Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
VOLVO
ALWAYS LEADING EDGE IN INNOVATION FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Subsidiary of one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle OEMs, Volvo do Brasil has a track record marked by the development of innovative solutions in the passenger and cargo transportation sector in the country. Curitiba, the city chosen by OEM to be the location of its operations on the continent...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Soft2Bet Combines iGaming Growth with Purpose-Driven Giving
Growth, but with Grounding
Did You Know That Soft2Bet’s Business Model Has a Generous Side? Fast growth and big numbers tend to steal the spotlight in iGaming. But there’s another side to success that doesn’t always make the headlines — the part that gives back. Soft2Bet knows the business of scaling platforms and entering...
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® Seattle
Madrona
A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages
Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Spartanburg Community College
Chasing Dreams, Transforming Futures
Helping Students Dream it. Chase it. Live it. Spartanburg Community College (SCC) transforms lives and communities through accessible, high-quality education and workforce development. Committed to fostering student success and economic growth, SCC equips learners with the skills and knowledge to excel in their careers. With five campuses across Spartanburg, Cherokee,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
INVARY
PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND
PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...
INNOVATE® South Florida
FUEL VENTURE CAPITAL
MIAMI ROOTS AND A GLOBAL REACH
“When we launched Fuel Venture Capital in 2017, a lot of people thought we were crazy,” Fuel Venture Capital’s Founding Partner and Managing Director Jeff Ransdell has often been quoted as saying. He’s not wrong. Back then, #MiamiTech wasn’t even a thought. But, now less than even years in, Fuel...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
Ideawake
REVOLUTIONIZING CORPORATE INNOVATION FROM MILWAUKEE
REVOLUTIONIZING CORPORATE INNOVATION FROM MILWAUKEE In a world where ideas hold immense value, Ideawake is on a mission to empower companies to mine their most valuable resource: their employees’ creativity and insights. Founded in 2013 by Coby Skonord and Trae Tessmann, Ideawake began with a vision to make innovation accessible...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
TRANSPORT EN LOGISTIEK VLAANDEREN
UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR
Every year, the number of transport and logistics companies in Belgium keeps growing. All projections show that the transportation of goods by the road will also continue to grow in the following 20 years. The sector thus plays a vital role in the Belgian economy. However, with rising costs, stricter...
INNOVATE® Detroit
FRANCO
The Power of Relationships, Culture & Innovation Propels Franco to 60 Years of Success
When you think of Detroit and the public relations industry, it may not be obvious at first how much they have in common. But anyone working in the PR industry in the city will tell you both have weathered significant changes over the past several decades. Founded in 1964 in...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
CONNEXION LAURENTIDES
THE ESSENTIAL LINK FOR SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN THE LAURENTIANS
Connexion Laurentides is a not for profit organization founded in November 2018. As an acceleration and growth space for the greater Laurentians region, it has been led from its very beginning by a dedicated team, with its main objectives being to mobilize the entrepreneurial ecosystem actors in the Laurentians around...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Shaping Tomorrow's Workforce:
4 Tools For Productivity And Innovation
Employees are undeniably the lifeblood of any organization, as they bring energy (a pulse) that beats through every project, idea, and achievement, so a thriving workforce isn’t just a strategic necessity but the secret to success in business. Your business depends on a strong workforce, now and in the future,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
OMERS VENTURES
REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
OMERS Ventures has been backing early-stage technology companies for more than a decade. Currently managing CAD$2 billion, with close to 60 investments in disruptive technology companies across North America and Europe, we are proud to support some of the world’s biggest thinkers and builders. Spanning three countries, OMERS...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOV & EXPORT PME
PRÉSENTATION D’INNOV & EXPORT PME
Pour développer les entreprises manufacturières et pour accroître la force de l’économie de la région du Bas-Saint-Laurent dans un marché mondial exigeant et en constante évolution, innover est indispensable. Innov & Export PME est un organisme de développement de portée régionale ayant des activités dans plusieurs entreprises sur le territoire...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE
Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s 2021 DV Counts Report, agencies were unable to provide emergency shelter to 1,982 adults and 1,184 children nationwide in just one day. Annualized, that’s 723,430 adults and 432,160 children who are left without access to emergency domestic violence shelters each year....
