Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

Agricultural Software Trends Transforming Industry in 2025 and Beyond

Agtech is changing farming in exciting ways by using smart digital tools and machines to solve old problems. Farmers today face higher costs, fewer workers, and more pressure to farm in ways that protect the environment. To handle these challenges, more farms are using agtech than ever before. At the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Potluck

And the Reimagining of Social Tech

In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Wander Media Company - Kate Strickland: Founder

When visitors arrive in destinations like Nashville, Las Vegas, or Boston, they know exactly what to expect. Whether it’s the music, the nightlife, or the culture, these epicenters of travel and tourism always deliver. Wander has effectively become visitors’ go-to resource for where to eat, drink, shop, and play. –...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’INSTITUT D’IA APPLIQUÉE DE CONCORDIA (IA2)

L’INSTITUT D’IA APPLIQUÉE DE CONCORDIA (IA2) EST UNE UNITÉ DE RECHERCHE APPLIQUÉE MULTIDISCIPLINAIRE QUI REPRÉSENTE PLUS DE 120 PROFESSEURS ET LEURS ÉTUDIANTS GRADUÉS AFFILIÉS AUX 4 FACULTÉS DE L’UNIVERSITÉ CONCORDIA : ARTS ET SCIENCES, BEAUX ARTS, ÉCOLE DE GÉNIE ET D’INFORMATIQUE GINA CODY, ET ÉCOLE DE GESTION JOHN MOLSON. Organisés...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

INDUVER

insuring your company – intensely involved

INDUVER SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS AND COMPANIES IN CONTROLLING THE RISKS THAT ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. INTENSELY INVOLVED IS WHAT WE PROMISE AND ARE. In a changing world, the right insurance forms a solid foundation for companies and employees. For more than 30 years, induver is the insurance broker for companies,...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

LAUNCH PAD JOB CLUB

LAUNCH PAD JOB CLUB

To Create A Career Networking Community That Provides Professional Resources, Accountability, And Growth For All

COMMUNITY.That is what Launch Pad Job Club offers to the job seeker. We offer a supportive community to bolster the job seeker who may have just been laid off and is experiencing a real “deer in the headlights” moment. Or maybe that job seeker has been off the job market...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

HERAN PARTNERS & THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

HERAN PARTNERS & THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE -HERAN PARTNERS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 WITH THE MISSION TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE BY FOCUSSING ON DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION ON THE VERGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND DATA

HERAN PARTNERS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 WITH THE MISSION TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE BY FOCUSSING ON DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION ON THE VERGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND DATA

HERAN empowered and took the investment experience and track record of its founders into the future. As an investment firm active in the Venture Capital space, HERAN aims to fuel growth of innovative technologies by supporting start-ups & scale-ups. HERAN’s sole focus lies within the healthcare market with investments ranging...

INNOVATION Quebec

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR IN SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND CITIES

We envision next-generation communities as zero-emission, livable, affordable, equitable and inclusive environments

Zero-emission communities require largescale electrification, retrofitting buildings, integrating renewable energy, developing sustainable mobility concepts, implementing green industry solutions, and transforming cities in a human-centered way. Furthermore, those next-generation communities should be affordable, mixed and inclusive, providing all essential services within walking distance. This also means easy access to green spaces,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDVALLEY

REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education platform, serving over 20 million students across the globe. Its mission is ambitious yet profoundly simple: to transform education by teaching the skills that truly matter for human flourishing – from mindset and well-being to leadership and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2003 by...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PIPELINE ENTREPRENEURS

A MIDWEST MOVEMENT WITH GLOBAL REACH

Kansas City has long been a center of industry and grit. In recent years, it has also proven itself to be a center of innovation. Pipeline Entrepreneurs sits at the heart of that shift. Founded in 2007, the organization supports the Midwest’s most driven founders and proves that world-class companies...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

EVERYDAY SPEAK

EVERYDAY SPEAK CREATIVITY WILL MAKE THE 21ST CENTURY AFRICA’S CENTURY

CREATIVITY WILL MAKE THE 21ST CENTURY AFRICA’S CENTURY

Founded in 2017, by Melusi Tshabalala (creative professional, entrepreneur, author, speaker, humourist, language & culture activist), Everyday Speak is a culture, dialogue, language activism, advertising and design company. Driven by the ethos – Creativity can make the 21st century Africa’s century – Everyday Speak develops ideas and solutions that touch...

