Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC

METAL MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE IN INNOVATION MODE

In Quebec, the industrial metal fabrication (IMF) sector is the most important manufacturing sector. Metal Manufacturing Alliance/Alliance Métal Québec (MMA/AMQ), has nearly 100 companies specializing in complex structures and metal components. Its mission is to create synergies between companies in order to solve common problems. THE METAL MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE NETWORKThe...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GUARDIANGAMER

GUARDIANGAMER-GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW

GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW

Heidi is an entrepreneur and computer scientist who anticipates the needs of businesses and society as they’re transformed by digital technology. She earned her Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She is constantly seeking the edge of change and where she finds it, she...

INNOVATION Quebec

INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE SUR L’HYDROGÈNE (IRH)

Created in 1994, the Hydrogen Research Institute (HRI) of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is one of the most experienced and recognized centers in the field of research and development of hydrogen technologies. The HRI’s mission is to respond to the climate emergency through education, research and innovation in...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ALPA KIDS

LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE

Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...

INNOVATION Quebec

SYNTHESE

UN ACTEUR CLÉ POUR RÉPONDRE AUX ENJEUX DE MAIN-D’OEUVRE EN CRÉATION NUMÉRIQUE

La genèse de SYNTHÈSESYNTHÈSE a été fondée en 2018 par le ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec à la suite d’une mobilisation et d’une réflexion conjointes des entreprises de la création numérique, des collèges, des universités, des milieux associatifs ainsi que de représentant·e·s du ministère de l’Économie...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FIRSTBANK

FIRSTBANK-PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE

PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE

It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN AU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ APPRENANT (SSA) QUÉBEC

Ensemble pour un système de santé qui apprend

Impossible de refaire sans cesse la même chose en espérant un résultat différent. C’est pourquoi nous devons repenser notre système de santé et innover afin d’en faire un système qui apprend.   Le défi collectif de l’amélioration continue du système de santé québécois est de taille. Comment réussir le changement...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

PROMMAC

PROMMAC- LEADS INNOVATION IN THE PROJECT SERVICES INDUSTRY

LEADS INNOVATION IN THE PROJECT SERVICES INDUSTRY

Leading South African multidisciplinary technical services business, Prommac, has been excelling in the petrochemical and heavy industry sectors since 2012 providing mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and welding services in execution of maintenance, shutdowns and turnarounds, as well as construction projects. If this sounds like just another company, think again. For a...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIMMI

CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS

Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....

INNOVATE® Nashville

EMIDS

NASHVILLE’S LEADER IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATION FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

Emids was founded in 1999 and has grown to be the proven leader in digital engineering and transformation innovations to the healthcare and life sciences industry. The company’s evolution has been expertly navigated by Saurabh Sinha, Emids CEO and co founder. And while Emids has experienced tremendous success, its accomplishments...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

HSA Bank

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE Technology-driven experience and innovation have the potential to transform employee benefits from a traditional offering into a strategic differentiator for organizations. The benefits sector, traditionally not seen as a tech ‘powerhouse’, is undergoing rapid change as organizations leverage...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

CareerBeacon

A Human Approach to HR Technology

While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC

CCTT IN DIGITAL STRATEGY AND PRODUCTIVITY

Productique Québec is Cégep de Sherbrooke’s centre for technology transfer. Our mission is to improve productivity and drive innovation in businesses by promoting the development of knowledge and expertise in digital technologies and quantum technology applications. When our centre was founded in 1986, our work mainly consisted in providing Quebec...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE

YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM HERE

150+ Programs Eight Schools of Study make up a curriculum that is continously reviewed and optimized to meet workforce demand. Students are known by their name, not a number, with an average class size of 17. Over $150,000 in Scholarships Affordable tuition ensures students can complete their programs without substantial...

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™ Botswana Vol.1

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD- “ONE MAN’S WASTE

“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”

July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold...

INNOVATION Quebec

Innofibre

Innofibre-Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses

Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP - WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

As a Sport Management professor, I sat and spoke to my students about the various aspects of gaming. Knowing the majority of my classes were filled with gamers, we would have countless discussions about the business and possibilities of esports. From these conversations I saw first hand how limited the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

FASTTEK GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE

In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....

INNOVATE® Miami

Miami DDA

Miami DDA - An independent agency of the City of Miami

An independent agency of the City of Miami

The Miami DDA is committed to fulfilling its mission collaboratively, ethically and professionally, consistent with the Authority’s public purpose. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BAZ ART

ART SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS -BAZ-ART CREATES PUBLIC INTERACTION THROUGH URBAN ART

Co-founders Alexandre Tilmans (Sales, Marketing and Financial Director) and Melissa Cucci (Operations and Art Director) started the company in 2016 with the vision to make South Africa a flagship and main actor in the public art and marketing sector....

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™ Botswana Vol.1

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

Established in 2016, Nubian Seed (PTY) Ltd is a green beauty manufacturer of natural and organic personal care products, made using raw plant based ingredients which are indigenous to the African continent. The Nubian Seed product range is a reflection of Africa’s bio diversity, as well as global growing interest...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

INNOVATION Quebec

ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC

METAL MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE IN INNOVATION MODE

In Quebec, the industrial metal fabrication (IMF) sector is the most important manufacturing sector. Metal Manufacturing Alliance/Alliance Métal Québec (MMA/AMQ), has nearly 100 companies specializing in complex structures and metal components. Its mission is to create synergies between companies in order to solve common problems. THE METAL MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE NETWORKThe...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GUARDIANGAMER

GUARDIANGAMER-GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW

GAMING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW

Heidi is an entrepreneur and computer scientist who anticipates the needs of businesses and society as they’re transformed by digital technology. She earned her Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She is constantly seeking the edge of change and where she finds it, she...

