Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DYNAMIC BRANDS MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD

DYNAMIC BRANDS MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD

Birthed from humble beginnings within the Eastern Cape, Dynamic Brands Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd began its journey when current CEO, John Kew, identified a unique gap in the dilutable dairy blend market. Like many great entrepreneurial minds before him, John believed in the power of ideas that at first may not...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Essential Culture Podcast Network

Essential Culture Podcast Network - Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

The Essential Culture Podcast Network (ECPN) is a podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida. Through strategic collaborations with Jacksonville-based media institutions, our network provides a series of cultural programs available to be downloaded on multiple streaming platforms. Listeners can subscribe to shows dedicated to subjects centered around business, advocacy, entertainment,...

INNOVATION Quebec

IREQ, HYDRO-QUÉBEC’S

RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The energy transition is in full swing. The energy industry is undergoing profound transformations prompted by the search for sustainable solutions to address the impacts of climate change, meet our customers’ evolving needs and consumption habits and reap the benefits of the broad accessibility of new technologies. The invention of...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS

BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS- DARES TO ASK

DARES TO ASK, “WHAT IF?"

At BlueRock, our mission is to create authentic cellular medicines to reverse devastating diseases, with the vision of improving the human condition.   Built on the research of some of the world’s foremost experts in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, BlueRock has revolutionized and scaled methods for creating authentic...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

SNAPSCAN

SNAPSCAN- SIMPLIFYING PAYMENTS ONE SNAP AT A TIME

SIMPLIFYING PAYMENTS ONE SNAP AT A TIME

SnapScan is more than just a smartphone app. It’s a contactless, mobile payment solution that makes it easy and safe to pay and receive payments in a store, online, at home, and on the go.   Our storyFounded in 2013, SnapScan gained traction at markets and coffee shops in Stellenbosch....

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

C-MORE

C-MORE - Human Rights Are The Foundation Of A Healthy Society And Sustainable Business

Human Rights Are The Foundation Of A Healthy Society And Sustainable Business

Who are We? C-MORE is a socially-driven company supporting international organizations, companies and NGO’s in reaching their objectives on creating sustainable impact from their activities. Our Manifesto We are humans, all of us. It is almost absurd stating such a fact. Do we sometimes forget that? Are we creating the...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Voyager Capital

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Holland & Knight

Service Without Boundaries

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE CENTRE FOR OPTICS, PHOTONICS AND LASERS (COPL)

THE COPL IS AN INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND INCLUSIVE TRAINING BRINGING TOGETHER MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE

Its leadership at the national level contributes greatly to the scientific and economic development of optics and photonics technologies in Quebec. Since 1989, COPL has facilitated collaborations between multidisciplinary research teams and promoted the pooling of research infrastructures and expertise. Its contribution has extended the benefits of optics-photonics research to...

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® Puerto Rico

THE MOLECULAR SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER (MSRC)

“The spark that can restart Puerto Rico’s Economy, through innovation, collaborations and industrial partnerships”

The MSRC is a 154,000 square feet advanced research facility with laboratories conducting basic and translational biomedical research in the areas of protein structure and dynamics, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, bio-imaging, pharmacogenetics, and neurosciences. The MSRC is a joint project of the Río Piedras Campus and the Medical Sciences Campus,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KINGSLEY HOLGATE FOUNDATION

KINGSLEY HOLGATE FOUNDATION -KINGSLEY HOLGATE IS RIGHTFULLY REGARDED AS THE MOST TRAVELLED PERSON IN AFRICA

KINGSLEY HOLGATE IS RIGHTFULLY REGARDED AS THE MOST TRAVELLED PERSON IN AFRICA

Kingsley and his Foundation team have driven across the continent over hundreds of thousands of kilometres through all 54 countries over the last three decades, distributing mosquito bed nets and other much-needed healthcare relief to the remotest parts of the continent. Kingsley isn’t only inspired by adventure: he’s a humanitarian...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

HUNGRY MARKETPLACE

Hungry for something better

This is a company unlike any other in the Washington DMV – and that’s saying a lot. HUNGRY Marketplace has revolutionized the office food market nationally. Founded by visionary entrepreneurs Jeff Grass and Eman and Shy Pahlevani, this Arlington, Virginia-based company is reshaping the landscape of office food solutions with...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

OPERTO

A WORLD-LEADING PROPERTY AUTOMATION PLATFORM FOR THE SHORT-TERM, MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES

By bringing together innovative software and best-in-class hardware solutions, Operto enables property owners/managers to efficiently run, scale and monetize their business, while eliminating common friction points associated with the guest journey. Operto has built a huge global footprint in the accommodation industry, with customers ranging from single Airbnb operators, up...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

FORJ

REVOLUTIONIZES MEMBER EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE PLATFORM, JOURNEY BY FORJ

Forj has emerged as a trailblazer in the world of association and professional network technology with the launch of their groundbreaking platform, Journey by Forj. The company is redefining how organizations engage with their members, combining the power of community with cutting-edge learning experiences. Forj, a forward-thinking SaaS company, has...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Kamana

Travel Healthcare Accelerated

Kamana brings workflow efficiency and security to an antiquated industry, connecting healthcare employers with qualified professionals to fill contract staffing needs. The contract healthcare staffing industry is fundamentally flawed. Travel healthcare professionals, who change locations (and employers) every three months, consistently complain about the lack of continuity across the industry....

