Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Detroit
InvestNext
Fostering Growth and Potential
InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...
INNOVATION Quebec
PARI-G
PLATEFORME D’APPUI RÉGIONAL À L’INNOVATION – GÉNIE (PARI-G)
La nécessité d’innover des entreprises n’est plus à démontrer dans un monde où le développement des produits se fait sur des cycles de plus en plus courts et où la concurrence est plus vive et moins prévisible. L’innovation, qu’elle soit liée aux produits de l’entreprise ou à ses procédés et...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
TransBIOTech
CCTT EN BIOTECHNOLOGIES
TransBIOTech, centre collégial de transfert en Biotechnologie, a été fondé en 1999 à la demande du Cégep de Lévis et s’appuie sur ses programmes techniques en biotechnologies et chimie analytique. Organisme à but non lucratif, TransBIOTech se spécialise en démonstrations d’efficacité et d’innocuité sur des composés actifs naturels destinés aux...
INNOVATE® Detroit
M1 Concourse
The Heart of Automotive Passion
Along the legendary Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan, M1 Concourse is a world-class motorsports and automotive event destination. Spanning an impressive 87 acres, it is a hub for high-speed excitement and unmatched automotive culture. Whether you’re a dedicated car enthusiast, an adrenaline junkie looking for high-speed track adventures, or someone...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Pope Francis Center
Works Toward a Detroit Future Without Chronic Homelessness
“When we work together, miracles happen.” Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, says those words often. Fr. Tim, as he is known, is president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center (PFC), a Detroit nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness. PFC started humbly in 1990 when Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
MOVE THE NEEDLE
FOSTERING INCLUSIVE INNOVATION IN JERSEY CITY’S MELTING POT
In the vibrant heart of downtown Jersey City, a city that boasts one of the most diverse populations in the nation, Move The Needle at the Brand Experience Lab (a retail technology showroom) stands as a testament to the power of inclusive innovation. Founded by Jose Espinoza, a visionary entrepreneur...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
JÄLLE TECHNOLOGIES
TURNING BATTERY WASTE INTO THE WORLD’S THINNEST & STRONGEST MATERIAL
Jälle Technologies is tackling one of the fastest-growing technological and resource challenges: the tidal wave of spent lithium-ion batteries. As the world shifts towards electric mobility and renewable energy, millions of tons of used batteries are expected to flood the market by 2030. These batteries contain valuable metals such as...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
LIVLY
MODERN RESIDENT EXPERIENCE- Livly Offers Apartment Technology That Property Managers Use To Simplify Tasks And Elevate Resident Experiences
Livly, Inc. is revolutionizing apartment living & powering communities across the globe. Founded in Chicago in 2017, Livly has built the first unified enterprise-grade operating system tailored specifically for residential properties. The Livly operating system serves as the remote control for apartment living, connecting residents, guests, staff, and vendors with...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAIRE DIAMENT
HUMANIZING DIGITAL INNOVATION IN MENTAL HEALTH
The DIAMENT Chair is the strategic research chair of UQAM (University of Quebec in Montreal) in design for cybermental health. It is led by Professor Stéphane Vial. Mission and VisionEstablished in January 2020, the DIAMENT Chair is hosted by the School of Design at the University of Quebec in Montreal...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
TryCycle Data Systems
Simplicity Is Our Cutting Edge
Big problems don’t always require big solutions. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are the most subtle and nuanced. That’s exactly the approach that TryCycle Data Systems took when CEO John MacBeth of Ottawa, decided to tackle the huge problems associated with Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. Deconstructing...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
SourceFuse
Build Digital Ideas, Processes and Products
Through an approach that is as innovative as the projects it manages and supports, SourceFuse builds digital ideas, processes, and products tailored to help its clients realize their ideas in the truest sense of the word. SourceFuse, a technological jack-of-all-trades (and master of all of them), uses its own innovative...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVA SYSTEMS
Smart people, solving complex problems, making our world safe and secure
About Nova SystemsNova Systems is a 100% Australian owned and controlled engineering services and technology solutions company. Founded by two veterans – Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff – in 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia, the company now employs more than 1000 people globally in strategically located offices in Australia, New...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
ALERT LABS
SIMPLE BY DESIGN: HOW ALERT LABS MAKES WATER MANAGEMENT SMARTER
From the very beginning, Alert Labs set out to make things easier. Whether for building managers, property owners, or their own team, the goal was always to create solutions that customers would love to use and a company that people wanted to be part of. Alert Labs was founded in...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONQUER BUSINESS SCHOOL
THE BRAZILIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY IMPACTED MORE THAN 5 MILLION STUDENTS AND OVER 1000 C
