Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S OLDEST INCUBATOR. THE YMCA OF METRO CHICAGO IS INNOVATING FROM THE INSIDE
In 2022, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago celebrated its 164th birthday. There are only a handful of organizations in the country with that kind of history. But all those candles on the cake are not merely a reminder of accomplishments passed. It’s also a light leading the way forward, illuminating...
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™ Adelaide
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
GETTING YOUR Z’S FHMRI SLEEP HEALTH is tech-ing up sleep
Tech and sleep aren’t necessarily always good bedfellows but in this case, they can be. Sleep health is undergoing a digital and technological innovation transformation. Developments are set to revolutionise the way sleep disorders are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. From the development of improved treatment identification platforms for doctors, to...
INNOVATE® Detroit
MiSide Community Impact Network
Bringing A Theory To Life
East Chadsey-Condon is a multi-cultural community that faces a unique set of challenges – high instances of crime among youth, a large percentage of residents without insurance, limited access to transportation, and low homeownership rates, among others. And yet hope remains as residents report having pride in their community, a...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ICOSAGEN
ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH
On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
RIVER CLEANUP
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. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE DC WHEELS
SKATEBOARD TEAM AND CHARITY ORGANIZATION USES THE POWER OF SKATEBOARDING TO CHANGE LIVES
Their mission is to overcome longstanding stereotypes that surround skateboarding by helping others, reinforcing positivity, and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Also known as the Skate Crusaders, they have handpicked talent from across the metropolitan region and dedicate themselves to meaningfully help those in need. The team is comprised of girls/women...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BELMONT UNIVERSITY
INCUBATING INNOVATION- Incubating Creativity and Innovation to Lead to Human Flourishing
Founded in Nashville in 1890 by Susan Heron and Ida B. Hood–two female school teachers–Belmont University has been defying conventional expectations of higher education and serving as an incubator of innovation ever since. Today, the University is comprised of nearly 9,000 students from every U.S. state and 33 countries. Nationally...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
unFederalReserve
Residual Token, Inc. dba unFederalReserve is a Fintech SaaS technology company specializing in fintech software development. The software utilizes blockchain and standard programming languages, tools, and databases to unlock efficiencies within financial services companies and lending markets.
The company and its affiliate operate in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) fintech sub-sector. They empower CeFi (Centralized Finance) entities and democratize finance by allowing companies and individuals to “Be the Bank.” The company operates as a SaaS enterprise and is developing commercial-grade programs for the license to qualified entities. “Access...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EINRIDE
THE COMPANY STEERING THE FUTURE OF FREIGHT
When Einride was founded in Stockholm in 2016, few imagined that a small team of technologists and transport visionaries would one day stand at the center of a global shift in how goods move. Yet within less than a decade, the company had become synonymous with the future of freight...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
First Class Recruiting
Elevating Talent, Powering Industry
In the heart of South Carolina’s booming Upstate region, where aerospace, manufacturing, and technology sectors thrive, First Class Recruiting is building more than just careers – it’s building futures. Helmed by U.S. Air Force veteran and industry trailblazer Lindsay Hansel, this boutique executive search firm has become synonymous with precision...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
RENAULT GROUP
A 25-YEAR LEGACY AND THE START OF A NEW ERA
On 12 March 1996, Renault Group chose Paraná as the site for its new plant, marking the start of a new chapter in automotive history for Brazil. On 4 December 1998, the Ayrton Senna industrial complex opened its doors in Curitiba, becoming one of Renault Group’s main sites in South...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Education 2025-2026: new formats, key trends, and the role of Lectera
The field of education is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Technology, new methods, and societal changes are shaping a completely different approach to learning. All of this makes knowledge more accessible and the process itself more flexible and tailored to the needs of each student. This approach is being implemented...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
DATAPROM
SMART SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILITY
DATAPROM is a Brazilian company, headquartered in Curitiba/PR and has nine branch offices in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. We were born in August 1988 from the creativity of engineers Marcos Olandoski, Alberto Abujamra and Carlos Perufo, who came together to develop innovative systems, capable of combining applicability and technology. At...