INNOVATE® South Florida

SUSTAINABASE

INNOVATING FOR THE PLANET TO EMPOWER GLOBAL AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

SUSTAINABASE, A CARBON ACCOUNTING SOLUTION, EMPOWERS COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES TO DE-RISK IN THE GROWING LOW-CARBON ECONOMY. In the heart of South Florida, often cited as ground zero for climate change and a burgeoning climate tech hub, SustainaBase stands out as a beacon of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Founded on the...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

DREAMCRAFT

We Are Hands-On Venture Engineers Who Support Dreamers And Crafters Building Legendary Companies

At Dreamcraft, we invest in European tech-driven companies from pre-seed to Series A. We are generalists with a proven track record in iGaming, gaming, esports, D2C, B2B SaaS, and decarbonization. We believe success is created by a team of dreamers and crafters – and we are venture engineers who help...

INNOVATE® Maryland

ICaPath

Delivering and tracking immunotherapy with nano level precision

ICaPath is an emerging biotechnology company headquartered at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) in Baltimore, MD, leveraging this premier academic ecosystem to advance a disruptive nanoparticle-based drug delivery platform. Our core therapeutic asset utilizes biocompatible PLGA nanoparticles to encapsulate highly potent cytokines, small molecules, and genetic constructs. Paired with our...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

IMPACT BUILDERS

TOWARDS A RESILIENT AND HUMAN-CENTERED EUROPE

Europe stands at a turning point. Global supply chains are increasingly shaped by geopolitical shifts, critical technologies are still developed elsewhere, and many European industries struggle with succession and growth. To safeguard prosperity, the continent needs to build its own strength. A Europe-first economy means homegrown technologies, resilient supply chains,...

INNOVATION Quebec

CATALIS Québec

CATALIS Québec-Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique

Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique, est déterminée à positionner le Québec sur l’échiquier mondial de la recherche clinique

Portée par un mandat gouvernemental et appuyée par le ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie et le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, CATALIS est un berceau d’innovation en recherche clinique. L’OBNL, créé en 2017, entreprend le mandat audacieux d’optimiser l’environnement de la recherche clinique au...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

Bank Zero

A SIMPLE YET ADVANCED DIGITAL BANK, FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Bank Zero is a unique and powerful App-based bank with Zero fees and a patented secure card. It caters for both individuals and businesses. Digital, social and financial connectedness is a reality and it’s also a very human trait. Bank Zero supports this directly in its innovative design. By friending...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

BIGGINS LACEY SHAPIRO & CO

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COMPANIES AND THEIR SITE SELECTION NEEDS THROUGH LOCATION ECONOMICS®

OUR STORYBiggins Lacy Shapiro & Company (BLS & Co.) is one of the largest independent firms in the specialty fields of site selection and economic development incentives advisory services. Our principals have been delivering our mix of services for more than twenty-five years and arehighly respected leaders in their field....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC SBDC

Supporting the visionaries whose innovations have the power to transform lives and shape the future.

The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) advances the state’s economic development by providing entrepreneurs world-class consulting services, access to a wellspring of resources and affordable training programs. The SC SBDC operates as a cohesive network, offering clients at every stage of the business lifecycle (from pre-venture and...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

AEROMETREX

FROM ADELAIDE TO THE SKIES: BUILDING SPATIAL TECH FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE

Aerometrex is a geospatial technology company focused on providing data and derived insights for a range of applications. Launched in 1980, the company is a preferred supplier of aerial imagery, 3D models and LiDAR data for both the public & private sectors. The company is headquartered in Adelaide and stands...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

RUTGERS RESEARCH

Complex societal challenges require innovative solutions that transform and improve lives around the world. As a top 20 public research university with more than 300 research centers and institutions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers a wide variety of programs that drive and support diverse and inclusive research,...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INSTASHIELD

INSTASHIELD-Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family

Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family

INSTASHIELD FILLS PPE SHORTAGE, DONATES 1 MILLION SHIELDS TO PEOPLE IN NEED InstaShield™ is a new kind of face shield that ships flat and is folded to fit over a cap or visor. The company was founded in March 2020 by Dan Brown Jr. to help fill the nation’s PPE...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Clark Construction

Building Better Through Proven Experience and Constant Innovation

Cities rise through ambition. Skylines shift as new towers rise, campuses expand, and transportation networks stretch further into the future. Behind many of these complex developments stands Clark Group, a company that has spent more than a century delivering assets that shape how communities live and work. With roots in...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Agricultural Software Trends Transforming Industry in 2025 and Beyond

Agtech is changing farming in exciting ways by using smart digital tools and machines to solve old problems. Farmers today face higher costs, fewer workers, and more pressure to farm in ways that protect the environment. To handle these challenges, more farms are using agtech than ever before. At the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Potluck

And the Reimagining of Social Tech

In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Wander Media Company - Kate Strickland: Founder

When visitors arrive in destinations like Nashville, Las Vegas, or Boston, they know exactly what to expect. Whether it’s the music, the nightlife, or the culture, these epicenters of travel and tourism always deliver. Wander has effectively become visitors’ go-to resource for where to eat, drink, shop, and play. –...

