Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Nashville

QUORE

QUORE

Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide

During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FINCLUSION GROUP

WHO ARE THE FINCLUSION GROUP?

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...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PRITZKER GROUP

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE GREATNESS

ABOUT PGVC Pritzker Group, founded by Tony and J.B. Pritzker, has three principal investment teams: Venture Capital, which provides early-stage venture funding to technology companies throughout the United States; Private Capital, which acquires and operates leading North America based companies; and Asset Management, which partners with top-performing investment managers across...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...

INNOVATION Quebec

CETAB+

L’AGRONOMIE POUR FAIRE AVANCER L’AGRICULTURE BIO AU QUÉBEC

À Victoriaville, et rayonnant dans plusieurs régions du Québec, une équipe d’agronomes, de biologistes et de techniciens s’affaire à l’amélioration de méthodes de production agricole propres et modernes. Le Centre d’expertise et de transfert en agriculture biologique et de proximité (CETAB+), affilié au Cégep de Victoriaville, œuvre depuis 2010 de...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

CONTAINER QUICK LOCK NV

CONTAINER QUICK LOCK NV-A COMPANY BASED IN BELGIUM THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THE CONTAINER QUICK-LOCK SYSTEM WORLDWIDE

A COMPANY BASED IN BELGIUM THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THE CONTAINER QUICK-LOCK SYSTEM WORLDWIDE

Container Quick-Lock develops semi – and fully automatic locking systems for locking boxes and containers on Van’s and Trailers. All our locks have the following advantages, regardless of their purpose: SAFER | QUICKER | EASIER | SMARTER | CONNECTED The locking systems of Container Quick-Lock are game changers in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CENTRE D’OPTIQUE, PHOTONIQUE ET LASERS (COPL)

LE COPL EST UN ENVIRONNEMENT INTÉGRÉ DE RECHERCHE COLLABORATIVE ET DE FORMATION INCLUSIVE RASSEMBLANT DES EXPERTISES MULTIDISCIPLINAIRES

Son leadership au niveau national contribue grandement à l’essor scientifique et économique des technologies de l’optique et de la photonique au Québec. Depuis 1989, le COPL facilite les collaborations entre des équipes de recherche multidisciplinaires et favorise la mise en commun d’infrastructures et d’expertises de recherche. Sa contribution a permis...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KNEAD

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF FOOD RESCUE: KNEAD TECHNOLOGIES LEADS THE CHARGE TOWARDS ZERO WASTE

In a world where nearly 40% of produced food goes to waste, Knead Technologies has emerged as a trailblazer, revolutionizing the fight against food waste (Parfitt et al., 2021, p. 6). With their innovative logistics solutions, this software development company is redefining how food rescue organizations operate worldwide. By seamlessly...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MYSOCIALIFE

MYSOCIALIFE- IS AN EDTECH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TRAINS PRE-TEENS AND TEENS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY

IS AN EDTECH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TRAINS PRE-TEENS AND TEENS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY, DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND MEDIA LITERACY, IN ORDER TO FIRST MAKE THEM CONSCIOUS AND AWARE OF SAFETY ONLINE, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY ALLOW THEM TO EXPLORE INTELLIGENTLY AND LATER EXCEL IN A COMPETITIVE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

In order to ensure this is successful, the South African-based educators also teach learners’ parents and their teachers too, as well as mental health professionals, helping to bridge the technological divide and provide the much-needed insights and tools to navigate a complex social landscape.   “The more we do that,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

KADDEX

KADDEX-IS A PART OF THE KADENA ECOSYSTEM

IS A PART OF THE KADENA ECOSYSTEM

Kaddex is a decentralized exchange in the Kadena ecosystem. Kadena was founded by two J.P Morgan alumni who felt the biggest challenge with the blockchain and DeFi was scalability. In 2016 they created a new type of blockchain technology that solves the blockchain trilemma of security, scalability, and decentralization. Kadena...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CERFO

LE CENTRE D’ENSEIGNEMENT ET DE RECHERCHE EN FORESTERIE DE SAINTEFOY (CERFO) EST UN CENTRE COLLÉGIAL DE TRANSFERT TECHNOLOGIQUE (CCTT). Sa mission est de contribuer à la progression technologique et à l’essor des entreprises, des organismes et des maisons d’enseignement collégial associés au secteur forestier québécois, dans une perspective de développement...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Metron

Turning Water Data Into Actionable Intelligence

In an era where water costs are rising faster than any other utility and infrastructure is under unprecedented strain, Metron has positioned itself at the center of a critical shift: transforming water from a hidden cost into a measurable, manageable, and strategic asset. From its base in Colorado, its leadership...

