Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Find South African Food in Canada

Howzit Canada logo alongside the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) branding, set against a scenic Canadian landscape, representing a hub for South African expats to find goods, businesses, and community support in Canada.

HowZit Canada Leads the Way

For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TerraFirma

TerraFirma- Is a SaaS company developing digital solutions to mitigate environmental risk using big data

Is a SaaS company developing digital solutions to mitigate environmental risk using big data, physics simulations, and AI

We provide a one-stop digital solution for companies that need to visualize and simulate the risks of climate change and environmental hazards. Map of Coamo River, depicting height maps, river depths and North-West-South-East orientation. According to NOAA, climate disasters alone cost $145 billion during 2021 in the US. In proportion...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Watson Immigration Law

Meet the Startup Visa Lawyer trying to change the law while helping startups and founders grow

Meet the Startup Visa Lawyer trying to change the law while helping startups and founders grow Tahmina Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law in Seattle, fell into immigration law by chance and hasn’t looked back since. She is now a nationally acclaimed, award-winning lawyer, best-selling author, podcast host, and go-to...

INNOVATE® Miami

Boatrax

A vision to provide an amazing experience to boaters

“People rent their houses, they rent their cars, and now more and more people are renting their boats. Boatrax provides these owners peace of mind; not only in knowing where their boat is, but its mechanical condition as well.”– Arturo Malave, Co-founder BoatraxBoatrax is an IoT platform that leverages the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Dangerous Myth of "All-Season"

All-Season tire rubber hardening below 7 degrees Celsius, showing loss of flexibility and grip compared to optimal warm weather performance.

Why Your Tires Aren't Safe for Winter

The tires that came with your vehicle are likely labeled “All-Season.” It’s a comforting term that suggests they are ready for anything the calendar throws at them—from the heat of summer to the chill of winter. However, for drivers on the Vancouver North Shore and across Canada, relying on All-Season...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

RITUAL MOTION

IS THE LEADING WELLNESS MEDIA BRAND SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF MILLIONS IN THE GAMING AND ESPORTS COMMUNITIES

The products and services we offer are all aligned with our strategic mission: creating products and content for the good of gamers. Dana Paul, the co-founder and CEO of Ritual Motion, realized there was a gap in the gaming and esports industry around health, wellness, diversity, and true human connectivity...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PECHAKUCHA

This Japanese-Inspired Creator Platform Inspires Meaningful Connections – In Real Life And VIrtually – Using Time As Its Superpower

PechaKucha was born in 2003 because people talk too much. That’s what happens when passionate people gather together to share ideas and creations. PechaKucha, which means “chit-chat” in Japanese, was founded in Tokyo by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture. It originated as a “20×20’’ live...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Jane Shirek Photography

Jane Shirek Photography - Capturing the intimate souls of her subjects

Capturing the intimate souls of her subjects, rather than merely a look

Jane Shirek stands out in the photography industry not only for her widely praised talent but also for her years of experience working with all types of people and clients in many cities and countries.  As a photographer, she brings out the very best of everyone she photographs. Jane has...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Boundless Innovations

Boundless Innovations - An Award-winning Product Design And Development Company

An Award-winning Product Design And Development Company

Boundless Innovations LLC is an award-winning product design and development company, plus advocates of the open innovation movement since 2004. We invent independently and form strategic partnerships with great companies such as Design Circle (seen below) to design, prototype, co-invent, and bring new products, innovations, and businesses to market via...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Cognisess

The complete predictive people analytics platform for hiring

Cognisess provides human resource and recruitment professionals with the data and insights they need to make better-informed decisions about their people. The journey to ethical AI begins with good data collection. Including more than 60 assessments measuring over 120 attributes, it helps you identify, retain, and maximise the performance, potential,...

