Stories of Innovation

DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE For over 30 years, Helmes has been a trusted partner in digital transformation, specializing in software engineering and consulting services. Headquartered in Estonia—a global leader in digital innovation—Helmes operates in 20 locations worldwide with a team of over 1,500 experts. The company...

Née en 2017 à Montréal, la Maison de l’innovation sociale (MIS) est un OBNL qui a comme mission d’éliminer les obstacles qui se dressent entre une idée à impact social et environnemental positif et sa mise en œuvre. En agissant spécifiquement sur la phase d’amorce d’initiatives à fort potentiel d’impact,...

Our Mission At Topstep, our goal is to be where the world goes to safely engage in and profit from the financial markets. In a nutshell, what we do at Topstep is break down the barriers to entry in what has historically been a very exclusive industry. Our mission is...

If you woke up with the opportunity to help empower the next generation of change makers, how would you maximize that opportunity? That’s the question we have the privilege of answering every day for our students. In the 150 years since Vanderbilt University’s founding, we’ve grown from a regional university into...

WHAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF DRONE CADETS? In 2016 Sgt. Tony Reid, was a corrections officer at Rikers Island, a jail in New York City, working with incarcerated adolescents 16 to 18 years old. For 8 long years, he witnessed first-hand the plight of young men of color who became...

It is possible to have fresher breath and a healthier mouth with a tongue cleaner. gunkii brings affordable luxury oral care to the market. Founded in May 2020, gunkii is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Jayesh and Nicole Parmar, who had the vision to offer a tongue scraper to help...

When the first bell rings at Daniel Morgan Technology Center (DMTC), students step into a unique learning environment that mirrors the workplaces of the future. Some don welding helmets, while others dive into graphic design software. Meanwhile, a group in securities and investments eagerly awaits the Stock Market bell to...

REI Co-op believes the vibrancy of the outdoor industry depends on the economic mobility and contributions of diverse communities as customers and creators. In 2020, we accelerated our efforts to advance racial equity across every piece of our business and wanted to set bold goals towards diversifying our supplier base,...

In a world where health and wellbeing often seem like luxuries reserved for a privileged few, Therme Group US is on a mission to change that narrative. With over two decades of experience, the Therme Group is redefining the concept of wellbeing, making it accessible, relaxing, and fun for people...

Halcyon, a non-profit incubator for early-stage start-ups, stands as a lighthouse of innovation. It is a unique and impactful organization dedicated to fostering the growth and development of impact-driven businesses. Halcyon accelerates the future of business by focusing on ventures that integrate a social mission into their core that also...

SnapScan is more than just a smartphone app. It’s a contactless, mobile payment solution that makes it easy and safe to pay and receive payments in a store, online, at home, and on the go.   Our storyFounded in 2013, SnapScan gained traction at markets and coffee shops in Stellenbosch....

“Vital envisions a future where AI and human expertise unite to empower personal growth, creating a seamless path to complete well-being.” In today’s fast-paced world, individuals face constant pressures that can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of overwhelm. Vital was created to address these challenges head-on, offering AI-driven...

“When we launched Fuel Venture Capital in 2017, a lot of people thought we were crazy,” Fuel Venture Capital’s Founding Partner and Managing Director Jeff Ransdell has often been quoted as saying. He’s not wrong. Back then, #MiamiTech wasn’t even a thought. But, now less than even years in, Fuel...

Challenges in the bio-food sector are complex and exacerbated by significant threats such as climate change and social inequalities. It is critical to be concerned about the impact of our food choices on society and the environment. Fostering access to a healthy, varied and sustainable food while supporting the growth...

BrainHi is an artificial intelligence company based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. BrainHi’s mission is to accelerate the transition of healthcare organizations to a fully digital patient experience. BrainHi’s primary objectives are to help healthcare providers: BrainHi was founded in 2017 by Emmanuel and Israel, 2 engineers from the University...

Where do brands and marketers look to understand middle-class consumers go to find actionable, realistic, useful data? That was the question the team at WhyFive Insights asked almost a decade ago when they launched a unique annual survey and data set called BrandMapp. “We were working in media at the...

Spearheading Workplace Innovation Globally As the pioneering innovation lab and venture capital arm of SHRM, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., SHRMLabs drives the development of revolutionary and ethical technologies tailored to solve pressing real-world workplace challenges. By connecting a global community of over 325,000 HR professionals with leading startups and innovators...

The Estonian material technology company KIUD, founded in 2022, is addressing two major global waste problems simultaneously: textile waste and packaging waste. The company has developed a patented mechanical process to transform synthetic and mixed textile waste into rigid, reusable packaging — offering a sustainable alternative to cardboard and plastic....

“Our vision is to revolutionize the built environment by using3D scanning technology to enhance how facilities train their staff, manage their assets, and collaborate online.” Named after the Greek word for “eagle” (αετός) we believe that clear sight is the medium through which learning, navigation, safety, and collaboration are most...

In Lesotho for over 50 years and has programmes and a physical presence at district level. INTRODUCTION: Currently WFP has three field offices located in Mohale’s Hoek, Mokhotlong and Thaba-tseka districts. WFP has ongoing programmes in all the 10 districts of Lesotho: 1) the National School Feeding Programme, implemented in...

Codeworks began in 1995 when Mark Theisen, a software developer, recognized the need for a software development consulting firm that provided high-level quality talent at reasonable rates. There was a lot of competition popping up in the IT consulting industry at the time, but he saw companies that were inefficient...

Established in 2010 as the incarnation of the South African venture capital division of ‘Here Be Dragons’ – a privately owned emerging market investment group founded by internet entrepreneur and cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth. By leveraging knowledge, networks & funding, Knife Capital accelerates the international expansion of entrepreneurial businesses that achieved...

Celebrating 30-years of democratizing implants treatment in Brazil, the company advances in developing solutions to make oral health accessible to the population. “In the 1990s, over a third of the Brazilian population couldn’t even dream of properly taking care of their oral health, let alone consider dental implants,” declares Geninho...

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....