decades of experience, Sigma faced a bold decision: to embrace the dynamic and complex world of cybersecurity. This pivot, driven by a profound purpose and commitment to client evolution, catapulted Sigma...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol Private Equity Club

Bristol Private Equity Club

ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Private Equity Club (BPEC) was founded by Jerry Barnes alongside five local influential and successful entrepreneurs in May 2016 and has, to date, provided circa £6M to 18 Bristol-based tech companies, some of whom are progressing to being globally-recognised leaders in their specialised sector. These investments have...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Haskell

Haskell - Delivering integrated AEC solutions that ensure certainty of outcome

Delivering integrated AEC solutions that ensure certainty of outcome

Haskell, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida since its inception in 1965, is a leading global architecture, engineering, construction, and consulting firm with $1+ billion in annual revenue, 1,500 employees, and 20+ office locations around the globe. The company was founded by a single visionary named Preston Haskell who saw inefficiencies in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TEMBICI

INNOVATIVE BIKE SHARING SYSTEM REVOLUTIONIZES THE CITY’S MOBILITY

Tembici is the leading company in micromobility technology in Latin America, responsible for over 250 million bike journeys. Recognized as one of Brazil’s most promising and innovative startups, the company has, in recent years, contributed to a potential saving of 46,000 tons of CO2. In 2022, the company conducted the...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

POPULAR AND PUERTO RICO

BANKING ON THE ISLAND’S FUTURE

Popular is an intricate part of Puerto Rico’s history. We are the longest serving and the largest financial institution in the Island, and a top 50 U.S. financial institution by assets. We play an important role in Puerto Rico’s economy, and we have supported its communities for over 130 years...

INNOVATE® Detroit

DETROIT’S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE

The Detroit Development Fund’s 25-Year Journey

DETROIT’S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE-The Detroit Development Fund’s 25-Year Journey Towards Inclusive Prosperity In the heart of Detroit’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape, the Detroit Development Fund (DDF) has emerged as a devoted ally for local businesses, catalyzing economic growth and fostering lasting community development. Over the past 25 years, this organization, originally known...

INNOVATE® Nashville

ACQUIRE

ACQUIRE-The last time we had a technology this versatile

The last time we had a technology this versatile, it changed and improved every element of nearly every business

People used to wonder whether blockchain technology would survive. Then the question transitioned to “It’s not a matter of if, but when it will take hold?” Now the key question being asked is “who is using it and how?” To answer that question, you must understand that Web2 and Web3...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Clay County District Schools

Clay County District Schools - A proud tradition of excellence

A proud tradition of excellence

Clay County District Schools has a proud tradition of excellence. We have established our school system as one of the best in the state, if not in the country. Clay County District Schools has truly become an educational environment for which everyone can be proud. We have embraced a culture...

INNOVATE® Nashville

InPaceline

Riding Alongside Entrepreneurs

“You are the most qualified person to help the person you used to be.” This belief is the foundation of InPaceline, a venture studio model built by Clay Banks, a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor, and endurance athlete. After years of scaling mountains – both literal and entrepreneurial – Banks is...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

INNOVATION-DRIVEN WORLD-CLASS CARE AND RESEARCH

Innovation sits at the core of South Australia’s Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). Not only do we apply the latest evidence in health, education and research to ensure our patients receive world-class care, but we’re also creating the healthcare of the future. Our clinician scientists have designed a scientific breakthrough that...

INNOVATE® Georgia

WORKOPTI

WORKOPTI SAVES LEADERS TIME. WORKOPTI SAVES LEADERS MONEY.

WORKOPTI: Technology Built for Leaders in the AI Economy WORKOPTI, founded by our CTO Elkanah Reed, is revolutionizing executive decision-making by providing a platform designed for the AI economy. As the only AI-powered leadership platform, WORKOPTI integrates a data management engine that turns unstructured data into actionable insights. This helps...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMESAFER

GAMESAFER-SCALING SAFETY AND FAIR PLAY TO MILLIONS OF PLAYERS

SCALING SAFETY AND FAIR PLAY TO MILLIONS OF PLAYERS

GamerSafer’s mission is to scale safety and fair play experiences to millions of players worldwide. Fraud, crime, and toxicity are present in many online interactions, compromising user experience, lifetime value and engagement. The co-founders of GamerSafer, a former executive from the gaming industry and a social impact entrepreneur, both gamers...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ESFANDIARI

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION

Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Lighthouse for The Blind of The Palm Beaches

Providing Independence for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Providing Independence for the Blind & Visually Impaired TECH DOING GOOD Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches is a 501 (c )(3)non-profit organization committed to empowering individuals ages 0-expiration who are blind or visually impaired by providing essential services and support. Since its establishment in 1946, its mission...

Ecosystems