Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Seattle
DEFINED.AI
TRANSFORMING AI TRAINING, ONE DATASET AT A TIME
At Defined.ai, our commitment is to enable the builders of AI with ethically sourced data and deliver conversational AI to digitally low-resourced markets. I had the idea of founding the company when I realized how the Conversational AI market was becoming mainstream, and everyone was building multilingual voice search and...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Jenno Co.
We help teams understand their market, articulate their value, and bring their bold ideas to life.
Working in a space where passionate problem solvers and innovative risk-takers intersect is a privilege you must experience to understand. It means you’re part of a community. Even if that community spans regions, disciplines, and industries, the passion we bring to improving both the present and the future is what...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
Doctoralia
MAKING THE HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE MORE HUMAN
Doctoralia is the largest health platform in the world. With the global mission of making the healthcare experience more human, it is present in 13 countries with a marketplace that allows scheduling and evaluation of medical appointments, a SaaS system (Software as a Service) aimed at optimizing the management of...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Bluewave
Deodorize Items With Its Proprietary Ozone Infusion Technology
BLUEWAVE Technologies is a healthtech startup and the creator of the BLUEWAVE, a device that can deodorize items with its proprietary ozone infusion technology in as little as 5 minutes, without using any water, detergents, or added chemicals. The device is completely closed loop and filters out all of the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE
TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Breezy HR
Helps You Find Your Next A-Player, Sooner
Hiring doesn’t have to be messy. Say Sayonara! to the stacks of resumes cluttering up your workspace, and let Breezy help you find your next A-player—sooner. With Breezy, you’ll automate time-consuming hiring tasks like advertising your jobs, emailing and texting candidates, scheduling interviews, and gathering feedback from your team. Breezy...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
MEDIA INDIE EXCHANGE
THE MIX BIOGRAPHY AND IMPACT
The Media Indie Exchange (The MIX) is a platform all about celebrating amazing games and the diverse creators who make them. The organization was started by indie developers for indie developers worldwide in order to provide grassroots networking showcase opportunities to help further their success at a time where it...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Free Browser Tool Stack
How one founder runs a startup without paid subscriptions
Running a startup without paid subscriptions forces every choice to be practical. The best setup is a small group of browser-based services that handle writing, planning, files, design, communication, and basic finance. I keep the workflow lean because every recurring fee reduces runway, and the ability to edit PDF documents...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Peoplr
Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results
ELEVATOR PITCH Peoplr is a team of Human Resources experts who tackle all kinds of headaches and turn them into great business results by providing flexible and cost-effective strategies that address a company’s human resources needs. From start-ups to thriving Fortune 100 companies, Peoplr has each client covered with expert...
INNOVATE® Nashville
RJ Young
How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast
For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CHORUS CALL
CHORUS CALL IS A LEADING PROVIDER IN CONFERENCING, OFFERING AUDIO, VIDEO AND VIRTUAL EVENT SOLUTIONS. WE PROVIDE PERSONALIZED AND CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO YOUR CONFERENCING NEEDS
Chorus Call founder, Dr. Giorgio Coraluppi, started with Compunetics in 1968 when they won the US Navy contract for control and communications equipment, employed in the AWS (Anti-Submarine Warfare) program. The original idea grew to three companies that provide hardware, software, and conference services to the international markets. In 1990,...
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® Milwaukee
BIOFORWARD WISCONSIN:
LEADING THE PATH TO PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Pioneering Innovation in BiohealthNestled in the heart of America’s Midwest, BioForward Wisconsin represents Wisconsin’s vibrant biohealth sector which stands as a beacon of innovation and economic growth. A 501(c) 6 member association established in 1988 as the Wisconsin Biotechnology Association, the organization initially focused on biotechnology. It expanded its membership...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
OxiWear
Revolutionizing Health Monitoring with Innovation and Perseverance
“I developed OxiWear for myself to demonstrate that I could live a normal life without letting the disease define me.” In 2019, Shavini Fernando, a visionary innovator and determined entrepreneur, founded OxiWear – a groundbreaking company dedicated to transforming how we monitor and respond to critical health metrics. Diagnosed with...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Where to Find South African Food in Canada
HowZit Canada Leads the Way
For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....
