Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONNECTPLUG
RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE
2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
LAQUILA
QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN TWO WHEELS
Laquila was founded in 1980, with a small 100m² store, focused on selling motorcycle parts, in Rio Grande do Sul. With determination and a vision of the future, they expanded to 200m² and, later, to an even larger space, adopting the wholesale model. After 12 years in the capital of...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
V ARCHITECTURE
PURSUING EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN - In its pursuit of excellence, V Architecture continues to innovate, lead, make headlines, and push boundaries.
Anyone can be an architect, but few can be visionaries, as brilliant architecture can translate the needs, desires, and language of a brand into a physical space that is efficient, beautiful, and ultimately, well built. This is what clients have come to expect from V Architecture. It’s no secret that...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)
STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!
En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
TRIBE NETWORK
IS BUILDINGA GLOBAL NETWORK OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS FOR RACIALIZED PEOPLE.
Tribe Network is a community of racialized people pursuing technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. They envision a world where Black, Indigenous, and people of colour are at the forefront of these disciplines, fully armed with the knowledge, resources, skills, and connections they need to start, build, and scale thriving businesses. TRIBE...
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
ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE
THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN
Blythedale Coastal Estate is a catalytic development with a makeup of near 5,000 residential opportunities including 350 retirement opportunities, Mega Retail and Mega Beach Resort Hotel and Entertainment Developments. The Development is on prime real estate on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and will boast schools, sports and more...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ROCKET
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NICHE INNOVATION AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Having started in 2019 as a web-only reality show for local startups, Rocket has now developed into a full universe of multi-platform content and unforgettable live experiences with the goal to foment, give visibility, and highlight the positive impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in everyone’s lives. Though an important topic...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
HAX
SOLVING HARD PROBLEMS WITH HARD TECH
SOSV’S HAX is the world’s most active early stage investor in hard tech – the difficult to build physical tech at the forefront of science and engineering in disciplines like robotics, material science, and chemistry. Many investors have shied away from hard tech, and the last 30 years of the...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SEARCY FINANCIAL
REDEFINING FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE MODERN ERA
In an industry often defined by numbers, Searcy Financial Services stands apart by focusing on people. Founded in 1976 and independently owned by second-generation leaders Jessica Kmetty, Marc Shaffer, John Fales, and Ryan Brooke, the firm has built a reputation not just for managing wealth, but for helping people make...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ESTONIAN WEB3 CHAMBER
FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY PIONEERS TO GLOBAL WEB3 ADVOCATES
The story of the Estonian Web3 Chamber reflects the turbulent yet transformative journey of the digital asset industry in Estonia and beyond. Established more than a decade ago, the organisation has been at the heart of regulatory dialogue, industry representation, and international knowledge-sharing. Its evolution from the Estonian Cryptocurrency Association...
INNOVATION Quebec
L’AQT
AU CŒUR DE L’INNOVATION TECHNO-NUMÉRIQUE DU QUÉBEC
Transformatrice, innovatrice et perturbatrice. L’industrie techno est devenue un moteur stratégique de l’économie, une partie intégrante du mode de fonctionnement de notre société. Avec l’essor de l’intelligence artificielle, de la 5G, des appareils intelligents, des mégadonnées, des modes de travail asynchrones, entre autres technologies émergentes, on peut s’attendre à une...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Startups Use Incentives to Build Adoption
Startups rarely grow because a product exists. They grow when people understand the value quickly enough to try it, return to it and tell others about it. That first step is often the hardest. Even strong products face hesitation from users who are busy, cautious or already loyal to existing...
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,...
INNOVATION Quebec
AG-BIO CENTRE
A BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR FUTURE NEEDS
Within the technology complex at the Cégep de Lévis, AG-Bio Centre occupies a unique place in the world of innovative business incubators in Quebec. This incubator created in 2002, with the aim of producing a structure combining science and business, is the result of the collaboration and partnership between the...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
VITAL
The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing
“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...
