Stories of Innovation

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™ Curitiba

ADEMICON

A SPECIALIST IN CONSORTIUMS WHO LEADS THE SEGMENT AMONG INDEPENDENT MANAGERS

Over the course of its 32-years, Ademicon has become a true benchmark in consortium. It went from a company with regional operations to a brand with a national presence, earning the position of Brazil’s largest independent consortium manager in terms of active credits. Currently, according to data from the Central...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

VÄRMEVERKET

A CULTURAL POWERHOUSE REIMAGINING CREATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

In the southern outskirts of Stockholm, in a repurposed industrial facility once devoted to generating heat, something entirely different is now being produced—culture, community, and creative opportunity. Värmeverket, founded as a response to the increasingly precarious conditions for artists and cultural workers, has quickly established itself as one of Sweden’s...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL- MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

The CEO and founder of Red-Lined International Terence Marsh had a goal of competing on the world stage at Dakar and established the business in 2013. We set out into the international market in search of a race car and returned to South Africa disillusioned at what the market had...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

INNOSTEPS

ESTONIA’S INNOVATION COMPASS

Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation. Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CAVA

CAVA’s Recipe for Success

From Mediterranean roots to nationwide expansion, CAVA brings heart, health, and humanity to food. CAVA isn’t just another restaurant chain. It’s on a mission not just to serve food but to serve a movement. It is a beacon of innovation, health, and Mediterranean flavors, transforming the way America eats. The...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRIAQ

AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION

CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SCHELL GAMES

MAKING EXPERIENCES WE’RE PROUD OF WITH PEOPLE WE LIKE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Founded in 2002 by award-winning game designer and author Jesse Schell, Schell Games is the largest full-service educational and entertainment game development company in the United States. We make experiences across various platforms, specializing in four vertical areas: Health and Wellness, Education, Home Entertainment, and Theme Parks and Museums. In...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE

CCTT IN ECO-RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION IN THE LEATHER SECTOR, FUR AND RELATED PRODUCTS

Our mission at Écofaune boréale—Cégep de Saint-Félicien’s college centre for the transfer of technology—is to promote the development of innovative social practices through applied research, technological development, technical assistance, knowledge transfer and scientific knowledge dissemination, enabling all socio-economic players in the fur and leather industries to reposition themselves economically in...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

ACCLAIM EXPRESS

ACCLAIM EXPRESS- IS A TECH START-UP THAT IS FOCUSING ON REVOLUTIONIZING AND TRANSFORMING THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH ITS VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE - ACCLAIM

IS A TECH START-UP THAT IS FOCUSING ON REVOLUTIONIZING AND TRANSFORMING THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH ITS VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE - ACCLAIM

Acclaim will serve as a Virtual Business Environment (VBE) for all small businesses globally. The idea is to take small businesses to the internet and be able to create virtual offices, stalls, and markets which are manageable. This innovation was inspired by the digital transformation of the economy and the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

TAV SYSTEMS

EXPORTING HIGH-QUALITY E-BIKE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE WORLD

TAV is an E-Bike startup based in Adelaide, Australia, that was incorporated in April 2020. Supported by the Government of South Australia and Flinders University under the program called Supporting innovation in South Australia, TAV’s mission is to export Australian-built E-Bike technologies to global brands, foster local innovation, and deliver...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ENGEFOTO

COMPANY SPECIALIZED IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOTECHNOLOGY, OPERATING IN BRAZIL SINCE 1980.

Through the years, the company has not only established itself as a leader in the sector but has also actively shaped the field of territory mapping and modeling with a series of groundbreaking technologies. In 1990, Engefoto began developing software for georeferencing, aiming to master new geolocation technologies such as...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Frampton Construction

Building Value Across the Southeast

Commercial construction plays a critical role in shaping South Carolina’s economy and the communities it serves. From advanced manufacturing and industrial facilities to office, medical, and distribution centers, Frampton Construction delivers projects that support growth, innovation, and long-term resilience. Founded in 1993 as Frampton & Associates, Inc., Frampton Construction is...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CITI

CITI-TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, THE CAPE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (CITI) SEEDED IT’S VISION OF A FUTURE FIT INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, IN THE WESTERN CAPE, THEN A PREDOMINANTLY AGRARIAN ECONOMY