INNOVATE® South Carolina
QUERRI
CHARLESTON-BASED AI SOFTWARE COMPANY DISRUPTING DATA CULTURE
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, businesses face a crucial dilemma – either harness the power of AI-driven insights or risk being left behind. For too long, the world of data has been dominated by complexity, requiring specialized technical skills that keep decision-makers...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
SKILLS NATION
https://skillsnation.org/
If you’re a young person in the District of Columbia, this is where your aspirations take shape.Skills Nation is your go-to source to explore a variety of innovative tools and resources designed to elevate your potential and uncover exciting career opportunities. Skills Nation, an initiative of the federal workforce programs...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
MOTRAC
SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CHERRY BEKAERT
EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: LEVERAGING AUTOMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND SUCCESS
At Cherry Bekaert, being a digitally driven Firm means more than providing clients with technology-forward solutions. It also means that the Firm itself is committed to in-house digital transformation, using automation to improve the experience of its people and deliver better efficiencies in its business model. The Firm’s digital transformation...
Global Innovation Spotlight
DTF Gang Sheet Builder
Where Automation Meets Innovation in Print Tech
“We built this platform to solve real-world challenges print businesses face every day.” In the high-demand world of Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, time is money—and errors are costly. Enter DTF Gang Sheet Builder, the industry’s most advanced solution for creating gang sheets, developed by Antigro Designer, the Kraków, Poland-based powerhouse behind...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
RESPEK NATURE
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...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
Ensemble
Long-Term Capital, Real Assets, and Regional Growth: Ensemble’s Development Strategy in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s real estate landscape is rapidly evolving. Shifts in work patterns, the growth of life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and increased expectations for sustainability, affordability, and community impact are reshaping demand. In this environment, successful development requires more than opportunistic execution—it demands patient capital, long-term planning, and the ability to...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
ClearlyAgile
A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa
Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
INTERNSHIP ON DEMAND
HOW INTERNSHIP ON DEMAND IS REDEFINING THE PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS
Every year, millions of college students graduate without ever having experienced the workplace firsthand. Employers demand experience, but when only 30% of college students complete an internship on an annual basis, what do those left on the outside looking in do? That’s where Internship on Demand comes in. Launched in...
INNOVATE® Seattle
DEFINED.AI
TRANSFORMING AI TRAINING, ONE DATASET AT A TIME
At Defined.ai, our commitment is to enable the builders of AI with ethically sourced data and deliver conversational AI to digitally low-resourced markets. I had the idea of founding the company when I realized how the Conversational AI market was becoming mainstream, and everyone was building multilingual voice search and...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Jenno Co.
We help teams understand their market, articulate their value, and bring their bold ideas to life.
Working in a space where passionate problem solvers and innovative risk-takers intersect is a privilege you must experience to understand. It means you’re part of a community. Even if that community spans regions, disciplines, and industries, the passion we bring to improving both the present and the future is what...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
Doctoralia
MAKING THE HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE MORE HUMAN
Doctoralia is the largest health platform in the world. With the global mission of making the healthcare experience more human, it is present in 13 countries with a marketplace that allows scheduling and evaluation of medical appointments, a SaaS system (Software as a Service) aimed at optimizing the management of...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Bluewave
Deodorize Items With Its Proprietary Ozone Infusion Technology
BLUEWAVE Technologies is a healthtech startup and the creator of the BLUEWAVE, a device that can deodorize items with its proprietary ozone infusion technology in as little as 5 minutes, without using any water, detergents, or added chemicals. The device is completely closed loop and filters out all of the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE
TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Breezy HR
Helps You Find Your Next A-Player, Sooner
Hiring doesn’t have to be messy. Say Sayonara! to the stacks of resumes cluttering up your workspace, and let Breezy help you find your next A-player—sooner. With Breezy, you’ll automate time-consuming hiring tasks like advertising your jobs, emailing and texting candidates, scheduling interviews, and gathering feedback from your team. Breezy...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
MEDIA INDIE EXCHANGE
THE MIX BIOGRAPHY AND IMPACT
The Media Indie Exchange (The MIX) is a platform all about celebrating amazing games and the diverse creators who make them. The organization was started by indie developers for indie developers worldwide in order to provide grassroots networking showcase opportunities to help further their success at a time where it...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Free Browser Tool Stack
How one founder runs a startup without paid subscriptions
Running a startup without paid subscriptions forces every choice to be practical. The best setup is a small group of browser-based services that handle writing, planning, files, design, communication, and basic finance. I keep the workflow lean because every recurring fee reduces runway, and the ability to edit PDF documents...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Peoplr
Turning HR Headaches Into Great Business Results
ELEVATOR PITCH Peoplr is a team of Human Resources experts who tackle all kinds of headaches and turn them into great business results by providing flexible and cost-effective strategies that address a company’s human resources needs. From start-ups to thriving Fortune 100 companies, Peoplr has each client covered with expert...
