Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HEAVY CHEF
THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO
A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Bristol’s City of Film
A UNESCO Creative City
Bristol: a globally celebrated City of Film Since 2017, Bristol has been a UNESCO City of Film, one of 18 cities to hold this permanent global status recognising world-leading achievement in the field of film and the moving image. It is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network,...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
ONWARD PLAY
WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK
Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
FINDORFF
TRANSFORMING A SPACE SO IT BETTER BENEFITS THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY
TRANSFORMING A SPACE SO IT BETTER BENEFITS THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY For over a decade, Findorff has been honored to build, reimagine, and renovate various spaces at Marquette University. From smaller and expedited projects to multi-million state-of-the-art facilities, Findorff understands the importance of innovation and deeply appreciates and values...
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™ South Africa
WESGRO
THE CAPE TRADE PORTAL
Building Resilience Builds CompetitivenessWesgro is the official tourism, trade, investment and film promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. It serves as the first point of contact for foreign investors and local companies. In addition, this agency attracts and facilitates national and international investment, works to grow the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CURCIO DERMATOLOGY
A Life-Long Calling To Heal, Cutting-Edge Medical Expertise, And An Entrepreneurship-Mindset Are At The Heart Of Helping Others
ANSWERING THE CALL TO HEALFor as long as I can remember, medicine has been a special calling for me. And nearly as long, I realized my passion for healing was through dermatology. This was a gift that I inherited from my father, Frederick David Curcio, III, M.D. He knew that...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
ATHOMA
STANDS FOR “AT HOME IN ANTWERP”
ATHOMA is the name of the building where Antwerpen Zuid Kliniek is located. It is a new construction project with a central location in a very visible place due to its distinctive architectural design. It is easy to reach by car, bike, train, tram, bus and even Antwerp airport is...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
OSCARS ARC
DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO
WOOF Project is a dynamic ‘pop–up’ mobile dog adoption initiative by Oscars Arc, a NPO born to inspire dog adoption and to save dogs’ lives. It was founded by Joanne Lefson in honour of Oscar, the adopted dog with whom she travelled around the world, visiting 43 countries across 5...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DATAVIE
EFFORTLESS GDPR FOR MODERN BUSINESSES
MEET DATAVIE – GO FROM ZERO TO COMPLIANT IN JUST A FEW HOURS In today’s rapidly digitizing world, the burden of data protection compliance often falls on already overstretched employees. Hiring a full-time Data Protection Officer (hereafter referred to as DPO) is a luxury many small and mid-sized businesses either...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
INTEGER HOTSPOT
THE INNO-GRATION AGENCY
“Inno-gration”? For IntegerHotspot’s, true innovation, founded in full integration, has informed the approach and ethos since day one. And has afforded the agency an edge since before certain interpretations of “integration” infiltrated agency zeitgeist. THE INTEGRATION ARCHETYPEIntegerHotspot’s was founded in 1999 by advertising maverick, Di Wilson as Pod Communications. From...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT
FROM VISION TO IMPACT
Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...
INNOVATION Quebec
ACCORD
PROMOTE BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH THE ACCORD INITIATIVE
Launched in April 2002, the ACCORD Initiative (concerted action for regional development cooperation) seeks to create an environment conducive to the development of businesses. It fosters collaboration between businesses and organizations in a specific field and territory. For more than 20 years, this regional development strategy has been a significant...
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,...
INNOVATION Quebec
CMQ
The Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) is a college center for the transfer of technologies (CCTT) attached to the Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Created in 1985, the CMQ aims to “support the competitiveness of the metallurgy industry through research and technological development in a collaborative approach with private and public partners while supporting technical education at the college level and the transfer of knowledge to businesses”
The Centre’s team of 60 people, including 10 to 15 college and university students per year, focuses on applied research and technology transfer to support the growth and strategic positioning of companies with activities related to metal processing. In addition to providing advanced training in metallurgy and non-destructive testing, the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
AFLAC
REIMAGINING THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
Aflac’s vision is to create a world in which people are better prepared for the expected — and unexpected — with benefits primary health insurance doesn’t cover. For nearly 70 years, Aflac supplemental insurance has provided millions of people worldwide the opportunity to focus on recovery instead of financial stress,...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
LACTEC
INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Lactec is one of Brazil’s largest private, self-sustaining and non-profit research centers, which for over 60-years has been at the service of the market and society, offering solutions based on science, technology and innovation. It operates strongly in the Energy, Sanitation, Environment, Industry and Infrastructure markets, throughout the innovation cycle,...
