Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

ARTHUR L. IRVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE

IS A CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE SPACE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS IN ATLANTIC CANADA

Students come to the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre from all disciplines and for many reasons. Some come with an idea they want to test. Others come to learn the habits and skills of an entrepreneurial mindset – skills like agility, resiliency, design thinking, and leadership. Some come looking for...

Global Innovation Spotlight

YOO Limassol as an Innovation Case Study: Lifestyle, Architecture, and Destination Value

YOO Limassol places Cyprus within the international conversation around branded coastal residences, design-led living, and destination real estate. Developed by Property Gallery with Sarels EPCM, the project combines seafront architecture, resort-level services, and the YOO Inspired by Starck design identity on the Limassol coastline. YOO Limassol as a Luxury Branded...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SILEN

HOW SILENCE BECAME SILEN’S GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Silen’s journey began with a simple conviction: silence is not a luxury, but a necessity for focus, creativity, and well-being. What started as an idea in Estonia has grown into the world’s leading provider of office pods and privacy solutions, trusted by companies in more than 60 countries — including...

INNOVATION Manitoba

Sheepdog Brew Co.

INNOVATION ISN’T ALWAYS LOUD. SOMETIMES IT COMES IN A BLACK CAN.

Innovation often comes from adding more. Sheepdog Brew Co. built its business by asking what could be stripped away instead. Founded in Manitoba by former Winnipeg Police Service officer and Army Reservist Shawn Black, Sheepdog Brew Co. set out to challenge a coffee industry increasingly driven by flavours, trends and...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GENZ FOUNDERS

CULTIVATING ESTONIA’S NEXT WAVE OF UNICORNS: THE RISE OF GEN Z FOUNDERS

In the heart of Estonia, a nation internationally celebrated for its digital prowess and high concentration of billion-dollar startups, a new force is emerging to ensure the longevity of this entrepreneurial legacy. Gen Z Founders is an active community and mentorship network dedicated to connecting and empowering the country’s most...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CORITIBA FOOTBALL CLUB

GREEN ETHICS IN SPORTS CORITIBA SLC OPENS DOORS FOR BRAZILIAN SPORTS

CORITIBA FOOTBALL CLUB GREEN ETHICS IN SPORTS CORITIBA SLC OPENS DOORS FOR BRAZILIAN SPORTS TO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND PRESERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY. The fight for sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity gained a strong ally in 2021, when Coritiba Foot Ball Club launched the first sustainability program for...

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™ South Africa

TARSUS ON DEMAND

TARSUS ON DEMAND-ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

We are living in an era where hybrid and multi-cloud business environments are on an increase, and this has put the spotlight on the critical role ISVs play. Now is the time for Independent Software Vendors to capitalise on the great opportunities presented to them through assisting consumers to efficiently...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

VOON

IS AN ESTONIAN GREENTECH COMPANY THAT HAS SET ITS SIGHTS ON TRANSFORMING A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM INTO A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Co-founded by a young entrepreneur just in her twenties, Eliise Lehtsaar, the company produces biodegradable air filters from waste wool, offering a solution to the staggering figure of nine billion plastic ventilation system filters discarded worldwide each year. For Voon, the goal is straightforward yet compelling: why continue to landfill...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation

DesignPhiladelphia

From Foundation to a Future Designed For and By All

In 2009, AIA Philadelphia launched an ambitious initiative to ignite public interest in architecture and design, resulting in the creation of the Center for Architecture at 1218 Arch Street. Conceived as both a physical destination and a community resource, the Center served as a hub for exhibitions, programs, and dialogue....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

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™ Vancouver Vol.2

OnTraccr

On Track to Disrupt Construction Management

OnTraccr is on a mission to automate the way construction work is managed. This company provides next-generation automation software that helps any construction contractor automate their documentation, eliminate manual data entry, and gain real-time visibility into every aspect of its operations. OnTraccr was founded by a group of experienced construction...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TAURUS HELMETS

IS LEADING BRAZILIAN MOTORCYCLE HELMETS INNOVATION

Taurus Helmets is a Brazilian company pioneer in the manufacture of helmets in Brazil. It has been in the market for over 40 years and hasestablished itself as the largest in the segment, with a market share of around 50%. It has national sales coverage with more than 12,000 points...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SENAI

DRIVING INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE STATE

Brazil celebrates its achievement as the 49th most innovative country in the world, leading in Latin America, according to the Global Innovation Index, which assesses 132 nations. In this context, the Senai Technology and Innovation Network plays a crucial role in technological and industrial development, especially in Paraná. With eight...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Essential Innovations Building Smarter, Safer Workshops

Man in blue coveralls fixing a vehicle

3 Essential Innovations Building Smarter, Safer Workshops Essential tricks for building a smarter, safer workshop include upgrading to certified mechanical lifting systems with redundant locks. Implementing real-time air quality monitoring for hazardous gases is equally critical for modern facilities.  Finally, designing a connected workspace with IoT sensors that track environmental...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PARKDALE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION

PARKDALE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION- IS ONE OF THE FIRST INCUBATORS IN TORONTO TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AT THE EARLY-STAGE OF THEIR VENTURES THROUGH THE EARLYSTAGE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

IS ONE OF THE FIRST INCUBATORS IN TORONTO TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AT THE EARLY-STAGE OF THEIR VENTURES THROUGH THE EARLYSTAGE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE WOMEN FOUNDERS PROGRAM

Established in 2017, Parkdale Centre is an incubator & accelerator that supports entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, with a focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusion for underrepresented people, namely women, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and newcomers to Canada. As an organization, Parkdale Centre works to support entrepreneurs...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

DATA HOLDINGS

KEEPING BUSINESSES’ DATA SECURE AND AVAILABLE

Data Holdings is a premier Tier III+ commercial data center, centrally located in Milwaukee with a LEED gold design. Offering a full suite of solutions and services designed to meet any needs, Data Holdings is a highly secure facility with 24/7 staffing and monitoring. Commissioned in 2013 by Potawatomi Ventures,...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RACHEL + WINFREE

In a data-driven economy, being able to use your data to make better decisions, develop better products, or better target your customer are skills that will separate businesses that thrive from those that fail

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all companies in the United States. Within a year, 20% of new small businesses fail. That number rises to 30% before the end of the second year. After five years, half of those small businesses have failed. Profits only start trickling in after 18...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

The University of Adelaide

Australian Institute for Machine Learning

The University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) is Australia’s first dedicated AI institute, tasked with championing globally challenging research and building the technology of the future. Established as a partnership between the University of Adelaide and the Government of South Australia, AIML is the anchor tenant of...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DATUM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP

DATUM DEFINES, DEVELOPS, AND DELIVERS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT BUSINESS NEEDS.

The company had a vision in 1996 to name it Datum Software, aka, Datum Technologies Group, well before “data” became a very common word in everyone’s vocabulary. Under Datum, we have three global brands—Innovations, Government, and Vela—committed to trust, transparency, and excellence. Datum is certified as a woman-owned and minority-owned...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

TEDx Jacksonville

TEDx Jacksonville - Greatest Assets Are The Ideas And Dreams Of Its Citizenry

Greatest Assets Are The Ideas And Dreams Of Its Citizenry

Our team has embraced the challenge of bringing the TEDx experience to Jacksonville because we believe our city’s greatest assets are the ideas and dreams of its citizenry. Ideas have the power to reshape minds and change the way people act. Dreams are the birthplace of the possible. But, too...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

ARTHUR L. IRVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE

IS A CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE SPACE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS IN ATLANTIC CANADA

Students come to the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre from all disciplines and for many reasons. Some come with an idea they want to test. Others come to learn the habits and skills of an entrepreneurial mindset – skills like agility, resiliency, design thinking, and leadership. Some come looking for...

Global Innovation Spotlight

YOO Limassol as an Innovation Case Study: Lifestyle, Architecture, and Destination Value

YOO Limassol places Cyprus within the international conversation around branded coastal residences, design-led living, and destination real estate. Developed by Property Gallery with Sarels EPCM, the project combines seafront architecture, resort-level services, and the YOO Inspired by Starck design identity on the Limassol coastline. YOO Limassol as a Luxury Branded...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SILEN

HOW SILENCE BECAME SILEN’S GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Silen’s journey began with a simple conviction: silence is not a luxury, but a necessity for focus, creativity, and well-being. What started as an idea in Estonia has grown into the world’s leading provider of office pods and privacy solutions, trusted by companies in more than 60 countries — including...

INNOVATION Manitoba

Sheepdog Brew Co.

INNOVATION ISN’T ALWAYS LOUD. SOMETIMES IT COMES IN A BLACK CAN.

Innovation often comes from adding more. Sheepdog Brew Co. built its business by asking what could be stripped away instead. Founded in Manitoba by former Winnipeg Police Service officer and Army Reservist Shawn Black, Sheepdog Brew Co. set out to challenge a coffee industry increasingly driven by flavours, trends and...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GENZ FOUNDERS

CULTIVATING ESTONIA’S NEXT WAVE OF UNICORNS: THE RISE OF GEN Z FOUNDERS

In the heart of Estonia, a nation internationally celebrated for its digital prowess and high concentration of billion-dollar startups, a new force is emerging to ensure the longevity of this entrepreneurial legacy. Gen Z Founders is an active community and mentorship network dedicated to connecting and empowering the country’s most...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CORITIBA FOOTBALL CLUB

GREEN ETHICS IN SPORTS CORITIBA SLC OPENS DOORS FOR BRAZILIAN SPORTS

CORITIBA FOOTBALL CLUB GREEN ETHICS IN SPORTS CORITIBA SLC OPENS DOORS FOR BRAZILIAN SPORTS TO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND PRESERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY. The fight for sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity gained a strong ally in 2021, when Coritiba Foot Ball Club launched the first sustainability program for...

