Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Driving Economic Growth and Career Success Through Innovative Education
In today’s rapidly evolving workforce landscape, the need for skilled, job-ready employees has never been greater. Industries are facing critical labor shortages and actively seeking workers who can contribute from day one. At the same time, students and job seekers are increasingly looking for fast, flexible training that leads directly...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
US WorldMeds
How the Navy Yard is Expanding What’s Possible in Rare Disease
US WorldMeds is a specialty pharmaceutical company guided by a clear purpose: to improve the lives of patients facing rare and serious conditions. With a focus on areas that are often overlooked, the company is committed to identifying unmet needs and delivering therapies that create real impact for patients, families,...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
SW BIO CARE, LLC
BRIDGING THE GAP
A New Paradigm for Equitable Life Science Innovation in Southwest Philadelphia The establishment of the SW Biotech Park in Southwest Philadelphia represents a transformative shift in urban development, moving beyond traditional real estate to a mission-driven model of “equitable bio-innovation.” Spearheaded by SW BIO CARE, LLC—a strategic joint venture between...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT EN INCLUSION DES PERSONNES EN SITUATION DE HANDICAP
SpécialisationLe Centre de recherche pour l’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap (CRISPESH) est un centre collégial de recherche appliquée et de transfert (CCTT) en pratiques sociales novatrices affilié au cégep du Vieux Montréal et au collège Dawson. Ses champs d’expertises sont l’inclusion scolaire, professionnelle et sociale des personnes en...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
BASHER
WE WILL HELP YOU POSITION YOUR BRAND INTO THE GAMING & ESPORTS INDUSTRY WITH THE MOST CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS ACCORDING TO YOUR BRAND
“At the beginning of this pandemic, during my free time, I started consuming video game streams, and on one of the many channels that Facebook Gaming has, I met again with Jose Vargas, who had just started streaming #Dota2 content from Amsterdam. In the coming months, we understood how big...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
IT-oLogy
Promote. Teach. Grow.
USC and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partnered with IBM in December 2008 to form the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. The Consortium was formed in part to encourage young people to learn the skills needed to manage enterprise systems, large-scale computers that process high volume transactions. Since its inception,...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
2U
A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE
FOUNDED IN 2008 IN MARYLAND WASHINGTON DC, 2U, INC. SET OUT TO CREATE THE WORLD’S BEST ONLINE EDUCATION AND THEY’VE BEEN DEFYING THE ODDS EVER SINCE. ALSO AROUND THE EXACT SAME TIME AND COINCIDING WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE MOOC REVOLUTION, GETSMARTER WAS ALSO FOUNDED. Early on in the industry,...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PLAYHAUS
DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL
playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
DC BLOX
DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SONGFINCH
Is a Platform to Discover and Collaborate With Thousands of Musicians to Create Personalized, One-of-a-Kind Songs
Since launching, Songfinch has grown into the leading creator marketplace for musicians touting some of the most influential names in music and tech as investors, including music icon Quincy Jones, current music superstars Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye and Amala ‘Doja Cat’ Dlamini, Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman, School of Rock...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
2KC
WHY KC, WHY NOW?
As career goals evolve and remote work becomes the norm, professionals across the country are rethinking where they genuinely want to live and work. For many, that reflection is leading them home—to Kansas City. Once drawn away by the pull of coastal opportunity, they’re now inspired by KC’s rise as...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
MAILPROTECTOR
MOVING OUR WORLD FORWARD WITH EMAIL
Zero Assumptions. Real Trust. The printing press. The telegraph wire. And email. Few inventions have shaped human progress as profoundly as our ability to communicate — sharing ideas, plans, failures, and discoveries across distance and time. Organizations move forward through communication, and so does society itself. Yet as email has...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MIFUNDO
THE VERIFIED AND PASSPORTABLE FINANCIAL IDENTITY CONNECTING EUROPE’S CREDIT MARKETS
EUROPE’S FIRST INTEGRATED CREDIT INFRASTRUCTURE Mifundo provides European banks with cross-border credit data that allows consumer credit histories to move between countries. This technology removes one of the last remaining barriers to financial mobility in the European Union: fragmented data locked within national borders. For millions of people who live,...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Benore Logistic Systems, Inc.
