Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Detroit

InvestNext

Fostering Growth and Potential

InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand

Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand

ELEVATOR PITCH At Civilized Coffee it is not just about sourcing and roasting great coffee—it is about creating a culture around the brand. Northeast Florida has a very strong environment and support system for Coffee and Tea. Their reason to take this small business global was to bring awareness to...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOVATING TOGETHER

THE CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC MODEL

The Centre-du-Québec region consists of 5 territories and a unique regional co-development approach. It promotes innovation, the sharing of expertise, the implementation of common projects, and above all, a complementarity that creates a real leverage effect. This innovative model of collaboration also enables the sharing of responsibilities related to regional...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

XElement Technology 

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY As climate change accelerates, the effects on our environment become more pronounced. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and dwindling resources create a host of problems, with water quality being acritical concern. Warmer temperatures and oxygen depletion disrupt the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MATRIX COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

MATRIX COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (PTY) LTD (MATRIX GROUP) - IS AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY WITH A FOOTPRINT IN PRETORIA

IS AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY WITH A FOOTPRINT IN PRETORIA, JOHANNESBURG, CAPE TOWN AND DURBAN IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH COLLABORATIONS WITH AGENCIES IN KENYA AND NIGERIA

We partner with entrepreneurs across Africa who are experts in their fields, supporting them in an enabling, energising collaborative environment. We have partnered with agencies that operate independently and have their own P&L, however, our philosophy is built on principles of seamless collaboration. As such our solutions are agnostic and...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY

While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BAKER DONELSON

FROM STARTUP TO STANDOUT

Baker Donelson’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice Fuels the Future of Emerging Companies. With a deep bench of attorneys who understand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage companies and rapid-growth ventures, Baker Donelson’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) team is a trusted partner for entrepreneurs and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODE COVEN

CODE COVEN-BEWITCHINGLY DARING TO DEFY THE ODDS IN GAMING AND BEYOND

BEWITCHINGLY DARING TO DEFY THE ODDS IN GAMING AND BEYOND

The gaming community has always been full of diverse people and communities. However, the developers of games have not always reflected the same diversity. Marginalized people have not been offered many of the same opportunities as their counterparts. It’s time to move across the country, and the only person with...

AI Québec

INSTITUTE INTELLIGENCE AND DATA (IID)

AN ESSENTIAL COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT IN THE FIELDS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA VALORIZATION

Inaugurated in January 2020, the Institute Intelligence and Data (IID) at Université Laval brings together the driving forces of research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and data valorization in the greater Quebec City area. From fundamental or applied research, to major ethical issues, the Institute’s 65 members, collaborators and...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!

En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...

INNOVATE® Detroit

MENLO INNOVATIONS

RETURNING JOY TO TECHNOLOGY!

Welcome to Menlo Innovations, a custom software design & development firm whose mission, since its founding in 2001, is to end human suffering in the world as it relates to technology.® Menlo’s primary goal has always been to return joy to technology, for the business sponsors who pay for it...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TOAST

IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR

We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Ways to Get Office Privacy Instantly

Modern open office with computer workstations

3 Proven Ways to Get Office Privacy Instantly Three proven ways to get office privacy instantly include deploying modular acoustic pods, installing flexible acoustic partitions, and adopting smart scheduling protocols.  In open-plan offices, 63% of employees report lacking quiet space for focused work, negatively affecting their productivity, satisfaction, and well-being,...

INNOVATION Quebec

GOSEC

20 ANS D’EXCELLENCE EN MATIÈRE D’INNOVATION, GOSEC ÉTABLIT LA NORME

De retour pour sa 20e année, GoSec est une conférence annuelle où les meilleurs et les plus brillants experts en sécurité informatique de divers secteurs facilitent l’échange d’idées, la discussion ouverte, la diffusion des idées et le développement des relations durables qui renforcent la communauté de la cybersécurité. Situé dans...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

The GDI Hub Brand

The GDI Hub Brand - In 2019 GDI Hub Is Born With Its Own Identity

In 2019 GDI Hub Is Born With Its Own Identity, Located In The Building That Was Grundig’s Headquarters In Portugal. A Project Developed “in Loco” With A Technological Startup Concept And Completely Out Of The Box When Talking About “Real Estate”.