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® Blockchain

ENTREPRENEUR JOE HOLDINGS

ENTREPRENEUR JOE HOLDINGS

Today the founder of Entrepreneur Joe Holdings, LLC, Joe Miller, is currently on a philanthropic mission of deploying new age Bitcoin ATM’s internationally for an assortment of high value Bitcoin ATM companies based throughout the United States.   Joe accredits his first hearing about Bitcoin in June 2017 from an...

INNOVATE® Miami

Benjamin Douglas

Benjamin Douglas - Recognized as one of the Top Staffing Agencies and Fastest Growing by the South Florida Business Journal.

Recognized as one of the Top Staffing Agencies and Fastest Growing by the South Florida Business Journal.

Benjamin Douglas is a boutique recruitment agency serving domestic and international clients across a myriad of business sectors with a deep specialization in technology and sales roles. Douglas Viney, CEO and Founder The firm was founded in Miami, Florida by Doug Viney in 2014 and has been recognized as one...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation

Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Holmes Custom

Creating Personalised Products

Now celebrating its 65th year in business, Jacksonville-based Holmes Custom designs, manufactures, and retails personalized products across 8 web brands. How does a business that was started in the 1950s stand the test of time? There’s only one way: Innovation. What began as a rubber stamp manufacturer in a garage...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNLEASHING INNOVATION

THE THINKNIMBLE REVOLUTION

“We are a product design and software development agency that turns clients into confident tech leaders who understand their customers and build great tech.” ThinkNimble is a guiding light of innovation. It’s carved out a niche that’s as unique as its approach to technology and entrepreneurship. Founded on the principle...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

ABCO SYSTEMS

Driving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Sustainability in Warehouses and Distribution Centers

Driving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Sustainability in Warehouses and Distribution Centers Meeting the ever-growing demands of modern distribution and order fulfillment requires more than incremental improvements—it demands innovative solutions that revolutionize how businesses operate. FastFetch, powered by ABCO Systems, has emerged as a transformative tool that combines efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

P33

P33-DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

At P33, we started with one question: How does Chicago, and our region, stack up as a technology and innovation center? Through conversations with hundreds of technology and business leaders, founders, and tech workers, we learned we Chicago’s reputation as a tech center lags behind its perception.   We launched...

INNOVATE® Georgia

REPAY

ATLANTA’S REPAY REVAMPS PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE ADVANTAGES FOR CONSUMERS & BUSINESSES

History & PurposeREPAY was founded in 2006 by John Morris and Shaler Alias with the goal of providing fast, frictionless, and fail-safe integrated payment processing solutions for consumers and businesses. Morris serves as REPAY’s CEO to this day, and Alias co-leads as president from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta. REPAY’s...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PROMOTABLE

PROMOTABLE- Offers Expert Led

Offers Expert Led, In Person And Live-Online Courses For In-Demand Digital Skills Like Data Analytics And Python Programming. Conveniently Scheduled And Designed To Help Busy Professionals Advance Their Careers

It has become very fashionable over the last few years to talk about being “data-driven” or using “big data.” Companies are pouring billions of dollars into developing tools and hiring talent to get more from their data so they can find the insights, new customers, and behaviors that can help...

INNOVATION Quebec

LANAUDIÈRE ÉCONOMIQUE

AT THE SERVICE OF THE REGION!

Lanaudière Économique (LÉ) was founded in 1991 to address the economic development needs and challenges of in the six regional county municipalities (MRCs) of the territory. LÉ propels innovative businesses and projects in Lanaudière, in collaboration with other economic development organizations in the region. Leveraging partnerships with over thirty regional,...

