Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

More Than Play:

How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time

“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

STUDENT-LED INNOVATION, POWERED BY PURPOSE AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Students aren’t just learning about local and global challenges — they’re tackling them head-on with innovative and impactful solutions to drive change in Laurier’s campus communities in Waterloo Region, Brantford, Milton and beyond. Laurier equips students with the skills and mindset necessary to innovate with purpose, shaping the next generation...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOV & EXPORT PME

INTRODUCING INNOV & EXPORT PME

In a demanding and constantly evolving global market, innovation is essential for developing manufacturing companies and increasing the strength of the Lower St. Lawrence region’s economy. Innov & Export PME is a regional development organization that operates in several enterprises in the Lower St. Lawrence region. As the name suggests,...

INNOVATE® Miami

Sustalytics

Sustalytics - A Platform For Fashion Brands And Retailers That Predicts Customer Demand By Leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

A Platform For Fashion Brands And Retailers That Predicts Customer Demand By Leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

Sustalytics is a service platform for fashion brands and retailers that predicts customer demand by leveraging artificial intelligence. We empower fashion companies to understand their customers’ needs to produce effectively and to be profitable and sustainable. Retail fashion companies overproduce because they are not able to accurately forecast for tomorrow...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMACATHERA

AMACATHERA-DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING DRUGS FOR CHALLENGING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING DRUGS FOR CHALLENGING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

Known for its diverse population and iconic skyline, Toronto is also the birthplace of the electron microscope, insulin, and pacemakers. And on a quiet side street south of the University of Toronto, one growing biotechnology company aims to contribute to the city’s entrepreneurial legacy. AmacaThera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

WEAR-TECH

INNOVATING SAFETY

WEAR-TECH – DETECT – PREDICT – PROTECT™ “Our homegrown AI companion, MAHI™, is aware of its users’ environment and alerts the wearer and the caregivers if a vulnerable loved one inadvertently heads towards a hazard.” A profound loss propelled an innovator in Hartland, WI, to create predictive safety technologies for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

Global Innovation Spotlight

KOSPA GROUP

KOSPA GROUP-BYE BYE PLASTIC

BYE BYE PLASTIC

PROBLEM The dependence of the global economy on fossil fuel plastics has been growing continuously. While plastic production has been progressively rising and production is expected to double again in the next 30 years, no adequate solutions have been implemented to deal with consequent waste management and disposal. SOLUTION Increasing...

INNOVATE® Miami

Riposte

Riposte - A lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging

A lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging

Riposte is a lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging, thanks to its genuine designs made by local street-artists, printed or embroidered on clothes made of organic fabrics. Our motto: Reliable fashion, Local soul. The brand was founded in May 2019 by Nicolas Riviere, a French entrepreneur based in...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

CREDIBOM

CREDIBOM-Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

As part of the Crédit Agricole Group – one of the largest European banking groups – Credibom is a bank specialized in consumer credit and a leader in Portugal, particularly in automotive financing. Established in 1995, Credibom focus is to adapt its products and services to the needs of its...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

COALITION OF PARENTS IN ESPORTS

REVOLUTIONIZING ESPORTS TOGETHER

Coalition of Parents in Esports is a 501c3 nonprofit founded by parents of pro esports players and content creators who recognized a need of engaging parents in the growing esports industry so more kids are able to pursue their passions with the support they need....

INNOVATE® Nashville

Compassus

Where Compassion Meets Innovation in Home-Based Health Care

As more patients and families choose care at home, Compassus is redefining what compassionate, high-quality home-based care looks like. Since its founding in 2006, Compassus has grown from a hospice provider into one of the nation’s largest and most trusted home-based health care organizations. Today, Compassus operates in more than...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NEWZOO

NEWZOO-TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

But Newzoo wasn’t its founder’s (Peter Warman and Thijs Hagoort) first venture into the world of business. Far from it. After becoming friends playing basketball in high school, the industrious duo sold custom-designed t-shirts. Those early days taught them a valuable lesson: custom production based on manuals does not scale...

INNOVATION Quebec

Le CMQ

LE CMQ-Le Centre de métallurgie du Québec est un centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT) rattaché au Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Créé en 1985

Le Centre de métallurgie du Québec est un centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT) rattaché au Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Créé en 1985, le CMQ vise à « Soutenir la compétitivité de l’industrie métallurgique par la recherche et le développement technologique dans une approche collaborative de partenaires privés et publics tout en supportant l’enseignement technique au collégial et le transfert de connaissances en entreprise

L’équipe composée de 60 personnes, incluant 10 à 15 étudiants collégiaux et universitaires par année, met l’accent sur la recherche appliquée et le transfert technologique pour soutenir l’effort de croissance et de positionnement stratégique des entreprises ayant des activités reliées à la transformation métallique. En plus d’assurer des formations de...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

INC.AFRICA

INC.AFRICA -WHY AFRICA’S INNOVATION STORY MUST BE TOLD AND WHY INC.AFRICA IS WRITING THE NARRATIVE

WHY AFRICA’S INNOVATION STORY MUST BE TOLD AND WHY INC.AFRICA IS WRITING THE NARRATIVE

Why are there so many books about Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in online book stores and libraries, but so few of the innovators redefining Africa? “All you have to do is Google an African innovator and almost nothing pops up,” says researcher Nnamdi Oranye, who is also...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

