Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

JOHN OBERG ADVISORY & INVESTMENTS

JOHN OBERG ADVISORY & INVESTMENTS

MISSION-DRIVEN ADVISORY WITH AN EYE TO THE FINANCIAL SCOREBOARD

John Oberg Advisory and Investment (JOA) partners with organizations that are on a mission to positively impact our daily lives. Our clients and investments are primarily those that serve others across healthcare, technology, nonprofits, and institutions. Dr. John Oberg and the experienced team at JOA balance strategic direction and tactical...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PLAYHAUS

DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL

playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NUMEDICO

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION WITH MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND AFFORDABLE DRUG DELIVERY METHODS. SPACE RESEARCH FOR REAL-WORLD PROBLEMSPushing the boundaries of medical research all the way into orbit, Numedico’s latest business venture is a partnership with satellite infrastructure provider ResearchSat to explore newmethods to administer medication....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Better Basics

Cleans up homes of toxins and saves billions of plastic bottles

Better Basics is on a mission to eliminate homes of toxins and plastic. Their household cleaning personal care and cleaning industry. and personal care refill system is designed to make using all natural, high performing products that save plastic bottles easy and convenient. Better Basics makes “eco-friendly” beautiful and functional...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | SC Fraunhofer

The Palmetto Applied Research Council

The SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (the Alliance) is South Carolina’s unique applied research partnership designed to help companies innovate faster, de-risk new technologies, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in advanced industries. Managed by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) and its applied research arm, Palmetto Applied Research Council,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BIOHUBX

PAVING THE WAY FOR YOUNG LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES TO SUCCEED

In Canada, it is common to see layers of support for life sciences companies up to and including the incubator stage, right before commercialization occurs. But support drops off drastically when companies are ready to commercialize and take their most significant risks and leaps. It takes capital and multiple fundraising...

INNOVATION Quebec

Génome Québec

le joyau caché des sciences de la vie La génomique- Facteur d’attraction d’investissements et de talents

GÉNOME QUÉBEC a été fondé en 2000, dans la foulée du premier séquençage entier du génome humain. Membre du réseau pancanadien chapeauté par Génome Canada, notre mission consiste à soutenir le développement stratégique et scientifique de la génomique au Québec. En collaboration avec ses partenaires, Génome Québec a investi plus...

INNOVATE® Georgia

IMPROVING

MODERN DIGITAL SERVICES

The Backstory.Founded in 2005 in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta, then Innovative Architects latched on to the maturing Microsoft Gold Partnership Program as the core of our service offerings. We would become known in that technology community for doing the hard stuff: Commerce Server integration, BizTalk implementation, SharePoint before it...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RESPEK NATURE

RESPEK NATURE-PLANTS SPEKBOOM

PLANTS SPEKBOOM, A CO2 CAPTURING INDIGENOUS SUCCULENT, ON TRACTS OF DENUDED LAND NEAR GRAAFF-REINET AND IN THE LARGER KAROO REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2020, RESPEK IS A BLENDED DIGITAL AND BOTANICAL CARBON OFFSET PROGRAMME.

The hardy spekboom is considered a pioneer species within the Karoo thicket biome. This means that the plant itself can assist in the regeneration of the indigenous brush, with many other species benefitting from its shade and the nutrients it brings into the soil. As a succulent, spekboom is the...

INNOVATION Quebec

AÉRO MONTRÉAL

NNOVATION COUNCIL - AÉRO MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC’S AEROSPACE CLUSTER

Thanks to its unique and diversified ecosystem, Québec has been able to maintain a prominent position in the global aerospace supply chain, and Aéro Montréal plays a key role in this. Founded in 2006, Aéro Montréal is a not-for-profit organization created to mobilize the players in Québec’s aerospace sector. The...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MAGNETRON

STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE

Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

AIRE

THE TRUST THAT LED ESTONIAN COMPANIES ONTO AI AND ROBOTICS PATHS

In October 2021, AIRE began operations as one of Estonia’s leading AI and robotics innovation centres. The centre was established with the aim of supporting local industrial companies in adopting artificial intelligence and robotics solutions. Today, AIRE plays a central role in accelerating digital transformation, serving as a trustworthy bridge...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

CrossCountry Consulting

Where Expertise, Technology, and Human Insight Converge

Northern Virginia is a region defined by motion: technological, economic, and organizational change shape its daily rhythm. For the companies that power it, transformation is no longer a future goal but a present demand. Finance leaders must modernize operations, manage enterprise complexity, and adopt emerging technologies quickly. They must achieve...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

GREENVILLE CITY

POWERED BY INNOVATION, TO PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT

WE THRIVE ON COLLABORATION Public-private partnerships are how we do business. Our established clusters — Automotive, Production Technology/Heavy Machinery, Advanced Materials, Life Sciences, Business Services and Fintech — provide a solid foundation for a resilient economy. Our fastest-growing cluster, Life Sciences, increased by 33% over the past five years. We’re...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YOCO