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CREATION AND NEW MEDIA

A pioneer in university teaching in video games, digital creation and 3D creation, UQAT’s Creation and New Media Teaching and Research Unit has been contributing to the development of the digital and cultural industries for over 20-years. The expertise of the teaching team, based in Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, is internationally...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

MOONSHOTS

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DRIVING EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Located in the heart of Adelaide, South Australia, Moonshots Innervation is a game-changer in the world of business incubators. Founded by Shane Yeend, a very successful entrepreneur in the entertainment and aviation industries, who was Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, and Rick Carter, a seasoned professional with decades...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GEEQ

FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY

It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....

INNOVATE® Georgia

SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WORKS (STW)

AND THEIR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT, ZEUS2Q:

System Technology Works, based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is a pioneering research and product development company focused on transforming the educational landscape through the development of humanoid robots like the Zeus2Q. Founded by Luis Guzman, STW aims to revolutionize the way we interact with and program artificial intelligence (AI) and...

INNOVATION Quebec

MAIN

IS THE MOVEMENT OF QUEBEC INNOVATION ACCELERATORS

Since 2016, we have firmly embraced the notion that by promoting collaboration and the mutual exchange of practices and resources (movement) among all those involved in accelerating startup growth (accelerators), we can amplify the impact of startups (innovation) from all regions of Quebec. Our goal is to ensure that every...

INNOVATE® South Florida

EPIPAWS

THE AGE OF THE PET: HOW EPIPAWS IS CHANGING THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR OUR PETS.

EpiPaws is on a mission to increase the health span of pets with the next generation of health monitoring tests. Started by an epigenetic scientist, Dr. Andria Beal started her journey studying epigenetics in sharks and dolphins during her PhD studies. Andria was interested in understanding environmental effects on health...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

WILLIAM BLAIR

WILLIAM BLAIR-INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DYNAMIC BRANDS MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD

DYNAMIC BRANDS MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD

Birthed from humble beginnings within the Eastern Cape, Dynamic Brands Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd began its journey when current CEO, John Kew, identified a unique gap in the dilutable dairy blend market. Like many great entrepreneurial minds before him, John believed in the power of ideas that at first may not...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Essential Culture Podcast Network

Essential Culture Podcast Network - Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

Podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida

The Essential Culture Podcast Network (ECPN) is a podcast-based media platform for Northeast Florida. Through strategic collaborations with Jacksonville-based media institutions, our network provides a series of cultural programs available to be downloaded on multiple streaming platforms. Listeners can subscribe to shows dedicated to subjects centered around business, advocacy, entertainment,...

INNOVATION Quebec

IREQ, HYDRO-QUÉBEC’S

RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The energy transition is in full swing. The energy industry is undergoing profound transformations prompted by the search for sustainable solutions to address the impacts of climate change, meet our customers’ evolving needs and consumption habits and reap the benefits of the broad accessibility of new technologies. The invention of...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS

BLUEROCK THERAPEUTICS- DARES TO ASK

DARES TO ASK, “WHAT IF?"

At BlueRock, our mission is to create authentic cellular medicines to reverse devastating diseases, with the vision of improving the human condition.   Built on the research of some of the world’s foremost experts in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, BlueRock has revolutionized and scaled methods for creating authentic...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

SNAPSCAN

SNAPSCAN- SIMPLIFYING PAYMENTS ONE SNAP AT A TIME

SIMPLIFYING PAYMENTS ONE SNAP AT A TIME

SnapScan is more than just a smartphone app. It’s a contactless, mobile payment solution that makes it easy and safe to pay and receive payments in a store, online, at home, and on the go.   Our storyFounded in 2013, SnapScan gained traction at markets and coffee shops in Stellenbosch....

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

C-MORE

C-MORE - Human Rights Are The Foundation Of A Healthy Society And Sustainable Business

Human Rights Are The Foundation Of A Healthy Society And Sustainable Business

Who are We? C-MORE is a socially-driven company supporting international organizations, companies and NGO’s in reaching their objectives on creating sustainable impact from their activities. Our Manifesto We are humans, all of us. It is almost absurd stating such a fact. Do we sometimes forget that? Are we creating the...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Voyager Capital

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHERE INNOVATION MEETS GROWTH.

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Holland & Knight

Service Without Boundaries

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...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE CENTRE FOR OPTICS, PHOTONICS AND LASERS (COPL)

THE COPL IS AN INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND INCLUSIVE TRAINING BRINGING TOGETHER MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE

Its leadership at the national level contributes greatly to the scientific and economic development of optics and photonics technologies in Quebec. Since 1989, COPL has facilitated collaborations between multidisciplinary research teams and promoted the pooling of research infrastructures and expertise. Its contribution has extended the benefits of optics-photonics research to...