Using Michael Porter’s cluster theory as a cornerstone of its strategy, CiTi designed interventions to grow, transform and enable a leading digital economy on the continent.   CiTi’s interventions have been acknowledged to have supported South Africa’s charge to the top of the inaugural fDi Africa “Tech Ecosystems of the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR IN SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND CITIES

We envision next-generation communities as zero-emission, livable, affordable, equitable and inclusive environments

Zero-emission communities require largescale electrification, retrofitting buildings, integrating renewable energy, developing sustainable mobility concepts, implementing green industry solutions, and transforming cities in a human-centered way. Furthermore, those next-generation communities should be affordable, mixed and inclusive, providing all essential services within walking distance. This also means easy access to green spaces,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

BITCOIN.COM

BITCOIN.COM

Helping to Build and Expose the Works of Africa’s Fintech Innovators to the World

There is no question that the global financial services industry has failed to serve everyone and has for a long time not been for everyone. The fact that more than 1.5 billion people are still without a bank account or have no access to banking services is ample evidence of...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

South Australia loves a party. We are the festival state – one proud to break new ground. Innovation is crucial when delivering major events, and so too is fostering a culture in which they continue to thrive. Our place as host of the best, brightest celebrations is directly linked to...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INNOVATE™ Alberta

ENVOY

ENVOY- MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees.   At Envoy...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

METIQUITY

A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.

A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

B.EST SOLUTIONS

REDEFINING SECURE DIGITAL IDENTITY WHILE STRENGTHENING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS

Can a digital state be built from scratch with external expertise and support? B.EST Solutions has spent the past 15 years proving that it can. Founded with the mission of adapting Estonia’s pioneering digital state experience to new contexts, the company has become a trusted developer and operator of national...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

Saunum

Revolution in Sauna Technology

SAUNUM’S UNIQUE BENEFITS SAUNUM’S UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION: HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND MARKET DIFFERENTIATION The Story of Saunum Andrus Vare, Thermal Engineer and The Creator of Saunum: “Inspired by the experience of my grandparents’ 100-year-old smoke sauna, I set out to create an innovative solution that combines the best features of a...

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™ Curitiba

ADEMICON

A SPECIALIST IN CONSORTIUMS WHO LEADS THE SEGMENT AMONG INDEPENDENT MANAGERS

Over the course of its 32-years, Ademicon has become a true benchmark in consortium. It went from a company with regional operations to a brand with a national presence, earning the position of Brazil’s largest independent consortium manager in terms of active credits. Currently, according to data from the Central...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

VÄRMEVERKET

A CULTURAL POWERHOUSE REIMAGINING CREATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

In the southern outskirts of Stockholm, in a repurposed industrial facility once devoted to generating heat, something entirely different is now being produced—culture, community, and creative opportunity. Värmeverket, founded as a response to the increasingly precarious conditions for artists and cultural workers, has quickly established itself as one of Sweden’s...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SPLINTERLANDS

THE MAGIC OF GAMING IN THE CRYPTO AGE

The game Splinterlands may evoke a world of magic and mayhem, but the wizards who built it live firmly in the realm of modern gaming technology. Splinterlands was founded in 2018 to combine two concepts that founders Matt Rosen and Dr. Jesse “Aggroed” Reich were already both passionate about: blockchain...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL

RED-LINED INTERNATIONAL- MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

MOTORSPORT ADVENTURE

The CEO and founder of Red-Lined International Terence Marsh had a goal of competing on the world stage at Dakar and established the business in 2013. We set out into the international market in search of a race car and returned to South Africa disillusioned at what the market had...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

INNOSTEPS

ESTONIA’S INNOVATION COMPASS

Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation. Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CAVA

CAVA’s Recipe for Success

From Mediterranean roots to nationwide expansion, CAVA brings heart, health, and humanity to food. CAVA isn’t just another restaurant chain. It’s on a mission not just to serve food but to serve a movement. It is a beacon of innovation, health, and Mediterranean flavors, transforming the way America eats. The...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRIAQ

AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION

CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SCHELL GAMES

MAKING EXPERIENCES WE’RE PROUD OF WITH PEOPLE WE LIKE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Founded in 2002 by award-winning game designer and author Jesse Schell, Schell Games is the largest full-service educational and entertainment game development company in the United States. We make experiences across various platforms, specializing in four vertical areas: Health and Wellness, Education, Home Entertainment, and Theme Parks and Museums. In...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCOFAUNE BORÉALE