INNOVATION Quebec

CEIM

STIMULATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES

As an organization that has been serving innovation for more than 25 years, we are particularly proud to have supported companies that have since become flagships of our ecosystem, or that now act as powerful catalysts for progress and change in our society. “Our entrepreneurs’ capacity to create and to...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Adventure Science Center

Fostering Enthusiasm for Discovery and Exploration

Adventure Science Center connects learners of all ages to the science that surrounds them every day, fostering enthusiasm for discovery and exploration. This year Adventure Science Center marks 80 years of serving the Nashville community, all 95 counties of Tennessee, together with visitors from around the nation and the globe....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

BEDENK

BEDENK - INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

Why?The world around us is changing ever faster. At the same time innovation is no longer just about products or technology. It’s also about services, internal structure and processes, business models, and customer experience… Every aspect of how you do business, must be scrutinized.   Organizations have to keep up...

INNOVATE® Utah

Momni

Free Childcare Option That Is Affordable And Easy To Use

Momni links all moms everywhere, offering instant access to trusted care. We are a subscription-free childcare option that is affordable and easy to use. Momni includes easy profile setup, instant connection with hosts near you, access to reviews, and payment within the platform. We also provide a way for moms...

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™ Alberta

H3ALTH TECHNOLOGIES INC

REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AUTONOMY

The founder’s father was raised in a one-room home in the country side of a small town in Ethiopia that is unknown to most people. Tin roof, mudded walls. The founder’s mother from another town where education wasn’t supposed to be the path for women. His parents didn’t have access...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Modernization as the First Step Towards Innovation

Success Story: Modernizing POS Software Product to Revolutionize the HoReCa Industry MobiDev's collaboration with SmartTab is a bright example of strategic application modernization and innovation.

Why Should You Modernize Your Software Before Innovating with AI? Integrating AI into existing software products can revolutionize how businesses operate, from enhancing user experience to optimizing decision-making processes. But this transformation comes with challenges. This article will explore the key challenges you might face when innovating your software product...

Global Innovation Spotlight

More Than Play:

How an AI Companion Can Turn Screen Time Into Growth Time

“Screen time.”Two simple words — and a thousand questions for parents. Is my child spending too much time with a tablet?What are they watching?Is it just entertainment — or something more?And most of all: Is this helping them grow, or slowly replacing real connection? It’s a real and valid concern.Research continues...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

STUDENT-LED INNOVATION, POWERED BY PURPOSE AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Students aren’t just learning about local and global challenges — they’re tackling them head-on with innovative and impactful solutions to drive change in Laurier’s campus communities in Waterloo Region, Brantford, Milton and beyond. Laurier equips students with the skills and mindset necessary to innovate with purpose, shaping the next generation...

INNOVATION Quebec

INNOV & EXPORT PME

INTRODUCING INNOV & EXPORT PME

In a demanding and constantly evolving global market, innovation is essential for developing manufacturing companies and increasing the strength of the Lower St. Lawrence region’s economy. Innov & Export PME is a regional development organization that operates in several enterprises in the Lower St. Lawrence region. As the name suggests,...

INNOVATE® Miami

Sustalytics

Sustalytics - A Platform For Fashion Brands And Retailers That Predicts Customer Demand By Leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

A Platform For Fashion Brands And Retailers That Predicts Customer Demand By Leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

Sustalytics is a service platform for fashion brands and retailers that predicts customer demand by leveraging artificial intelligence. We empower fashion companies to understand their customers’ needs to produce effectively and to be profitable and sustainable. Retail fashion companies overproduce because they are not able to accurately forecast for tomorrow...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMACATHERA

AMACATHERA-DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING DRUGS FOR CHALLENGING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING DRUGS FOR CHALLENGING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

Known for its diverse population and iconic skyline, Toronto is also the birthplace of the electron microscope, insulin, and pacemakers. And on a quiet side street south of the University of Toronto, one growing biotechnology company aims to contribute to the city’s entrepreneurial legacy. AmacaThera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

WEAR-TECH

INNOVATING SAFETY

WEAR-TECH – DETECT – PREDICT – PROTECT™ “Our homegrown AI companion, MAHI™, is aware of its users’ environment and alerts the wearer and the caregivers if a vulnerable loved one inadvertently heads towards a hazard.” A profound loss propelled an innovator in Hartland, WI, to create predictive safety technologies for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

Global Innovation Spotlight

KOSPA GROUP

KOSPA GROUP-BYE BYE PLASTIC

BYE BYE PLASTIC

PROBLEM The dependence of the global economy on fossil fuel plastics has been growing continuously. While plastic production has been progressively rising and production is expected to double again in the next 30 years, no adequate solutions have been implemented to deal with consequent waste management and disposal. SOLUTION Increasing...