INNOVATE® Nashville

QUORE

QUORE

Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide

During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FINCLUSION GROUP

WHO ARE THE FINCLUSION GROUP?

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...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PRITZKER GROUP

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE GREATNESS

ABOUT PGVC Pritzker Group, founded by Tony and J.B. Pritzker, has three principal investment teams: Venture Capital, which provides early-stage venture funding to technology companies throughout the United States; Private Capital, which acquires and operates leading North America based companies; and Asset Management, which partners with top-performing investment managers across...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...

INNOVATION Quebec

CETAB+

L’AGRONOMIE POUR FAIRE AVANCER L’AGRICULTURE BIO AU QUÉBEC

À Victoriaville, et rayonnant dans plusieurs régions du Québec, une équipe d’agronomes, de biologistes et de techniciens s’affaire à l’amélioration de méthodes de production agricole propres et modernes. Le Centre d’expertise et de transfert en agriculture biologique et de proximité (CETAB+), affilié au Cégep de Victoriaville, œuvre depuis 2010 de...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

CONTAINER QUICK LOCK NV

CONTAINER QUICK LOCK NV-A COMPANY BASED IN BELGIUM THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THE CONTAINER QUICK-LOCK SYSTEM WORLDWIDE

A COMPANY BASED IN BELGIUM THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THE CONTAINER QUICK-LOCK SYSTEM WORLDWIDE

Container Quick-Lock develops semi – and fully automatic locking systems for locking boxes and containers on Van’s and Trailers. All our locks have the following advantages, regardless of their purpose: SAFER | QUICKER | EASIER | SMARTER | CONNECTED The locking systems of Container Quick-Lock are game changers in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CENTRE D’OPTIQUE, PHOTONIQUE ET LASERS (COPL)

LE COPL EST UN ENVIRONNEMENT INTÉGRÉ DE RECHERCHE COLLABORATIVE ET DE FORMATION INCLUSIVE RASSEMBLANT DES EXPERTISES MULTIDISCIPLINAIRES

Son leadership au niveau national contribue grandement à l’essor scientifique et économique des technologies de l’optique et de la photonique au Québec. Depuis 1989, le COPL facilite les collaborations entre des équipes de recherche multidisciplinaires et favorise la mise en commun d’infrastructures et d’expertises de recherche. Sa contribution a permis...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KNEAD

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF FOOD RESCUE: KNEAD TECHNOLOGIES LEADS THE CHARGE TOWARDS ZERO WASTE

In a world where nearly 40% of produced food goes to waste, Knead Technologies has emerged as a trailblazer, revolutionizing the fight against food waste (Parfitt et al., 2021, p. 6). With their innovative logistics solutions, this software development company is redefining how food rescue organizations operate worldwide. By seamlessly...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MYSOCIALIFE

MYSOCIALIFE- IS AN EDTECH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TRAINS PRE-TEENS AND TEENS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY

IS AN EDTECH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TRAINS PRE-TEENS AND TEENS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY, DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND MEDIA LITERACY, IN ORDER TO FIRST MAKE THEM CONSCIOUS AND AWARE OF SAFETY ONLINE, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY ALLOW THEM TO EXPLORE INTELLIGENTLY AND LATER EXCEL IN A COMPETITIVE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

In order to ensure this is successful, the South African-based educators also teach learners’ parents and their teachers too, as well as mental health professionals, helping to bridge the technological divide and provide the much-needed insights and tools to navigate a complex social landscape.   “The more we do that,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

KADDEX

KADDEX-IS A PART OF THE KADENA ECOSYSTEM

IS A PART OF THE KADENA ECOSYSTEM

Kaddex is a decentralized exchange in the Kadena ecosystem. Kadena was founded by two J.P Morgan alumni who felt the biggest challenge with the blockchain and DeFi was scalability. In 2016 they created a new type of blockchain technology that solves the blockchain trilemma of security, scalability, and decentralization. Kadena...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CERFO

LE CENTRE D’ENSEIGNEMENT ET DE RECHERCHE EN FORESTERIE DE SAINTEFOY (CERFO) EST UN CENTRE COLLÉGIAL DE TRANSFERT TECHNOLOGIQUE (CCTT). Sa mission est de contribuer à la progression technologique et à l’essor des entreprises, des organismes et des maisons d’enseignement collégial associés au secteur forestier québécois, dans une perspective de développement...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Metron

Turning Water Data Into Actionable Intelligence

In an era where water costs are rising faster than any other utility and infrastructure is under unprecedented strain, Metron has positioned itself at the center of a critical shift: transforming water from a hidden cost into a measurable, manageable, and strategic asset. From its base in Colorado, its leadership...

