Stories of Innovation
Global Innovation Spotlight
SMARTHEAD
The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability
SmartHead is the world’s first platform for companies of all sizes to manage and communicate their sustainability initiatives effectively through their own digital Sustainability Profile. It is based on 4 main pillars: Data management, communication, sharing best-practices, and collaboration. DIGITAL COMPANY SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE ON BESMARTHEAD.COMEffective data management and transparent sustainability...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
AIRMATRIX
BUILDS THE WORLD'S MOST PRECISE DRONE ROAD SYSTEMS
Co-founded by University of Toronto graduates, Bashir Khan, Ayaan Haider and Shayaan Haider in 2018, AirMatrix builds the world’s most precise drone road systems. AirMatrix is innovating at the bleeding edge and is affiliated with Communitech, MaRS, IRAP and DMZ. AirMatrix is a member of Transport Canada’s action team on...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
NICEHASH
From the tiny country of Slovenia to a global crypto platform for mining and trading hashpower, NiceHash redefined the mining space and makes Bitcoin accessible to everyone
From a simple idea 10 years ago, to a global platform enabling millions of people to mine cryptocurrency, NiceHash is a familiar name in the mining world. NiceHash has battled with controversy, survived nation state attackers, and still solidified its unique position in the crypto space as the world’s largest...
INNOVATION Quebec
SYNTHESE
UN ACTEUR CLÉ POUR RÉPONDRE AUX ENJEUX DE MAIN-D’OEUVRE EN CRÉATION NUMÉRIQUE
La genèse de SYNTHÈSESYNTHÈSE a été fondée en 2018 par le ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec à la suite d’une mobilisation et d’une réflexion conjointes des entreprises de la création numérique, des collèges, des universités, des milieux associatifs ainsi que de représentant·e·s du ministère de l’Économie...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HKLM
BLAZING A TRAIL FOR AFRICAN BRANDING
“Nineteen years ago, Gary Harwood and I were assigned to a project in Lagos, Nigeria, by the large multinational for which we were working. On the evening of the first day of the project, we sat in the hotel bar enjoying an ice-cold local beer and wondered, what on Earth...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL
IN THE VIBRANT CITY OF CURITIBA, HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL EMERGES AS A PIVOTAL FORCE
HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL -IN THE VIBRANT CITY OF CURITIBA, HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL EMERGES AS A PIVOTAL FORCE IN SHAPING THE REGION’S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM. Established in 2015 by the co-founders of EBANX, a cross-border payments startup that achieved unicorn status with presence in more than 20 countries in less than a...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
ADLUCENT
CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK
The great management consultant, educator, and author Peter Drucker said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”. As the CEO of Adlucent, a performance marketing agency, I find this quote resonates with me on a deep level. But, while there are many inspiring quotes out there that help leaders set...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Denmark Technical College
Reimagining the Rural College Landscape
Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NVNG
ELEVATING WISCONSIN’S VENTURE SCENE: THE POWER OF NETWORKS UNLEASHED
Wisconsin-based NVNG is a boutique investment advisory firm with a unique superpower: curating connections. Founded by Carrie Thome and Grady Buchanan in 2019, NVNG (Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained) is on a mission to make Wisconsin’s venture ecosystem globally competitive by leveraging the power of strategic networks. “We have the right...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Flutterwave’s Olugbenga Agboola
What It Takes To Found a Successful Tech Firm
Take it from someone who knows: Scaling a firm from simple startup to unicorn status isn’t for the faint of heart. For Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, the founder and CEO of the African e-payments platform Flutterwave, earning a valuation of more than $1 billion wasn’t about having the best idea or...
INNOVATION Quebec
ISEQ
LE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DE L’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC (ISEQ) CONCERTE LES EN
Soyons le changement des produits électroniques québécois de demainIl agit comme vecteur de collaboration afin de favoriser l’innovation, la reconnaissance de l’industrie, l’élargissement des opportunités, la commercialisation et la compétitivité des entreprises. Il favorise l’exportation des biens, des services et des innovations du secteur de l’électronique pour profiter des opportunités...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
EMOTIONAL IDEAS
BATTLE RACING: A New Combat Motorsport Built for Drivers, Designed for Gamers… THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF RACING
Emotional Ideas, inc. aka EI, is a sports and entertainment technology company revolutionizing known attractions, games, and products for the next generation of entertainment thrill-seekers. We are currently taking the popular sport of go-kart racing and combining it with the strategy and skill of Esports gaming to pioneer a new...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SYNOVUS
PURPOSE, PEOPLE AND INNOVATION IGNITE GROWTH
A strong heritageSynovus Bank’s humble beginnings date back to a Columbus, Georgia, textile mill and a simple act of kindness. When a worker’s hard earned savings spilled from the hem of her dress, an executive offered to secure her money in the company vault and pay her interest. That service...