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® South Florida
PREMIERVIRTUAL
LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’
From the very beginning we knew that our virtual hiring event platform was ahead of its time, and that employers would have to be ‘Future Focused’ in order to embrace it. Founder and President of Premier Virtual, Steve Edwards saw the shift to digital firsthand as he hosted in-person job...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
GCT GLOBAL CONTAINER TERMINALS INC
SYNCHRONIZING CONTAINER LOGISTICS THROUGH INNOVATION, PRECISION,
GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. (GCT) is Vancouver’s homegrown success story in marine container terminal operations and innovation. GCT is among the most advanced operators on the continent and boasts the largest semi-automated on-dock rail facility in North America. Shipping line customers and cargo owners benefit from easy access to...
INNOVATE® Nashville
TEACH FOR AMERICA
TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS AND EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES
A National Movement to Expand Educational Opportunity This year, Teach For America marks its 35th anniversary – a milestone that celebrates a movement of leaders working alongside communities to expand opportunity for all children. Since its founding in 1990, Teach For America has recruited, developed, and supported a diverse network...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
NJEDA
FACILITIES AND SPACESThe New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth, offers numerous resources to support emerging companies choosing to grow in the Garden State. As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development strategy to reclaim New Jersey’s role as a leader in innovation,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ZAGITAS
THE ZAGITAS STORY ACTUALLY BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDER’S PASSION TO SIMPLIFY AND IMPROVE PEOPLE’S WORK THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Carlos Secada as a child with his parents and sister lived alone in the middle of the Amazon jungle. He grew up deprived of any initiative coming from modernity and technology. It was only after returning to the city and studying, that he managed to start working for Accenture, and...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
BlendedDesigns: Empower. Educate. Elevate.
When shopping for back-to-school supplies, more consumers are turning to online shopping instead of going to the mall. One entrepreneur is looking to encourage young students to become first-generation college graduates with an online shop, BlendedDesigns.com. Encouraging students with backpacks that say, “I can do anything,” founder and CEO Casey...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HEAVY CHEF
THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO
A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Bristol’s City of Film
A UNESCO Creative City
Bristol: a globally celebrated City of Film Since 2017, Bristol has been a UNESCO City of Film, one of 18 cities to hold this permanent global status recognising world-leading achievement in the field of film and the moving image. It is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network,...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
ONWARD PLAY
WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK
Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
FINDORFF
TRANSFORMING A SPACE SO IT BETTER BENEFITS THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY
TRANSFORMING A SPACE SO IT BETTER BENEFITS THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY For over a decade, Findorff has been honored to build, reimagine, and renovate various spaces at Marquette University. From smaller and expedited projects to multi-million state-of-the-art facilities, Findorff understands the importance of innovation and deeply appreciates and values...
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™ South Africa
WESGRO
THE CAPE TRADE PORTAL
Building Resilience Builds CompetitivenessWesgro is the official tourism, trade, investment and film promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. It serves as the first point of contact for foreign investors and local companies. In addition, this agency attracts and facilitates national and international investment, works to grow the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CURCIO DERMATOLOGY
A Life-Long Calling To Heal, Cutting-Edge Medical Expertise, And An Entrepreneurship-Mindset Are At The Heart Of Helping Others
ANSWERING THE CALL TO HEALFor as long as I can remember, medicine has been a special calling for me. And nearly as long, I realized my passion for healing was through dermatology. This was a gift that I inherited from my father, Frederick David Curcio, III, M.D. He knew that...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
ATHOMA
STANDS FOR “AT HOME IN ANTWERP”
ATHOMA is the name of the building where Antwerpen Zuid Kliniek is located. It is a new construction project with a central location in a very visible place due to its distinctive architectural design. It is easy to reach by car, bike, train, tram, bus and even Antwerp airport is...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
OSCARS ARC
DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO
WOOF Project is a dynamic ‘pop–up’ mobile dog adoption initiative by Oscars Arc, a NPO born to inspire dog adoption and to save dogs’ lives. It was founded by Joanne Lefson in honour of Oscar, the adopted dog with whom she travelled around the world, visiting 43 countries across 5...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DATAVIE
EFFORTLESS GDPR FOR MODERN BUSINESSES
MEET DATAVIE – GO FROM ZERO TO COMPLIANT IN JUST A FEW HOURS In today’s rapidly digitizing world, the burden of data protection compliance often falls on already overstretched employees. Hiring a full-time Data Protection Officer (hereafter referred to as DPO) is a luxury many small and mid-sized businesses either...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
INTEGER HOTSPOT
THE INNO-GRATION AGENCY
“Inno-gration”? For IntegerHotspot’s, true innovation, founded in full integration, has informed the approach and ethos since day one. And has afforded the agency an edge since before certain interpretations of “integration” infiltrated agency zeitgeist. THE INTEGRATION ARCHETYPEIntegerHotspot’s was founded in 1999 by advertising maverick, Di Wilson as Pod Communications. From...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT
FROM VISION TO IMPACT
Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...