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™ South Africa

TARSUS ON DEMAND

TARSUS ON DEMAND-ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

ACCELERATING ISV GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

We are living in an era where hybrid and multi-cloud business environments are on an increase, and this has put the spotlight on the critical role ISVs play. Now is the time for Independent Software Vendors to capitalise on the great opportunities presented to them through assisting consumers to efficiently...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

VOON

IS AN ESTONIAN GREENTECH COMPANY THAT HAS SET ITS SIGHTS ON TRANSFORMING A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM INTO A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Co-founded by a young entrepreneur just in her twenties, Eliise Lehtsaar, the company produces biodegradable air filters from waste wool, offering a solution to the staggering figure of nine billion plastic ventilation system filters discarded worldwide each year. For Voon, the goal is straightforward yet compelling: why continue to landfill...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation

DesignPhiladelphia

From Foundation to a Future Designed For and By All

In 2009, AIA Philadelphia launched an ambitious initiative to ignite public interest in architecture and design, resulting in the creation of the Center for Architecture at 1218 Arch Street. Conceived as both a physical destination and a community resource, the Center served as a hub for exhibitions, programs, and dialogue....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

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™ Vancouver Vol.2

OnTraccr

On Track to Disrupt Construction Management

OnTraccr is on a mission to automate the way construction work is managed. This company provides next-generation automation software that helps any construction contractor automate their documentation, eliminate manual data entry, and gain real-time visibility into every aspect of its operations. OnTraccr was founded by a group of experienced construction...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TAURUS HELMETS

IS LEADING BRAZILIAN MOTORCYCLE HELMETS INNOVATION

Taurus Helmets is a Brazilian company pioneer in the manufacture of helmets in Brazil. It has been in the market for over 40 years and hasestablished itself as the largest in the segment, with a market share of around 50%. It has national sales coverage with more than 12,000 points...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SENAI

DRIVING INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE STATE

Brazil celebrates its achievement as the 49th most innovative country in the world, leading in Latin America, according to the Global Innovation Index, which assesses 132 nations. In this context, the Senai Technology and Innovation Network plays a crucial role in technological and industrial development, especially in Paraná. With eight...

Global Innovation Spotlight

3 Essential Innovations Building Smarter, Safer Workshops

Man in blue coveralls fixing a vehicle

3 Essential Innovations Building Smarter, Safer Workshops Essential tricks for building a smarter, safer workshop include upgrading to certified mechanical lifting systems with redundant locks. Implementing real-time air quality monitoring for hazardous gases is equally critical for modern facilities.  Finally, designing a connected workspace with IoT sensors that track environmental...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PARKDALE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION

PARKDALE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION- IS ONE OF THE FIRST INCUBATORS IN TORONTO TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AT THE EARLY-STAGE OF THEIR VENTURES THROUGH THE EARLYSTAGE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

IS ONE OF THE FIRST INCUBATORS IN TORONTO TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AT THE EARLY-STAGE OF THEIR VENTURES THROUGH THE EARLYSTAGE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE WOMEN FOUNDERS PROGRAM

Established in 2017, Parkdale Centre is an incubator & accelerator that supports entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, with a focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusion for underrepresented people, namely women, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and newcomers to Canada. As an organization, Parkdale Centre works to support entrepreneurs...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

DATA HOLDINGS

KEEPING BUSINESSES’ DATA SECURE AND AVAILABLE

Data Holdings is a premier Tier III+ commercial data center, centrally located in Milwaukee with a LEED gold design. Offering a full suite of solutions and services designed to meet any needs, Data Holdings is a highly secure facility with 24/7 staffing and monitoring. Commissioned in 2013 by Potawatomi Ventures,...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RACHEL + WINFREE

In a data-driven economy, being able to use your data to make better decisions, develop better products, or better target your customer are skills that will separate businesses that thrive from those that fail

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all companies in the United States. Within a year, 20% of new small businesses fail. That number rises to 30% before the end of the second year. After five years, half of those small businesses have failed. Profits only start trickling in after 18...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

The University of Adelaide

Australian Institute for Machine Learning

The University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) is Australia’s first dedicated AI institute, tasked with championing globally challenging research and building the technology of the future. Established as a partnership between the University of Adelaide and the Government of South Australia, AIML is the anchor tenant of...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DATUM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP

DATUM DEFINES, DEVELOPS, AND DELIVERS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT BUSINESS NEEDS.

The company had a vision in 1996 to name it Datum Software, aka, Datum Technologies Group, well before “data” became a very common word in everyone’s vocabulary. Under Datum, we have three global brands—Innovations, Government, and Vela—committed to trust, transparency, and excellence. Datum is certified as a woman-owned and minority-owned...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

TEDx Jacksonville

TEDx Jacksonville - Greatest Assets Are The Ideas And Dreams Of Its Citizenry

Greatest Assets Are The Ideas And Dreams Of Its Citizenry

Our team has embraced the challenge of bringing the TEDx experience to Jacksonville because we believe our city’s greatest assets are the ideas and dreams of its citizenry. Ideas have the power to reshape minds and change the way people act. Dreams are the birthplace of the possible. But, too...

Ecosystems