INNOVATE® Nashville
RJ Young
How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast
For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CHORUS CALL
CHORUS CALL IS A LEADING PROVIDER IN CONFERENCING, OFFERING AUDIO, VIDEO AND VIRTUAL EVENT SOLUTIONS. WE PROVIDE PERSONALIZED AND CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO YOUR CONFERENCING NEEDS
Chorus Call founder, Dr. Giorgio Coraluppi, started with Compunetics in 1968 when they won the US Navy contract for control and communications equipment, employed in the AWS (Anti-Submarine Warfare) program. The original idea grew to three companies that provide hardware, software, and conference services to the international markets. In 1990,...
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® Milwaukee
BIOFORWARD WISCONSIN:
LEADING THE PATH TO PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Pioneering Innovation in BiohealthNestled in the heart of America’s Midwest, BioForward Wisconsin represents Wisconsin’s vibrant biohealth sector which stands as a beacon of innovation and economic growth. A 501(c) 6 member association established in 1988 as the Wisconsin Biotechnology Association, the organization initially focused on biotechnology. It expanded its membership...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
OxiWear
Revolutionizing Health Monitoring with Innovation and Perseverance
“I developed OxiWear for myself to demonstrate that I could live a normal life without letting the disease define me.” In 2019, Shavini Fernando, a visionary innovator and determined entrepreneur, founded OxiWear – a groundbreaking company dedicated to transforming how we monitor and respond to critical health metrics. Diagnosed with...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Where to Find South African Food in Canada
HowZit Canada Leads the Way
For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....
INNOVATE® South Carolina
QUERRI
CHARLESTON-BASED AI SOFTWARE COMPANY DISRUPTING DATA CULTURE
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, businesses face a crucial dilemma – either harness the power of AI-driven insights or risk being left behind. For too long, the world of data has been dominated by complexity, requiring specialized technical skills that keep decision-makers...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
SKILLS NATION
https://skillsnation.org/
If you’re a young person in the District of Columbia, this is where your aspirations take shape.Skills Nation is your go-to source to explore a variety of innovative tools and resources designed to elevate your potential and uncover exciting career opportunities. Skills Nation, an initiative of the federal workforce programs...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
MOTRAC
SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CHERRY BEKAERT
EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: LEVERAGING AUTOMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND SUCCESS
At Cherry Bekaert, being a digitally driven Firm means more than providing clients with technology-forward solutions. It also means that the Firm itself is committed to in-house digital transformation, using automation to improve the experience of its people and deliver better efficiencies in its business model. The Firm’s digital transformation...
Global Innovation Spotlight
DTF Gang Sheet Builder
Where Automation Meets Innovation in Print Tech
“We built this platform to solve real-world challenges print businesses face every day.” In the high-demand world of Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, time is money—and errors are costly. Enter DTF Gang Sheet Builder, the industry’s most advanced solution for creating gang sheets, developed by Antigro Designer, the Kraków, Poland-based powerhouse behind...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
RESPEK NATURE
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...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
Ensemble
Long-Term Capital, Real Assets, and Regional Growth: Ensemble’s Development Strategy in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s real estate landscape is rapidly evolving. Shifts in work patterns, the growth of life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and increased expectations for sustainability, affordability, and community impact are reshaping demand. In this environment, successful development requires more than opportunistic execution—it demands patient capital, long-term planning, and the ability to...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
ClearlyAgile
A Custom Mobile And Web Application Development Firm Based In Tampa
Nominated for Technology Project of the Year and a finalist for the Technologist and Technology Leader of the Year by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, ClearlyAgile is a custom mobile and web application development firm based in Tampa, FL founded by Fred Mastropasqua and Edmund Gorski. “Our goal is to...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
INTERNSHIP ON DEMAND
HOW INTERNSHIP ON DEMAND IS REDEFINING THE PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS
Every year, millions of college students graduate without ever having experienced the workplace firsthand. Employers demand experience, but when only 30% of college students complete an internship on an annual basis, what do those left on the outside looking in do? That’s where Internship on Demand comes in. Launched in...