Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Nashville

FoxFuel

Reviving the soul of brands with sophistication & rebellion

FoxFuel Creative is a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense agency, built on the tension between sophistication and rebellion. Because brands need an agency that knows the rules and when to break them. That’s where the magic happens. In the friction between polish and punch. Between the curve in a classical column and the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTS

QUEBEC’S MOST SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH ACCELERATOR

The Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit organization, is an à la carte growth accelerator which responds to the challenges and needs of each startup. Its mission: catalyze the growth of life sciences startups, particularly in medical technology and digital health, by offering customized acceleration services....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GOODFYND

Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses

Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Technology and Family Leisure:

New Ways to Have Fun

Family time has never looked quite like this before. Screens, apps, and gadgets have moved far beyond solo entertainment — they’re now tools for connection, creativity, and shared adventure. Whether your household is full of toddlers or teenagers, there’s a digital experience waiting to bring everyone to the same table....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

eGroup

Fueling Progress Through Purpose-Driven Technology: How eGroup Enabling Technologies Powers Innovation

At eGroup Enabling Technologies, innovation is not an abstract concept or a buzzword reserved for future roadmaps. It is a daily responsibility, one grounded in purpose, partnership, and measurable impact. Their mission is clear– Fueling progress. That mission guides every decision they make, every solution they design, and every relationship...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL

SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL-A FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM

A FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP’s (SGR) entertainment practice includes legal practitioners specializing in intellectual property protection, technology, corporate transactional, tax, and real estate matters. The Firm’s founders began practicing law more than 125 years ago to commit to excellence and attract a wide array of talent dedicated to serving our...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SPECTRUM ANALYTICS

SPECTRUM ANALYTICS-DATA / INNOVATION / VALUE

DATA / INNOVATION / VALUE

Our InspirationDigital disruption is creating risks, opportunities and challenges for everyone – “What got you here, won’t get you there!   Our Value PropositionLeverage data for digital business transformation.   Our Services• We give you the confidence to be bold and confident in the digital economy.• We provide solutions to...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

VISUAL CAPITALIST

MAKING THE WORLD’S INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE WITH THE POWER OF DATA STORYTELLING

Every two years, there is more new data being created than throughout all of previous human history. As a result of this growing information overload, it’s becoming harder and harder to understand the root causes leading to the future trends shaping our world. Visual Capitalist is an independent media company...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VIRGENT AI

Move Beyond AI-Curious to AI-Powered

As we enter the largest technological revolution of our generation, Virgent AI is guiding leaders and industries beyond AI-curious to AI-powered. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, this forward-thinking AI-centric technology startup specializes in developing and deploying advanced AI agents and AI-enabled applications to solve real-world business problems. At their core, their...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

THE FORGE ADVENTURE PARKS

THE FORGE ADVENTURE PARKS-GET OUT AND PLAY

GET OUT AND PLAY

Chicagoland is home to one of the world’s most fantastic recreation destinations: The Forge: Lemont Quarries. Since opening in the summer of 2020, the 300-acre park has been named one of the top three new destinations in the United States. The park provides authentic, purpose-driven outdoor experiences for people of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EPIGENICA

DEMOCRATIZING LARGE-SCALE EPIGENOMICS FOR THE AGE OF PERSONALIZED HEALTHCARE

Not long ago, decoding DNA was the holy grail of biology. Today, a growing number of scientists and clinicians believe that the key to the next generation of healthcare lies in understanding how our genes are controlled – epigenetics. Epigenica, a Swedish biotech company founded by Dr. Mohamad Takwa and...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATION Quebec

CERFO

CCTT IN BOREAL FORESTRY

Sainte-Foy’s Centre d’enseignement et de recherche en foresterie (CERFO) is a college centre for the transfer of technology (CCTT). Our mission is to contribute to the sustainable development of technology and businesses, organizations and colleges in the Quebec forest sector. For nearly 40 years, our experts have been drawing on...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WITH GAMING AND ESPORTS TOPICS WHILE PROMOTING EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THIS SPACE

As is common with many of the great things that universities do, it all started with the students. The UK Esports Club was organized around 2017 by students who were interested in growing the community and helping different clubs focused on individual games to pool their resources and better leverage...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TECHNOLOGIA OBRA PRIMA

A PERSONAL NEED CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION THAT REVOLUTIONIZES AN INDUSTRY

The story of Obra Prima is an account of how a personal need can be transformed into an innovative solution that revolutionizes an industry. It all began when Wilson, the founder and director of the company, embarked on the journey of building his own house. Faced with challenges from the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Ways to Sharpen Your Aim

Shooting target with many bullet holes.

3 Proven Ways to Sharpen Your Aim To sharpen your aim effectively, leverage smart optical technology for instant ballistic corrections and adopt data-driven training tools. Engaging with competitive shooting communities also accelerates skill development through peer mentorship.  These strategies transform static range time into dynamic skill-building sessions. They help shooters...