CCTT IN ECO-RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION IN THE LEATHER SECTOR, FUR AND RELATED PRODUCTS

Our mission at Écofaune boréale—Cégep de Saint-Félicien’s college centre for the transfer of technology—is to promote the development of innovative social practices through applied research, technological development, technical assistance, knowledge transfer and scientific knowledge dissemination, enabling all socio-economic players in the fur and leather industries to reposition themselves economically in...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

ACCLAIM EXPRESS

ACCLAIM EXPRESS- IS A TECH START-UP THAT IS FOCUSING ON REVOLUTIONIZING AND TRANSFORMING THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH ITS VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE - ACCLAIM

IS A TECH START-UP THAT IS FOCUSING ON REVOLUTIONIZING AND TRANSFORMING THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH ITS VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE - ACCLAIM

Acclaim will serve as a Virtual Business Environment (VBE) for all small businesses globally. The idea is to take small businesses to the internet and be able to create virtual offices, stalls, and markets which are manageable. This innovation was inspired by the digital transformation of the economy and the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

TAV SYSTEMS

EXPORTING HIGH-QUALITY E-BIKE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE WORLD

TAV is an E-Bike startup based in Adelaide, Australia, that was incorporated in April 2020. Supported by the Government of South Australia and Flinders University under the program called Supporting innovation in South Australia, TAV’s mission is to export Australian-built E-Bike technologies to global brands, foster local innovation, and deliver...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ENGEFOTO

COMPANY SPECIALIZED IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOTECHNOLOGY, OPERATING IN BRAZIL SINCE 1980.

Through the years, the company has not only established itself as a leader in the sector but has also actively shaped the field of territory mapping and modeling with a series of groundbreaking technologies. In 1990, Engefoto began developing software for georeferencing, aiming to master new geolocation technologies such as...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Frampton Construction

Building Value Across the Southeast

Commercial construction plays a critical role in shaping South Carolina’s economy and the communities it serves. From advanced manufacturing and industrial facilities to office, medical, and distribution centers, Frampton Construction delivers projects that support growth, innovation, and long-term resilience. Founded in 1993 as Frampton & Associates, Inc., Frampton Construction is...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CITI

CITI-TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, THE CAPE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (CITI) SEEDED IT’S VISION OF A FUTURE FIT INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, IN THE WESTERN CAPE, THEN A PREDOMINANTLY AGRARIAN ECONOMY

Using Michael Porter’s cluster theory as a cornerstone of its strategy, CiTi designed interventions to grow, transform and enable a leading digital economy on the continent.   CiTi’s interventions have been acknowledged to have supported South Africa’s charge to the top of the inaugural fDi Africa “Tech Ecosystems of the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR IN SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND CITIES

We envision next-generation communities as zero-emission, livable, affordable, equitable and inclusive environments

Zero-emission communities require largescale electrification, retrofitting buildings, integrating renewable energy, developing sustainable mobility concepts, implementing green industry solutions, and transforming cities in a human-centered way. Furthermore, those next-generation communities should be affordable, mixed and inclusive, providing all essential services within walking distance. This also means easy access to green spaces,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

BITCOIN.COM

BITCOIN.COM

Helping to Build and Expose the Works of Africa’s Fintech Innovators to the World

There is no question that the global financial services industry has failed to serve everyone and has for a long time not been for everyone. The fact that more than 1.5 billion people are still without a bank account or have no access to banking services is ample evidence of...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

South Australia loves a party. We are the festival state – one proud to break new ground. Innovation is crucial when delivering major events, and so too is fostering a culture in which they continue to thrive. Our place as host of the best, brightest celebrations is directly linked to...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

INNOVATE™ Alberta

ENVOY

ENVOY- MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees.   At Envoy...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

METIQUITY

A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.

A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

B.EST SOLUTIONS

REDEFINING SECURE DIGITAL IDENTITY WHILE STRENGTHENING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS

Can a digital state be built from scratch with external expertise and support? B.EST Solutions has spent the past 15 years proving that it can. Founded with the mission of adapting Estonia’s pioneering digital state experience to new contexts, the company has become a trusted developer and operator of national...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

Saunum

Revolution in Sauna Technology

SAUNUM’S UNIQUE BENEFITS SAUNUM’S UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION: HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND MARKET DIFFERENTIATION The Story of Saunum Andrus Vare, Thermal Engineer and The Creator of Saunum: “Inspired by the experience of my grandparents’ 100-year-old smoke sauna, I set out to create an innovative solution that combines the best features of a...

Ecosystems