Stories of Innovation
INNOVATION Quebec
LA VAGUE
THE ISLAND ACCELERATOR
The Corporation d’innovation et de développement des Îles, LA VAGUE, is an organization that creates a place of excellence to foster synergy between socio-economic stakeholders from the Magdalen Islands and elsewhere. Its vision is oriented towards a sustainable and wealth-creating Island economy. It offers specialized support to accelerate innovative projects...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Denmark Technical College
Reimagining the Rural College Landscape
Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
STITCH
GAME TESTING EVOLVED - CONNECTING GAME DEVELOPERS WITH PLAY-TESTERS
Indie game developers are the heart and soul of the gaming industry, and without them, we wouldn’t have as much innovation as we currently have, and have been enjoying since Pong. With that said, indie game developers are always struggling to create their games because of various reasons, and this...
INNOVATION Quebec
CDCQ
CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE COMPOSITES
Fondé en 1989, le Centre de développement des composites du Québec (CDCQ) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié et intégré au Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, le seul collège au Québec à offrir le programme de formation technique en Génie des matériaux composites. Adjacent au cégep, le CDCQ possède des infrastructures...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE
CCTT EN INNOVATION ÉCORESPONSABLE DU SECTEUR CUIR, FOURRURE ET PRODUITS DÉRIVÉS
La mission du centre collégial de transfert technologique du Cégep de St-Félicien, Écofaune boréale, comprend principalement de la recherche appliquée combinant le développement technologique, l’aide technique, le transfert de connaissances, la diffusion d’information scientifique ainsi que l’acquisition de pratiques sociales novatrices permettant aux acteurs socio-économiques de la fourrure et du...
INNOVATION Quebec
CYBERECO
A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE CYBERSECURITY CATALYST IN QUEBEC AND CANADA
The genesis of CyberecoIn 2018, Desjardins Group, National Bank, Deloitte and RHEA Group decided to join forces to advance cybersecurity by creating Cybereco. The initiative was motivated in particular by the founders’ desire to work together to meet the challenges of the talent shortage, to improve the cyber resilience of...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
BrightMa Farms
Building a Circular Ecosystem for Climate-Smart Innovation
From seed to system, BrightMa Farms has redefined what it means to grow innovation from the ground up. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Harold Singletary, BrightMa Farms, Inc. has emerged as one of South Carolina’s most dynamic AgTech enterprises — a company transforming agricultural waste into climate-smart, high-value materials that serve...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
BEATDAPP
THE BUGGLES TOLD THE WORLD THAT VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR. RELEASED IN 1980, THEIR HIT SONG, “VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR,” MAY NOT BE ACCURATE TODAY. MORE THAN 10% OF ALL STREAMED MUSIC IS FRAUDULENTLY STREAMED, WIPING OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO ARTISTS AND LABELS
Beatdapp is a streaming fraud detection company. It helps music labels and artists track their songs to collect royalties. Think of it as a PWC for music play count. The company has a set of machine learning and predictive algorithms to detect streaming manipulation and has over 30 patents across...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PRITS
A Path to Puerto Rico’s Digital Government
The Puerto Rico Innovation & Technology Service, created by Act 75- 2019, is the government office in charge of overseeing and implementing technology across the Executive Branch. The office’s mission is to create a new and innovative government framework, consistent with the demands of the 21st century, and capable of...
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....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Sticker Builder
Unlocking the Next Frontier
“Mass customization made simple. Creative chaos made scalable.” In today’s experience-driven economy, personalization isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of competitive advantage. Customers expect more than just products; they want creative control, self-expression, and seamless experiences. That’s where Sticker Builder by Antigro Designer, based in Kraków, Poland, comes in. This...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNIVERSITY STARTUPS
Empowering Tomorrow
In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FIRSTBANK
PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE
It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Sunland Logistics Solutions
Leveraging an Innovative System to create Supply Chain Value for Customers & Create Mutual Value for all Stakeholders
Sunland Logistics Solutions is a 3PL partner leveraging leading technologies and lean principles to help shippers and manufacturers improve performance, innovate, and drive value in their supply chains. Specializing in supporting companies in the chemical, industrial, automotive, beverage, and retail industries, Sunland is positioned to become a flexible extension of...