INNOVATE® South Florida
ModMed
Pioneering Healthcare Innovation Through Technological Excellence and Visionary Leadership
In the bustling landscape of healthcare technology, Modernizing Medicine®, Inc., commonly known as ModMed®, emerges as a beacon of innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2010 by Daniel Cane and Dr. Michael Sherling, ModMed has etched its name in the industry by seamlessly integrating advanced technology with medical practices. The inception...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ICITIES
SMART PEOPLE CREATE SMART CITIES
It was with this mindset that iCities emerged 12 years ago in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. A pioneering company in spreading the concept of smart cities in Brazil, always focused on intelligent urban development and improving the quality of life for people. Making good use of its innovative DNA,...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIMEQ
IS THE COLLEGE CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (CCTT) IN THE MICROELECTRONICS SECTOR.
Innovation and technology are at the core of the Centre d’innovation en microélectronique du Québec (CIMEQ) with a service offering that includes electronics, Internet of things, software engineering and artificial intelligence. Since 1983, the Centre supports companies of all sectors with technical product development counselling, work process innovation using existing...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Forceget Supply Chain Logistics
Powering Innovation in Global Logistics
“At Forceget, we aim to transform supply chain management from a reactive process into a proactive, data-driven solution.” Forceget Supply Chain Logistics began its journey with a clear mission: to empower businesses by delivering more than just freight movement. Founded by Burak and Nihan Yolga, the company emerged with...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
COLDS Collective
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AGE
COLDS Collective is a creator collective and digital native organisation helping people of African descent navigate and harness Web3 and other emerging technologies. United by the mission to educate, grow and innovate collectively, COLDS Collective is harnessing the power of bits (technology) to make tangible, positive changes in atoms (real...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
SEMETRON
INNOVATION IN HEALTHCARE: MOBILE MODULAR HOSPITAL
The healthcare sector faces increasingly complex challenges — from the impacts of climate change and natural disasters to global pandemics and conflict-related crises. In these situations, timely access to quality medical care can be a matter of life and death. This is where Semetron steps in, an innovative leader from...
INNOVATION Quebec
PHI CENTRE
Founded in 2012, the PHI Centre is dedicated to innovation at the frontiers of creative production and fosters the design, development, production, and presentation of a wide variety of disciplines and forms, with an emphasis on digital technologies and new media. Its programs and architecture are designed to be agile,...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Synapse Florida
Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities
SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE.Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
VIKING VILLAGE
KEEPING ESTONIA’S VIKING SPIRIT ALIVE
Just 15 minutes from Tallinn, in the village of Saula, lies one of Northern Estonia’s most renowned holiday centres: Viking Village. Here, history, legend, and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience. With free admission and open doors year-round, the village welcomes individuals, families, school groups, and corporate teams alike. A...
Global Innovation Spotlight
SMARTHEAD
The World’s First Platform Where 100% Of Companies Are Active In Sustainability
SmartHead is the world’s first platform for companies of all sizes to manage and communicate their sustainability initiatives effectively through their own digital Sustainability Profile. It is based on 4 main pillars: Data management, communication, sharing best-practices, and collaboration. DIGITAL COMPANY SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE ON BESMARTHEAD.COMEffective data management and transparent sustainability...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
AIRMATRIX
BUILDS THE WORLD'S MOST PRECISE DRONE ROAD SYSTEMS
Co-founded by University of Toronto graduates, Bashir Khan, Ayaan Haider and Shayaan Haider in 2018, AirMatrix builds the world’s most precise drone road systems. AirMatrix is innovating at the bleeding edge and is affiliated with Communitech, MaRS, IRAP and DMZ. AirMatrix is a member of Transport Canada’s action team on...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
NICEHASH
From the tiny country of Slovenia to a global crypto platform for mining and trading hashpower, NiceHash redefined the mining space and makes Bitcoin accessible to everyone
From a simple idea 10 years ago, to a global platform enabling millions of people to mine cryptocurrency, NiceHash is a familiar name in the mining world. NiceHash has battled with controversy, survived nation state attackers, and still solidified its unique position in the crypto space as the world’s largest...
INNOVATION Quebec
SYNTHESE
UN ACTEUR CLÉ POUR RÉPONDRE AUX ENJEUX DE MAIN-D’OEUVRE EN CRÉATION NUMÉRIQUE
La genèse de SYNTHÈSESYNTHÈSE a été fondée en 2018 par le ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec à la suite d’une mobilisation et d’une réflexion conjointes des entreprises de la création numérique, des collèges, des universités, des milieux associatifs ainsi que de représentant·e·s du ministère de l’Économie...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HKLM
BLAZING A TRAIL FOR AFRICAN BRANDING
“Nineteen years ago, Gary Harwood and I were assigned to a project in Lagos, Nigeria, by the large multinational for which we were working. On the evening of the first day of the project, we sat in the hotel bar enjoying an ice-cold local beer and wondered, what on Earth...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL
IN THE VIBRANT CITY OF CURITIBA, HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL EMERGES AS A PIVOTAL FORCE
HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL -IN THE VIBRANT CITY OF CURITIBA, HONEY ISLAND CAPITAL EMERGES AS A PIVOTAL FORCE IN SHAPING THE REGION’S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM. Established in 2015 by the co-founders of EBANX, a cross-border payments startup that achieved unicorn status with presence in more than 20 countries in less than a...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
ADLUCENT
CREATING A COMPANY FRAMEWORK
The great management consultant, educator, and author Peter Drucker said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”. As the CEO of Adlucent, a performance marketing agency, I find this quote resonates with me on a deep level. But, while there are many inspiring quotes out there that help leaders set...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Denmark Technical College
Reimagining the Rural College Landscape
Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NVNG
ELEVATING WISCONSIN’S VENTURE SCENE: THE POWER OF NETWORKS UNLEASHED
Wisconsin-based NVNG is a boutique investment advisory firm with a unique superpower: curating connections. Founded by Carrie Thome and Grady Buchanan in 2019, NVNG (Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained) is on a mission to make Wisconsin’s venture ecosystem globally competitive by leveraging the power of strategic networks. “We have the right...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Flutterwave’s Olugbenga Agboola
What It Takes To Found a Successful Tech Firm
Take it from someone who knows: Scaling a firm from simple startup to unicorn status isn’t for the faint of heart. For Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, the founder and CEO of the African e-payments platform Flutterwave, earning a valuation of more than $1 billion wasn’t about having the best idea or...