INNOVATE® Miami

Riposte

Riposte - A lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging

A lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging

Riposte is a lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging, thanks to its genuine designs made by local street-artists, printed or embroidered on clothes made of organic fabrics. Our motto: Reliable fashion, Local soul. The brand was founded in May 2019 by Nicolas Riviere, a French entrepreneur based in...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

CREDIBOM

CREDIBOM-Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

Working Everyday In The Interest Of Our Customers And Society

As part of the Crédit Agricole Group – one of the largest European banking groups – Credibom is a bank specialized in consumer credit and a leader in Portugal, particularly in automotive financing. Established in 1995, Credibom focus is to adapt its products and services to the needs of its...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

COALITION OF PARENTS IN ESPORTS

REVOLUTIONIZING ESPORTS TOGETHER

Coalition of Parents in Esports is a 501c3 nonprofit founded by parents of pro esports players and content creators who recognized a need of engaging parents in the growing esports industry so more kids are able to pursue their passions with the support they need....

INNOVATE® Nashville

Compassus

Where Compassion Meets Innovation in Home-Based Health Care

As more patients and families choose care at home, Compassus is redefining what compassionate, high-quality home-based care looks like. Since its founding in 2006, Compassus has grown from a hospice provider into one of the nation’s largest and most trusted home-based health care organizations. Today, Compassus operates in more than...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NEWZOO

NEWZOO-TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH ONE BIG IDEA — THAT’S THE GIST OF NEWZOO’S BEGINNINGS

But Newzoo wasn’t its founder’s (Peter Warman and Thijs Hagoort) first venture into the world of business. Far from it. After becoming friends playing basketball in high school, the industrious duo sold custom-designed t-shirts. Those early days taught them a valuable lesson: custom production based on manuals does not scale...

INNOVATION Quebec

Le CMQ

LE CMQ-Le Centre de métallurgie du Québec est un centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT) rattaché au Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Créé en 1985

Le Centre de métallurgie du Québec est un centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT) rattaché au Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Créé en 1985, le CMQ vise à « Soutenir la compétitivité de l’industrie métallurgique par la recherche et le développement technologique dans une approche collaborative de partenaires privés et publics tout en supportant l’enseignement technique au collégial et le transfert de connaissances en entreprise

L’équipe composée de 60 personnes, incluant 10 à 15 étudiants collégiaux et universitaires par année, met l’accent sur la recherche appliquée et le transfert technologique pour soutenir l’effort de croissance et de positionnement stratégique des entreprises ayant des activités reliées à la transformation métallique. En plus d’assurer des formations de...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

INC.AFRICA

INC.AFRICA -WHY AFRICA’S INNOVATION STORY MUST BE TOLD AND WHY INC.AFRICA IS WRITING THE NARRATIVE

WHY AFRICA’S INNOVATION STORY MUST BE TOLD AND WHY INC.AFRICA IS WRITING THE NARRATIVE

Why are there so many books about Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in online book stores and libraries, but so few of the innovators redefining Africa? “All you have to do is Google an African innovator and almost nothing pops up,” says researcher Nnamdi Oranye, who is also...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

INNOVATION Quebec

CEIM

STIMULATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES

As an organization that has been serving innovation for more than 25 years, we are particularly proud to have supported companies that have since become flagships of our ecosystem, or that now act as powerful catalysts for progress and change in our society. “Our entrepreneurs’ capacity to create and to...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Adventure Science Center

Fostering Enthusiasm for Discovery and Exploration

Adventure Science Center connects learners of all ages to the science that surrounds them every day, fostering enthusiasm for discovery and exploration. This year Adventure Science Center marks 80 years of serving the Nashville community, all 95 counties of Tennessee, together with visitors from around the nation and the globe....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

BEDENK

BEDENK - INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

INNOVATE FROM WITHIN LET YOUR EMPLOYEES BECOME THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION

Why?The world around us is changing ever faster. At the same time innovation is no longer just about products or technology. It’s also about services, internal structure and processes, business models, and customer experience… Every aspect of how you do business, must be scrutinized.   Organizations have to keep up...

INNOVATE® Utah

Momni

Free Childcare Option That Is Affordable And Easy To Use

Momni links all moms everywhere, offering instant access to trusted care. We are a subscription-free childcare option that is affordable and easy to use. Momni includes easy profile setup, instant connection with hosts near you, access to reviews, and payment within the platform. We also provide a way for moms...

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™ Alberta

H3ALTH TECHNOLOGIES INC

REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AUTONOMY

The founder’s father was raised in a one-room home in the country side of a small town in Ethiopia that is unknown to most people. Tin roof, mudded walls. The founder’s mother from another town where education wasn’t supposed to be the path for women. His parents didn’t have access...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Modernization as the First Step Towards Innovation

Success Story: Modernizing POS Software Product to Revolutionize the HoReCa Industry MobiDev's collaboration with SmartTab is a bright example of strategic application modernization and innovation.

Why Should You Modernize Your Software Before Innovating with AI? Integrating AI into existing software products can revolutionize how businesses operate, from enhancing user experience to optimizing decision-making processes. But this transformation comes with challenges. This article will explore the key challenges you might face when innovating your software product...

Ecosystems