INNOVATE® South Florida
South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA)
PROGRESS AND INNOVATION CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH FLORIDA MANUFACTURING
PROGRESS AND INNOVATION CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH FLORIDA MANUFACTURING South Florida has long been a hub for innovation, but its manufacturing industry has undergone a transformative shift in recent years. Spearheaded by the South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA),this shift reflects the region’s growing commitment to modernization, sustainability,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SIWA THERAPEUTICS
We Founded SIWA, Drawing Upon An Understanding Of Aging And The AGEs, To Combat Cancer
SIWA Therapeutics, Inc. has developed 318H, a monoclonal antibody that we believe can become a broadly effective cancer immunotherapeutic. Most recently, we showed that 318H enabled complete remission of pancreatic cancer in vivo in humanized mice – we hope to file an IND application for pancreatic cancer next year. Our...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ROOFIT.SOLAR
INNOVATING FOR A COOLER PLANET
A Global Mission for Sustainability Roofit.Solar, an Estonia-based company, is transforming the global energy landscape with its mission: “For a cooler planet.” Founded on the principles of sustainability and innovation, Roofit.Solar seamlessly combines cutting-edge solar technology with high-quality metal roofing to offer a visually appealing and energy-efficient solution. Global Reach...
INNOVATE® South Florida
LEVATAS
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION The AI platform and model library from Levatas enables mobile robots, autonomous drones and unmanned submersibles to understand what they’re seeing in our customer’s dynamic, real-world environments, alerting human co-workers to potential safety, security, and maintenance anomalies. These automated inspection solutions keep humans out of...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
Comunidades Innovadoras de Madrid - La Primera Ola de la Cultura del Café en Madrid
Comunidades Innovadoras de Madrid – Madrid se ha recuperado desde principios de la década de 2010 con espíritu empresarial e innovación, desafiando incluso las tradiciones más esenciales, incluida la forma en que se procesa, consume y se ama el café. Hace solo siete años, la escena del café de Madrid...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Design Core Detroit
Plays a Critical Role in Amplifying the Impact of Detroit’s Innovation Community
With over a century of innovation in automobiles, a groundbreaking music scene, amazing architecture and one-of-a-kind fashion labels, DETROIT has long been a place where technical possibility meets great design. Few creative communities truly match the diversity and depth of Detroit’s design roots: a fact well reflected by its designation...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Path Ahead Ventures
Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is focused on ensuring the outdoor industry reflects the true diversity of the people who love, protect, and share life outside.
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,...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONNECTPLUG
RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE
2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
LAQUILA
QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN TWO WHEELS
Laquila was founded in 1980, with a small 100m² store, focused on selling motorcycle parts, in Rio Grande do Sul. With determination and a vision of the future, they expanded to 200m² and, later, to an even larger space, adopting the wholesale model. After 12 years in the capital of...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
V ARCHITECTURE
PURSUING EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN - In its pursuit of excellence, V Architecture continues to innovate, lead, make headlines, and push boundaries.
Anyone can be an architect, but few can be visionaries, as brilliant architecture can translate the needs, desires, and language of a brand into a physical space that is efficient, beautiful, and ultimately, well built. This is what clients have come to expect from V Architecture. It’s no secret that...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)
STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!
En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
TRIBE NETWORK
IS BUILDINGA GLOBAL NETWORK OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS FOR RACIALIZED PEOPLE.
Tribe Network is a community of racialized people pursuing technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. They envision a world where Black, Indigenous, and people of colour are at the forefront of these disciplines, fully armed with the knowledge, resources, skills, and connections they need to start, build, and scale thriving businesses. TRIBE...
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
ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE
THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN
Blythedale Coastal Estate is a catalytic development with a makeup of near 5,000 residential opportunities including 350 retirement opportunities, Mega Retail and Mega Beach Resort Hotel and Entertainment Developments. The Development is on prime real estate on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and will boast schools, sports and more...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ROCKET
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NICHE INNOVATION AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Having started in 2019 as a web-only reality show for local startups, Rocket has now developed into a full universe of multi-platform content and unforgettable live experiences with the goal to foment, give visibility, and highlight the positive impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in everyone’s lives. Though an important topic...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
HAX
SOLVING HARD PROBLEMS WITH HARD TECH
SOSV’S HAX is the world’s most active early stage investor in hard tech – the difficult to build physical tech at the forefront of science and engineering in disciplines like robotics, material science, and chemistry. Many investors have shied away from hard tech, and the last 30 years of the...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SEARCY FINANCIAL
REDEFINING FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE MODERN ERA
In an industry often defined by numbers, Searcy Financial Services stands apart by focusing on people. Founded in 1976 and independently owned by second-generation leaders Jessica Kmetty, Marc Shaffer, John Fales, and Ryan Brooke, the firm has built a reputation not just for managing wealth, but for helping people make...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ESTONIAN WEB3 CHAMBER
FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY PIONEERS TO GLOBAL WEB3 ADVOCATES
The story of the Estonian Web3 Chamber reflects the turbulent yet transformative journey of the digital asset industry in Estonia and beyond. Established more than a decade ago, the organisation has been at the heart of regulatory dialogue, industry representation, and international knowledge-sharing. Its evolution from the Estonian Cryptocurrency Association...
