Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KOLISI FOUNDATION

KOLISI FOUNDATION- REMEMBER THE ONE

REMEMBER THE ONE, ONE BY ONE.

Rachel and Siya Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with this belief in mind: it is through the power of listening that positive change can happen in South Africa. We need to listen to what people dealing with challenging circumstances really need. We need to listen to the people already working...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

United Nations Lesotho

FAO

THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

A specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945, leading international efforts to defeat hunger. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. Its Latin motto, fiat...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

NJEDA

FACILITIES AND SPACESThe New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth, offers numerous resources to support emerging companies choosing to grow in the Garden State. As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development strategy to reclaim New Jersey’s role as a leader in innovation,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Premier Virtual

LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’

LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’ From the very beginning, we knew that our virtual hiring event platform was ahead of its time and that employers would have to be ‘Future Focused’ to embrace it. Founder and President of Premier Virtual, Steve Edwards,...

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...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ONWARD PLAY

ONWARD PLAY-WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....

INNOVATE® South Florida

SEAWORTHY COLLECTIVE

EMPOWERING SEA CHANGE MAKERS & GROWING SOUTH FLORIDA’S BLUE ECONOMY

EMPOWERING SEA CHANGE MAKERS & GROWING SOUTH FLORIDA’S BLUE ECONOMY Seaworthy Collective is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports current, aspiring, and underrepresented entrepreneurs driving innovation for ocean and climate impact (AKA BlueTech). Our mission is to make BlueTech accessible and inclusive; bringing all hands on deck via programs to co-create...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

INTRNLS 

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Intrnls is at the forefront of revolutionizing the carbon capture industry. With a clear focus on producing the world’s most efficient carbon capture filters, Intrnls is not just a company; it’s a transformative force dedicated to addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues – reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SATOCCI

SCAN & PAY

THE SCANDINAVIAN RETAIL-TECH INNOVATOR SHAPING THE MIDDLE EAST’S CASHLESS FUTURE Emerging from Sweden’s dynamic startup landscape, Satocci Scan & Pay has become one of the most closely watched retail-technology ventures entering the Middle East. Founded and led by Swedish entrepreneur Melodi Askelöf, the company is redefining how consumers shop and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Worldwide Economic Ecosystems Are Affected by Cryptocurrency Adoption

10 Ways Cryptocurrency Adoption Has Affected Global Economic Ecosystems

From a local trend to a worldwide financial movement, the fast growth of cryptocurrencies has changed. From small companies to whole national economies, the ripple effects of decentralized digital currencies have changed financial landscapes. The global economic ecology undergoes several changes—some good, others complicated—as conventional structures change to fit this...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Clark Nuber

Dedicated to the Success of our People and our Clients: We are Clark Nuber

Leading the Industry Clark Nuber, the largest locally owned CPA firm in Washington state, proudly stands as a majority women-owned firm. The firm consistently ranks among Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting’s national lists of “Top 100 Firms.” These lists include the Big 4 and many multi-office, national firms, highlighting...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

LEIDOS AUSTRALIA

Leading the way in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems engineering

Leidos Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Leidos, has been a trusted partner to the Australian Government for over 25 years, having delivered some of the most complex software and systems integration projects in Australia. Led by a local leadership team, Leidos delivers projects and services through...

INNOVATION Quebec

CDCQ

CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE COMPOSITES

Fondé en 1989, le Centre de développement des composites du Québec (CDCQ) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié et intégré au Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, le seul collège au Québec à offrir le programme de formation technique en Génie des matériaux composites. Adjacent au cégep, le CDCQ possède des infrastructures...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

MOTRAC

SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...

INNOVATION Quebec

Bio.Enviro.In

Bio.Enviro.In-Innovating for a resilient and adaptive bio-food system

Innover pour un système bioalimentaire résilient et adaptatif

Créé en 2018, le centre d’innovation bioalimentaire et environnemental Bio.Enviro.In, affilié au Cégep de Lanaudière à Joliette, s’est bâti une vaste expertise bioalimentaire, qui s’étend du terroir à l’assiette du consommateur, en passant par la transformation des aliments. Soucieux de s’intégrer dans le contexte socioéconomique de la région de Lanaudière,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

HALCYON HOUSE

A Haven for Big Risks and Bold Ideas

Halcyon, a non-profit incubator for early-stage start-ups, stands as a lighthouse of innovation. It is a unique and impactful organization dedicated to fostering the growth and development of impact-driven businesses. Halcyon accelerates the future of business by focusing on ventures that integrate a social mission into their core that also...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LINK MONITORAMENTO