The initials GDI comes from the concept “Ground Digital Interface”, not dropping the story, keeping three letters of the company “GrunDIg”.   Founded by three people and with the support of Corex Web, a technology startup, was the embarkment of a project without any investment capital. Something that would certainly...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CITADEL CREDIT UNION

INNOVATION WITH PURPOSE

Citadel’s Member-Owned Growth Story in Philadelphia Innovation in financial services is often measured by speed: faster payments, faster approvals, faster digital access. For Citadel Credit Union, innovation begins with a more human question: how can financial services help people build stronger lives, businesses, and communities? That question is guiding Citadel’s...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Bow Valley College has been an access college since 1965, earning a reputation for fast-paced programs that quickly respond to the practical needs of adult students and our economy. On May 16, 2023, the College launched a new Digital Strategy, which outlines how technology will enhance the student experience, improve...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Future Health

Ten Years of Innovation at ZOL at the Crossroads of Clinical Care and Science

Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) is a large general hospital in the east of Flanders. It was established in 1995 after the merger of three hospitals and expanded in 2021 through the integration of ZOL Maas en Kempen. ZOL is currently the largest hospital in Limburg, with four sites located in Genk,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Optical Academy

Has been pioneering the change in the delivery of eye care

Optical Academy- Has been pioneering the change in the delivery of eye care by making eye care the most convenient, affordable, and accessible it has ever been. The company came to life 14 years ago after CEO, Abby Ayoub, crossed paths with a 15-year-old girl who was desperate for an...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pathwaves

Pathwaves - Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Pathwaves is a Miami-based Biopsychology Digital Therapeutics company providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment combined with timeless cognitive behavioral therapy and/or coaching techniques. Neural Empowerment is their proprietary process which begins with a Quantification of Mental Function. A vision for the future “Our goal...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

THE ESTONIAN CANCER SOCIETY (EESTI VÄHILIIT)

A COMMUNITY UNITED AGAINST CANCER

The Estonian Cancer Society (Eesti Vähiliit) is not just an organization – it’s a lifeline. Since its founding in 1992, it has become the largest umbrella group for cancer patients and associations in Estonia, uniting 14 member organizations and nearly 2,000 members across the country. Its purpose is simple yet...

INNOVATE® Detroit

InvestNext

Fostering Growth and Potential

InvestNext is on a mission to transform how investment firms raise and manage real estate investment capital. Founded in 2016 by Michael Gisi, Kevin Heras, and Matthew Attou, this Detroit startup was conceived to revolutionize how the industry operates. What they’ve created democratizes real estate investing and empowers investors to...

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand

Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand

ELEVATOR PITCH At Civilized Coffee it is not just about sourcing and roasting great coffee—it is about creating a culture around the brand. Northeast Florida has a very strong environment and support system for Coffee and Tea. Their reason to take this small business global was to bring awareness to...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOVATING TOGETHER

THE CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC MODEL

The Centre-du-Québec region consists of 5 territories and a unique regional co-development approach. It promotes innovation, the sharing of expertise, the implementation of common projects, and above all, a complementarity that creates a real leverage effect. This innovative model of collaboration also enables the sharing of responsibilities related to regional...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

XElement Technology 

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY As climate change accelerates, the effects on our environment become more pronounced. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and dwindling resources create a host of problems, with water quality being acritical concern. Warmer temperatures and oxygen depletion disrupt the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MATRIX COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

MATRIX COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (PTY) LTD (MATRIX GROUP) - IS AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY WITH A FOOTPRINT IN PRETORIA

IS AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY WITH A FOOTPRINT IN PRETORIA, JOHANNESBURG, CAPE TOWN AND DURBAN IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH COLLABORATIONS WITH AGENCIES IN KENYA AND NIGERIA

We partner with entrepreneurs across Africa who are experts in their fields, supporting them in an enabling, energising collaborative environment. We have partnered with agencies that operate independently and have their own P&L, however, our philosophy is built on principles of seamless collaboration. As such our solutions are agnostic and...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY

While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...

INNOVATE® Nashville

BAKER DONELSON

FROM STARTUP TO STANDOUT

Baker Donelson’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice Fuels the Future of Emerging Companies. With a deep bench of attorneys who understand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage companies and rapid-growth ventures, Baker Donelson’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) team is a trusted partner for entrepreneurs and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODECOMBAT

CODECOMBAT-How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

How An EdTech Startup Is Reinventing Esports And Providing A Competitive Platform For Creative Coders

At the start of 2021 we launched the CodeCombat AI League. Built on the foundation of our annual CodeQuest competitive coding hackathon, this new and innovative esport was born. The CodeCombat AI League is the first of its kind, part AI battle simulator and part code engine for learning real...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

CODE COVEN

CODE COVEN-BEWITCHINGLY DARING TO DEFY THE ODDS IN GAMING AND BEYOND

BEWITCHINGLY DARING TO DEFY THE ODDS IN GAMING AND BEYOND

The gaming community has always been full of diverse people and communities. However, the developers of games have not always reflected the same diversity. Marginalized people have not been offered many of the same opportunities as their counterparts. It’s time to move across the country, and the only person with...

