Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Seattle
CIBC Innovation Banking
LOCAL TECH BANKING VETERANS BRING CANADIAN INFLUENCE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
LOCAL TECH BANKING VETERANS BRING CANADIAN INFLUENCE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Since its founding in early 2018, CIBC Innovation Banking has been rapidly building its presence in key innovation clusters across the U.S. and Europe.In 2022, its Seattle team began serving the vibrant innovation economy of the Pacific Northwest. John...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ENVISIONING LABS
PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
In the face of climate change, the need for sustainable solutions has never been greater. Envisioning Labs, a Vancouver based deep tech firm, is at the forefront of this challenge, developing social and technological solutions that counter climate change and foster a carbon neutral future. Their focus on first principles-based,...
INNOVATION Quebec
OPTECH
CCTT IN OPTICS-PHOTONICS
Optech is a College Centre for Technology Transfer (CCTT) incorporated as a non-profit organization (NPO) founded in 2002 with a mission to raise awareness of optics/photonics-related technologies and help implement them to support efforts to improve productivity and innovation in companies across Quebec. Our team is made up of thirty-plus...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Worldwide Economic Ecosystems Are Affected by Cryptocurrency Adoption
10 Ways Cryptocurrency Adoption Has Affected Global Economic Ecosystems
From a local trend to a worldwide financial movement, the fast growth of cryptocurrencies has changed. From small companies to whole national economies, the ripple effects of decentralized digital currencies have changed financial landscapes. The global economic ecology undergoes several changes—some good, others complicated—as conventional structures change to fit this...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE® Miami
Pipeline Workspaces
A shared workspace concept that caters to a diverse community of entrepreneurs and start-ups
Based in Miami, Pipeline Workspaces is a shared workspace concept that caters to a diverse community of entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporate teams and international business executives. With seven locations, our members range from local innovators to large companies such as Uber, Google and Postmates. Our growth has been deeply intertwined with...
INNOVATE® Miami
Refresh Miami
Its mission—to educate, inspire, connect and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem
ELEVATOR PITCHOUR STORYIn 2006, Brian Breslin saw untapped potential in South Florida’s fledgling startup ecosystem and quickly realized there lacked a support system for the tech and startup community. From this idea, Refresh Miami was founded. Its mission: to educate, inspire, connect, and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem....
INNOVATION Quebec
CÉRSÉ
CCTT IN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECO-CITIZENSHIP
The Centre d’étude en responsabilité sociale et écocitoyenneté (CERSE) is a centre for action research that aims to accelerate responsible social innovation in organizations and civil society by making the process accessible and inclusive. Our areas of expertise Our approach and positionOur services are based on collaborative and rigorous research...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIRANO
ALLIER SAVOIR ET DECISION
Le CIRANO est la référence au Québec pour l’avancement des connaissances en évaluation économique des décisions autour des grands enjeux de société et pour l’élaboration et l’évaluation de politiques publiques. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin, Polytechnique Montreal professor, President and CEO, CIRANO Catherine Beaudry Polytechnique Montréal «Le CIRANO joue un rôle crucial...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SPRINGFOUR
How A Social Impact Fintech Is Improving The Financial Health For Millions
When a financial institution’s customers are financially healthy, everyone wins. SpringFour, an award-winning social impact fintech and a Certified B Corporation, connects financial institutions’ customers with resources that help them make their payments and get back on their feet. With a digital-based platform of more than 20,000 vetted financial resources,...
INNOVATE™ Colombia
ALIVE VENTURES
PIONEERING A NEW WAY TO INVEST & TACKLE SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN COLOMBIA AND BEYOND
Despite significant progress in the fight against poverty in Latin America, inequality remains stubbornly high. In 2018, Santiago Alvarez and Virgilio Barco created impact fund manager ALIVE Ventures to channel investment to innovative companies tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income communities in Latam, helping to reduce inequality....
INNOVATE® Blockchain
SPLINTERLANDS
THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE
The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors
20 years providing unparalleled tax compliance and consulting as well as business consulting services
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors, LLC (“ATBA”), formerly known as Zaragoza & Alvarado LLP, was founded on July 1, 2002, by CPA and Attorney Juan A. Alvarado and CPA Juan Zaragoza as a separate and specialized tax boutique firm. Both Juanes, as commonly referred to, were the tax partners of...