DRIVING SUCCESS: CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF INNOVATION WITH LINK MONITORAMENTO

Founded in Curitiba, a city known for its innovation and entrepreneurship, Link Monitoramento is a pioneer in the Brazilian market for advanced monitoring and telematics, operating as the first franchisor in the sector. In 2024, the company celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking a milestone in its history of innovation and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Health

Building a Healthier City, Together

NashvilleHealth’s story begins with a paradox. In 2015, Nashville was rising rapidly as one of America’s most dynamic economic engines, an “it city” defined by innovation, creativity, and growth. Yet beneath this momentum lay an alarming truth: Nashville’s residents were among the least healthy in the nation. Former U.S. Senate...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BRIDGES FOR MUSIC

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH CREATIVE EDUCATION AND MUSIC

Bridges for Music was launched as a dream of connecting the broader music industry with young creatives from underserved communities....

INNOVATE® Detroit

Driven

Ending legal debt traps with smart payments

In the U.S., over 11 million people havehad their driver’s licenses suspendeddue to unpaid fines. This isn’t just aninconvenience – it’s a direct hit to financialstability. Losing the ability to drive meanslosing access to jobs, education, andessential services. In cities like Detroit,where public transit is unreliable, asuspended license can mean...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

HOUSE OF INNOVATION

STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

THE HOUSE OF INNOVATION (HOI) AT THE STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE) IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION ENVIRONMENT COMBINING RESEARCH, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VENTURING. BUILDING ON THE RICH HISTORY OF THE STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, THE RESEARCH HOUSE AIMS TO TAKE THE SCHOOL’S BEST-IN-CLASS INTERACTION WITH BUSINESS AND SOCIETY INTO THE...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

UMKC Innovation Center

THE UMKC INNOVATION CENTER UNLOCKS THE POTENTIAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY HELPING PEOPLE TURN THEIR IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS INTO VENTURES THAT SHAPE AN ECONOMY OF HOPE.

Founded with the vision of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship,the UMKC Innovation Center was established in 2003 to transform Kansas City into a thriving hub of entrepreneurial activity. The center’s purpose is to nurture and support entrepreneurs, from fledgling startups to established businesses, by providing vital resources, coaching, and connections. By...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KOLISI FOUNDATION

KOLISI FOUNDATION- REMEMBER THE ONE

REMEMBER THE ONE, ONE BY ONE.

Rachel and Siya Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with this belief in mind: it is through the power of listening that positive change can happen in South Africa. We need to listen to what people dealing with challenging circumstances really need. We need to listen to the people already working...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

United Nations Lesotho

FAO

THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

A specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945, leading international efforts to defeat hunger. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. Its Latin motto, fiat...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

NJEDA

FACILITIES AND SPACESThe New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth, offers numerous resources to support emerging companies choosing to grow in the Garden State. As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development strategy to reclaim New Jersey’s role as a leader in innovation,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Premier Virtual

LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’

LAUNCHED IN LATE 2019 WHERE OUR MOTTO AT THE TIME WAS ‘FUTURE FOCUSED’ From the very beginning, we knew that our virtual hiring event platform was ahead of its time and that employers would have to be ‘Future Focused’ to embrace it. Founder and President of Premier Virtual, Steve Edwards,...

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...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ONWARD PLAY

ONWARD PLAY-WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

WE PUT GAMING TALENT TO WORK

Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. Onward Play recruits talent for segments like PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, XR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop....

INNOVATE® South Florida

SEAWORTHY COLLECTIVE

EMPOWERING SEA CHANGE MAKERS & GROWING SOUTH FLORIDA’S BLUE ECONOMY

EMPOWERING SEA CHANGE MAKERS & GROWING SOUTH FLORIDA’S BLUE ECONOMY Seaworthy Collective is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports current, aspiring, and underrepresented entrepreneurs driving innovation for ocean and climate impact (AKA BlueTech). Our mission is to make BlueTech accessible and inclusive; bringing all hands on deck via programs to co-create...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

INTRNLS 

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Intrnls is at the forefront of revolutionizing the carbon capture industry. With a clear focus on producing the world’s most efficient carbon capture filters, Intrnls is not just a company; it’s a transformative force dedicated to addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues – reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SATOCCI

SCAN & PAY

THE SCANDINAVIAN RETAIL-TECH INNOVATOR SHAPING THE MIDDLE EAST’S CASHLESS FUTURE Emerging from Sweden’s dynamic startup landscape, Satocci Scan & Pay has become one of the most closely watched retail-technology ventures entering the Middle East. Founded and led by Swedish entrepreneur Melodi Askelöf, the company is redefining how consumers shop and...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Worldwide Economic Ecosystems Are Affected by Cryptocurrency Adoption