INNOVATION Manitoba
TAIV
BUSINESS TV REIMAGINED
A commercial break at a Jets playoff game gave two University of Manitoba students an idea. Nearly a decade later, Taiv’s AI powers the screens in thousands of venues across North America. It still calls Winnipeg home. On a spring night in 2018, Noah Palansky was watching a Winnipeg Jets...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CARBON1
PIONEERING SOUTH AFRICA’S DIGITAL MARKETING TRANSFORMATION
Let’s start at the beginningBack in 2009, Programmatic ad buying was in its infancy locally, despite its success being celebrated internationally. This spurred on the birth of Mark1, a company that would go on to pioneer technology and data-driven media buying in the South African market. Fast forward to 2020,...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Centrepolis Accelerator
Empowering Hardtech Startups & Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing
Centrepolis Accelerator @ LTU is committed to strengthening supply chain resiliency to drive economic growth and innovation in Michigan. It offers hardtech startups and small to medium-sized manufacturers access to product development services and tailored funding solutions, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed. Centrepolis Accelerator @LTU’s...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
CareerBeacon
A Human Approach to HR Technology
While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
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
Essential Board Portal Features
What to look for before choosing a governance platform
A board portal should help directors access materials securely, review updates, vote, sign, annotate, and prepare for decisions without relying on long email chains or unsecured attachments. The right platform also needs to fit daily governance habits. A strong portal should reduce manual admin, protect confidential data, and make meeting...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
DIGITAL NATIVES
LEADING THE CHANGE
Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Serve the Common Good
Create the FutureIn order to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges — nationally and globally — Georgetown Entrepreneurship is dedicated to championing common good entrepreneurship across its programming, teachings, and networks. Serving all of Georgetown University from the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown Entrepreneurship uses the power...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Youth Growth Network
Empowering the Next Generation
Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre ACER
Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique en acériculture, est un leader mondial en innovation pour l’industrie acéricole depuis 1998
C’est en effet depuis près de 25 ans que le Centre ACER stimule l’excellence, soutient la qualité et la rentabilité de la filière acéricole. En conjuguant savoir et vision, ce véritable réseau d’innovation promeut le rayonnement, le développement international et assure la pérennité de l’industrie de l’érable au Québec. ...
INNOVATION Quebec
LA VAGUE
THE ISLAND ACCELERATOR
The Corporation d’innovation et de développement des Îles, LA VAGUE, is an organization that creates a place of excellence to foster synergy between socio-economic stakeholders from the Magdalen Islands and elsewhere. Its vision is oriented towards a sustainable and wealth-creating Island economy. It offers specialized support to accelerate innovative projects...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Denmark Technical College
Reimagining the Rural College Landscape
Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
STITCH
GAME TESTING EVOLVED - CONNECTING GAME DEVELOPERS WITH PLAY-TESTERS
Indie game developers are the heart and soul of the gaming industry, and without them, we wouldn’t have as much innovation as we currently have, and have been enjoying since Pong. With that said, indie game developers are always struggling to create their games because of various reasons, and this...
INNOVATION Quebec
CDCQ
CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE COMPOSITES
Fondé en 1989, le Centre de développement des composites du Québec (CDCQ) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié et intégré au Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, le seul collège au Québec à offrir le programme de formation technique en Génie des matériaux composites. Adjacent au cégep, le CDCQ possède des infrastructures...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE
CCTT EN INNOVATION ÉCORESPONSABLE DU SECTEUR CUIR, FOURRURE ET PRODUITS DÉRIVÉS
La mission du centre collégial de transfert technologique du Cégep de St-Félicien, Écofaune boréale, comprend principalement de la recherche appliquée combinant le développement technologique, l’aide technique, le transfert de connaissances, la diffusion d’information scientifique ainsi que l’acquisition de pratiques sociales novatrices permettant aux acteurs socio-économiques de la fourrure et du...
