Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Blockchain

EDGE OF NFT

EDGE OF NFT

Edge of NFT launched as a podcast in March 2021 to cover “the top 1% in NFTs today, as well as what will stand the test of time.” The three hosts, Eathan Janney, Jeff Kelley and Josh Kriger, quickly found that this placed them in a unique position within the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ANALYTIX ENGINE

OUR PURPOSE IS TO HELP ORGANISATIONS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS USING DATA AND ANALYTICS

Most organisations have more data than they realise. The problem is usually the disconnect between business decision making and the curated data warehouse...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

iFLUX

Future-proof groundwater monitoring solutions in uncertain and dynamic times.

How do you tackle groundwater contamination in a targeted, swift, and efficient manner? How do you prevent nature reserves and cities from running dry? These are the questions that iFLUX experts answer with the help of objective data coming from state-of-the-art sensor technology. Groundwater constitutes just 0,65% of Earth’s water,...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Quiet Comeback of the Human Voice in Software

Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done

Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done For 40 years, getting something out of your head and into a computer has meant the same thing: stop, find a keyboard, and type. We have accepted this as normal. But typing is a...

INNOVATE™ Kenya

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS

THE IMPACT OF STARTUP GRIND GLOBAL AND ITS LOCAL REACH

Startup Grind Global stands as the world’s largest startup community, uniting founders, innovators, and creators on a global scale. With a mission to provide startups everywhere with the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies, Startup Grind Global has become a beacon of support and...

INNOVATE® Georgia

SKILLSHOT

SKILLSHOT PARTNERS WITH BRANDS TO DELIVER GAMING FOR GOOD

SKILLSHOT CONNECTS LEADING BRANDS, ENGAGED GAMING FANS, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT. Now why exactly would major brands — as diverse as Coca-Cola, US Army, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Piedmont, Georgia State University, Spelman College, DoorDash, Chelsea FC, Comcast, Cox, Turner, Intel, HP, Lenovo, Boys and Girls Club, Make-A-Wish Georgia, YMCA,...

INNOVATE® Detroit

ANN ARBOR SPARK

Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County

Established in 2004 through a visionary initiative that included the University of Michigan and other community leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was created to transform Ann Arbor into a national hub for innovation, business, and talent. Today, it is a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Ann Arbor SPARK helps drive...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

METIQUITY

A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.

A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MARS

MARS-Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...

INNOVATION Quebec

SCALE AI

TOWARDS AN AI-POWERED ECONOMY FOR CANADA

As Canada’s AI Global Innovation Cluster, Scale AI acts as an investment and innovation hub to accelerate the adoption and rapid integration of artificial intelligence in supply chains with projects that have a high potential for our economy. Scale AI brings together the pillars of the pan-Canadian AI community, encouraging...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

EMPIRE DREAMS

GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up

When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)

L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT) fait partie de la démarche des Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance mis en place par le ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec en 2018

La création de l’organisation s’est faite en 2018, à la suite d’un processus de consultation et de concertation régional, pour établir le positionnement adéquat de l’organisation. La complémentarité de la mission de l’organisation avec l’ensemble des partenaires de l’écosystème de développement et d’innovation en région a permis de conclure à...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

ALMADESIGN

ALMADESIGN - Design Driven Innovation

Design Driven Innovation

Almadesign’s goal is to create innovative products that will enhance people’s lives by contributing to their sustainability and success. We are a design studio with core competencies in the design of products, services and design management, structuring product development methodologies and implementing industrial innovation processes. We drive innovation through design,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

We Are At The Forefront Of Efforts To Bridge The Skills Gap By Offering Programs That Are Closely Aligned With Industry Demands.

With 22 colleges and 88 campuses across Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides quality technical education for more than 148,000 students (AY24). Founded on the principles of accessibility, affordability, and excellence in postsecondary education, TCSG has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SSE BUSINESS LAB

CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR UNICORNS

SSE Business Lab is the startup incubator of the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), one of Europe’s top business schools. Since its founding in 2001, the incubator has supported more than 300 startups, including some of Sweden’s most recognized success stories such as Klarna, Voi, Instabee (formerly Budbee), and Legora....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SIME

WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE

In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RED DEER POLYTECHNIC

Creating Solutions for Industry

The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY

While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...

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® Nashville

VIDEOBOMB

VIDEOBOMB-MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING

MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING

According to Chad Marcum, VideoBomb’s Founder and CEO, “Our mission is to make augmented reality available to businesses of all sizes. AR is the next big thing in customer engagement, and it should not be limited to only the big brands with big budgets. We’ve made it easy and affordable...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Breadless

Fuel Your Next Move

In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

South Coast Cyber Center

Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.

The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

DVIRC

FORGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING

In 1988, DVIRC was founded to bolster Southeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial base, a home to more than 6,500 manufacturers. The region’s future as a critical manufacturing hub hinged on its ability to compete in an increasingly global economy. DVIRC was established to accelerate that competitiveness, pioneering the right-sizing of best practices...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

EDGE OF NFT

EDGE OF NFT

Edge of NFT launched as a podcast in March 2021 to cover “the top 1% in NFTs today, as well as what will stand the test of time.” The three hosts, Eathan Janney, Jeff Kelley and Josh Kriger, quickly found that this placed them in a unique position within the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ANALYTIX ENGINE

OUR PURPOSE IS TO HELP ORGANISATIONS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS USING DATA AND ANALYTICS

Most organisations have more data than they realise. The problem is usually the disconnect between business decision making and the curated data warehouse...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

iFLUX

Future-proof groundwater monitoring solutions in uncertain and dynamic times.