INNOVATION Quebec
ACCORD
PROMOTE BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH THE ACCORD INITIATIVE
Launched in April 2002, the ACCORD Initiative (concerted action for regional development cooperation) seeks to create an environment conducive to the development of businesses. It fosters collaboration between businesses and organizations in a specific field and territory. For more than 20 years, this regional development strategy has been a significant...
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,...
INNOVATION Quebec
CMQ
The Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) is a college center for the transfer of technologies (CCTT) attached to the Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Created in 1985, the CMQ aims to “support the competitiveness of the metallurgy industry through research and technological development in a collaborative approach with private and public partners while supporting technical education at the college level and the transfer of knowledge to businesses”
The Centre’s team of 60 people, including 10 to 15 college and university students per year, focuses on applied research and technology transfer to support the growth and strategic positioning of companies with activities related to metal processing. In addition to providing advanced training in metallurgy and non-destructive testing, the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
AFLAC
REIMAGINING THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
Aflac’s vision is to create a world in which people are better prepared for the expected — and unexpected — with benefits primary health insurance doesn’t cover. For nearly 70 years, Aflac supplemental insurance has provided millions of people worldwide the opportunity to focus on recovery instead of financial stress,...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
LACTEC
INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Lactec is one of Brazil’s largest private, self-sustaining and non-profit research centers, which for over 60-years has been at the service of the market and society, offering solutions based on science, technology and innovation. It operates strongly in the Energy, Sanitation, Environment, Industry and Infrastructure markets, throughout the innovation cycle,...
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® South Florida
PREMIERVIRTUAL
LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’
From the very beginning we knew that our virtual hiring event platform was ahead of its time, and that employers would have to be ‘Future Focused’ in order to embrace it. Founder and President of Premier Virtual, Steve Edwards saw the shift to digital firsthand as he hosted in-person job...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
GCT GLOBAL CONTAINER TERMINALS INC
SYNCHRONIZING CONTAINER LOGISTICS THROUGH INNOVATION, PRECISION,
GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. (GCT) is Vancouver’s homegrown success story in marine container terminal operations and innovation. GCT is among the most advanced operators on the continent and boasts the largest semi-automated on-dock rail facility in North America. Shipping line customers and cargo owners benefit from easy access to...
INNOVATE® Nashville
TEACH FOR AMERICA
TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS AND EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES
A National Movement to Expand Educational Opportunity This year, Teach For America marks its 35th anniversary – a milestone that celebrates a movement of leaders working alongside communities to expand opportunity for all children. Since its founding in 1990, Teach For America has recruited, developed, and supported a diverse network...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
NJEDA
FACILITIES AND SPACESThe New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth, offers numerous resources to support emerging companies choosing to grow in the Garden State. As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development strategy to reclaim New Jersey’s role as a leader in innovation,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ZAGITAS
THE ZAGITAS STORY ACTUALLY BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDER’S PASSION TO SIMPLIFY AND IMPROVE PEOPLE’S WORK THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Carlos Secada as a child with his parents and sister lived alone in the middle of the Amazon jungle. He grew up deprived of any initiative coming from modernity and technology. It was only after returning to the city and studying, that he managed to start working for Accenture, and...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
BlendedDesigns: Empower. Educate. Elevate.
When shopping for back-to-school supplies, more consumers are turning to online shopping instead of going to the mall. One entrepreneur is looking to encourage young students to become first-generation college graduates with an online shop, BlendedDesigns.com. Encouraging students with backpacks that say, “I can do anything,” founder and CEO Casey...