Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Detroit

HRPro/BenePro

Exceptional Client Service And Innovation.

Throughout its almost 35-year history, two things have defined HRPro/BenePro – exceptional client service and innovation. Among its earlier innovations: While it is difficult to imagine a market without any of these, HRPro/BenePro helped create new categories when they first dived into them. More recently, they have been focused on...

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...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

302 INTERACTIVE

302 INTERACTIVE- IS A STUDIO OF GAME DESIGNERS ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE WORLD BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY AND REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS

IS A STUDIO OF GAME DESIGNERS ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE WORLD BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY AND REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS

Over the last seven years, their mission has been to provide an environment that brings game developers together to build the games of today and the metaverse of tomorrow. As digital experience developers, 302 Interactive has adopted the best practices of modern game development, product design, lean, and agile methodologies...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

FLUX

NURTURED BY FARM LIFE DURING HIS FORMATIVE YEARS, JORDY DISCOVERED A WORLD OF INTRIGUING CHALLENGES

Fuelled by his innate curiosity and determination, Jordy fearlessly embraced the role of problem solver, eager to make a tangible difference in the agricultural landscape. Fueled by a deep-rooted passion for sustainable farming practices, Jordy founded Flux Robotics, an agri-tech startup poised to be the next step change in agriculture....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

IBM

IBM CANADA

CANADA

As digital transformation accelerates across industries in Canada, companies are looking to build a much stronger digital foundation to fundamentally change the way their business works. Artificial Intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud and quantum computing are playing a significant part in helping private and public organizations further advance and contribute to...

INNOVATE® Nashville

MCVANTAGE

ROOTED IN LEGACY, BRANCHING INTO INNOVATION

McVantage Packaging stands as a testament to resilience and forward-thinking in the wood pallet, crate, industrial lumber, and supply chain industry. Founded nearly 75 years ago in Tuscumbia, Alabama, the company has evolved from a family-run lumber operation into a regional powerhouse serving the Central-Southeastern United States. With plants in...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHARE FOOD PROGRAM

FOOD IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND HUNGER CAN BE SOLVED

Hunger is solvable, and one organization headquartered in North Philadelphia maintains that they know exactly how. Founded 40 years ago, Share Food Program is the leading hunger-relief organization on food bank in the Greater Philadelphia region. Though food distribution, education, and advocacy, Share serves around 500,000 individuals each month, more...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING-A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. – Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling. In a country with...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION

GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION-A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive

A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive

Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) is a Newark-based non-profit certified community development financial institution (CDFI) with a proven record of delivering capital and microenterprise services to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs in the northern New Jersey areas of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex, Union and Monmouth counties of New Jersey. GNEC’s primary purpose...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CANADIAN BLOCKCHAIN CONSORTIUM

ADVOCATING FOR THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL ASSETS SECTOR

Uniting diverse companies, individuals, and organizations from across the national innovation ecosystem, the Canadian Blockchain Consortium is the country’s advocate for the blockchain technology and cryptocurrency sector. The Consortium was launched in 2016 as the Alberta Blockchain Consortium by the late energy and technology pioneer Suzanne West, who had a...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

CITY OF GHENT

Imagine a city where centuries-old architecture seamlessly blends with cutting-edge innovation—where creativity, dynamism, and growth are the norm. Welcome to Ghent, the European technology capital that attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe. Ghent’s strength lies in its strategic alliances across biotech, healthtech, digital tech, and cleantech. This collaborative community is...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

upace™

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

M&C SAATCHI ABEL

M&C SAATCHI ABEL-SINCE ITS INCEPTION

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE M&C SAATCHI ABEL STORY IS ONE OF AUDACITY, TENACITY AND AN UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT ALL PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED WITH HOT CREATIVITY

What began as an unfurnished open space on the fourth floor of The Hudson Building in De Waterkant, Cape Town, with 13 people in 2010, is today a growing agency with over 250 talented, creative and diverse people, across a Cape Town and Johannesburg campus, and an agency that has...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

BETTERFLYBOX

BIODIVERSITY RESTAURATION

Biodiversity Biodiversity, short for ‘biological diversity’, refers to the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. It encompasses the full range of species of plants, animals, micro-organisms and ecosystems, as well as the genetic differences within these species. Biodiversity encompasses not only the diversity of species, but also their...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Iridia Medical

Whom do first responders call for medical emergencies? Iridia Medical is a physician-founded company that exists to Enable Peace of Mind for people called upon to respond to medical emergencies

Within a span of five months in 1997, a local pulp and papermill experienced the collapse and death of two employees on-site. It was determined that both employees suffered from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The prospect of future deaths at the site was palpable, and preventative solutions were non-existent. This...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HEAVY CHEF

HEAVY CHEF -THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS

THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO

A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

BUILDING COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING TECH SECTOR GROWTH

Technology Alberta is an industry-business association that supports the growth of Alberta’s tech sector, by building community. With an entrepreneur-led approach, we coordinate efforts and collaborate with key stakeholders – so that together, we deliver greater value for all of Alberta’s advanced technology growth companies. As a province-wide organization, our...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer