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™ South Africa

THE MAKERSPACE

THE MAKERSPACE- WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING

WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING, A LANGUAGE THAT TRANSCENDS CLASS & CULTURE AND THAT UPLIFTS AS IT ENLIGHTENS

By leveraging the natural generosity inherent in maker culture, the project is able to unlock a new level of efficiency in skills transfer. Creating a safe environment where anyone can learn to use new technologies, where experienced professionals can share their knowledge and help the next generation. Makers” make things,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

BDB - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

PALM BEACH COUNTY’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: A NEW ERA OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION

Since 2020, Palm Beach County has undergone a significant economic shift, diversifying beyond its traditional strongholds in agriculture, construction, and tourism. While these sectors remain essential, a recent study highlights the emergence of three key industries: Finance, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Corporate Headquarters. This shift has been driven by intentional efforts...

INNOVATE® Nashville

VENDENGINE

DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY

In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VITAL

The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing

“Vital envisions a future where AI and human expertise unite to empower personal growth, creating a seamless path to complete well-being.” In today’s fast-paced world, individuals face constant pressures that can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of overwhelm. Vital was created to address these challenges head-on, offering AI-driven...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- FOR AN ORGANISATION FOUNDED IN 1911 (MAKING US NOW 110 YEARS OLD)

FOR AN ORGANISATION FOUNDED IN 1911 (MAKING US NOW 110 YEARS OLD), THE BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS HAD TO RE-INVENT ITSELF NUMEROUS TIMES TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO ITS MEMBERSHIP

In the good times we celebrate each other’s successes and achievements and during the more challenging periods we provide focus for the support group which companies look towards for guidance. Having survived two World Wars, a revolution, economic slumps, accession to the European Union, loss of the escudo in favour...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TOAST

IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR

We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...

INNOVATE® Nashville

TEACH FOR AMERICA

TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS AND EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES

A National Movement to Expand Educational Opportunity This year, Teach For America marks its 35th anniversary – a milestone that celebrates a movement of leaders working alongside communities to expand opportunity for all children. Since its founding in 1990, Teach For America has recruited, developed, and supported a diverse network...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

C2GRID

TURNING VIDEO INTO REAL-TIME 3D INTELLIGENCE

C2GRID didn’t start life as a company with a polished business plan or venture capital pitch. It began at Estonia’s Darkstar Defence Hackathon – an event uniting innovators, veterans, and investors to build technologies that strengthen NATO and its allies. The founders, originally exploring human–robot integration at Tallinn University of...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UPLING

From Adversity to Innovation

Upling LLC revolutionizes cannabis access in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, offering a swift online platform for legal cannabis purchases from local dispensaries. Its user-friendly app ensures that whether for medical or recreational purposes, cannabis delivery is just a few taps away. Adhering strictly to state and federal laws, Upling guarantees...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS

NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

NUCLEUS NETWORKS

NUCLEUS SUPERCHARGES YOUR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT

Nucleus Networks isn’t just a Managed IT Services Provider (MSP). They are a supercharging, no-holds-barred, elite crew of technology superheroes laser-focused on nothing less than the pure, unadulterated success of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs). Founded in Kitsilano in 2001, Nucleus is a team of 85+ with its Head...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

CREATIVEYEWORKS

CREATIVEYEWORKS- HAVING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATING A REALISTIC SOCIAL

HAVING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATING A REALISTIC SOCIAL, CIRCULARECONOMIC SELF-SUSTAINING SYSTEM. THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE CREATIVEYEWORKS PROJECT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A GREAT ADDED VALUE THAT FLOWS COMPLETELY BACK TO SOCIETY

I am Koen Van Pottelbergh and due to a serious accident where I lost half of my sight, my view on life changed drastically. That is why I created the concept “CreativEyeworks”. Because everyone in the world has the right to see well, and to take all opportunities life has...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Where to Find South African Food in Canada

Howzit Canada logo alongside the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) branding, set against a scenic Canadian landscape, representing a hub for South African expats to find goods, businesses, and community support in Canada.

