Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
TAILWIND BUSINESS VENTURES

HUMANIZING AUSTIN
Purpose-driven, impact-oriented, and one of the area’s most connected innovators, Andrew Tull is among the most accomplished entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and innovators to know in the Austin area and the state of Texas. Recognized for creating innovative, successful businesses such as Tailwind Business Ventures, and working tirelessly to make a meaningful,...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATION Quebec
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)
Canada’s first NSERC-P&WC Executive Industrial Chair in Aerospace Research on Propulsion System Integration and Optimization (2011-2016). These projects filled a significant lack of data and criteria in the literature on the preliminary design phase of aircraft engines. The goal was to develop an automated and integrated turbine design system that...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING
NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...
INNOVATION Quebec
Pharmabio Développement

Since 1999, Pharmabio Développement, a sectoral committee for Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been proudly carrying out its mission to actively contribute to the workforce and employment development of companies in the sector
To support its mission, the mandate of Pharmabio Développement is as follows: According to recent estimates, Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry consists of some 280 companies and employs over 16,000 people. Vacancies in the industry are estimated at 1,325 currently and at more than 4,000 over a three-year projection. As...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
PHYSIQ

Technology Pioneered To Predict Failure Of Mission-Critical Industrial Equipment Delivers Powerful Platform To Protect The Most Complex “Machine” Of All – The Human Body
A leader in digital medicine, dedicated to generating real-time health insight via physiological data and patented artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, physIQ is on a mission to transform healthcare. The physIQ enterprise-ready cloud platform is designed to continuously collect and process data from any wearable biosensor using an expanding portfolio of...
INNOVATE® Nashville
QUORE

Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide
During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE

CCTT EN INNOVATION ÉCORESPONSABLE DU SECTEUR CUIR, FOURRURE ET PRODUITS DÉRIVÉS
La mission du centre collégial de transfert technologique du Cégep de St-Félicien, Écofaune boréale, comprend principalement de la recherche appliquée combinant le développement technologique, l’aide technique, le transfert de connaissances, la diffusion d’information scientifique ainsi que l’acquisition de pratiques sociales novatrices permettant aux acteurs socio-économiques de la fourrure et du...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PLAYHAUS

DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL
playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
KLABIN IN PARANÁ

ROOTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
The largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, Klabin is a protagonist in a history characterized by innovation and a commitment with sustainable development. Founded in 1899, the Company stands out as the only one in Brazil offering solutions in softwood,...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
WOOD BUFFALO REGIONAL INNOVATION NETWORK

There’s no better time and place to get started with the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network
The Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network (WBRIN) was born of a need to connect business support organizations in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo to each other, as well as entrepreneurs in the region and Alberta. It is a network of six organizations in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, who occupy the roles...
INNOVATE® Georgia
DAUGHERTY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

WE PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE TO OUR CLIENTS, AN INCREDIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.
Ranked 5th in the nation by USA Today’s Top Workplaces USA, Daugherty Business Solutions is a leading advisory services and technology consulting firm. Founded by Ron and Jan Daugherty, the company currently employs over 1,500 consultants worldwide with a focus on AI, tech modernization, and business agility. For over 40...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO
At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
WESGRO

THE CAPE TRADE PORTAL
Building Resilience Builds CompetitivenessWesgro is the official tourism, trade, investment and film promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. It serves as the first point of contact for foreign investors and local companies. In addition, this agency attracts and facilitates national and international investment, works to grow the...
INNOVATION Quebec
CEIMIA

DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT APPLIED PROJECTS IN RESPONSIBLE AI
A key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI)CEIMIA is a key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence, based on the principles of ethics, human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth. Our role is to develop and implement high-impact applied projects in responsible artificial intelligence....
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
KU LEUVEN

INNOVATION PARTNER PAR EXCELLENCE IN THE MECHELEN-KEMPEN REGION
The Geel and De Nayer (Sint-Katelijne-Waver) campuses are part of the Faculty of Engineering Technology at KU Leuven. Here, high-quality education and research go hand-in-hand: not only do these campuses train passionate engineers, they also offer many opportunities for companies that want to innovate. Our campuses play an active role...
INNOVATION Quebec
CERASP