CONQUER BUSINESS SCHOOL-THE BRAZILIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY IMPACTED MORE THAN 5 MILLION STUDENTS AND OVER 1000 COMPANIES Conquer Business School is a Brazilian Business School based in the city of Curitiba, which has already transformed the lives of more than 5 million students in over 100 countries. The...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
PEACE OF MEAT
RETHINKING MEAT FOR TOMORROW
The messy story behind meatBy 2030, we’ll reach a global population of almost 10 billion. Worldwide demand for food is soaring, and so is the demand for meat. Despite the growing popularity of plant-based diets, meat is still an important part of the daily menu across the globe. With good...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
bikeep
ESTONIA’S SMART SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL MICRO-MOBILITY
ESTONIA’S SMART SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL MICRO-MOBILITY The story of Bikeep begins with a painfully familiar urban problem—bike theft. As the story goes, a group of mechanical engineers, Kustas Kõiv, Meelis Haidak, Ott Reinhold, and Mikk Moses, experienced the frustration of having their bikes stolen. In response, they set out to...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SOLVIS
PIONEERING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MEASUREMENT FROM ‘PSST’ TO TOUCHSCREEN
Solvis provides customized devices, kiosks, and a customer feedback and experience management platform. Solvis’ story has a unique start: In the late 90s, a customer voiced dissatisfaction with a toy shop in Curitiba. Initially dismissed as gossip, the complaint prompted the CEO of Solvis, Leonardo Vilas Boas Badotti, the former...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ROOMII
ROOMII’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ASPIRATIONAL FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME
Roomii is an online marketplace that lets you lease out your furniture to people who don’t want to own it. Our platform lets you earn a return on your furniture investment while helping people furnish their space short-term with quality pre-owned furniture. Roomii’s story began in the spring of 2020....
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™ Atlantic Canada
PolyUnity
Designing the Future of Healthcare: PolyUnity's 3D Printing Solutions
There are pivotal advances in healthcare when everything changes. For example, there is only before and after antibiotics and x-rays. Since the implementation of these innovations, we have never looked back. The same can be said for 3D Printing. PolyUnity Tech Inc., headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ECOPIA
CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING
Since 2013, Ecopia AI has been on a mission to create a digital twin of the world using artificial intelligence (AI). Originally spun out of a Ph.D project at the University of Waterloo, Ecopia’s maps have grown from detailing a single small city to mapping entire continents while evolving from...
INNOVATE® Detroit
InvestNext
Fostering Growth and Potential
InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...
INNOVATION Quebec
PARI-G
PLATEFORME D’APPUI RÉGIONAL À L’INNOVATION – GÉNIE (PARI-G)
La nécessité d’innover des entreprises n’est plus à démontrer dans un monde où le développement des produits se fait sur des cycles de plus en plus courts et où la concurrence est plus vive et moins prévisible. L’innovation, qu’elle soit liée aux produits de l’entreprise ou à ses procédés et...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
TransBIOTech
CCTT EN BIOTECHNOLOGIES
TransBIOTech, centre collégial de transfert en Biotechnologie, a été fondé en 1999 à la demande du Cégep de Lévis et s’appuie sur ses programmes techniques en biotechnologies et chimie analytique. Organisme à but non lucratif, TransBIOTech se spécialise en démonstrations d’efficacité et d’innocuité sur des composés actifs naturels destinés aux...
INNOVATE® Detroit
M1 Concourse
The Heart of Automotive Passion
Along the legendary Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan, M1 Concourse is a world-class motorsports and automotive event destination. Spanning an impressive 87 acres, it is a hub for high-speed excitement and unmatched automotive culture. Whether you’re a dedicated car enthusiast, an adrenaline junkie looking for high-speed track adventures, or someone...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Pope Francis Center
Works Toward a Detroit Future Without Chronic Homelessness
“When we work together, miracles happen.” Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, says those words often. Fr. Tim, as he is known, is president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center (PFC), a Detroit nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness. PFC started humbly in 1990 when Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
MOVE THE NEEDLE
FOSTERING INCLUSIVE INNOVATION IN JERSEY CITY’S MELTING POT
In the vibrant heart of downtown Jersey City, a city that boasts one of the most diverse populations in the nation, Move The Needle at the Brand Experience Lab (a retail technology showroom) stands as a testament to the power of inclusive innovation. Founded by Jose Espinoza, a visionary entrepreneur...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
JÄLLE TECHNOLOGIES
TURNING BATTERY WASTE INTO THE WORLD’S THINNEST & STRONGEST MATERIAL
Jälle Technologies is tackling one of the fastest-growing technological and resource challenges: the tidal wave of spent lithium-ion batteries. As the world shifts towards electric mobility and renewable energy, millions of tons of used batteries are expected to flood the market by 2030. These batteries contain valuable metals such as...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
LIVLY
MODERN RESIDENT EXPERIENCE- Livly Offers Apartment Technology That Property Managers Use To Simplify Tasks And Elevate Resident Experiences
