Stories of Innovation

History & PurposeREPAY was founded in 2006 by John Morris and Shaler Alias with the goal of providing fast, frictionless, and fail-safe integrated payment processing solutions for consumers and businesses. Morris serves as REPAY’s CEO to this day, and Alias co-leads as president from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta. REPAY’s...

Venture for Canada is a national charity that fosters the entrepreneurial skills and mindset of young Canadians. We recruit, train, and support young people to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups. Participants develop the network, knowledge, and entrepreneurial skills to have more impactful careers through our programs. In...

Like Benjamin Franklin knotting a key to a kite in a lightning storm, today’s AI researchers are unlocking technology that is reshaping our world. From quantum neural networks and natural language processing, to AI for drug discovery, the path to future innovations and commercialization is charted by a small subset...

More than 20 years ago Mikael Ahlström found a large, character-filled space in central Stockholm that was far bigger than he needed for his own companies. Instead of scaling down, he invited friends, collaborators, and other entrepreneurs to join him to share the rent. The results were immediate: projects multiplied,...

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...

There is an expectation that Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) will play a significant role in the future of transport. They have the potential to address critical safety issues associated with human-driven vehicles, and to increase accessibility and inclusivity, addressing some of the broader socio-economic challenges faced by an ageing...

The InnovationFounded in 2024, the Capital Workforce Innovation Consortium is a Next Generation Sector Partnership formed by the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) and convened by BuildWithin. This initiative serves as an engine for aligning local talent with market demands through robust public-private partnerships, particularly in the...

In just three decades, Estonia has built a thriving liberal democracy and the world’s most advanced digital society. Estonia gives the world in flux an example to follow. Succeeding at change is Estonia’s superpower. 100% digital. 0% bureaucracy. Known globally for e-governance and the e-Residency programme, Estonia also boasts the...

OCTOPODZ: REVOLUTIONIZING OCEAN ENERGY WITH MIXED-MODE MARINE POWER SOLUTIONS NEPTUNYA, an innovator in marine renewable energy, is transforming the future of ocean-based power with its OCTOPODZ energy converter—a groundbreaking device combining wind and wave power to deliver affordable and reliable offshore energy. As part of its ongoing development, NEPTUNYA will...

Founded with the vision of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship,the UMKC Innovation Center was established in 2003 to transform Kansas City into a thriving hub of entrepreneurial activity. The center’s purpose is to nurture and support entrepreneurs, from fledgling startups to established businesses, by providing vital resources, coaching, and connections. By...

Stockholm has firmly established itself as one of the world’s most dynamic innovation and technology hubs. Known for its thriving startup ecosystem, cutting-edge research, and a strong culture of collaboration, the Swedish capital consistently ranks among the top cities for entrepreneurship and technological advancement. With a highly educated workforce, a...

At Wipro Brazil, we are not just a technology company; we are pioneers, charting new territories in the digital world. Our story is woven into the fabric of Brazil’s technological revolution, a journey marked by relentless ambition and a commitment to transform the nation into a more digital and connected...

Founded in 1889, Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 35 offices throughout the world. The Firm’s lawyers provide representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with efficient access to...

WE THRIVE ON COLLABORATION Public-private partnerships are how we do business. Our established clusters — Automotive, Production Technology/Heavy Machinery, Advanced Materials, Life Sciences, Business Services and Fintech — provide a solid foundation for a resilient economy. Our fastest-growing cluster, Life Sciences, increased by 33% over the past five years. We’re...

Playmaker Recruiting was born from the broken system that is college athlete recruiting, with the mission to help students and coaches navigate the complicated recruiting process, and provide greater access to opportunities at the next level. Having seen friends and family go through the college recruiting process, it was apparent...

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...

CIC is an established platform that enhances a location’s innovation infrastructure and creates a physical center of gravity. As a vehicle that transforms an economic development opportunity into a mature innovation hub, CIC’s mission is to fix the world through innovation by creating and managing developing multifaceted communities that support...

In Victoriaville, a team of agronomists, biologists and technicians is striving to develop clean and modern agricultural production methods. Affiliated with the Cégep de Victoriaville and with an influence in several regions in Quebec, the Centre d’expertise et de transfert en agriculture biologique et de proximité (CETAB+) has been working...

THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF CURITIBAThe Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba – CIC), was founded on July 8, 1973. It is the largest neighborhood in the city of Curitiba in terms of geographic area (43.38km²). Today Cidade Industrial is the most populous neighborhood in Curitiba with approximately 220,000...

Consider this scenario: a 35% boost in productivity, 0% cash leakage and 68% less working capital requirement for businesses. It might seem like fiction at first glance, but a Bengaluru-based FinTech startup is helping businesses achieve such numbers. Conceptualised as a governance suite for all finance processes, Finly’s finance software...

The Giant Flag is a world-first green innovation project that celebrates the spirit of South Africa, her land and her people, while bringing together job creation, climate change mitigation, clean energy and tourism. The Giant Flag will be made up of millions of coloured desert plants, agricultural tunnels, a tourism...

From seed to system, BrightMa Farms has redefined what it means to grow innovation from the ground up. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Harold Singletary, BrightMa Farms, Inc. has emerged as one of South Carolina’s most dynamic AgTech enterprises — a company transforming agricultural waste into climate-smart, high-value materials that serve...

Over the past twenty-five years, Georgia has witnessed remarkable growth and innovation in technology. Skillibrium, a new player in this dynamic ecosystem, is proud to be part of this thriving landscape, benefiting from the exceptional talent, active professional community, sales and customer engagement excellence, and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that defines...

NanosTech, born from the innovative crucible of the University of Calgary, exemplifies the transformative potential of ground-breaking catalytic research. In 2021, it found a new home under the umbrella of Vorsana Environmental Inc., further cementing its position as a catalyst for change within the nanocatalyst and catalyst technologies landscape. NanosTech...