INNOVATION Quebec
NGTC
YOUR GO-TO PARTNER FOR MORE RESPONSIBLE USE OF ENERGY
Founded in 1992, NGTC is a non-profit research and development center that specializes in energy technologies. Although the use of natural gas is at the origin of its raison d’être, NGTC has been actively working, since 2007, on integrating new energy sources, notably renewable natural gas, hydrogen, aerothermal and solar...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
BLUE SEA
JOY OF THE KITCHEN®
Headquartered in New Jersey, Blue Sea Products was established with humble beginnings in 2005 and has since developed into a world-class vertically integrated seafood company. With over 41 years of experience in the global seafood and international transportation industries, Blue Sea is led by seafood veteran and CEO, Thomas Jacob....
INNOVATE® Seattle
Voyager Capital
INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.
INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ARTSCAPE
THE POWER OF ARTS AND CREATIVITY AS A FOUNDATION FOR INCLUSIVE INNOVATION
We believe in the power of arts and creativity to contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our city. For over 30 years, Artscape, a not-for-profit organization, has made space for creativity for artists and creatives to thrive. This has resulted in Artscape developing and operating 15 unique...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS
DARES TO ASK, “WHAT IF?"
At BlueRock, our mission is to create authentic cellular medicines to reverse devastating diseases, with the vision of improving the human condition. Built on the research of some of the world’s foremost experts in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, BlueRock has revolutionized and scaled methods for creating authentic...
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...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
DAINTREE CAPITAL
Investing In A Diverse Future
DAINTREE CAPITAL – Investing In A Diverse Future Daintree Capital emerges in the Washington, D.C., landscape not just as an investment firm but as a beacon of innovation and diversity. Founded by Alisha Griffey, a visionary with deep roots in the startup ecosystem, Daintree Capital’s mission resonates with the rich...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
VALO
VALO, which means great courage, strength and moral worth, is a South Australian business founded in 2012 aiming to reach international markets in premium stadium lighting. With thousands of stadia across the world, the opportunities to place VALO and its South Australian innovations on the map are almost endless. Based...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Thunderbird Entertainment
Harnessing Content as a Force for Good
The global pandemic accelerated the way audiences worldwide consume content — and the steady growth of streaming content continues today. In fact, Nielsen reported in July 2022 that streaming viewership surpassed pandemic records, with North American audiences watching an average of 190.9 billion minutes of streamed content per week. Fueling...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S OLDEST INCUBATOR. THE YMCA OF METRO CHICAGO IS INNOVATING FROM THE INSIDE
In 2022, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago celebrated its 164th birthday. There are only a handful of organizations in the country with that kind of history. But all those candles on the cake are not merely a reminder of accomplishments passed. It’s also a light leading the way forward, illuminating...
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™ Adelaide
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
GETTING YOUR Z’S FHMRI SLEEP HEALTH is tech-ing up sleep
Tech and sleep aren’t necessarily always good bedfellows but in this case, they can be. Sleep health is undergoing a digital and technological innovation transformation. Developments are set to revolutionise the way sleep disorders are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. From the development of improved treatment identification platforms for doctors, to...
INNOVATE® Detroit
MiSide Community Impact Network
Bringing A Theory To Life
East Chadsey-Condon is a multi-cultural community that faces a unique set of challenges – high instances of crime among youth, a large percentage of residents without insurance, limited access to transportation, and low homeownership rates, among others. And yet hope remains as residents report having pride in their community, a...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ICOSAGEN
ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH
On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
RIVER CLEANUP
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. Their recently launched Clean River Model offers a...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE DC WHEELS
SKATEBOARD TEAM AND CHARITY ORGANIZATION USES THE POWER OF SKATEBOARDING TO CHANGE LIVES
Their mission is to overcome longstanding stereotypes that surround skateboarding by helping others, reinforcing positivity, and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Also known as the Skate Crusaders, they have handpicked talent from across the metropolitan region and dedicate themselves to meaningfully help those in need. The team is comprised of girls/women...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BELMONT UNIVERSITY
INCUBATING INNOVATION- Incubating Creativity and Innovation to Lead to Human Flourishing
Founded in Nashville in 1890 by Susan Heron and Ida B. Hood–two female school teachers–Belmont University has been defying conventional expectations of higher education and serving as an incubator of innovation ever since. Today, the University is comprised of nearly 9,000 students from every U.S. state and 33 countries. Nationally...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
unFederalReserve
Residual Token, Inc. dba unFederalReserve is a Fintech SaaS technology company specializing in fintech software development. The software utilizes blockchain and standard programming languages, tools, and databases to unlock efficiencies within financial services companies and lending markets.
