Stories of Innovation

Founded in 2020, Ethereal Ventures AB builds on two decades of experience in AI and data innovation — helping leaders transform potential into purpose. Our mission is simple: to add value to leaders who multiply value to others—through coaching, speaking, writing, and investing in dreams. We believe that achieving a...

Complex societal challenges require innovative solutions that transform and improve lives around the world. As a top 20 public research university with more than 300 research centers and institutions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers a wide variety of programs that drive and support diverse and inclusive research,...

GRT Pro Flipper is a brand-new Mobile Trampoline Simulator that takes trampoline to the next level. All other trampoline-based apps on the App stores are based on simpler 2D gameplay that does not truly match what a trampolinist actually does in the air at the Olympics. Developed by the Freestyle...

Creating added value for and enhancing competitiveness of all Flemish companies with logistics operations is VIL’s main focus. And it has been for over twenty years. From a small non-profit organization, VIL has grown to be a hands-on, company driven organization, with a staff of 35 employees. Since 2017 VIL...

ANTHOR IS A CURITIBA BASED STARTUP THAT IS CREATING THE FUTURE OF WORK, REVOLUTIONIZING COMPANIES STAFFING, & CONNECTING GIG WORKERS AND COMPANIES FOR EFFICIENT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND SERVICE LEVELS. Anthor is transforming the retail staffing landscapeLet’s start with a statement: “When you request an Uber, it doesn’t take you three...

Cancer is not just one disease. Each tumour is unique, and each person will experience cancer differently, requiring tailored therapies matched to the unique drivers of their disease.   To address this tremendous challenge effectively, it takes a diverse range of people working together in multidisciplinary networks on innovations in...

WITH A MANDATE TO FINANCE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK OF OVER 22 000 KM, SANRAL LEADS THE WAY ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN A POST-COVID SOUTH AFRICA.   Innovation is at the forefront of SANRAL’s agenda in the infrastructure development space. In recent years the Agency has increasingly...

OMERS Ventures has been backing early-stage technology companies for more than a decade.   Currently managing CAD$2 billion, with close to 60 investments in disruptive technology companies across North America and Europe, we are proud to support some of the world’s biggest thinkers and builders.   Spanning three countries, OMERS...

Founded in 1889, Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 35 offices throughout the world. The Firm’s lawyers provide representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with efficient access to...

AN AI HEALTH-TECH COMPANY TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CARE GLOBALLY Empowering Parents… Transforming lives Pioneering the Future of Neurodevelopmental Diagnostics and Support NeuroAI is at the forefront of transforming the landscape of neurodevelopmental diagnostics and caregiver support through innovative artificial intelligence solutions and enhanced large language model applications. Based...

It all began with a visit to the Masiphumelele township in Cape Town, in 1999, when John and Carol Thompson from the US, were holidaying in South Africa, and ventured inside what was previously known as ‘’Site 5’’. Like most townships in South Africa, Masi (short for Masiphumelele) was established...

FINCLUSION GROUP IS ENHANCING FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN AFRICA BY COMBINING A WORLD-CLASS PRODUCT OFFERING WITH TOP OF THE LINE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF THOSE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR. Finclusion Group is a diverse team of fintech professionals and entrepreneurs. They are passionate about...

The Charleston region is one that’s on the move. For the past 30 years, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has worked with its partners in government, academia and business to improve the three-county Charleston region’s economy now and into the future. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance serves as a...

Fuelled by his innate curiosity and determination, Jordy fearlessly embraced the role of problem solver, eager to make a tangible difference in the agricultural landscape. Fueled by a deep-rooted passion for sustainable farming practices, Jordy founded Flux Robotics, an agri-tech startup poised to be the next step change in agriculture....

Have you ever thought about the difference between being future proof or future fit? InceptionU co-founders Margo Purcell and Greg Hart certainly have. In fact, the two Calgary professionals have built a business around it. InceptionU is a place of meaningful learning where individuals, businesses and organizations go to learn...

1998. Investissement Québec is created. This organisation gave businesses and investors access to all the programs offered by the Government of Québec. Although it was never stated at the time, the aim of developing Québec’s economy and positioning it as a breeding ground for innovation, productivity and prosperity was truly...

Codeworks began in 1995 when Mark Theisen, a software developer, recognized the need for a software development consulting firm that provided high-level quality talent at reasonable rates. There was a lot of competition popping up in the IT consulting industry at the time, but he saw companies that were inefficient...

Cullen Gilchrist founded Union Kitchen in 2012 to partner with food businesses of all sizes to grow and scale their success. Cullen got his start in the food industry with his sister and friends when they opened the Blind Dog Cafe. Faced with the challenge of increased demand and not...

Is revolutionizing the way cannabis is traded by democratizing the global supply chain and building a brand new space for everyone to thrive. Aperon Corporation founded in 2016 by Seattle native Jhavid Mohseni, Aperon Corp has innovated the entire industry by developing key technology tools for stakeholders that allow for...

Remember learning to ride a bicycle? No amount of physics equations about angular momentum or center of gravity could replace that moment when you finally felt the balance click into place. Your hands knew when to turn the handlebars, your body learned to lean into curves, and suddenly, you were...

Retail Capital was born in 2011 as an idea on a white napkin. Those drawings became the framework of what ended up being the first Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) product for businesses in South Africa. Driven by a deep passion to support the SME sector, Retail Capital has since innovated...

Let’s start at the beginningBack in 2009, Programmatic ad buying was in its infancy locally, despite its success being celebrated internationally. This spurred on the birth of Mark1, a company that would go on to pioneer technology and data-driven media buying in the South African market. Fast forward to 2020,...

Five years ago, Sigma stood at the forefront of a seismic shift. As a telecommunications veteran with over three decades of experience, Sigma faced a bold decision: to embrace the dynamic and complex world of cybersecurity. This pivot, driven by a profound purpose and commitment to client evolution, catapulted Sigma...

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY A KEY PLAYER IN AUSTIN’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMDriving from San Marcos to Austin, you can’t help but notice all the growth taking place along the I-35 corridor. With a population boom in Central Texas concentrated around the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan, and well on its way to merging...