YOCO-PASSION

PASSION, TALENT AND A SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE SEE YOCO GROW INTO A LEADING AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

In a few short years since launching in 2015, Yoco has grown into an African technology company that is ready to take on the world. With its focus on creating opportunities for small businesses, breaking down the barriers they face, and helping them to participate fully in a more inclusive...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

LEADING HIGHER EDUCATION INTO THE FUTURE

Waukesha County Technical College, one of 16 Colleges part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, has been a leader of workforce development and training in Southeastern Wisconsin for more than a century. The College is focused on educating students for in-demand jobs and contributing to the economy by providing skilled...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

GLOBAL E-TALENT

GLOBAL E-TALENT- MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS

MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS

Global e-Talent Pty Ltd (GeT) is a young Sandton, Johannesburg-based talent search, placement, and onboarding firm. It partners with both private and public organisations, to meet their talent acquisition needs and that such talent is adequately integrated into their business. Behind the conventional recruitment agency, behind it sits a very...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VIRGENT AI

Move Beyond AI-Curious to AI-Powered

As we enter the largest technological revolution of our generation, Virgent AI is guiding leaders and industries beyond AI-curious to AI-powered. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, this forward-thinking AI-centric technology startup specializes in developing and deploying advanced AI agents and AI-enabled applications to solve real-world business problems. At their core, their...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

STORIED DATA

STORIED DATA

THE STORY OF MEANINGFUL TRANSFORMATIONS: Data. Information. Intelligent Presentation. Action

Storied data is a next generation publishing platform for the digital world. It allows users to combine visuals, data, and interactivity in a single document that provides an app-like experience and reduces information overload. In Storied data, you can produce any document – reports, dashboards, infographics, catalogs, and more in...

Global Innovation Spotlight

South African Institute of Canada

Helping South Africans Thrive, Connect, and Make Canada Home

When South Africans move to Canada, they don’t just leave behind family, culture, and familiar surroundings — they leave behind a network that took a lifetime to build. The South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) exists to rebuild that network — faster, stronger, and tailored for life on this side...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

JOHN OBERG ADVISORY & INVESTMENTS

JOHN OBERG ADVISORY & INVESTMENTS

MISSION-DRIVEN ADVISORY WITH AN EYE TO THE FINANCIAL SCOREBOARD

John Oberg Advisory and Investment (JOA) partners with organizations that are on a mission to positively impact our daily lives. Our clients and investments are primarily those that serve others across healthcare, technology, nonprofits, and institutions. Dr. John Oberg and the experienced team at JOA balance strategic direction and tactical...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PLAYHAUS

DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL

playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NUMEDICO

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION

THIS ADELAIDE-BASED MEDTECH START-UP HAS FOUND GLOBAL RECOGNITION WITH MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND AFFORDABLE DRUG DELIVERY METHODS. SPACE RESEARCH FOR REAL-WORLD PROBLEMSPushing the boundaries of medical research all the way into orbit, Numedico’s latest business venture is a partnership with satellite infrastructure provider ResearchSat to explore newmethods to administer medication....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Better Basics

Cleans up homes of toxins and saves billions of plastic bottles

Better Basics is on a mission to eliminate homes of toxins and plastic. Their household cleaning personal care and cleaning industry. and personal care refill system is designed to make using all natural, high performing products that save plastic bottles easy and convenient. Better Basics makes “eco-friendly” beautiful and functional...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC Competes | SC Fraunhofer

The Palmetto Applied Research Council

The SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance (the Alliance) is South Carolina’s unique applied research partnership designed to help companies innovate faster, de-risk new technologies, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in advanced industries. Managed by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) and its applied research arm, Palmetto Applied Research Council,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BIOHUBX

PAVING THE WAY FOR YOUNG LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES TO SUCCEED

In Canada, it is common to see layers of support for life sciences companies up to and including the incubator stage, right before commercialization occurs. But support drops off drastically when companies are ready to commercialize and take their most significant risks and leaps. It takes capital and multiple fundraising...

INNOVATION Quebec

Génome Québec

le joyau caché des sciences de la vie La génomique- Facteur d’attraction d’investissements et de talents

GÉNOME QUÉBEC a été fondé en 2000, dans la foulée du premier séquençage entier du génome humain. Membre du réseau pancanadien chapeauté par Génome Canada, notre mission consiste à soutenir le développement stratégique et scientifique de la génomique au Québec. En collaboration avec ses partenaires, Génome Québec a investi plus...