INNOVATION Quebec

ZONE AGTECH

STIMULER L’ÉMERGENCE ET PROPULSER LESTECHNOLOGIES AGRICOLES INNOVANTES DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2020, le Québec fait figure de pionnier dans le domaine des technologies agricoles innovantes et des bioproduits végétaux grâce au développement de la Zone Agtech, un écosystème d’innovation localisé situé près de la Ville de Montréal dans la MRC de L’Assomption. Sa mission ? Intensifier le développement de technologies...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

pH7 TECHNOLOGIES

At the forefront of sustainable resource extraction

Specialized cleantech solutions.pH7 Technologies Inc. delivers specialized cleantech solutions for the extraction of critical metals necessary for the transition to renewable energies. We have pioneered a proprietary process that provides a near-net-zero environmental impact in the extraction of key metals and minerals. This sustainable closed-loop process makes it an ideal...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

STEMLINGO

Unlocking Hidden Genius in STEM

Recognizing a significant gap in STEM exposure products and materials for students aged 13 and above, LINGO steps in to fill this void. Aisha Bowe, the Founder and CEO of LINGO, knows firsthand the importance of having access to quality STEM education. Graduating high school with a 2.3 GPA, she...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DISCOVERY

DISCOVERY - CAN A COMPANY REALLY MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER?

CAN A COMPANY REALLY MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were already a priority on the global health agenda, responsible for 70% of deaths at a significant and escalating cost to the international economy. The pandemic has magnified the importance of addressing lifestyle-related risk: global research demonstrates that more than 50% of COVID-19...

INNOVATE® Nashville

NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER

NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER-The Hub

The Hub, the Heart, the Front Door - Nashville Entrepreneur Center is the City’s Home to Entrepreneurship

At the heart of innovation lies a problem and entrepreneurs are the needed visionaries that see a better way to live, work, or play. At the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, commonly known as “the EC,” we help entrepreneurs develop and build upon their business with an organizational vision to make our...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SHAREARIDE

SHAREARIDE -TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology. The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Botswana’s everyday activities, including...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FoxFuel

Reviving the soul of brands with sophistication & rebellion

FoxFuel Creative is a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense agency, built on the tension between sophistication and rebellion. Because brands need an agency that knows the rules and when to break them. That’s where the magic happens. In the friction between polish and punch. Between the curve in a classical column and the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTS

QUEBEC’S MOST SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH ACCELERATOR

The Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit organization, is an à la carte growth accelerator which responds to the challenges and needs of each startup. Its mission: catalyze the growth of life sciences startups, particularly in medical technology and digital health, by offering customized acceleration services....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GOODFYND

Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses

Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Technology and Family Leisure:

New Ways to Have Fun

Family time has never looked quite like this before. Screens, apps, and gadgets have moved far beyond solo entertainment — they’re now tools for connection, creativity, and shared adventure. Whether your household is full of toddlers or teenagers, there’s a digital experience waiting to bring everyone to the same table....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

eGroup

Fueling Progress Through Purpose-Driven Technology: How eGroup Enabling Technologies Powers Innovation

At eGroup Enabling Technologies, innovation is not an abstract concept or a buzzword reserved for future roadmaps. It is a daily responsibility, one grounded in purpose, partnership, and measurable impact. Their mission is clear– Fueling progress. That mission guides every decision they make, every solution they design, and every relationship...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL

SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL-A FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM

A FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT ECOSYSTEM

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP’s (SGR) entertainment practice includes legal practitioners specializing in intellectual property protection, technology, corporate transactional, tax, and real estate matters. The Firm’s founders began practicing law more than 125 years ago to commit to excellence and attract a wide array of talent dedicated to serving our...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SPECTRUM ANALYTICS

SPECTRUM ANALYTICS-DATA / INNOVATION / VALUE

DATA / INNOVATION / VALUE

Our InspirationDigital disruption is creating risks, opportunities and challenges for everyone – “What got you here, won’t get you there!   Our Value PropositionLeverage data for digital business transformation.   Our Services• We give you the confidence to be bold and confident in the digital economy.• We provide solutions to...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

VISUAL CAPITALIST

MAKING THE WORLD’S INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE WITH THE POWER OF DATA STORYTELLING

Every two years, there is more new data being created than throughout all of previous human history. As a result of this growing information overload, it’s becoming harder and harder to understand the root causes leading to the future trends shaping our world. Visual Capitalist is an independent media company...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VIRGENT AI

Move Beyond AI-Curious to AI-Powered

As we enter the largest technological revolution of our generation, Virgent AI is guiding leaders and industries beyond AI-curious to AI-powered. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, this forward-thinking AI-centric technology startup specializes in developing and deploying advanced AI agents and AI-enabled applications to solve real-world business problems. At their core, their...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