The company and its affiliate operate in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) fintech sub-sector. They empower CeFi (Centralized Finance) entities and democratize finance by allowing companies and individuals to “Be the Bank.” The company operates as a SaaS enterprise and is developing commercial-grade programs for the license to qualified entities. “Access...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EINRIDE
THE COMPANY STEERING THE FUTURE OF FREIGHT
When Einride was founded in Stockholm in 2016, few imagined that a small team of technologists and transport visionaries would one day stand at the center of a global shift in how goods move. Yet within less than a decade, the company had become synonymous with the future of freight...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
First Class Recruiting
Elevating Talent, Powering Industry
In the heart of South Carolina’s booming Upstate region, where aerospace, manufacturing, and technology sectors thrive, First Class Recruiting is building more than just careers – it’s building futures. Helmed by U.S. Air Force veteran and industry trailblazer Lindsay Hansel, this boutique executive search firm has become synonymous with precision...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
RENAULT GROUP
A 25-YEAR LEGACY AND THE START OF A NEW ERA
On 12 March 1996, Renault Group chose Paraná as the site for its new plant, marking the start of a new chapter in automotive history for Brazil. On 4 December 1998, the Ayrton Senna industrial complex opened its doors in Curitiba, becoming one of Renault Group’s main sites in South...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Education 2025-2026: new formats, key trends, and the role of Lectera
The field of education is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Technology, new methods, and societal changes are shaping a completely different approach to learning. All of this makes knowledge more accessible and the process itself more flexible and tailored to the needs of each student. This approach is being implemented...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
DATAPROM
SMART SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILITY
DATAPROM is a Brazilian company, headquartered in Curitiba/PR and has nine branch offices in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. We were born in August 1988 from the creativity of engineers Marcos Olandoski, Alberto Abujamra and Carlos Perufo, who came together to develop innovative systems, capable of combining applicability and technology. At...
INNOVATION Quebec
NGTC
YOUR GO-TO PARTNER FOR MORE RESPONSIBLE USE OF ENERGY
Founded in 1992, NGTC is a non-profit research and development center that specializes in energy technologies. Although the use of natural gas is at the origin of its raison d’être, NGTC has been actively working, since 2007, on integrating new energy sources, notably renewable natural gas, hydrogen, aerothermal and solar...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
BLUE SEA
JOY OF THE KITCHEN®
Headquartered in New Jersey, Blue Sea Products was established with humble beginnings in 2005 and has since developed into a world-class vertically integrated seafood company. With over 41 years of experience in the global seafood and international transportation industries, Blue Sea is led by seafood veteran and CEO, Thomas Jacob....
INNOVATE® Seattle
Voyager Capital
INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.
INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ARTSCAPE
THE POWER OF ARTS AND CREATIVITY AS A FOUNDATION FOR INCLUSIVE INNOVATION
We believe in the power of arts and creativity to contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our city. For over 30 years, Artscape, a not-for-profit organization, has made space for creativity for artists and creatives to thrive. This has resulted in Artscape developing and operating 15 unique...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS
DARES TO ASK, “WHAT IF?"
At BlueRock, our mission is to create authentic cellular medicines to reverse devastating diseases, with the vision of improving the human condition. Built on the research of some of the world’s foremost experts in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, BlueRock has revolutionized and scaled methods for creating authentic...
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...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
DAINTREE CAPITAL
Investing In A Diverse Future
DAINTREE CAPITAL – Investing In A Diverse Future Daintree Capital emerges in the Washington, D.C., landscape not just as an investment firm but as a beacon of innovation and diversity. Founded by Alisha Griffey, a visionary with deep roots in the startup ecosystem, Daintree Capital’s mission resonates with the rich...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
VALO
VALO, which means great courage, strength and moral worth, is a South Australian business founded in 2012 aiming to reach international markets in premium stadium lighting. With thousands of stadia across the world, the opportunities to place VALO and its South Australian innovations on the map are almost endless. Based...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Thunderbird Entertainment
Harnessing Content as a Force for Good
The global pandemic accelerated the way audiences worldwide consume content — and the steady growth of streaming content continues today. In fact, Nielsen reported in July 2022 that streaming viewership surpassed pandemic records, with North American audiences watching an average of 190.9 billion minutes of streamed content per week. Fueling...