INNOVATION Quebec
ISEQ
LE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DE L’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC (ISEQ) CONCERTE LES EN
Soyons le changement des produits électroniques québécois de demainIl agit comme vecteur de collaboration afin de favoriser l’innovation, la reconnaissance de l’industrie, l’élargissement des opportunités, la commercialisation et la compétitivité des entreprises. Il favorise l’exportation des biens, des services et des innovations du secteur de l’électronique pour profiter des opportunités...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
EMOTIONAL IDEAS
BATTLE RACING: A New Combat Motorsport Built for Drivers, Designed for Gamers… THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF RACING
Emotional Ideas, inc. aka EI, is a sports and entertainment technology company revolutionizing known attractions, games, and products for the next generation of entertainment thrill-seekers. We are currently taking the popular sport of go-kart racing and combining it with the strategy and skill of Esports gaming to pioneer a new...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SYNOVUS
PURPOSE, PEOPLE AND INNOVATION IGNITE GROWTH
A strong heritageSynovus Bank’s humble beginnings date back to a Columbus, Georgia, textile mill and a simple act of kindness. When a worker’s hard earned savings spilled from the hem of her dress, an executive offered to secure her money in the company vault and pay her interest. That service...
INNOVATE® South Florida
ModMed
Pioneering Healthcare Innovation Through Technological Excellence and Visionary Leadership
In the bustling landscape of healthcare technology, Modernizing Medicine®, Inc., commonly known as ModMed®, emerges as a beacon of innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2010 by Daniel Cane and Dr. Michael Sherling, ModMed has etched its name in the industry by seamlessly integrating advanced technology with medical practices. The inception...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ICITIES
SMART PEOPLE CREATE SMART CITIES
It was with this mindset that iCities emerged 12 years ago in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. A pioneering company in spreading the concept of smart cities in Brazil, always focused on intelligent urban development and improving the quality of life for people. Making good use of its innovative DNA,...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIMEQ
IS THE COLLEGE CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (CCTT) IN THE MICROELECTRONICS SECTOR.
Innovation and technology are at the core of the Centre d’innovation en microélectronique du Québec (CIMEQ) with a service offering that includes electronics, Internet of things, software engineering and artificial intelligence. Since 1983, the Centre supports companies of all sectors with technical product development counselling, work process innovation using existing...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Forceget Supply Chain Logistics
Powering Innovation in Global Logistics
“At Forceget, we aim to transform supply chain management from a reactive process into a proactive, data-driven solution.” Forceget Supply Chain Logistics began its journey with a clear mission: to empower businesses by delivering more than just freight movement. Founded by Burak and Nihan Yolga, the company emerged with...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
COLDS Collective
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AGE
COLDS Collective is a creator collective and digital native organisation helping people of African descent navigate and harness Web3 and other emerging technologies. United by the mission to educate, grow and innovate collectively, COLDS Collective is harnessing the power of bits (technology) to make tangible, positive changes in atoms (real...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
SEMETRON
INNOVATION IN HEALTHCARE: MOBILE MODULAR HOSPITAL
The healthcare sector faces increasingly complex challenges — from the impacts of climate change and natural disasters to global pandemics and conflict-related crises. In these situations, timely access to quality medical care can be a matter of life and death. This is where Semetron steps in, an innovative leader from...
INNOVATION Quebec
PHI CENTRE
Founded in 2012, the PHI Centre is dedicated to innovation at the frontiers of creative production and fosters the design, development, production, and presentation of a wide variety of disciplines and forms, with an emphasis on digital technologies and new media. Its programs and architecture are designed to be agile,...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Synapse Florida
Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities
SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE.Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
VIKING VILLAGE
KEEPING ESTONIA’S VIKING SPIRIT ALIVE
Just 15 minutes from Tallinn, in the village of Saula, lies one of Northern Estonia’s most renowned holiday centres: Viking Village. Here, history, legend, and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience. With free admission and open doors year-round, the village welcomes individuals, families, school groups, and corporate teams alike. A...