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® Puerto Rico

THE MOLECULAR SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER (MSRC)

“The spark that can restart Puerto Rico’s Economy, through innovation, collaborations and industrial partnerships”

The MSRC is a 154,000 square feet advanced research facility with laboratories conducting basic and translational biomedical research in the areas of protein structure and dynamics, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, bio-imaging, pharmacogenetics, and neurosciences. The MSRC is a joint project of the Río Piedras Campus and the Medical Sciences Campus,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KINGSLEY HOLGATE FOUNDATION

KINGSLEY HOLGATE FOUNDATION -KINGSLEY HOLGATE IS RIGHTFULLY REGARDED AS THE MOST TRAVELLED PERSON IN AFRICA

KINGSLEY HOLGATE IS RIGHTFULLY REGARDED AS THE MOST TRAVELLED PERSON IN AFRICA

Kingsley and his Foundation team have driven across the continent over hundreds of thousands of kilometres through all 54 countries over the last three decades, distributing mosquito bed nets and other much-needed healthcare relief to the remotest parts of the continent. Kingsley isn’t only inspired by adventure: he’s a humanitarian...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

HUNGRY MARKETPLACE

Hungry for something better

This is a company unlike any other in the Washington DMV – and that’s saying a lot. HUNGRY Marketplace has revolutionized the office food market nationally. Founded by visionary entrepreneurs Jeff Grass and Eman and Shy Pahlevani, this Arlington, Virginia-based company is reshaping the landscape of office food solutions with...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

OPERTO

A WORLD-LEADING PROPERTY AUTOMATION PLATFORM FOR THE SHORT-TERM, MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES

By bringing together innovative software and best-in-class hardware solutions, Operto enables property owners/managers to efficiently run, scale and monetize their business, while eliminating common friction points associated with the guest journey. Operto has built a huge global footprint in the accommodation industry, with customers ranging from single Airbnb operators, up...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

FORJ

REVOLUTIONIZES MEMBER EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE PLATFORM, JOURNEY BY FORJ

Forj has emerged as a trailblazer in the world of association and professional network technology with the launch of their groundbreaking platform, Journey by Forj. The company is redefining how organizations engage with their members, combining the power of community with cutting-edge learning experiences. Forj, a forward-thinking SaaS company, has...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Kamana

Travel Healthcare Accelerated

Kamana brings workflow efficiency and security to an antiquated industry, connecting healthcare employers with qualified professionals to fill contract staffing needs. The contract healthcare staffing industry is fundamentally flawed. Travel healthcare professionals, who change locations (and employers) every three months, consistently complain about the lack of continuity across the industry....

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT - NOUVEAUX MÉDIAS

CREATION AND NEW MEDIA

A pioneer in university teaching in video games, digital creation and 3D creation, UQAT’s Creation and New Media Teaching and Research Unit has been contributing to the development of the digital and cultural industries for over 20-years. The expertise of the teaching team, based in Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, is internationally...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

MOONSHOTS

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DRIVING EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Located in the heart of Adelaide, South Australia, Moonshots Innervation is a game-changer in the world of business incubators. Founded by Shane Yeend, a very successful entrepreneur in the entertainment and aviation industries, who was Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, and Rick Carter, a seasoned professional with decades...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GEEQ

FROM THE VULNERABLE ECONOMY TO THE VERIFIED ECONOMY

It’s Time for a Major Change For two decades, the digital economy has been driven by growth at any cost. Platforms built fortunes by selling data first and asking forgiveness later. Success was measured by clicks and likes – often at the expense of genuine value. That playbook is collapsing....

INNOVATE® Georgia

SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WORKS (STW)

AND THEIR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT, ZEUS2Q:

System Technology Works, based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is a pioneering research and product development company focused on transforming the educational landscape through the development of humanoid robots like the Zeus2Q. Founded by Luis Guzman, STW aims to revolutionize the way we interact with and program artificial intelligence (AI) and...

INNOVATION Quebec

MAIN

IS THE MOVEMENT OF QUEBEC INNOVATION ACCELERATORS

Since 2016, we have firmly embraced the notion that by promoting collaboration and the mutual exchange of practices and resources (movement) among all those involved in accelerating startup growth (accelerators), we can amplify the impact of startups (innovation) from all regions of Quebec. Our goal is to ensure that every...

INNOVATE® South Florida

EPIPAWS

THE AGE OF THE PET: HOW EPIPAWS IS CHANGING THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR OUR PETS.

EpiPaws is on a mission to increase the health span of pets with the next generation of health monitoring tests. Started by an epigenetic scientist, Dr. Andria Beal started her journey studying epigenetics in sharks and dolphins during her PhD studies. Andria was interested in understanding environmental effects on health...

Ecosystems