INNOVATION Quebec
CIMMI
CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS
Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE
A Simple, Duplicable Model Of How Local Organizations Can Help Those In Need And The Community That Surrounds Them
The Chicago Help Initiative was founded in 1999 by Jacqueline C. Hayes to be a compassionate response to the homeless displaced by efforts of the City of Chicago. It has evolved into a hyperlocal model of how individuals can link together to address a difficult problem using a mix of...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
TCTC
PARTNERSHIPS TRANSFORM LIVES, BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES
The successes of Tri-County Technical College over the past 63 years area testament to the power of the strong relationships and partnerships the College shares with business, industry, and educators in the community. These relationships and partnerships transform the lives of TCTC students and help to build stronger communities. Health...
INNOVATE® Nashville
GEEQ
FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY
It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....
INNOVATION Quebec
ISEQ
THE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DE L’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC (ISEQ) IS THE QUEBEC ELECTRONICS CLUSTER WHICH HAS BEEN BRINGING TOGETHER COMPANIES AND OTHER KEY PLAYERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY SINCE 2018
ISEQ-THE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DEL’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC(ISEQ It acts as a vehicle for collaboration to foster innovation, industry recognition, expanded opportunities, commercialization, and business competitiveness. Promote the export of electronics goods, services, and innovations to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the North American restructuring of electronic...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
OPTAVE
IS BUILDING THE FUTURE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
VISION: We’re enabling a world where the systems are so effective and smart that problems are identified and solved before you even know they exist. And if you ever need to contact support, an artificial intelligent assistant will do it for you, making life easier for everyone. The ‘Uber’ of...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
VOLVO
ALWAYS LEADING EDGE IN INNOVATION FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Subsidiary of one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle OEMs, Volvo do Brasil has a track record marked by the development of innovative solutions in the passenger and cargo transportation sector in the country. Curitiba, the city chosen by OEM to be the location of its operations on the continent...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Soft2Bet Combines iGaming Growth with Purpose-Driven Giving
Growth, but with Grounding
Did You Know That Soft2Bet’s Business Model Has a Generous Side? Fast growth and big numbers tend to steal the spotlight in iGaming. But there’s another side to success that doesn’t always make the headlines — the part that gives back. Soft2Bet knows the business of scaling platforms and entering...
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® Seattle
Madrona
A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages
Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Spartanburg Community College
Chasing Dreams, Transforming Futures
Helping Students Dream it. Chase it. Live it. Spartanburg Community College (SCC) transforms lives and communities through accessible, high-quality education and workforce development. Committed to fostering student success and economic growth, SCC equips learners with the skills and knowledge to excel in their careers. With five campuses across Spartanburg, Cherokee,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
INVARY
PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND
PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...
INNOVATE® South Florida
FUEL VENTURE CAPITAL
MIAMI ROOTS AND A GLOBAL REACH
“When we launched Fuel Venture Capital in 2017, a lot of people thought we were crazy,” Fuel Venture Capital’s Founding Partner and Managing Director Jeff Ransdell has often been quoted as saying. He’s not wrong. Back then, #MiamiTech wasn’t even a thought. But, now less than even years in, Fuel...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
Ideawake
REVOLUTIONIZING CORPORATE INNOVATION FROM MILWAUKEE
REVOLUTIONIZING CORPORATE INNOVATION FROM MILWAUKEE In a world where ideas hold immense value, Ideawake is on a mission to empower companies to mine their most valuable resource: their employees’ creativity and insights. Founded in 2013 by Coby Skonord and Trae Tessmann, Ideawake began with a vision to make innovation accessible...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
TRANSPORT EN LOGISTIEK VLAANDEREN
UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR
Every year, the number of transport and logistics companies in Belgium keeps growing. All projections show that the transportation of goods by the road will also continue to grow in the following 20 years. The sector thus plays a vital role in the Belgian economy. However, with rising costs, stricter...