INNOVATION Quebec
CYBERECO
A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE CYBERSECURITY CATALYST IN QUEBEC AND CANADA
The genesis of CyberecoIn 2018, Desjardins Group, National Bank, Deloitte and RHEA Group decided to join forces to advance cybersecurity by creating Cybereco. The initiative was motivated in particular by the founders’ desire to work together to meet the challenges of the talent shortage, to improve the cyber resilience of...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
BrightMa Farms
Building a Circular Ecosystem for Climate-Smart Innovation
From seed to system, BrightMa Farms has redefined what it means to grow innovation from the ground up. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Harold Singletary, BrightMa Farms, Inc. has emerged as one of South Carolina’s most dynamic AgTech enterprises — a company transforming agricultural waste into climate-smart, high-value materials that serve...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
BEATDAPP
THE BUGGLES TOLD THE WORLD THAT VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR. RELEASED IN 1980, THEIR HIT SONG, “VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR,” MAY NOT BE ACCURATE TODAY. MORE THAN 10% OF ALL STREAMED MUSIC IS FRAUDULENTLY STREAMED, WIPING OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO ARTISTS AND LABELS
Beatdapp is a streaming fraud detection company. It helps music labels and artists track their songs to collect royalties. Think of it as a PWC for music play count. The company has a set of machine learning and predictive algorithms to detect streaming manipulation and has over 30 patents across...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PRITS
A Path to Puerto Rico’s Digital Government
The Puerto Rico Innovation & Technology Service, created by Act 75- 2019, is the government office in charge of overseeing and implementing technology across the Executive Branch. The office’s mission is to create a new and innovative government framework, consistent with the demands of the 21st century, and capable of...
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....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Sticker Builder
Unlocking the Next Frontier
“Mass customization made simple. Creative chaos made scalable.” In today’s experience-driven economy, personalization isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of competitive advantage. Customers expect more than just products; they want creative control, self-expression, and seamless experiences. That’s where Sticker Builder by Antigro Designer, based in Kraków, Poland, comes in. This...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNIVERSITY STARTUPS
Empowering Tomorrow
In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FIRSTBANK
PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE
It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Sunland Logistics Solutions
Leveraging an Innovative System to create Supply Chain Value for Customers & Create Mutual Value for all Stakeholders
Sunland Logistics Solutions is a 3PL partner leveraging leading technologies and lean principles to help shippers and manufacturers improve performance, innovate, and drive value in their supply chains. Specializing in supporting companies in the chemical, industrial, automotive, beverage, and retail industries, Sunland is positioned to become a flexible extension of...
INNOVATION Manitoba
TAIV
BUSINESS TV REIMAGINED
A commercial break at a Jets playoff game gave two University of Manitoba students an idea. Nearly a decade later, Taiv’s AI powers the screens in thousands of venues across North America. It still calls Winnipeg home. On a spring night in 2018, Noah Palansky was watching a Winnipeg Jets...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CARBON1
PIONEERING SOUTH AFRICA’S DIGITAL MARKETING TRANSFORMATION
Let’s start at the beginningBack in 2009, Programmatic ad buying was in its infancy locally, despite its success being celebrated internationally. This spurred on the birth of Mark1, a company that would go on to pioneer technology and data-driven media buying in the South African market. Fast forward to 2020,...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Centrepolis Accelerator
Empowering Hardtech Startups & Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing
Centrepolis Accelerator @ LTU is committed to strengthening supply chain resiliency to drive economic growth and innovation in Michigan. It offers hardtech startups and small to medium-sized manufacturers access to product development services and tailored funding solutions, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed. Centrepolis Accelerator @LTU’s...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
CareerBeacon
A Human Approach to HR Technology
While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
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
Essential Board Portal Features
What to look for before choosing a governance platform
A board portal should help directors access materials securely, review updates, vote, sign, annotate, and prepare for decisions without relying on long email chains or unsecured attachments. The right platform also needs to fit daily governance habits. A strong portal should reduce manual admin, protect confidential data, and make meeting...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
DIGITAL NATIVES
LEADING THE CHANGE
Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Serve the Common Good
Create the FutureIn order to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges — nationally and globally — Georgetown Entrepreneurship is dedicated to championing common good entrepreneurship across its programming, teachings, and networks. Serving all of Georgetown University from the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown Entrepreneurship uses the power...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Youth Growth Network
Empowering the Next Generation
Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre ACER
Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique en acériculture, est un leader mondial en innovation pour l’industrie acéricole depuis 1998
C’est en effet depuis près de 25 ans que le Centre ACER stimule l’excellence, soutient la qualité et la rentabilité de la filière acéricole. En conjuguant savoir et vision, ce véritable réseau d’innovation promeut le rayonnement, le développement international et assure la pérennité de l’industrie de l’érable au Québec. ...