INNOVATION Quebec

L’INSTITUT D’IA APPLIQUÉE DE CONCORDIA (IA2)

L’INSTITUT D’IA APPLIQUÉE DE CONCORDIA (IA2) EST UNE UNITÉ DE RECHERCHE APPLIQUÉE MULTIDISCIPLINAIRE QUI REPRÉSENTE PLUS DE 120 PROFESSEURS ET LEURS ÉTUDIANTS GRADUÉS AFFILIÉS AUX 4 FACULTÉS DE L’UNIVERSITÉ CONCORDIA : ARTS ET SCIENCES, BEAUX ARTS, ÉCOLE DE GÉNIE ET D’INFORMATIQUE GINA CODY, ET ÉCOLE DE GESTION JOHN MOLSON. Organisés...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

INDUVER

insuring your company – intensely involved

INDUVER SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS AND COMPANIES IN CONTROLLING THE RISKS THAT ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. INTENSELY INVOLVED IS WHAT WE PROMISE AND ARE. In a changing world, the right insurance forms a solid foundation for companies and employees. For more than 30 years, induver is the insurance broker for companies,...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

LAUNCH PAD JOB CLUB

LAUNCH PAD JOB CLUB

To Create A Career Networking Community That Provides Professional Resources, Accountability, And Growth For All

COMMUNITY.That is what Launch Pad Job Club offers to the job seeker. We offer a supportive community to bolster the job seeker who may have just been laid off and is experiencing a real “deer in the headlights” moment. Or maybe that job seeker has been off the job market...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

HERAN PARTNERS & THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

HERAN PARTNERS & THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE -HERAN PARTNERS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 WITH THE MISSION TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE BY FOCUSSING ON DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION ON THE VERGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND DATA

HERAN PARTNERS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 WITH THE MISSION TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE BY FOCUSSING ON DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION ON THE VERGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND DATA

HERAN empowered and took the investment experience and track record of its founders into the future. As an investment firm active in the Venture Capital space, HERAN aims to fuel growth of innovative technologies by supporting start-ups & scale-ups. HERAN’s sole focus lies within the healthcare market with investments ranging...

INNOVATION Quebec

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR IN SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND CITIES

We envision next-generation communities as zero-emission, livable, affordable, equitable and inclusive environments

Zero-emission communities require largescale electrification, retrofitting buildings, integrating renewable energy, developing sustainable mobility concepts, implementing green industry solutions, and transforming cities in a human-centered way. Furthermore, those next-generation communities should be affordable, mixed and inclusive, providing all essential services within walking distance. This also means easy access to green spaces,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDVALLEY

REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education platform, serving over 20 million students across the globe. Its mission is ambitious yet profoundly simple: to transform education by teaching the skills that truly matter for human flourishing – from mindset and well-being to leadership and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2003 by...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

PIPELINE ENTREPRENEURS

A MIDWEST MOVEMENT WITH GLOBAL REACH

Kansas City has long been a center of industry and grit. In recent years, it has also proven itself to be a center of innovation. Pipeline Entrepreneurs sits at the heart of that shift. Founded in 2007, the organization supports the Midwest’s most driven founders and proves that world-class companies...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

EVERYDAY SPEAK

EVERYDAY SPEAK CREATIVITY WILL MAKE THE 21ST CENTURY AFRICA’S CENTURY

CREATIVITY WILL MAKE THE 21ST CENTURY AFRICA’S CENTURY

Founded in 2017, by Melusi Tshabalala (creative professional, entrepreneur, author, speaker, humourist, language & culture activist), Everyday Speak is a culture, dialogue, language activism, advertising and design company. Driven by the ethos – Creativity can make the 21st century Africa’s century – Everyday Speak develops ideas and solutions that touch...

