Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LimpidFrog

Joins the INNOVATE® Scholar Gamers Program

LimpidFrog is an art and design service to Indie and small-sized gaming companies in India, Chile, Hong Kong, France, and the United States....

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

EMPIST

EMPIST-Reliable & Transparent Technology Solutions Designed To Help Your Business Grow

Reliable & Transparent Technology Solutions Designed To Help Your Business Grow

WHAT WE DO At Empist, we make it our mission to provide businesses of any size with the resources they need to thrive in the ever-changing technological landscape. With two decades of multifaceted technology experience, our team is ready to help you develop a tailored plan to scale your business....

INNOVATE® Georgia

WILLIAM MILLS AGENCY

INFLUENCING WHAT THE INDUSTRY TALKS ABOUT

William Mills Agency (WMA) has been at the forefront of financial technology innovation since its inception. A storied company and perennially one of the top five public relations agencies in Georgia, WMA is trusted by financial companies and institutions around the country and the world. The agency’s history extends before...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RETROVIRAL MATCHKIT

RETROVIRAL MATCHKIT-Slick & Easy

Slick & Easy

I TRAVELLED TO ANFIELD JUST BEFORE THE HARD LOCKDOWN. I’M A HUGE LIVERPOOL FAN AND WANTED TO WATCH THE TEAM PLAY AT HOME BEFORE THEY WON THE LEAGUE, WHICH – FORTUNATELY – THEY DID. SO I RETURNED HOME ON A HIGH, BUT THEN GLOBAL AND LOCAL SPORT CAME TO A...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Essential Culture Podcast Network

Essential Culture Podcast Network - Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

The Essential Culture Podcast Network (ECPN) is a podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida. Through strategic collaborations with Jacksonville-based media institutions, our network provides a series of cultural programs available to be downloaded on multiple streaming platforms. Listeners can subscribe to shows dedicated to subjects centered around business, advocacy, entertainment,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

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...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PodTechs

Internationalization: Podcasting Across Languages with Artificial Voices

In the halls of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., two organizations met in 2019. PodTechs and Baycrest became partners in podcasting. Fast forward half a decade later, and in 2024, the duo accomplished a rare feat: Defy Dementia, which unpacks the significant effects of caregiving on brain health,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

SMARTSKIN TECHNOLOGIES

HARNESSING DATA TO OPTIMIZE GLOBAL PRODUCTION

Fredericton-based SmartSkin Technologies is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical and beverage manufacturing industries through innovative sensor technology and data-driven solutions. Using a combination of advanced patented sensor technology and sophisticated data analytics, SmartSkin identifies and solves issues in production and bottling lines, helping companies optimize production, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. This...

INNOVATION Quebec

COLAB

EN ACTIVITÉ DEPUIS 2019, COLAB EST UN CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET D’INNOVATION

QUATRE AXES DE RECHERCHETerritoires numériquesFavoriser le développement des compétences numériques, collaboratives et entrepreneuriales des acteur·trice·s de l’écosystème. Transition numérique des PMESupporter la transition numérique des PME en développant les compétences numériques des leaders, des gestionnaires et des employé·e·s, en les accompagnant dans une démarche de transformation numérique. Entrepreneuriat et apprentissages...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

PLAYMAKER RECRUITING

Is here to level the playing field for student athletes and coaches, providing more access to opportunities and resources

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

NEXT AI

POUR LES ENTREPRENEUR.E.S DÉSIRANT RÉSOUDRE DES PROBLÈMES MONDIAUX EN EXPLOITANT LA PUISSANCE DE L’I

Next AI est un réseau d’accélération de développement d’entrepreneur.e.s et d’entreprises de classe mondiale pour les startups utilisant l’intelligence artificielle. Peu importe leur emplacement au Canada, les fondateur. trice.s ont la possibilité de rejoindre l’écosystème, que ce soit en suivant le programme à distance ou en personne aux sites de...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

ORGANIKA

ORGANIKA-A SINCERE PASSION FOR DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER CARE

ORGANIKA-A SINCERE PASSION FOR DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER CARE AND LEADING WITH INNOVATION, HAS BECOME ORGANIKA’S KEYDIFFERENTIATOR IN THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPACE. It has led Organika to achieve uncapped market success and global growth, even amidst a pandemic. Breaking out into 7,000 stores across the world, Organika has grown...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Business strategies for integrating slotgames into modern digital markets

As of early 2024, slot games account for nearly 70% of digital casino revenue (H2 Gambling Capital). Rapid advances in mobile and cloud tech have forced companies to rethink launches, promotion, and profit models, while a constant flood of new titles keeps operators and studios scrambling to adapt. Today, success...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Northeastern University Arlington

Engineering Talent for Where Policy, Security, and Technology Converge

For more than 125 years, Northeastern University has built its reputation around one defining idea: learning works best when it is connected directly to the world it aims to serve. That belief has powered a global university system spanning 13 campuses across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom....