HowZit Canada Leads the Way

For South African expats in Canada craving a taste of home—think boerewors, biltong, or rooibos tea—knowing where to find South African food in Canada can feel like a treasure hunt. Fortunately, a groundbreaking platform, HowZit Canada (howzitcanada.ca), launched by the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC), is revolutionizing the search....

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

TerraFirma

TerraFirma- Is a SaaS company developing digital solutions to mitigate environmental risk using big data

Is a SaaS company developing digital solutions to mitigate environmental risk using big data, physics simulations, and AI

We provide a one-stop digital solution for companies that need to visualize and simulate the risks of climate change and environmental hazards. Map of Coamo River, depicting height maps, river depths and North-West-South-East orientation. According to NOAA, climate disasters alone cost $145 billion during 2021 in the US. In proportion...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Watson Immigration Law

Meet the Startup Visa Lawyer trying to change the law while helping startups and founders grow

Meet the Startup Visa Lawyer trying to change the law while helping startups and founders grow Tahmina Watson, founder of Watson Immigration Law in Seattle, fell into immigration law by chance and hasn’t looked back since. She is now a nationally acclaimed, award-winning lawyer, best-selling author, podcast host, and go-to...

INNOVATE® Miami

Boatrax

A vision to provide an amazing experience to boaters

“People rent their houses, they rent their cars, and now more and more people are renting their boats. Boatrax provides these owners peace of mind; not only in knowing where their boat is, but its mechanical condition as well.”– Arturo Malave, Co-founder BoatraxBoatrax is an IoT platform that leverages the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Dangerous Myth of "All-Season"

All-Season tire rubber hardening below 7 degrees Celsius, showing loss of flexibility and grip compared to optimal warm weather performance.

Why Your Tires Aren't Safe for Winter

The tires that came with your vehicle are likely labeled “All-Season.” It’s a comforting term that suggests they are ready for anything the calendar throws at them—from the heat of summer to the chill of winter. However, for drivers on the Vancouver North Shore and across Canada, relying on All-Season...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

RITUAL MOTION

IS THE LEADING WELLNESS MEDIA BRAND SERVING AN AUDIENCE OF MILLIONS IN THE GAMING AND ESPORTS COMMUNITIES

The products and services we offer are all aligned with our strategic mission: creating products and content for the good of gamers. Dana Paul, the co-founder and CEO of Ritual Motion, realized there was a gap in the gaming and esports industry around health, wellness, diversity, and true human connectivity...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PECHAKUCHA

This Japanese-Inspired Creator Platform Inspires Meaningful Connections – In Real Life And VIrtually – Using Time As Its Superpower

PechaKucha was born in 2003 because people talk too much. That’s what happens when passionate people gather together to share ideas and creations. PechaKucha, which means “chit-chat” in Japanese, was founded in Tokyo by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture. It originated as a “20×20’’ live...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Jane Shirek Photography

Jane Shirek Photography - Capturing the intimate souls of her subjects

Capturing the intimate souls of her subjects, rather than merely a look

Jane Shirek stands out in the photography industry not only for her widely praised talent but also for her years of experience working with all types of people and clients in many cities and countries.  As a photographer, she brings out the very best of everyone she photographs. Jane has...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Boundless Innovations

Boundless Innovations - An Award-winning Product Design And Development Company

An Award-winning Product Design And Development Company

Boundless Innovations LLC is an award-winning product design and development company, plus advocates of the open innovation movement since 2004. We invent independently and form strategic partnerships with great companies such as Design Circle (seen below) to design, prototype, co-invent, and bring new products, innovations, and businesses to market via...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Cognisess

The complete predictive people analytics platform for hiring

Cognisess provides human resource and recruitment professionals with the data and insights they need to make better-informed decisions about their people. The journey to ethical AI begins with good data collection. Including more than 60 assessments measuring over 120 attributes, it helps you identify, retain, and maximise the performance, potential,...