INNOVATION Quebec
ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC
EN MODE INNOVATION
Au Québec, le secteur de la fabrication métallique industrielle (FMI) est le plus important secteur manufacturier. Alliance Métal Québec (AMQ), compte plus de 100 entreprises spécialisées dans les structures complexes et composantes métalliques. Sa mission est de créer des synergies entre les entreprises afin de solutionner des problématiques communes. LE...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
RICE ME UP
DISCOVER THE TRUE VALUE OF RICE
RiceMeUp is a food startup with a focus on changing the image of rice. RiceMeUp offers a wide range of rice varieties with the highest quality through an E-commerce channel and carefully selected retailers. The company is founded by Antwerpians Babak Khazaeli and Annemie Struyf. Rice was cultivated in the...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
Next Agents
Driving Sustainability and Innovation in Stockholm
HOW NEXT AGENTS IS SHAPING THE FUTURE Stockholm is globally recognized as a hub for innovation, particularly in sustainability, and Next Agents plays a pivotal role in advancing this ecosystem. Sustainability-driven innovation lies at the heart of Next Agents’ mission to empower businesses to create solutions that benefit people, the...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
CITY OF CHARLES STURT
IS RECOGNISED AS A VIBRANT, LIVEABLE AND BUSINESS- FRIENDLY CITY WITH A DIVERSE AND ADVANCED ECONOMY
Charles Sturt is a great place to invest, with a thriving hub of activity, education and employment opportunities. Located in the heart of Adelaide’s west, the City of Charles Sturt is home to over 124,000 residents and 105 different cultures, who enjoy the diverse experiences and cultural richness the City...
INNOVATION Quebec
COREM
Est un centre d’expertise et d’innovations en traitement de minerais regroupant la plus grande concentration de ressources dédiées à la recherche et l’innovation dans ce domaine au Canada.
Étant une organisation à but non lucratif, Corem œuvre à l’amélioration de la compétitivité de l’industrie minière et la réduction de l’impact environnemental par l’industrialisation de solutions innovantes. Pour ce faire, Corem travaille en étroite collaboration avec ses membres et clients des compagnies minières canadiennes et internationales, et ses partenaires...
INNOVATE® Nashville
MOTUS DRIVE
PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS
Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...
INNOVATION Quebec
JACOBB
CCTT IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Our mission at JACOBB, a centre for innovation and applied research in artificial intelligence (AI), is to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into Quebec’s economic fabric. Our CCTT has experienced rapid growth since it was created in 2019, with now more than a dozen specialists on board under the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Parallel Entrepreneur
How Mark Cleveland Is Redefining Entrepreneurship in Music City
In a city known for breakout artists and bold founders, Mark Cleveland is building something less obvious but no less revolutionary. Through his Parallel Entrepreneur brand – anchored by a podcast, a growing network, and a forthcoming book – Cleveland is giving voice to a specific kind of business leader:...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BUILD IN SE
Is a collaborative network of startup founders, funders, and ecosystem supporters who build in the Southeast. #BuildInSE
In 2018, Build In SE was launched with a mission to increase the number of startup success stories in the Southeastern U.S. by leveraging a collaborative, cross-regional network. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Build In SE defines the Southeast as a collection of 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
Freeborn & Peters LLP
Is A Chambers-Ranked, Leading Mid-Size Law Firm With Global Capabilities And A Vast Array Of Practice Areas
Freeborn is proud to deliver sector-specific legal advice that stems from decades of experience and a rich understanding of business and industry perspectives. Along with providing exceptional legal services, each Freeborn attorney embodies the firm’s five Core Values, integrity, caring, effectiveness, teamwork, and commitment, through high standards of client service...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THINK.DIGITAL
INNOVATING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE
Think Digital is one of Australia’s leading innovative XR studios creating VR, AR and AI solutions for agriculture, to assist with marketing, education, training and on farm productivity gains. Founders Tim Gentle and Kat Bidstrup both have strong links to agriculture, having grown up in regional Australia – Kat on...