AI Québec

INSTITUTE INTELLIGENCE AND DATA (IID)

AN ESSENTIAL COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT IN THE FIELDS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA VALORIZATION

Inaugurated in January 2020, the Institute Intelligence and Data (IID) at Université Laval brings together the driving forces of research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and data valorization in the greater Quebec City area. From fundamental or applied research, to major ethical issues, the Institute’s 65 members, collaborators and...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULER L’INNOVATION EN MAURICIE : LE CŒUR DE NOTRE MISSION!

En 2011, les acteurs de développement économique de la Mauricie ont été visionnaires en créant un organisme dédié à l’innovation. Claude Bourassa, Directeur Général « L’innovation n’est plus une option, mais un mode de gestion obligatoire pour la pérennité et la croissance des entreprises! »– Claude Bourassa, directeur général d’ESM et...

INNOVATE® Detroit

MENLO INNOVATIONS

RETURNING JOY TO TECHNOLOGY!

Welcome to Menlo Innovations, a custom software design & development firm whose mission, since its founding in 2001, is to end human suffering in the world as it relates to technology.® Menlo’s primary goal has always been to return joy to technology, for the business sponsors who pay for it...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TOAST

IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR

We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Proven Ways to Get Office Privacy Instantly

Modern open office with computer workstations

3 Proven Ways to Get Office Privacy Instantly Three proven ways to get office privacy instantly include deploying modular acoustic pods, installing flexible acoustic partitions, and adopting smart scheduling protocols.  In open-plan offices, 63% of employees report lacking quiet space for focused work, negatively affecting their productivity, satisfaction, and well-being,...

INNOVATION Quebec

GOSEC

20 ANS D’EXCELLENCE EN MATIÈRE D’INNOVATION, GOSEC ÉTABLIT LA NORME

De retour pour sa 20e année, GoSec est une conférence annuelle où les meilleurs et les plus brillants experts en sécurité informatique de divers secteurs facilitent l’échange d’idées, la discussion ouverte, la diffusion des idées et le développement des relations durables qui renforcent la communauté de la cybersécurité. Situé dans...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

The GDI Hub Brand

The GDI Hub Brand - In 2019 GDI Hub Is Born With Its Own Identity

In 2019 GDI Hub Is Born With Its Own Identity, Located In The Building That Was Grundig’s Headquarters In Portugal. A Project Developed “in Loco” With A Technological Startup Concept And Completely Out Of The Box When Talking About “Real Estate”.

The initials GDI comes from the concept “Ground Digital Interface”, not dropping the story, keeping three letters of the company “GrunDIg”.   Founded by three people and with the support of Corex Web, a technology startup, was the embarkment of a project without any investment capital. Something that would certainly...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CITADEL CREDIT UNION

INNOVATION WITH PURPOSE

Citadel’s Member-Owned Growth Story in Philadelphia Innovation in financial services is often measured by speed: faster payments, faster approvals, faster digital access. For Citadel Credit Union, innovation begins with a more human question: how can financial services help people build stronger lives, businesses, and communities? That question is guiding Citadel’s...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Bow Valley College has been an access college since 1965, earning a reputation for fast-paced programs that quickly respond to the practical needs of adult students and our economy. On May 16, 2023, the College launched a new Digital Strategy, which outlines how technology will enhance the student experience, improve...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Future Health

Ten Years of Innovation at ZOL at the Crossroads of Clinical Care and Science

Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL) is a large general hospital in the east of Flanders. It was established in 1995 after the merger of three hospitals and expanded in 2021 through the integration of ZOL Maas en Kempen. ZOL is currently the largest hospital in Limburg, with four sites located in Genk,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Optical Academy

Has been pioneering the change in the delivery of eye care

Optical Academy- Has been pioneering the change in the delivery of eye care by making eye care the most convenient, affordable, and accessible it has ever been. The company came to life 14 years ago after CEO, Abby Ayoub, crossed paths with a 15-year-old girl who was desperate for an...

INNOVATE® Miami

Pathwaves

Pathwaves - Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment

Pathwaves is a Miami-based Biopsychology Digital Therapeutics company providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment combined with timeless cognitive behavioral therapy and/or coaching techniques. Neural Empowerment is their proprietary process which begins with a Quantification of Mental Function. A vision for the future “Our goal...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

THE ESTONIAN CANCER SOCIETY (EESTI VÄHILIIT)

A COMMUNITY UNITED AGAINST CANCER

The Estonian Cancer Society (Eesti Vähiliit) is not just an organization – it’s a lifeline. Since its founding in 1992, it has become the largest umbrella group for cancer patients and associations in Estonia, uniting 14 member organizations and nearly 2,000 members across the country. Its purpose is simple yet...

Ecosystems