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™ South Africa

THE MAKERSPACE

THE MAKERSPACE- WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING

WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING, A LANGUAGE THAT TRANSCENDS CLASS & CULTURE AND THAT UPLIFTS AS IT ENLIGHTENS

By leveraging the natural generosity inherent in maker culture, the project is able to unlock a new level of efficiency in skills transfer. Creating a safe environment where anyone can learn to use new technologies, where experienced professionals can share their knowledge and help the next generation. Makers” make things,...

INNOVATE® South Florida

BDB - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

PALM BEACH COUNTY’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: A NEW ERA OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION

Since 2020, Palm Beach County has undergone a significant economic shift, diversifying beyond its traditional strongholds in agriculture, construction, and tourism. While these sectors remain essential, a recent study highlights the emergence of three key industries: Finance, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Corporate Headquarters. This shift has been driven by intentional efforts...

INNOVATE® Nashville

VENDENGINE

DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY

In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VITAL

The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing

“Vital envisions a future where AI and human expertise unite to empower personal growth, creating a seamless path to complete well-being.” In today’s fast-paced world, individuals face constant pressures that can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of overwhelm. Vital was created to address these challenges head-on, offering AI-driven...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- FOR AN ORGANISATION FOUNDED IN 1911 (MAKING US NOW 110 YEARS OLD)

FOR AN ORGANISATION FOUNDED IN 1911 (MAKING US NOW 110 YEARS OLD), THE BRITISH-PORTUGUESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS HAD TO RE-INVENT ITSELF NUMEROUS TIMES TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO ITS MEMBERSHIP

In the good times we celebrate each other’s successes and achievements and during the more challenging periods we provide focus for the support group which companies look towards for guidance. Having survived two World Wars, a revolution, economic slumps, accession to the European Union, loss of the escudo in favour...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

TOAST

IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR

We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...

INNOVATE® Nashville

TEACH FOR AMERICA

TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS AND EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES

A National Movement to Expand Educational Opportunity This year, Teach For America marks its 35th anniversary – a milestone that celebrates a movement of leaders working alongside communities to expand opportunity for all children. Since its founding in 1990, Teach For America has recruited, developed, and supported a diverse network...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

C2GRID

TURNING VIDEO INTO REAL-TIME 3D INTELLIGENCE

C2GRID didn’t start life as a company with a polished business plan or venture capital pitch. It began at Estonia’s Darkstar Defence Hackathon – an event uniting innovators, veterans, and investors to build technologies that strengthen NATO and its allies. The founders, originally exploring human–robot integration at Tallinn University of...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UPLING

From Adversity to Innovation

Upling LLC revolutionizes cannabis access in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, offering a swift online platform for legal cannabis purchases from local dispensaries. Its user-friendly app ensures that whether for medical or recreational purposes, cannabis delivery is just a few taps away. Adhering strictly to state and federal laws, Upling guarantees...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS

NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

NUCLEUS NETWORKS

NUCLEUS SUPERCHARGES YOUR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT

Nucleus Networks isn’t just a Managed IT Services Provider (MSP). They are a supercharging, no-holds-barred, elite crew of technology superheroes laser-focused on nothing less than the pure, unadulterated success of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs). Founded in Kitsilano in 2001, Nucleus is a team of 85+ with its Head...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

CREATIVEYEWORKS

CREATIVEYEWORKS- HAVING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATING A REALISTIC SOCIAL

HAVING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATING A REALISTIC SOCIAL, CIRCULARECONOMIC SELF-SUSTAINING SYSTEM. THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE CREATIVEYEWORKS PROJECT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A GREAT ADDED VALUE THAT FLOWS COMPLETELY BACK TO SOCIETY

I am Koen Van Pottelbergh and due to a serious accident where I lost half of my sight, my view on life changed drastically. That is why I created the concept “CreativEyeworks”. Because everyone in the world has the right to see well, and to take all opportunities life has...

Ecosystems