Driving Excellence
Benore Logistic Systems, Inc. stands as a testament to unwavering commitment, family heritage, and industry-leading innovation. Founded with a vision to redefine logistics, the company has grown into a powerhouse, seamlessly integrating transportation, warehousing, and supply chain solutions for some of the world’s leading industries. From its inception, Benore Logistic...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
TerraFirma
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® Nashville
Pathway Lending
Innovation with Purpose: Transforming How Communities Access Capital
In Middle Tennessee’s fast-growing economy, small businesses are driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of communities. But too often, promising businesses and catalytic projects can’t access traditional financing. That’s where Pathway Lending steps in. As a mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Nashville, Pathway strengthens communities...
INNOVATION Quebec
CTS
QUEBEC’S MOST SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH ACCELERATOR
The Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit organization, is an à la carte growth accelerator which responds to the challenges and needs of each startup. Its mission: catalyze the growth of life sciences startups, particularly in medical technology and digital health, by offering customized acceleration services....
INNOVATE® Detroit
Duolingo
Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.
In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...
INNOVATION Manitoba
Manitoba Association of Professionals
From Spark to Ecosystem: Building Manitoba's AI Future, Together
When the artificial intelligence revolution accelerated, Manitoba was home to exceptional AI talent, but there was no unified voice to connect professionals, engage industry, or help shape public policy. That gap inspired the creation of the Manitoba Association of AI Professionals (MAAIP), a volunteer-led and partnership-powered organization dedicated to ensuring...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
SHROOMWELL
HOW SHROOMWELL IS REDEFINING GLOBAL HEALTH AND FORESTRY THROUGH MYCOTECHNOLOGY
Operating out of Estonia, a nation known for its deep connection to nature and a rapidly developing technology sector, Shroomwell stands as a pioneer in the global mycotechnology landscape. The company’s core mission transcends the production of traditional supplements; it aims to bring greater health to both people and the...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
GUNKII
REDESIGNING AFFORDABLE LUXURY ORAL CARE
It is possible to have fresher breath and a healthier mouth with a tongue cleaner. gunkii brings affordable luxury oral care to the market. Founded in May 2020, gunkii is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Jayesh and Nicole Parmar, who had the vision to offer a tongue scraper to help...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ESFERA
DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION
ESFERA-DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION AND IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS! With a history that spans three decades, Esfera Informática establishes itself as an institution committed to excellence, with advanced technologies and innovation as its fundamental pillars. Certified by MPSBr, the company constantly improves the development of software...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)
IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL) WAS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1998 BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT, AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY COMPANY OPERATING ALONG COMMERCIAL LINES AND AT ARM’S LENGTH FROM GOVERNMENT
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...
Global Innovation Spotlight
65% of Progressive Jackpots Are Now Won on Phones, Yet the Tech World Is Looking to Smart Glasses. Is the Timing Right?
The image was created by us with AI, specifically for this article. The next platform debate is already moving past the phone. In May 2025, Reuters reported that Apple was aiming for smart glasses by the end of 2026. Around the same time, Apple services chief Eddy Cue said, “You...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Driving Economic Growth and Career Success Through Innovative Education
In today’s rapidly evolving workforce landscape, the need for skilled, job-ready employees has never been greater. Industries are facing critical labor shortages and actively seeking workers who can contribute from day one. At the same time, students and job seekers are increasingly looking for fast, flexible training that leads directly...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
US WorldMeds
How the Navy Yard is Expanding What’s Possible in Rare Disease
US WorldMeds is a specialty pharmaceutical company guided by a clear purpose: to improve the lives of patients facing rare and serious conditions. With a focus on areas that are often overlooked, the company is committed to identifying unmet needs and delivering therapies that create real impact for patients, families,...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
SW BIO CARE, LLC
BRIDGING THE GAP
A New Paradigm for Equitable Life Science Innovation in Southwest Philadelphia The establishment of the SW Biotech Park in Southwest Philadelphia represents a transformative shift in urban development, moving beyond traditional real estate to a mission-driven model of “equitable bio-innovation.” Spearheaded by SW BIO CARE, LLC—a strategic joint venture between...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRISPESH
CCTT EN INCLUSION DES PERSONNES EN SITUATION DE HANDICAP
SpécialisationLe Centre de recherche pour l’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap (CRISPESH) est un centre collégial de recherche appliquée et de transfert (CCTT) en pratiques sociales novatrices affilié au cégep du Vieux Montréal et au collège Dawson. Ses champs d’expertises sont l’inclusion scolaire, professionnelle et sociale des personnes en...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
BASHER
WE WILL HELP YOU POSITION YOUR BRAND INTO THE GAMING & ESPORTS INDUSTRY WITH THE MOST CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS ACCORDING TO YOUR BRAND
“At the beginning of this pandemic, during my free time, I started consuming video game streams, and on one of the many channels that Facebook Gaming has, I met again with Jose Vargas, who had just started streaming #Dota2 content from Amsterdam. In the coming months, we understood how big...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
IT-oLogy
Promote. Teach. Grow.