INNOVATE® Detroit
FRANCO
The Power of Relationships, Culture & Innovation Propels Franco to 60 Years of Success
When you think of Detroit and the public relations industry, it may not be obvious at first how much they have in common. But anyone working in the PR industry in the city will tell you both have weathered significant changes over the past several decades. Founded in 1964 in...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SMITH GAMBRELL RUSSELL
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
CONNEXION LAURENTIDES
THE ESSENTIAL LINK FOR SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN THE LAURENTIANS
Connexion Laurentides is a not for profit organization founded in November 2018. As an acceleration and growth space for the greater Laurentians region, it has been led from its very beginning by a dedicated team, with its main objectives being to mobilize the entrepreneurial ecosystem actors in the Laurentians around...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Shaping Tomorrow's Workforce:
4 Tools For Productivity And Innovation
Employees are undeniably the lifeblood of any organization, as they bring energy (a pulse) that beats through every project, idea, and achievement, so a thriving workforce isn’t just a strategic necessity but the secret to success in business. Your business depends on a strong workforce, now and in the future,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
OMERS VENTURES
REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
OMERS Ventures has been backing early-stage technology companies for more than a decade. Currently managing CAD$2 billion, with close to 60 investments in disruptive technology companies across North America and Europe, we are proud to support some of the world’s biggest thinkers and builders. Spanning three countries, OMERS...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOV & EXPORT PME
PRÉSENTATION D’INNOV & EXPORT PME
Pour développer les entreprises manufacturières et pour accroître la force de l’économie de la région du Bas-Saint-Laurent dans un marché mondial exigeant et en constante évolution, innover est indispensable. Innov & Export PME est un organisme de développement de portée régionale ayant des activités dans plusieurs entreprises sur le territoire...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SAFE STAYS BY RELOSHARE
Changing the Game for Emergency Housing by Providing Anonymous Hotel Bookings for Social Service Agencies
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s 2021 DV Counts Report, agencies were unable to provide emergency shelter to 1,982 adults and 1,184 children nationwide in just one day. Annualized, that’s 723,430 adults and 432,160 children who are left without access to emergency domestic violence shelters each year....
INNOVATION Quebec
CIMMI
CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS
Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE
A Simple, Duplicable Model Of How Local Organizations Can Help Those In Need And The Community That Surrounds Them
The Chicago Help Initiative was founded in 1999 by Jacqueline C. Hayes to be a compassionate response to the homeless displaced by efforts of the City of Chicago. It has evolved into a hyperlocal model of how individuals can link together to address a difficult problem using a mix of...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
TCTC
PARTNERSHIPS TRANSFORM LIVES, BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES
The successes of Tri-County Technical College over the past 63 years area testament to the power of the strong relationships and partnerships the College shares with business, industry, and educators in the community. These relationships and partnerships transform the lives of TCTC students and help to build stronger communities. Health...
INNOVATE® Nashville
GEEQ
FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY
It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....
INNOVATION Quebec
ISEQ
THE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DE L’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC (ISEQ) IS THE QUEBEC ELECTRONICS CLUSTER WHICH HAS BEEN BRINGING TOGETHER COMPANIES AND OTHER KEY PLAYERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY SINCE 2018
ISEQ-THE PÔLE D’EXCELLENCE DEL’INDUSTRIE DES SYSTÈMES ÉLECTRONIQUES DU QUÉBEC(ISEQ It acts as a vehicle for collaboration to foster innovation, industry recognition, expanded opportunities, commercialization, and business competitiveness. Promote the export of electronics goods, services, and innovations to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the North American restructuring of electronic...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
OPTAVE
IS BUILDING THE FUTURE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
VISION: We’re enabling a world where the systems are so effective and smart that problems are identified and solved before you even know they exist. And if you ever need to contact support, an artificial intelligent assistant will do it for you, making life easier for everyone. The ‘Uber’ of...