Bringing together world-renowned expertise, innovation and patient-centered care in one destination.   Beating cancer demands the extraordinary. That’s why Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s preferred health care provider, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the No.1-ranked cancer center in America, created a destination for cancer treatment that is second to none. Jacksonville,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

TARTU CENTRE FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Nurturing Creative Entrepreneurship The Tartu Centre for Creative Industries (TCCI) distinguishes itself in Europe through its dedicated regional focus on South Estonia’s creative sector, enabling tailored support. TCCI actively fosters cross-sectoral collaboration through high-profile events like sTARTUp Day’s Creative Industries Pitching Competition and the Estonian Fashion Festival, connecting creatives with...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

AQUÁRIO VASCO DA GAMA

Heart And Science For All Generations/Ciência Com Coração Para Todas As Gerações

Vasco da Gama Aquarium belongs to the extended family of the first public aquariums created around the world, between the late 19th century and the 1st World War. From this first “boom,” most of them were closed or converted into modern aquariums. Built in 1898, the Aquarium celebrates 400 years...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

BOUNCE HEALTH INNOVATION

AT THE FOREFRONT OF BUILDING THE BURGEONING HEALTH TECH SECTOR IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, NETWORKS, AND SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS AND INNO

The healthtech sector is reflected through Bounce partner companies like: Since its establishment in 2018, Bounce has been working to accelerate the growth of the health innovation sector in Newfoundland and Labrador(NL). Its humble beginnings stem from local “Hacking Health” events that connected frontline healthcare workers with developers, designers, patients,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

TO ALL OF OUR DMV INNOVATORS AND DREAMERS! Government and politics: two pillars that have long been synonymous with the identity of the capital region. While these will always remain cornerstones of the DMV, a new narrative is emerging – that of a global innovation hub for startups, emerging tech,...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

DOMEIN WALTERUS, VINEYARD, WINERY, DISTILLERY

DOMEIN WALTERUS

FILLED WITH PURITY, MADE WITH PASSION.”

Your drinks, our life’s work with an eco-conscious mindsetOur vision in making drinks for you. Whether it’s our own label or your private label. We work for every brand as if it were our own. Working with respect of nature’s products, makes us enthusiastic and driven to make your label...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Myya

Innovating Post-Mastectomy Care

At the heart of Myya lies a deeply personal mission inspired by the life and challenges faced by the Founder and CEO, Jasmine Jones. Witnessing her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer and the subsequent difficulties in finding supportive, well-fitting post-mastectomy bras and prostheses ignited a passion within Jasmine to create...

INNOVATE® Detroit

HRPro/BenePro

Exceptional Client Service And Innovation.

Throughout its almost 35-year history, two things have defined HRPro/BenePro – exceptional client service and innovation. Among its earlier innovations: While it is difficult to imagine a market without any of these, HRPro/BenePro helped create new categories when they first dived into them. More recently, they have been focused on...

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...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

302 INTERACTIVE

302 INTERACTIVE- IS A STUDIO OF GAME DESIGNERS ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE WORLD BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY AND REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS

IS A STUDIO OF GAME DESIGNERS ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE WORLD BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY AND REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS

Over the last seven years, their mission has been to provide an environment that brings game developers together to build the games of today and the metaverse of tomorrow. As digital experience developers, 302 Interactive has adopted the best practices of modern game development, product design, lean, and agile methodologies...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

FLUX

NURTURED BY FARM LIFE DURING HIS FORMATIVE YEARS, JORDY DISCOVERED A WORLD OF INTRIGUING CHALLENGES

Fuelled by his innate curiosity and determination, Jordy fearlessly embraced the role of problem solver, eager to make a tangible difference in the agricultural landscape. Fueled by a deep-rooted passion for sustainable farming practices, Jordy founded Flux Robotics, an agri-tech startup poised to be the next step change in agriculture....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

IBM

IBM CANADA

CANADA

As digital transformation accelerates across industries in Canada, companies are looking to build a much stronger digital foundation to fundamentally change the way their business works. Artificial Intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud and quantum computing are playing a significant part in helping private and public organizations further advance and contribute to...

INNOVATE® Nashville

MCVANTAGE

ROOTED IN LEGACY, BRANCHING INTO INNOVATION

McVantage Packaging stands as a testament to resilience and forward-thinking in the wood pallet, crate, industrial lumber, and supply chain industry. Founded nearly 75 years ago in Tuscumbia, Alabama, the company has evolved from a family-run lumber operation into a regional powerhouse serving the Central-Southeastern United States. With plants in...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

SHARE FOOD PROGRAM

FOOD IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND HUNGER CAN BE SOLVED

Hunger is solvable, and one organization headquartered in North Philadelphia maintains that they know exactly how. Founded 40 years ago, Share Food Program is the leading hunger-relief organization on food bank in the Greater Philadelphia region. Though food distribution, education, and advocacy, Share serves around 500,000 individuals each month, more...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING-A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. – Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling. In a country with...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION

GREATER NEWARK ENTERPRISES CORPORATION-A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive

A CDFI that Provides Technical ASSISTANCE and Lending capital so NJ Small Businesses Survive and Thrive

Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) is a Newark-based non-profit certified community development financial institution (CDFI) with a proven record of delivering capital and microenterprise services to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs in the northern New Jersey areas of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex, Union and Monmouth counties of New Jersey. GNEC’s primary purpose...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CANADIAN BLOCKCHAIN CONSORTIUM

ADVOCATING FOR THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL ASSETS SECTOR

Uniting diverse companies, individuals, and organizations from across the national innovation ecosystem, the Canadian Blockchain Consortium is the country’s advocate for the blockchain technology and cryptocurrency sector. The Consortium was launched in 2016 as the Alberta Blockchain Consortium by the late energy and technology pioneer Suzanne West, who had a...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

CITY OF GHENT

Imagine a city where centuries-old architecture seamlessly blends with cutting-edge innovation—where creativity, dynamism, and growth are the norm. Welcome to Ghent, the European technology capital that attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe. Ghent’s strength lies in its strategic alliances across biotech, healthtech, digital tech, and cleantech. This collaborative community is...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

upace™

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

M&C SAATCHI ABEL

M&C SAATCHI ABEL-SINCE ITS INCEPTION

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE M&C SAATCHI ABEL STORY IS ONE OF AUDACITY, TENACITY AND AN UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT ALL PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED WITH HOT CREATIVITY

What began as an unfurnished open space on the fourth floor of The Hudson Building in De Waterkant, Cape Town, with 13 people in 2010, is today a growing agency with over 250 talented, creative and diverse people, across a Cape Town and Johannesburg campus, and an agency that has...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

BETTERFLYBOX

BIODIVERSITY RESTAURATION

Biodiversity Biodiversity, short for ‘biological diversity’, refers to the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. It encompasses the full range of species of plants, animals, micro-organisms and ecosystems, as well as the genetic differences within these species. Biodiversity encompasses not only the diversity of species, but also their...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Iridia Medical

Whom do first responders call for medical emergencies? Iridia Medical is a physician-founded company that exists to Enable Peace of Mind for people called upon to respond to medical emergencies

Within a span of five months in 1997, a local pulp and papermill experienced the collapse and death of two employees on-site. It was determined that both employees suffered from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The prospect of future deaths at the site was palpable, and preventative solutions were non-existent. This...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HEAVY CHEF

HEAVY CHEF -THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS

THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO

A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

BUILDING COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING TECH SECTOR GROWTH

Technology Alberta is an industry-business association that supports the growth of Alberta’s tech sector, by building community. With an entrepreneur-led approach, we coordinate efforts and collaborate with key stakeholders – so that together, we deliver greater value for all of Alberta’s advanced technology growth companies. As a province-wide organization, our...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer

Bringing together world-renowned expertise, innovation and patient-centered care in one destination.   Beating cancer demands the extraordinary. That’s why Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s preferred health care provider, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the No.1-ranked cancer center in America, created a destination for cancer treatment that is second to none. Jacksonville,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

TARTU CENTRE FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Nurturing Creative Entrepreneurship The Tartu Centre for Creative Industries (TCCI) distinguishes itself in Europe through its dedicated regional focus on South Estonia’s creative sector, enabling tailored support. TCCI actively fosters cross-sectoral collaboration through high-profile events like sTARTUp Day’s Creative Industries Pitching Competition and the Estonian Fashion Festival, connecting creatives with...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

AQUÁRIO VASCO DA GAMA

Heart And Science For All Generations/Ciência Com Coração Para Todas As Gerações

Vasco da Gama Aquarium belongs to the extended family of the first public aquariums created around the world, between the late 19th century and the 1st World War. From this first “boom,” most of them were closed or converted into modern aquariums. Built in 1898, the Aquarium celebrates 400 years...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

BOUNCE HEALTH INNOVATION

AT THE FOREFRONT OF BUILDING THE BURGEONING HEALTH TECH SECTOR IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, NETWORKS, AND SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS AND INNO

The healthtech sector is reflected through Bounce partner companies like: Since its establishment in 2018, Bounce has been working to accelerate the growth of the health innovation sector in Newfoundland and Labrador(NL). Its humble beginnings stem from local “Hacking Health” events that connected frontline healthcare workers with developers, designers, patients,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

TO ALL OF OUR DMV INNOVATORS AND DREAMERS! Government and politics: two pillars that have long been synonymous with the identity of the capital region. While these will always remain cornerstones of the DMV, a new narrative is emerging – that of a global innovation hub for startups, emerging tech,...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

DOMEIN WALTERUS, VINEYARD, WINERY, DISTILLERY

DOMEIN WALTERUS

FILLED WITH PURITY, MADE WITH PASSION.”

Your drinks, our life’s work with an eco-conscious mindsetOur vision in making drinks for you. Whether it’s our own label or your private label. We work for every brand as if it were our own. Working with respect of nature’s products, makes us enthusiastic and driven to make your label...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Myya

Innovating Post-Mastectomy Care

At the heart of Myya lies a deeply personal mission inspired by the life and challenges faced by the Founder and CEO, Jasmine Jones. Witnessing her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer and the subsequent difficulties in finding supportive, well-fitting post-mastectomy bras and prostheses ignited a passion within Jasmine to create...

Ecosystems