Livly, Inc. is revolutionizing apartment living & powering communities across the globe. Founded in Chicago in 2017, Livly has built the first unified enterprise-grade operating system tailored specifically for residential properties. The Livly operating system serves as the remote control for apartment living, connecting residents, guests, staff, and vendors with...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAIRE DIAMENT
HUMANIZING DIGITAL INNOVATION IN MENTAL HEALTH
The DIAMENT Chair is the strategic research chair of UQAM (University of Quebec in Montreal) in design for cybermental health. It is led by Professor Stéphane Vial. Mission and VisionEstablished in January 2020, the DIAMENT Chair is hosted by the School of Design at the University of Quebec in Montreal...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
TryCycle Data Systems
Simplicity Is Our Cutting Edge
Big problems don’t always require big solutions. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are the most subtle and nuanced. That’s exactly the approach that TryCycle Data Systems took when CEO John MacBeth of Ottawa, decided to tackle the huge problems associated with Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. Deconstructing...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
SourceFuse
Build Digital Ideas, Processes and Products
Through an approach that is as innovative as the projects it manages and supports, SourceFuse builds digital ideas, processes, and products tailored to help its clients realize their ideas in the truest sense of the word. SourceFuse, a technological jack-of-all-trades (and master of all of them), uses its own innovative...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVA SYSTEMS
Smart people, solving complex problems, making our world safe and secure
About Nova SystemsNova Systems is a 100% Australian owned and controlled engineering services and technology solutions company. Founded by two veterans – Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff – in 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia, the company now employs more than 1000 people globally in strategically located offices in Australia, New...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
ALERT LABS
SIMPLE BY DESIGN: HOW ALERT LABS MAKES WATER MANAGEMENT SMARTER
From the very beginning, Alert Labs set out to make things easier. Whether for building managers, property owners, or their own team, the goal was always to create solutions that customers would love to use and a company that people wanted to be part of. Alert Labs was founded in...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONQUER BUSINESS SCHOOL
THE BRAZILIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY IMPACTED MORE THAN 5 MILLION STUDENTS AND OVER 1000 C
CONQUER BUSINESS SCHOOL-THE BRAZILIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY IMPACTED MORE THAN 5 MILLION STUDENTS AND OVER 1000 COMPANIES Conquer Business School is a Brazilian Business School based in the city of Curitiba, which has already transformed the lives of more than 5 million students in over 100 countries. The...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
PEACE OF MEAT
RETHINKING MEAT FOR TOMORROW
The messy story behind meatBy 2030, we’ll reach a global population of almost 10 billion. Worldwide demand for food is soaring, and so is the demand for meat. Despite the growing popularity of plant-based diets, meat is still an important part of the daily menu across the globe. With good...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
bikeep
ESTONIA’S SMART SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL MICRO-MOBILITY
ESTONIA’S SMART SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL MICRO-MOBILITY The story of Bikeep begins with a painfully familiar urban problem—bike theft. As the story goes, a group of mechanical engineers, Kustas Kõiv, Meelis Haidak, Ott Reinhold, and Mikk Moses, experienced the frustration of having their bikes stolen. In response, they set out to...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
SOLVIS
PIONEERING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MEASUREMENT FROM ‘PSST’ TO TOUCHSCREEN
Solvis provides customized devices, kiosks, and a customer feedback and experience management platform. Solvis’ story has a unique start: In the late 90s, a customer voiced dissatisfaction with a toy shop in Curitiba. Initially dismissed as gossip, the complaint prompted the CEO of Solvis, Leonardo Vilas Boas Badotti, the former...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ROOMII
ROOMII’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ASPIRATIONAL FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME
Roomii is an online marketplace that lets you lease out your furniture to people who don’t want to own it. Our platform lets you earn a return on your furniture investment while helping people furnish their space short-term with quality pre-owned furniture. Roomii’s story began in the spring of 2020....
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™ Atlantic Canada
PolyUnity
Designing the Future of Healthcare: PolyUnity's 3D Printing Solutions
There are pivotal advances in healthcare when everything changes. For example, there is only before and after antibiotics and x-rays. Since the implementation of these innovations, we have never looked back. The same can be said for 3D Printing. PolyUnity Tech Inc., headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ECOPIA
CREATING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE EARTH LEVERAGING AI-BASED MAPPING SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE DECISION-MAKING
Since 2013, Ecopia AI has been on a mission to create a digital twin of the world using artificial intelligence (AI). Originally spun out of a Ph.D project at the University of Waterloo, Ecopia’s maps have grown from detailing a single small city to mapping entire continents while evolving from...