INNOVATION Quebec

INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE SUR L’HYDROGÈNE (IRH)

Created in 1994, the Hydrogen Research Institute (HRI) of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is one of the most experienced and recognized centers in the field of research and development of hydrogen technologies. The HRI’s mission is to respond to the climate emergency through education, research and innovation in...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ALPA KIDS

LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE

Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...

INNOVATION Quebec

SYNTHESE

UN ACTEUR CLÉ POUR RÉPONDRE AUX ENJEUX DE MAIN-D’OEUVRE EN CRÉATION NUMÉRIQUE

La genèse de SYNTHÈSESYNTHÈSE a été fondée en 2018 par le ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec à la suite d’une mobilisation et d’une réflexion conjointes des entreprises de la création numérique, des collèges, des universités, des milieux associatifs ainsi que de représentant·e·s du ministère de l’Économie...

INNOVATE® Nashville

FIRSTBANK

FIRSTBANK-PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE

PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE

It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN AU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ APPRENANT (SSA) QUÉBEC

Ensemble pour un système de santé qui apprend

Impossible de refaire sans cesse la même chose en espérant un résultat différent. C’est pourquoi nous devons repenser notre système de santé et innover afin d’en faire un système qui apprend.   Le défi collectif de l’amélioration continue du système de santé québécois est de taille. Comment réussir le changement...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

PROMMAC

PROMMAC- LEADS INNOVATION IN THE PROJECT SERVICES INDUSTRY

LEADS INNOVATION IN THE PROJECT SERVICES INDUSTRY

Leading South African multidisciplinary technical services business, Prommac, has been excelling in the petrochemical and heavy industry sectors since 2012 providing mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and welding services in execution of maintenance, shutdowns and turnarounds, as well as construction projects. If this sounds like just another company, think again. For a...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIMMI

CENTRE EN IMAGERIE NUMÉRIQUE ET MÉDIAS INTÉRACTIFS

Founded in 2008, the Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI) is a technology transfer centre located in Cégep de Sainte-Foy’s Pavillon de la recherche in Quebec City. Our mission is to help Quebec and Canadian businesses and public institutions develop innovative solutions in the field of digital technologies....

INNOVATE® Nashville

EMIDS

NASHVILLE’S LEADER IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATION FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

Emids was founded in 1999 and has grown to be the proven leader in digital engineering and transformation innovations to the healthcare and life sciences industry. The company’s evolution has been expertly navigated by Saurabh Sinha, Emids CEO and co founder. And while Emids has experienced tremendous success, its accomplishments...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

HSA Bank

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE Technology-driven experience and innovation have the potential to transform employee benefits from a traditional offering into a strategic differentiator for organizations. The benefits sector, traditionally not seen as a tech ‘powerhouse’, is undergoing rapid change as organizations leverage...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

CareerBeacon

A Human Approach to HR Technology

While the recruitment industry changes faster than ever, CareerBeacon stands apart through a fundamental principle often overlooked in tech innovation: empathy. When Yves Boudreau and co-founder Benoit Bourque acquired CareerBeacon in 2021, they saw more than just a job board – they saw the opportunity to transform how talent connects...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC

CCTT IN DIGITAL STRATEGY AND PRODUCTIVITY

Productique Québec is Cégep de Sherbrooke’s centre for technology transfer. Our mission is to improve productivity and drive innovation in businesses by promoting the development of knowledge and expertise in digital technologies and quantum technology applications. When our centre was founded in 1986, our work mainly consisted in providing Quebec...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE

YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM HERE

150+ Programs Eight Schools of Study make up a curriculum that is continously reviewed and optimized to meet workforce demand. Students are known by their name, not a number, with an average class size of 17. Over $150,000 in Scholarships Affordable tuition ensures students can complete their programs without substantial...

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™ Botswana Vol.1

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD- “ONE MAN’S WASTE

“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”

July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold...

INNOVATION Quebec

Innofibre

Innofibre-Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses

Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP - WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

As a Sport Management professor, I sat and spoke to my students about the various aspects of gaming. Knowing the majority of my classes were filled with gamers, we would have countless discussions about the business and possibilities of esports. From these conversations I saw first hand how limited the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

FASTTEK GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE

In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....

INNOVATE® Miami

Miami DDA

Miami DDA - An independent agency of the City of Miami

An independent agency of the City of Miami

The Miami DDA is committed to fulfilling its mission collaboratively, ethically and professionally, consistent with the Authority’s public purpose. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BAZ ART

ART SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS -BAZ-ART CREATES PUBLIC INTERACTION THROUGH URBAN ART

Co-founders Alexandre Tilmans (Sales, Marketing and Financial Director) and Melissa Cucci (Operations and Art Director) started the company in 2016 with the vision to make South Africa a flagship and main actor in the public art and marketing sector....

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™ Botswana Vol.1

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

Established in 2016, Nubian Seed (PTY) Ltd is a green beauty manufacturer of natural and organic personal care products, made using raw plant based ingredients which are indigenous to the African continent. The Nubian Seed product range is a reflection of Africa’s bio diversity, as well as global growing interest...

Ecosystems