INNOVATE™ South Africa

AUREX CONSTRUCTORS

AUREX CONSTRUCTORS - HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION

HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, TURNAROUND AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT SERVICES TO BLUE-CHIP CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE ENERGY SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS

With experience in oil & gas, mining & metallurgy, infrastructure, petrochemical and clean power our team of experts perform structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, piping, platework (SMEIPP), tank, fabrication and management services for projects of all sizes and complexities within the company’s two business units, Construction and Turnarounds & Maintenance. The...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TECHNOLOGY NORTH

SYSTEMATIC INNOVATION

SYSTEMATIC INNOVATIONHow does one create lasting change? For over twenty-five years, Technology North Corporation has been answering this question where it can, whenever it can, with its team of dedicated consultants and industry experts. Established at the dawn of a groundbreaking era in 1998, the internet epoch, where the world...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Canadian Choice

Windows and Doors that continues to prove why it's the number one option in Canada

A Commitment to Quality, Service, and Community Founded in 1997, Canadian Choice Windows and Doors is Canada’s #1 window and door manufacturer and installation company. They owe their success to their unique window technology, customer-centric service, and dedication to growth and community support. From manufacturing to servicing, they take a...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NICKELBRONX

The Core of Purpose-Based Branding

Jeff Bezos famously said, “Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” You can’t just buy a great brand. It is a way to turn every client into your biggest fan. It’s about creating a community everyone wants to be a part of...

INNOVATE® Nashville

COUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

COUTURE TECHNOLOGIES-

Virtual Try On Technology is Reshaping How Customers Shop for Clothing Online

You know when you shop for clothes online, but you don’t know which size to buy or if an item will look good on your body? Couture Technologies helps apparel brands solve this massive financial and sustainability challenge by seamlessly integrating its patent-pending virtual try on technology with a brand’s...

Global Innovation Spotlight

GreenGeeks vs. InMotion:

A Real WordPress Performance Comparison

GreenGeeks vs. InMotion: A Real WordPress Performance Comparison I spent the better part of 2025 months running WordPress sites on both GreenGeeks and InMotion Hosting. I tested load times, uptime, server response, and how each platform handled traffic under pressure. I also paid attention to the smaller things, like how...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LimpidFrog

Joins the INNOVATE® Scholar Gamers Program

LimpidFrog is an art and design service to Indie and small-sized gaming companies in India, Chile, Hong Kong, France, and the United States....

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

EMPIST

EMPIST-Reliable & Transparent Technology Solutions Designed To Help Your Business Grow

Reliable & Transparent Technology Solutions Designed To Help Your Business Grow

WHAT WE DO At Empist, we make it our mission to provide businesses of any size with the resources they need to thrive in the ever-changing technological landscape. With two decades of multifaceted technology experience, our team is ready to help you develop a tailored plan to scale your business....

INNOVATE® Georgia

WILLIAM MILLS AGENCY

INFLUENCING WHAT THE INDUSTRY TALKS ABOUT

William Mills Agency (WMA) has been at the forefront of financial technology innovation since its inception. A storied company and perennially one of the top five public relations agencies in Georgia, WMA is trusted by financial companies and institutions around the country and the world. The agency’s history extends before...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RETROVIRAL MATCHKIT

RETROVIRAL MATCHKIT-Slick & Easy

Slick & Easy

I TRAVELLED TO ANFIELD JUST BEFORE THE HARD LOCKDOWN. I’M A HUGE LIVERPOOL FAN AND WANTED TO WATCH THE TEAM PLAY AT HOME BEFORE THEY WON THE LEAGUE, WHICH – FORTUNATELY – THEY DID. SO I RETURNED HOME ON A HIGH, BUT THEN GLOBAL AND LOCAL SPORT CAME TO A...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Essential Culture Podcast Network

Essential Culture Podcast Network - Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

The Essential Culture Podcast Network (ECPN) is a podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida. Through strategic collaborations with Jacksonville-based media institutions, our network provides a series of cultural programs available to be downloaded on multiple streaming platforms. Listeners can subscribe to shows dedicated to subjects centered around business, advocacy, entertainment,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

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...

INNOVATE® Miami

Penpal Schools

Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds

PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PodTechs

Internationalization: Podcasting Across Languages with Artificial Voices

In the halls of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., two organizations met in 2019. PodTechs and Baycrest became partners in podcasting. Fast forward half a decade later, and in 2024, the duo accomplished a rare feat: Defy Dementia, which unpacks the significant effects of caregiving on brain health,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

SMARTSKIN TECHNOLOGIES

HARNESSING DATA TO OPTIMIZE GLOBAL PRODUCTION

Fredericton-based SmartSkin Technologies is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical and beverage manufacturing industries through innovative sensor technology and data-driven solutions. Using a combination of advanced patented sensor technology and sophisticated data analytics, SmartSkin identifies and solves issues in production and bottling lines, helping companies optimize production, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. This...