INNOVATE® Georgia

IMPROVING

MODERN DIGITAL SERVICES

The Backstory.Founded in 2005 in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta, then Innovative Architects latched on to the maturing Microsoft Gold Partnership Program as the core of our service offerings. We would become known in that technology community for doing the hard stuff: Commerce Server integration, BizTalk implementation, SharePoint before it...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RESPEK NATURE

RESPEK NATURE-PLANTS SPEKBOOM

PLANTS SPEKBOOM, A CO2 CAPTURING INDIGENOUS SUCCULENT, ON TRACTS OF DENUDED LAND NEAR GRAAFF-REINET AND IN THE LARGER KAROO REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2020, RESPEK IS A BLENDED DIGITAL AND BOTANICAL CARBON OFFSET PROGRAMME.

The hardy spekboom is considered a pioneer species within the Karoo thicket biome. This means that the plant itself can assist in the regeneration of the indigenous brush, with many other species benefitting from its shade and the nutrients it brings into the soil. As a succulent, spekboom is the...

INNOVATION Quebec

AÉRO MONTRÉAL

NNOVATION COUNCIL - AÉRO MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC’S AEROSPACE CLUSTER

Thanks to its unique and diversified ecosystem, Québec has been able to maintain a prominent position in the global aerospace supply chain, and Aéro Montréal plays a key role in this. Founded in 2006, Aéro Montréal is a not-for-profit organization created to mobilize the players in Québec’s aerospace sector. The...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MAGNETRON

STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND CHALLENGE

Currently, in Brazil, one in every three cities has more motorcycles than cars, totaling over 32 million registered motorcycles. This scenario reflects a market with significant investment potential, and Magnetron is always at the forefront in seeking the best solutions to serve this sector. Founded in the 1960s, the company...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

AIRE

THE TRUST THAT LED ESTONIAN COMPANIES ONTO AI AND ROBOTICS PATHS

In October 2021, AIRE began operations as one of Estonia’s leading AI and robotics innovation centres. The centre was established with the aim of supporting local industrial companies in adopting artificial intelligence and robotics solutions. Today, AIRE plays a central role in accelerating digital transformation, serving as a trustworthy bridge...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

CrossCountry Consulting

Where Expertise, Technology, and Human Insight Converge

Northern Virginia is a region defined by motion: technological, economic, and organizational change shape its daily rhythm. For the companies that power it, transformation is no longer a future goal but a present demand. Finance leaders must modernize operations, manage enterprise complexity, and adopt emerging technologies quickly. They must achieve...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

GREENVILLE CITY

POWERED BY INNOVATION, TO PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT

WE THRIVE ON COLLABORATION Public-private partnerships are how we do business. Our established clusters — Automotive, Production Technology/Heavy Machinery, Advanced Materials, Life Sciences, Business Services and Fintech — provide a solid foundation for a resilient economy. Our fastest-growing cluster, Life Sciences, increased by 33% over the past five years. We’re...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YOCO

YOCO-PASSION

PASSION, TALENT AND A SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE SEE YOCO GROW INTO A LEADING AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

In a few short years since launching in 2015, Yoco has grown into an African technology company that is ready to take on the world. With its focus on creating opportunities for small businesses, breaking down the barriers they face, and helping them to participate fully in a more inclusive...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

LEADING HIGHER EDUCATION INTO THE FUTURE

Waukesha County Technical College, one of 16 Colleges part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, has been a leader of workforce development and training in Southeastern Wisconsin for more than a century. The College is focused on educating students for in-demand jobs and contributing to the economy by providing skilled...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

GLOBAL E-TALENT

GLOBAL E-TALENT- MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS

MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS

Global e-Talent Pty Ltd (GeT) is a young Sandton, Johannesburg-based talent search, placement, and onboarding firm. It partners with both private and public organisations, to meet their talent acquisition needs and that such talent is adequately integrated into their business. Behind the conventional recruitment agency, behind it sits a very...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VIRGENT AI

Move Beyond AI-Curious to AI-Powered

As we enter the largest technological revolution of our generation, Virgent AI is guiding leaders and industries beyond AI-curious to AI-powered. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, this forward-thinking AI-centric technology startup specializes in developing and deploying advanced AI agents and AI-enabled applications to solve real-world business problems. At their core, their...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

STORIED DATA

STORIED DATA

THE STORY OF MEANINGFUL TRANSFORMATIONS: Data. Information. Intelligent Presentation. Action

Storied data is a next generation publishing platform for the digital world. It allows users to combine visuals, data, and interactivity in a single document that provides an app-like experience and reduces information overload. In Storied data, you can produce any document – reports, dashboards, infographics, catalogs, and more in...

Global Innovation Spotlight

South African Institute of Canada

Helping South Africans Thrive, Connect, and Make Canada Home

When South Africans move to Canada, they don’t just leave behind family, culture, and familiar surroundings — they leave behind a network that took a lifetime to build. The South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) exists to rebuild that network — faster, stronger, and tailored for life on this side...

Ecosystems