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® Blockchain

ENTREPRENEUR JOE HOLDINGS

ENTREPRENEUR JOE HOLDINGS

Today the founder of Entrepreneur Joe Holdings, LLC, Joe Miller, is currently on a philanthropic mission of deploying new age Bitcoin ATM’s internationally for an assortment of high value Bitcoin ATM companies based throughout the United States.   Joe accredits his first hearing about Bitcoin in June 2017 from an...

INNOVATE® Miami

Benjamin Douglas

Benjamin Douglas - Recognized as one of the Top Staffing Agencies and Fastest Growing by the South Florida Business Journal.

Recognized as one of the Top Staffing Agencies and Fastest Growing by the South Florida Business Journal.

Benjamin Douglas is a boutique recruitment agency serving domestic and international clients across a myriad of business sectors with a deep specialization in technology and sales roles. Douglas Viney, CEO and Founder The firm was founded in Miami, Florida by Doug Viney in 2014 and has been recognized as one...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation

Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Holmes Custom

Creating Personalised Products

Now celebrating its 65th year in business, Jacksonville-based Holmes Custom designs, manufactures, and retails personalized products across 8 web brands. How does a business that was started in the 1950s stand the test of time? There’s only one way: Innovation. What began as a rubber stamp manufacturer in a garage...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNLEASHING INNOVATION

THE THINKNIMBLE REVOLUTION

“We are a product design and software development agency that turns clients into confident tech leaders who understand their customers and build great tech.” ThinkNimble is a guiding light of innovation. It’s carved out a niche that’s as unique as its approach to technology and entrepreneurship. Founded on the principle...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

ABCO SYSTEMS

Driving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Sustainability in Warehouses and Distribution Centers

Driving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Sustainability in Warehouses and Distribution Centers Meeting the ever-growing demands of modern distribution and order fulfillment requires more than incremental improvements—it demands innovative solutions that revolutionize how businesses operate. FastFetch, powered by ABCO Systems, has emerged as a transformative tool that combines efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

P33

P33-DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR CHICAGO’S TECH SECTOR BY 2033

At P33, we started with one question: How does Chicago, and our region, stack up as a technology and innovation center? Through conversations with hundreds of technology and business leaders, founders, and tech workers, we learned we Chicago’s reputation as a tech center lags behind its perception.   We launched...

INNOVATE® Georgia

REPAY

ATLANTA’S REPAY REVAMPS PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE ADVANTAGES FOR CONSUMERS & BUSINESSES

History & PurposeREPAY was founded in 2006 by John Morris and Shaler Alias with the goal of providing fast, frictionless, and fail-safe integrated payment processing solutions for consumers and businesses. Morris serves as REPAY’s CEO to this day, and Alias co-leads as president from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta. REPAY’s...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PROMOTABLE

PROMOTABLE- Offers Expert Led

Offers Expert Led, In Person And Live-Online Courses For In-Demand Digital Skills Like Data Analytics And Python Programming. Conveniently Scheduled And Designed To Help Busy Professionals Advance Their Careers

It has become very fashionable over the last few years to talk about being “data-driven” or using “big data.” Companies are pouring billions of dollars into developing tools and hiring talent to get more from their data so they can find the insights, new customers, and behaviors that can help...

INNOVATION Quebec

LANAUDIÈRE ÉCONOMIQUE

AT THE SERVICE OF THE REGION!

Lanaudière Économique (LÉ) was founded in 1991 to address the economic development needs and challenges of in the six regional county municipalities (MRCs) of the territory. LÉ propels innovative businesses and projects in Lanaudière, in collaboration with other economic development organizations in the region. Leveraging partnerships with over thirty regional,...

Ecosystems