INNOVATE® Seattle
CIBC Innovation Banking
LOCAL TECH BANKING VETERANS BRING CANADIAN INFLUENCE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
LOCAL TECH BANKING VETERANS BRING CANADIAN INFLUENCE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Since its founding in early 2018, CIBC Innovation Banking has been rapidly building its presence in key innovation clusters across the U.S. and Europe.In 2022, its Seattle team began serving the vibrant innovation economy of the Pacific Northwest. John...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ENVISIONING LABS
PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
In the face of climate change, the need for sustainable solutions has never been greater. Envisioning Labs, a Vancouver based deep tech firm, is at the forefront of this challenge, developing social and technological solutions that counter climate change and foster a carbon neutral future. Their focus on first principles-based,...
INNOVATION Quebec
OPTECH
CCTT IN OPTICS-PHOTONICS
Optech is a College Centre for Technology Transfer (CCTT) incorporated as a non-profit organization (NPO) founded in 2002 with a mission to raise awareness of optics/photonics-related technologies and help implement them to support efforts to improve productivity and innovation in companies across Quebec. Our team is made up of thirty-plus...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Worldwide Economic Ecosystems Are Affected by Cryptocurrency Adoption
10 Ways Cryptocurrency Adoption Has Affected Global Economic Ecosystems
From a local trend to a worldwide financial movement, the fast growth of cryptocurrencies has changed. From small companies to whole national economies, the ripple effects of decentralized digital currencies have changed financial landscapes. The global economic ecology undergoes several changes—some good, others complicated—as conventional structures change to fit this...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE® Miami
Pipeline Workspaces
A shared workspace concept that caters to a diverse community of entrepreneurs and start-ups
Based in Miami, Pipeline Workspaces is a shared workspace concept that caters to a diverse community of entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporate teams and international business executives. With seven locations, our members range from local innovators to large companies such as Uber, Google and Postmates. Our growth has been deeply intertwined with...
INNOVATE® Miami
Refresh Miami
Its mission—to educate, inspire, connect and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem
ELEVATOR PITCHOUR STORYIn 2006, Brian Breslin saw untapped potential in South Florida’s fledgling startup ecosystem and quickly realized there lacked a support system for the tech and startup community. From this idea, Refresh Miami was founded. Its mission: to educate, inspire, connect, and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem....
INNOVATION Quebec
CÉRSÉ
CCTT IN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECO-CITIZENSHIP
The Centre d’étude en responsabilité sociale et écocitoyenneté (CERSE) is a centre for action research that aims to accelerate responsible social innovation in organizations and civil society by making the process accessible and inclusive. Our areas of expertise Our approach and positionOur services are based on collaborative and rigorous research...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIRANO
ALLIER SAVOIR ET DECISION
Le CIRANO est la référence au Québec pour l’avancement des connaissances en évaluation économique des décisions autour des grands enjeux de société et pour l’élaboration et l’évaluation de politiques publiques. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin, Polytechnique Montreal professor, President and CEO, CIRANO Catherine Beaudry Polytechnique Montréal «Le CIRANO joue un rôle crucial...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SPRINGFOUR
How A Social Impact Fintech Is Improving The Financial Health For Millions
When a financial institution’s customers are financially healthy, everyone wins. SpringFour, an award-winning social impact fintech and a Certified B Corporation, connects financial institutions’ customers with resources that help them make their payments and get back on their feet. With a digital-based platform of more than 20,000 vetted financial resources,...
INNOVATE™ Colombia
ALIVE VENTURES
PIONEERING A NEW WAY TO INVEST & TACKLE SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN COLOMBIA AND BEYOND
Despite significant progress in the fight against poverty in Latin America, inequality remains stubbornly high. In 2018, Santiago Alvarez and Virgilio Barco created impact fund manager ALIVE Ventures to channel investment to innovative companies tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income communities in Latam, helping to reduce inequality....
INNOVATE® Blockchain
SPLINTERLANDS
THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE
The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors
20 years providing unparalleled tax compliance and consulting as well as business consulting services
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors, LLC (“ATBA”), formerly known as Zaragoza & Alvarado LLP, was founded on July 1, 2002, by CPA and Attorney Juan A. Alvarado and CPA Juan Zaragoza as a separate and specialized tax boutique firm. Both Juanes, as commonly referred to, were the tax partners of...