INNOVATION Quebec
L’AQT
AU CŒUR DE L’INNOVATION TECHNO-NUMÉRIQUE DU QUÉBEC
Transformatrice, innovatrice et perturbatrice. L’industrie techno est devenue un moteur stratégique de l’économie, une partie intégrante du mode de fonctionnement de notre société. Avec l’essor de l’intelligence artificielle, de la 5G, des appareils intelligents, des mégadonnées, des modes de travail asynchrones, entre autres technologies émergentes, on peut s’attendre à une...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Startups Use Incentives to Build Adoption
Startups rarely grow because a product exists. They grow when people understand the value quickly enough to try it, return to it and tell others about it. That first step is often the hardest. Even strong products face hesitation from users who are busy, cautious or already loyal to existing...
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,...
INNOVATION Quebec
AG-BIO CENTRE
A BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR FUTURE NEEDS
Within the technology complex at the Cégep de Lévis, AG-Bio Centre occupies a unique place in the world of innovative business incubators in Quebec. This incubator created in 2002, with the aim of producing a structure combining science and business, is the result of the collaboration and partnership between the...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
VITAL
The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing
“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...
INNOVATE® South Florida
South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA)
PROGRESS AND INNOVATION CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH FLORIDA MANUFACTURING
PROGRESS AND INNOVATION CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH FLORIDA MANUFACTURING South Florida has long been a hub for innovation, but its manufacturing industry has undergone a transformative shift in recent years. Spearheaded by the South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA),this shift reflects the region’s growing commitment to modernization, sustainability,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SIWA THERAPEUTICS
We Founded SIWA, Drawing Upon An Understanding Of Aging And The AGEs, To Combat Cancer
SIWA Therapeutics, Inc. has developed 318H, a monoclonal antibody that we believe can become a broadly effective cancer immunotherapeutic. Most recently, we showed that 318H enabled complete remission of pancreatic cancer in vivo in humanized mice – we hope to file an IND application for pancreatic cancer next year. Our...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ROOFIT.SOLAR
INNOVATING FOR A COOLER PLANET
A Global Mission for Sustainability Roofit.Solar, an Estonia-based company, is transforming the global energy landscape with its mission: “For a cooler planet.” Founded on the principles of sustainability and innovation, Roofit.Solar seamlessly combines cutting-edge solar technology with high-quality metal roofing to offer a visually appealing and energy-efficient solution. Global Reach...
INNOVATE® South Florida
LEVATAS
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION The AI platform and model library from Levatas enables mobile robots, autonomous drones and unmanned submersibles to understand what they’re seeing in our customer’s dynamic, real-world environments, alerting human co-workers to potential safety, security, and maintenance anomalies. These automated inspection solutions keep humans out of...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
Comunidades Innovadoras de Madrid - La Primera Ola de la Cultura del Café en Madrid
Comunidades Innovadoras de Madrid – Madrid se ha recuperado desde principios de la década de 2010 con espíritu empresarial e innovación, desafiando incluso las tradiciones más esenciales, incluida la forma en que se procesa, consume y se ama el café. Hace solo siete años, la escena del café de Madrid...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Design Core Detroit
Plays a Critical Role in Amplifying the Impact of Detroit’s Innovation Community
With over a century of innovation in automobiles, a groundbreaking music scene, amazing architecture and one-of-a-kind fashion labels, DETROIT has long been a place where technical possibility meets great design. Few creative communities truly match the diversity and depth of Detroit’s design roots: a fact well reflected by its designation...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Path Ahead Ventures
Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is focused on ensuring the outdoor industry reflects the true diversity of the people who love, protect, and share life outside.
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,...