How do you tackle groundwater contamination in a targeted, swift, and efficient manner? How do you prevent nature reserves and cities from running dry? These are the questions that iFLUX experts answer with the help of objective data coming from state-of-the-art sensor technology. Groundwater constitutes just 0,65% of Earth’s water,...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Quiet Comeback of the Human Voice in Software

Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done

Why the most natural interface we have is finally becoming the way we get work done For 40 years, getting something out of your head and into a computer has meant the same thing: stop, find a keyboard, and type. We have accepted this as normal. But typing is a...

INNOVATE™ Kenya

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS

THE IMPACT OF STARTUP GRIND GLOBAL AND ITS LOCAL REACH

Startup Grind Global stands as the world’s largest startup community, uniting founders, innovators, and creators on a global scale. With a mission to provide startups everywhere with the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies, Startup Grind Global has become a beacon of support and...

INNOVATE® Georgia

SKILLSHOT

SKILLSHOT PARTNERS WITH BRANDS TO DELIVER GAMING FOR GOOD

SKILLSHOT CONNECTS LEADING BRANDS, ENGAGED GAMING FANS, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT. Now why exactly would major brands — as diverse as Coca-Cola, US Army, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Piedmont, Georgia State University, Spelman College, DoorDash, Chelsea FC, Comcast, Cox, Turner, Intel, HP, Lenovo, Boys and Girls Club, Make-A-Wish Georgia, YMCA,...

INNOVATE® Detroit

ANN ARBOR SPARK

Igniting Economic Innovation in Washtenaw County

Established in 2004 through a visionary initiative that included the University of Michigan and other community leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was created to transform Ann Arbor into a national hub for innovation, business, and talent. Today, it is a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Ann Arbor SPARK helps drive...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

METIQUITY

A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.

A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MARS

MARS-Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

Toronto’s Home Of Meaningful Innovation

MaRS helps promising ventures become world-leading companies. The anchor of Canada’s tech ecosystem, MaRS connects all players in the innovation economy to turn breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. MaRS was founded on the philosophy that innovators require more than labs and offices. They need a platform...

INNOVATION Quebec

SCALE AI

TOWARDS AN AI-POWERED ECONOMY FOR CANADA

As Canada’s AI Global Innovation Cluster, Scale AI acts as an investment and innovation hub to accelerate the adoption and rapid integration of artificial intelligence in supply chains with projects that have a high potential for our economy. Scale AI brings together the pillars of the pan-Canadian AI community, encouraging...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

EMPIRE DREAMS

GRASSROOTS VISIONARIES: HOW EMPIRE DREAMS IS REBUILDING EAST-SIDE KC... ONE FAMILY, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Empire Dreams is birthing a new blueprint for urban transformation in East-Side Kansas City neighborhoods long neglected and marginalized by institutions and systems that fueled their disinvestment. Every facet of their work is designed to dismantle systemic racism, generational poverty, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Believing that true...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up

When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT)

L’Espace d’accélération et de croissance de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (EACAT) fait partie de la démarche des Espaces régionaux d’accélération et de croissance mis en place par le ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec en 2018

La création de l’organisation s’est faite en 2018, à la suite d’un processus de consultation et de concertation régional, pour établir le positionnement adéquat de l’organisation. La complémentarité de la mission de l’organisation avec l’ensemble des partenaires de l’écosystème de développement et d’innovation en région a permis de conclure à...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

ALMADESIGN

ALMADESIGN - Design Driven Innovation

Design Driven Innovation

Almadesign’s goal is to create innovative products that will enhance people’s lives by contributing to their sustainability and success. We are a design studio with core competencies in the design of products, services and design management, structuring product development methodologies and implementing industrial innovation processes. We drive innovation through design,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

We Are At The Forefront Of Efforts To Bridge The Skills Gap By Offering Programs That Are Closely Aligned With Industry Demands.

With 22 colleges and 88 campuses across Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides quality technical education for more than 148,000 students (AY24). Founded on the principles of accessibility, affordability, and excellence in postsecondary education, TCSG has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SSE BUSINESS LAB

CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR UNICORNS

SSE Business Lab is the startup incubator of the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), one of Europe’s top business schools. Since its founding in 2001, the incubator has supported more than 300 startups, including some of Sweden’s most recognized success stories such as Klarna, Voi, Instabee (formerly Budbee), and Legora....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SIME

WHY INNOVATION STARTS WITH PEOPLE, NOT PRESSURE

In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RED DEER POLYTECHNIC

Creating Solutions for Industry

The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals. “Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY

While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...

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® Nashville

VIDEOBOMB

VIDEOBOMB-MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING

MAKES ANY BRAND ENGAGEMENT MORE IMMERSIVE AND COMPELLING

According to Chad Marcum, VideoBomb’s Founder and CEO, “Our mission is to make augmented reality available to businesses of all sizes. AR is the next big thing in customer engagement, and it should not be limited to only the big brands with big budgets. We’ve made it easy and affordable...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Breadless

Fuel Your Next Move

In a market dominated by fast-food giants, Breadless has emerged as a bold disruptor, transforming fast-casual dining with its nutrient-packed, bread-free innovation. This Detroit-born brand is redefining how Americans fuel their lives by replacing traditional bread with leafy super greens. At Breadless, meals are not just sustenance — they’re catalysts...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

South Coast Cyber Center

Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.

The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

DVIRC

FORGING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING

In 1988, DVIRC was founded to bolster Southeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial base, a home to more than 6,500 manufacturers. The region’s future as a critical manufacturing hub hinged on its ability to compete in an increasingly global economy. DVIRC was established to accelerate that competitiveness, pioneering the right-sizing of best practices...

Ecosystems