INNOVATE® South Florida

SUSTAINABASE

INNOVATING FOR THE PLANET TO EMPOWER GLOBAL AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

SUSTAINABASE, A CARBON ACCOUNTING SOLUTION, EMPOWERS COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES TO DE-RISK IN THE GROWING LOW-CARBON ECONOMY. In the heart of South Florida, often cited as ground zero for climate change and a burgeoning climate tech hub, SustainaBase stands out as a beacon of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Founded on the...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

DREAMCRAFT

We Are Hands-On Venture Engineers Who Support Dreamers And Crafters Building Legendary Companies

At Dreamcraft, we invest in European tech-driven companies from pre-seed to Series A. We are generalists with a proven track record in iGaming, gaming, esports, D2C, B2B SaaS, and decarbonization. We believe success is created by a team of dreamers and crafters – and we are venture engineers who help...

INNOVATE® Maryland

ICaPath

Delivering and tracking immunotherapy with nano level precision

ICaPath is an emerging biotechnology company headquartered at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) in Baltimore, MD, leveraging this premier academic ecosystem to advance a disruptive nanoparticle-based drug delivery platform. Our core therapeutic asset utilizes biocompatible PLGA nanoparticles to encapsulate highly potent cytokines, small molecules, and genetic constructs. Paired with our...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

IMPACT BUILDERS

TOWARDS A RESILIENT AND HUMAN-CENTERED EUROPE

Europe stands at a turning point. Global supply chains are increasingly shaped by geopolitical shifts, critical technologies are still developed elsewhere, and many European industries struggle with succession and growth. To safeguard prosperity, the continent needs to build its own strength. A Europe-first economy means homegrown technologies, resilient supply chains,...

INNOVATION Quebec

CATALIS Québec

CATALIS Québec-Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique

Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique, est déterminée à positionner le Québec sur l’échiquier mondial de la recherche clinique

Portée par un mandat gouvernemental et appuyée par le ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie et le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, CATALIS est un berceau d’innovation en recherche clinique. L’OBNL, créé en 2017, entreprend le mandat audacieux d’optimiser l’environnement de la recherche clinique au...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

Bank Zero

A SIMPLE YET ADVANCED DIGITAL BANK, FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Bank Zero is a unique and powerful App-based bank with Zero fees and a patented secure card. It caters for both individuals and businesses. Digital, social and financial connectedness is a reality and it’s also a very human trait. Bank Zero supports this directly in its innovative design. By friending...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

BIGGINS LACEY SHAPIRO & CO

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COMPANIES AND THEIR SITE SELECTION NEEDS THROUGH LOCATION ECONOMICS®

OUR STORYBiggins Lacy Shapiro & Company (BLS & Co.) is one of the largest independent firms in the specialty fields of site selection and economic development incentives advisory services. Our principals have been delivering our mix of services for more than twenty-five years and arehighly respected leaders in their field....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC SBDC

Supporting the visionaries whose innovations have the power to transform lives and shape the future.

The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) advances the state’s economic development by providing entrepreneurs world-class consulting services, access to a wellspring of resources and affordable training programs. The SC SBDC operates as a cohesive network, offering clients at every stage of the business lifecycle (from pre-venture and...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

AEROMETREX

FROM ADELAIDE TO THE SKIES: BUILDING SPATIAL TECH FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE

Aerometrex is a geospatial technology company focused on providing data and derived insights for a range of applications. Launched in 1980, the company is a preferred supplier of aerial imagery, 3D models and LiDAR data for both the public & private sectors. The company is headquartered in Adelaide and stands...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

RUTGERS RESEARCH

Complex societal challenges require innovative solutions that transform and improve lives around the world. As a top 20 public research university with more than 300 research centers and institutions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers a wide variety of programs that drive and support diverse and inclusive research,...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INSTASHIELD

INSTASHIELD-Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family

Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family

INSTASHIELD FILLS PPE SHORTAGE, DONATES 1 MILLION SHIELDS TO PEOPLE IN NEED InstaShield™ is a new kind of face shield that ships flat and is folded to fit over a cap or visor. The company was founded in March 2020 by Dan Brown Jr. to help fill the nation’s PPE...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Clark Construction

Building Better Through Proven Experience and Constant Innovation

Cities rise through ambition. Skylines shift as new towers rise, campuses expand, and transportation networks stretch further into the future. Behind many of these complex developments stands Clark Group, a company that has spent more than a century delivering assets that shape how communities live and work. With roots in...

Ecosystems