THE FORGE ADVENTURE PARKS

THE FORGE ADVENTURE PARKS-GET OUT AND PLAY

GET OUT AND PLAY

Chicagoland is home to one of the world’s most fantastic recreation destinations: The Forge: Lemont Quarries. Since opening in the summer of 2020, the 300-acre park has been named one of the top three new destinations in the United States. The park provides authentic, purpose-driven outdoor experiences for people of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EPIGENICA

DEMOCRATIZING LARGE-SCALE EPIGENOMICS FOR THE AGE OF PERSONALIZED HEALTHCARE

Not long ago, decoding DNA was the holy grail of biology. Today, a growing number of scientists and clinicians believe that the key to the next generation of healthcare lies in understanding how our genes are controlled – epigenetics. Epigenica, a Swedish biotech company founded by Dr. Mohamad Takwa and...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

UNIONWEAR

USA MADE BASEBALL CAPS AND TOTE BAGS: DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY ROBOTS.

Unionwear manufactures – from scratch—100% made in USA baseball hats, backpacks, messenger bags, portfolios, and binders, with 160 union sewers in Newark, NJ. Mitch Cahn founded Unionwear in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren, and has evolved by buying legacy manufacturers of...

INNOVATION Quebec

CERFO

CCTT IN BOREAL FORESTRY

Sainte-Foy’s Centre d’enseignement et de recherche en foresterie (CERFO) is a college centre for the transfer of technology (CCTT). Our mission is to contribute to the sustainable development of technology and businesses, organizations and colleges in the Quebec forest sector. For nearly 40 years, our experts have been drawing on...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WITH GAMING AND ESPORTS TOPICS WHILE PROMOTING EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THIS SPACE

As is common with many of the great things that universities do, it all started with the students. The UK Esports Club was organized around 2017 by students who were interested in growing the community and helping different clubs focused on individual games to pool their resources and better leverage...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TECHNOLOGIA OBRA PRIMA

A PERSONAL NEED CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION THAT REVOLUTIONIZES AN INDUSTRY

The story of Obra Prima is an account of how a personal need can be transformed into an innovative solution that revolutionizes an industry. It all began when Wilson, the founder and director of the company, embarked on the journey of building his own house. Faced with challenges from the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Ways to Sharpen Your Aim

Shooting target with many bullet holes.

3 Proven Ways to Sharpen Your Aim To sharpen your aim effectively, leverage smart optical technology for instant ballistic corrections and adopt data-driven training tools. Engaging with competitive shooting communities also accelerates skill development through peer mentorship.  These strategies transform static range time into dynamic skill-building sessions. They help shooters...

INNOVATION Quebec

ZONE AGTECH

STIMULER L’ÉMERGENCE ET PROPULSER LESTECHNOLOGIES AGRICOLES INNOVANTES DU QUÉBEC

Depuis 2020, le Québec fait figure de pionnier dans le domaine des technologies agricoles innovantes et des bioproduits végétaux grâce au développement de la Zone Agtech, un écosystème d’innovation localisé situé près de la Ville de Montréal dans la MRC de L’Assomption. Sa mission ? Intensifier le développement de technologies...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

pH7 TECHNOLOGIES

At the forefront of sustainable resource extraction

Specialized cleantech solutions.pH7 Technologies Inc. delivers specialized cleantech solutions for the extraction of critical metals necessary for the transition to renewable energies. We have pioneered a proprietary process that provides a near-net-zero environmental impact in the extraction of key metals and minerals. This sustainable closed-loop process makes it an ideal...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

STEMLINGO

Unlocking Hidden Genius in STEM

Recognizing a significant gap in STEM exposure products and materials for students aged 13 and above, LINGO steps in to fill this void. Aisha Bowe, the Founder and CEO of LINGO, knows firsthand the importance of having access to quality STEM education. Graduating high school with a 2.3 GPA, she...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DISCOVERY

DISCOVERY - CAN A COMPANY REALLY MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER?

CAN A COMPANY REALLY MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were already a priority on the global health agenda, responsible for 70% of deaths at a significant and escalating cost to the international economy. The pandemic has magnified the importance of addressing lifestyle-related risk: global research demonstrates that more than 50% of COVID-19...

INNOVATE® Nashville

NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER

NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER-The Hub

The Hub, the Heart, the Front Door - Nashville Entrepreneur Center is the City’s Home to Entrepreneurship

At the heart of innovation lies a problem and entrepreneurs are the needed visionaries that see a better way to live, work, or play. At the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, commonly known as “the EC,” we help entrepreneurs develop and build upon their business with an organizational vision to make our...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SHAREARIDE

SHAREARIDE -TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology. The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Botswana’s everyday activities, including...

Ecosystems