INNOVATION Quebec
ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC
EN MODE INNOVATION
Au Québec, le secteur de la fabrication métallique industrielle (FMI) est le plus important secteur manufacturier. Alliance Métal Québec (AMQ), compte plus de 100 entreprises spécialisées dans les structures complexes et composantes métalliques. Sa mission est de créer des synergies entre les entreprises afin de solutionner des problématiques communes. LE...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
RICE ME UP
DISCOVER THE TRUE VALUE OF RICE
RiceMeUp is a food startup with a focus on changing the image of rice. RiceMeUp offers a wide range of rice varieties with the highest quality through an E-commerce channel and carefully selected retailers. The company is founded by Antwerpians Babak Khazaeli and Annemie Struyf. Rice was cultivated in the...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
Next Agents
Driving Sustainability and Innovation in Stockholm
HOW NEXT AGENTS IS SHAPING THE FUTURE Stockholm is globally recognized as a hub for innovation, particularly in sustainability, and Next Agents plays a pivotal role in advancing this ecosystem. Sustainability-driven innovation lies at the heart of Next Agents’ mission to empower businesses to create solutions that benefit people, the...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
CITY OF CHARLES STURT
IS RECOGNISED AS A VIBRANT, LIVEABLE AND BUSINESS- FRIENDLY CITY WITH A DIVERSE AND ADVANCED ECONOMY
Charles Sturt is a great place to invest, with a thriving hub of activity, education and employment opportunities. Located in the heart of Adelaide’s west, the City of Charles Sturt is home to over 124,000 residents and 105 different cultures, who enjoy the diverse experiences and cultural richness the City...
INNOVATION Quebec
COREM
Est un centre d’expertise et d’innovations en traitement de minerais regroupant la plus grande concentration de ressources dédiées à la recherche et l’innovation dans ce domaine au Canada.
Étant une organisation à but non lucratif, Corem œuvre à l’amélioration de la compétitivité de l’industrie minière et la réduction de l’impact environnemental par l’industrialisation de solutions innovantes. Pour ce faire, Corem travaille en étroite collaboration avec ses membres et clients des compagnies minières canadiennes et internationales, et ses partenaires...
INNOVATE® Nashville
MOTUS DRIVE
PRACTICAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS
Motus Drive was founded by Ferhan Jemal after seeing firsthand the challenges his uncle faced due to limited mobility and the high costs associated with powered wheelchairs. Motivated by this experience, Ferhan spent eight years studying the wheelchair market, talking with industry experts, prototyping, and gathering direct feedback from wheelchair...
INNOVATION Quebec
JACOBB
CCTT IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Our mission at JACOBB, a centre for innovation and applied research in artificial intelligence (AI), is to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into Quebec’s economic fabric. Our CCTT has experienced rapid growth since it was created in 2019, with now more than a dozen specialists on board under the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Parallel Entrepreneur
How Mark Cleveland Is Redefining Entrepreneurship in Music City
In a city known for breakout artists and bold founders, Mark Cleveland is building something less obvious but no less revolutionary. Through his Parallel Entrepreneur brand – anchored by a podcast, a growing network, and a forthcoming book – Cleveland is giving voice to a specific kind of business leader:...
INNOVATE® Nashville
BUILD IN SE
Is a collaborative network of startup founders, funders, and ecosystem supporters who build in the Southeast. #BuildInSE
In 2018, Build In SE was launched with a mission to increase the number of startup success stories in the Southeastern U.S. by leveraging a collaborative, cross-regional network. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Build In SE defines the Southeast as a collection of 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
Freeborn & Peters LLP
Is A Chambers-Ranked, Leading Mid-Size Law Firm With Global Capabilities And A Vast Array Of Practice Areas
Freeborn is proud to deliver sector-specific legal advice that stems from decades of experience and a rich understanding of business and industry perspectives. Along with providing exceptional legal services, each Freeborn attorney embodies the firm’s five Core Values, integrity, caring, effectiveness, teamwork, and commitment, through high standards of client service...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THINK.DIGITAL
INNOVATING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE
Think Digital is one of Australia’s leading innovative XR studios creating VR, AR and AI solutions for agriculture, to assist with marketing, education, training and on farm productivity gains. Founders Tim Gentle and Kat Bidstrup both have strong links to agriculture, having grown up in regional Australia – Kat on...