10 Ways Cryptocurrency Adoption Has Affected Global Economic Ecosystems

From a local trend to a worldwide financial movement, the fast growth of cryptocurrencies has changed. From small companies to whole national economies, the ripple effects of decentralized digital currencies have changed financial landscapes. The global economic ecology undergoes several changes—some good, others complicated—as conventional structures change to fit this...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Clark Nuber

Dedicated to the Success of our People and our Clients: We are Clark Nuber

Leading the Industry Clark Nuber, the largest locally owned CPA firm in Washington state, proudly stands as a majority women-owned firm. The firm consistently ranks among Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting’s national lists of “Top 100 Firms.” These lists include the Big 4 and many multi-office, national firms, highlighting...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

LEIDOS AUSTRALIA

Leading the way in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems engineering

Leidos Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Leidos, has been a trusted partner to the Australian Government for over 25 years, having delivered some of the most complex software and systems integration projects in Australia. Led by a local leadership team, Leidos delivers projects and services through...

INNOVATION Quebec

CDCQ

CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE COMPOSITES

Fondé en 1989, le Centre de développement des composites du Québec (CDCQ) est un centre de recherche appliquée affilié et intégré au Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, le seul collège au Québec à offrir le programme de formation technique en Génie des matériaux composites. Adjacent au cégep, le CDCQ possède des infrastructures...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

MOTRAC

SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...

INNOVATION Quebec

Bio.Enviro.In

Bio.Enviro.In-Innovating for a resilient and adaptive bio-food system

Innover pour un système bioalimentaire résilient et adaptatif

Créé en 2018, le centre d’innovation bioalimentaire et environnemental Bio.Enviro.In, affilié au Cégep de Lanaudière à Joliette, s’est bâti une vaste expertise bioalimentaire, qui s’étend du terroir à l’assiette du consommateur, en passant par la transformation des aliments. Soucieux de s’intégrer dans le contexte socioéconomique de la région de Lanaudière,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

HALCYON HOUSE

A Haven for Big Risks and Bold Ideas

Halcyon, a non-profit incubator for early-stage start-ups, stands as a lighthouse of innovation. It is a unique and impactful organization dedicated to fostering the growth and development of impact-driven businesses. Halcyon accelerates the future of business by focusing on ventures that integrate a social mission into their core that also...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LINK MONITORAMENTO

DRIVING SUCCESS: CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF INNOVATION WITH LINK MONITORAMENTO

Founded in Curitiba, a city known for its innovation and entrepreneurship, Link Monitoramento is a pioneer in the Brazilian market for advanced monitoring and telematics, operating as the first franchisor in the sector. In 2024, the company celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking a milestone in its history of innovation and...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Nashville Health

Building a Healthier City, Together

NashvilleHealth’s story begins with a paradox. In 2015, Nashville was rising rapidly as one of America’s most dynamic economic engines, an “it city” defined by innovation, creativity, and growth. Yet beneath this momentum lay an alarming truth: Nashville’s residents were among the least healthy in the nation. Former U.S. Senate...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BRIDGES FOR MUSIC

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH CREATIVE EDUCATION AND MUSIC

Bridges for Music was launched as a dream of connecting the broader music industry with young creatives from underserved communities....

INNOVATE® Detroit

Driven

Ending legal debt traps with smart payments

In the U.S., over 11 million people havehad their driver’s licenses suspendeddue to unpaid fines. This isn’t just aninconvenience – it’s a direct hit to financialstability. Losing the ability to drive meanslosing access to jobs, education, andessential services. In cities like Detroit,where public transit is unreliable, asuspended license can mean...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

HOUSE OF INNOVATION

STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

THE HOUSE OF INNOVATION (HOI) AT THE STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE) IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION ENVIRONMENT COMBINING RESEARCH, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VENTURING. BUILDING ON THE RICH HISTORY OF THE STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, THE RESEARCH HOUSE AIMS TO TAKE THE SCHOOL’S BEST-IN-CLASS INTERACTION WITH BUSINESS AND SOCIETY INTO THE...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

UMKC Innovation Center

THE UMKC INNOVATION CENTER UNLOCKS THE POTENTIAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY HELPING PEOPLE TURN THEIR IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS INTO VENTURES THAT SHAPE AN ECONOMY OF HOPE.

Founded with the vision of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship,the UMKC Innovation Center was established in 2003 to transform Kansas City into a thriving hub of entrepreneurial activity. The center’s purpose is to nurture and support entrepreneurs, from fledgling startups to established businesses, by providing vital resources, coaching, and connections. By...

Ecosystems