INNOVATION Quebec

COLAB

EN ACTIVITÉ DEPUIS 2019, COLAB EST UN CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET D’INNOVATION

QUATRE AXES DE RECHERCHETerritoires numériquesFavoriser le développement des compétences numériques, collaboratives et entrepreneuriales des acteur·trice·s de l’écosystème. Transition numérique des PMESupporter la transition numérique des PME en développant les compétences numériques des leaders, des gestionnaires et des employé·e·s, en les accompagnant dans une démarche de transformation numérique. Entrepreneuriat et apprentissages...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

PLAYMAKER RECRUITING

Is here to level the playing field for student athletes and coaches, providing more access to opportunities and resources

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

NEXT AI

POUR LES ENTREPRENEUR.E.S DÉSIRANT RÉSOUDRE DES PROBLÈMES MONDIAUX EN EXPLOITANT LA PUISSANCE DE L’I

Next AI est un réseau d’accélération de développement d’entrepreneur.e.s et d’entreprises de classe mondiale pour les startups utilisant l’intelligence artificielle. Peu importe leur emplacement au Canada, les fondateur. trice.s ont la possibilité de rejoindre l’écosystème, que ce soit en suivant le programme à distance ou en personne aux sites de...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Where Bold Ideas Become Businesses

If you’re serious about building a startup in Nashville, meet your secret weapon: the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC). Founded in 2010, EC is a nonprofit built by business leaders to be—literally—Nashville’s “home to entrepreneurship.” What sets it apart? It’s not just talk: EC has helped over 14,000 entrepreneurs, including more...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

ORGANIKA

ORGANIKA-A SINCERE PASSION FOR DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER CARE

ORGANIKA-A SINCERE PASSION FOR DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER CARE AND LEADING WITH INNOVATION, HAS BECOME ORGANIKA’S KEYDIFFERENTIATOR IN THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPACE. It has led Organika to achieve uncapped market success and global growth, even amidst a pandemic. Breaking out into 7,000 stores across the world, Organika has grown...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Business strategies for integrating slotgames into modern digital markets

As of early 2024, slot games account for nearly 70% of digital casino revenue (H2 Gambling Capital). Rapid advances in mobile and cloud tech have forced companies to rethink launches, promotion, and profit models, while a constant flood of new titles keeps operators and studios scrambling to adapt. Today, success...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Northeastern University Arlington

Engineering Talent for Where Policy, Security, and Technology Converge

For more than 125 years, Northeastern University has built its reputation around one defining idea: learning works best when it is connected directly to the world it aims to serve. That belief has powered a global university system spanning 13 campuses across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom....

INNOVATE™ South Africa

AUREX CONSTRUCTORS

AUREX CONSTRUCTORS - HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION

HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, TURNAROUND AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT SERVICES TO BLUE-CHIP CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE ENERGY SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS

With experience in oil & gas, mining & metallurgy, infrastructure, petrochemical and clean power our team of experts perform structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, piping, platework (SMEIPP), tank, fabrication and management services for projects of all sizes and complexities within the company’s two business units, Construction and Turnarounds & Maintenance. The...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TECHNOLOGY NORTH

SYSTEMATIC INNOVATION

SYSTEMATIC INNOVATIONHow does one create lasting change? For over twenty-five years, Technology North Corporation has been answering this question where it can, whenever it can, with its team of dedicated consultants and industry experts. Established at the dawn of a groundbreaking era in 1998, the internet epoch, where the world...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Canadian Choice

Windows and Doors that continues to prove why it's the number one option in Canada

A Commitment to Quality, Service, and Community Founded in 1997, Canadian Choice Windows and Doors is Canada’s #1 window and door manufacturer and installation company. They owe their success to their unique window technology, customer-centric service, and dedication to growth and community support. From manufacturing to servicing, they take a...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

NICKELBRONX

The Core of Purpose-Based Branding

Jeff Bezos famously said, “Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” You can’t just buy a great brand. It is a way to turn every client into your biggest fan. It’s about creating a community everyone wants to be a part of...

INNOVATE® Nashville

COUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

COUTURE TECHNOLOGIES-

Virtual Try On Technology is Reshaping How Customers Shop for Clothing Online

You know when you shop for clothes online, but you don’t know which size to buy or if an item will look good on your body? Couture Technologies helps apparel brands solve this massive financial and sustainability challenge by seamlessly integrating its patent-pending virtual try on technology with a brand’s...

Global Innovation Spotlight

GreenGeeks vs. InMotion:

A Real WordPress Performance Comparison

GreenGeeks vs. InMotion: A Real WordPress Performance Comparison I spent the better part of 2025 months running WordPress sites on both GreenGeeks and InMotion Hosting. I tested load times, uptime, server response, and how each platform handled traffic under pressure. I also paid attention to the smaller things, like how...

Ecosystems