CCTT IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
CERASP is a centre for applied research in pharmaceutical sciences located in the Montreal Innovation Centre in Saint-Laurent. Our CCTT is a unique partner that provides innovative and sustainable turnkey solutions with tangible results, guiding you from concept to market via research and development, technical support, testing, consulting, piloting and...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Electric Outdoors

Building Sustainable Off-Grid Camping Systems for a New Era of Outdoor Adventure
Based in Detroit, Michigan, and founded in 2023, clean tech startup Electric Outdoors is on a path to transform off-grid camping and sustainability in the outdoors. Its mission is driven by what the company has identified as a huge gap in the current outdoor recreation market: Connected glamping in remote...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
WILLIAM BLAIR

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
VIASOFT

AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION IN CURITIBA
A Vision for the Future Visionary Beginnings and National Expansion of VIASOFTSince 1990, VIASOFT has been a pillar of innovation in Brazil, born from the vision of Itamir Viola and Roberto Elias da Silva. Originating in Pato Branco, a small city in Paraná, and initially focused on enterprise systems, the...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
ICONIX ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD T/A SMARTEE

COMPANIES ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND LOSSES DUE TO INFORMATION MISMANAGEMENT.
The concept of the Internet of Things and Big Data has always intrigued Ashveer and Nivashnee Ramparsad, a husband and wife team that are so passionate about the world of technology and data-driven business. As founders of Smartee, they saw the need to invest themselves into this vision. During his...
INNOVATE® Georgia
JOULEA

REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY - MAXIMIZING PROFITABILITY WHILE MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT.
The building sector, which accounts for 40% of all U.S. energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wastes $150 billion annually due to inefficient design, operation, and maintenance of buildings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings are responsible for 76% of the nation’s electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WORKS (STW)

AND THEIR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT, ZEUS2Q:
System Technology Works, based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is a pioneering research and product development company focused on transforming the educational landscape through the development of humanoid robots like the Zeus2Q. Founded by Luis Guzman, STW aims to revolutionize the way we interact with and program artificial intelligence (AI) and...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
TAILWIND BUSINESS VENTURES

HUMANIZING AUSTIN
Purpose-driven, impact-oriented, and one of the area’s most connected innovators, Andrew Tull is among the most accomplished entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and innovators to know in the Austin area and the state of Texas. Recognized for creating innovative, successful businesses such as Tailwind Business Ventures, and working tirelessly to make a meaningful,...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATION Quebec
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)
Canada’s first NSERC-P&WC Executive Industrial Chair in Aerospace Research on Propulsion System Integration and Optimization (2011-2016). These projects filled a significant lack of data and criteria in the literature on the preliminary design phase of aircraft engines. The goal was to develop an automated and integrated turbine design system that...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING
NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...
INNOVATION Quebec
Pharmabio Développement

Since 1999, Pharmabio Développement, a sectoral committee for Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has been proudly carrying out its mission to actively contribute to the workforce and employment development of companies in the sector
To support its mission, the mandate of Pharmabio Développement is as follows: According to recent estimates, Québec’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry consists of some 280 companies and employs over 16,000 people. Vacancies in the industry are estimated at 1,325 currently and at more than 4,000 over a three-year projection. As...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
PHYSIQ

Technology Pioneered To Predict Failure Of Mission-Critical Industrial Equipment Delivers Powerful Platform To Protect The Most Complex “Machine” Of All – The Human Body
A leader in digital medicine, dedicated to generating real-time health insight via physiological data and patented artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, physIQ is on a mission to transform healthcare. The physIQ enterprise-ready cloud platform is designed to continuously collect and process data from any wearable biosensor using an expanding portfolio of...
INNOVATE® Nashville
QUORE

Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide
During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE

CCTT EN INNOVATION ÉCORESPONSABLE DU SECTEUR CUIR, FOURRURE ET PRODUITS DÉRIVÉS
La mission du centre collégial de transfert technologique du Cégep de St-Félicien, Écofaune boréale, comprend principalement de la recherche appliquée combinant le développement technologique, l’aide technique, le transfert de connaissances, la diffusion d’information scientifique ainsi que l’acquisition de pratiques sociales novatrices permettant aux acteurs socio-économiques de la fourrure et du...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PLAYHAUS

DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL
playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
KLABIN IN PARANÁ

ROOTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
The largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, Klabin is a protagonist in a history characterized by innovation and a commitment with sustainable development. Founded in 1899, the Company stands out as the only one in Brazil offering solutions in softwood,...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
WOOD BUFFALO REGIONAL INNOVATION NETWORK

There’s no better time and place to get started with the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network
The Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network (WBRIN) was born of a need to connect business support organizations in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo to each other, as well as entrepreneurs in the region and Alberta. It is a network of six organizations in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, who occupy the roles...
INNOVATE® Georgia
DAUGHERTY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

WE PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE TO OUR CLIENTS, AN INCREDIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.
Ranked 5th in the nation by USA Today’s Top Workplaces USA, Daugherty Business Solutions is a leading advisory services and technology consulting firm. Founded by Ron and Jan Daugherty, the company currently employs over 1,500 consultants worldwide with a focus on AI, tech modernization, and business agility. For over 40...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
WILD + PINE

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO
At the height of the energy boom, Wild + Pine was created to help restore, reclaim, and conserve some of Alberta’s most challenging and remote landscapes across the industry. Something they do well, but regenerating Canada’s great boreal forest isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, Wild + Pine develops...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
WESGRO

THE CAPE TRADE PORTAL
Building Resilience Builds CompetitivenessWesgro is the official tourism, trade, investment and film promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. It serves as the first point of contact for foreign investors and local companies. In addition, this agency attracts and facilitates national and international investment, works to grow the...
INNOVATION Quebec
CEIMIA

DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT APPLIED PROJECTS IN RESPONSIBLE AI
A key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI)CEIMIA is a key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence, based on the principles of ethics, human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth. Our role is to develop and implement high-impact applied projects in responsible artificial intelligence....
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
KU LEUVEN

INNOVATION PARTNER PAR EXCELLENCE IN THE MECHELEN-KEMPEN REGION
The Geel and De Nayer (Sint-Katelijne-Waver) campuses are part of the Faculty of Engineering Technology at KU Leuven. Here, high-quality education and research go hand-in-hand: not only do these campuses train passionate engineers, they also offer many opportunities for companies that want to innovate. Our campuses play an active role...
INNOVATION Quebec
CERASP

CCTT IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
CERASP is a centre for applied research in pharmaceutical sciences located in the Montreal Innovation Centre in Saint-Laurent. Our CCTT is a unique partner that provides innovative and sustainable turnkey solutions with tangible results, guiding you from concept to market via research and development, technical support, testing, consulting, piloting and...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Electric Outdoors

Building Sustainable Off-Grid Camping Systems for a New Era of Outdoor Adventure
Based in Detroit, Michigan, and founded in 2023, clean tech startup Electric Outdoors is on a path to transform off-grid camping and sustainability in the outdoors. Its mission is driven by what the company has identified as a huge gap in the current outdoor recreation market: Connected glamping in remote...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
WILLIAM BLAIR

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
VIASOFT

AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION IN CURITIBA
A Vision for the Future Visionary Beginnings and National Expansion of VIASOFTSince 1990, VIASOFT has been a pillar of innovation in Brazil, born from the vision of Itamir Viola and Roberto Elias da Silva. Originating in Pato Branco, a small city in Paraná, and initially focused on enterprise systems, the...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
ICONIX ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD T/A SMARTEE

COMPANIES ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND LOSSES DUE TO INFORMATION MISMANAGEMENT.
The concept of the Internet of Things and Big Data has always intrigued Ashveer and Nivashnee Ramparsad, a husband and wife team that are so passionate about the world of technology and data-driven business. As founders of Smartee, they saw the need to invest themselves into this vision. During his...
INNOVATE® Georgia
JOULEA

REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY - MAXIMIZING PROFITABILITY WHILE MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT.
The building sector, which accounts for 40% of all U.S. energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wastes $150 billion annually due to inefficient design, operation, and maintenance of buildings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings are responsible for 76% of the nation’s electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WORKS (STW)

AND THEIR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT, ZEUS2Q:
System Technology Works, based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is a pioneering research and product development company focused on transforming the educational landscape through the development of humanoid robots like the Zeus2Q. Founded by Luis Guzman, STW aims to revolutionize the way we interact with and program artificial intelligence (AI) and...