USC and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partnered with IBM in December 2008 to form the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. The Consortium was formed in part to encourage young people to learn the skills needed to manage enterprise systems, large-scale computers that process high volume transactions. Since its inception,...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
2U
A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE
FOUNDED IN 2008 IN MARYLAND WASHINGTON DC, 2U, INC. SET OUT TO CREATE THE WORLD’S BEST ONLINE EDUCATION AND THEY’VE BEEN DEFYING THE ODDS EVER SINCE. ALSO AROUND THE EXACT SAME TIME AND COINCIDING WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE MOOC REVOLUTION, GETSMARTER WAS ALSO FOUNDED. Early on in the industry,...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PLAYHAUS
DATA MANAGEMENT BUILT FOR ALL
playhaus is an emerging technology company working at the intersection of web3 systems and artificial intelligence. It has always had a Midwest-based identity, with the company having started in Ann Arbor, MI, but relocated to Kansas City, MO, in June of 2022 to be immersed in KC’s vibrant creative and...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
DC BLOX
DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
SONGFINCH
Is a Platform to Discover and Collaborate With Thousands of Musicians to Create Personalized, One-of-a-Kind Songs
Since launching, Songfinch has grown into the leading creator marketplace for musicians touting some of the most influential names in music and tech as investors, including music icon Quincy Jones, current music superstars Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye and Amala ‘Doja Cat’ Dlamini, Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman, School of Rock...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
2KC
WHY KC, WHY NOW?
As career goals evolve and remote work becomes the norm, professionals across the country are rethinking where they genuinely want to live and work. For many, that reflection is leading them home—to Kansas City. Once drawn away by the pull of coastal opportunity, they’re now inspired by KC’s rise as...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
MAILPROTECTOR
MOVING OUR WORLD FORWARD WITH EMAIL
Zero Assumptions. Real Trust. The printing press. The telegraph wire. And email. Few inventions have shaped human progress as profoundly as our ability to communicate — sharing ideas, plans, failures, and discoveries across distance and time. Organizations move forward through communication, and so does society itself. Yet as email has...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MIFUNDO
THE VERIFIED AND PASSPORTABLE FINANCIAL IDENTITY CONNECTING EUROPE’S CREDIT MARKETS
EUROPE’S FIRST INTEGRATED CREDIT INFRASTRUCTURE Mifundo provides European banks with cross-border credit data that allows consumer credit histories to move between countries. This technology removes one of the last remaining barriers to financial mobility in the European Union: fragmented data locked within national borders. For millions of people who live,...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Benore Logistic Systems, Inc.
Driving Excellence
Benore Logistic Systems, Inc. stands as a testament to unwavering commitment, family heritage, and industry-leading innovation. Founded with a vision to redefine logistics, the company has grown into a powerhouse, seamlessly integrating transportation, warehousing, and supply chain solutions for some of the world’s leading industries. From its inception, Benore Logistic...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
TerraFirma
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® Nashville
Pathway Lending
Innovation with Purpose: Transforming How Communities Access Capital
In Middle Tennessee’s fast-growing economy, small businesses are driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of communities. But too often, promising businesses and catalytic projects can’t access traditional financing. That’s where Pathway Lending steps in. As a mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Nashville, Pathway strengthens communities...
INNOVATION Quebec
CTS
QUEBEC’S MOST SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH ACCELERATOR
The Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit organization, is an à la carte growth accelerator which responds to the challenges and needs of each startup. Its mission: catalyze the growth of life sciences startups, particularly in medical technology and digital health, by offering customized acceleration services....
INNOVATE® Detroit
Duolingo
Duolingo's Detroit Journey: From Gunner to Hobbes and Animated Innovation.
In Detroit, two motion design studios were making waves in the animation world: Gunner, known for its bold illustration and character animation, and Hobbes, a leader in product-driven animation. The companies earned reputations for creativity and emotional intelligence, collaborating with high-profile clients for years. However, everything changed when Duolingo—the world’s...
INNOVATION Manitoba
Manitoba Association of Professionals
From Spark to Ecosystem: Building Manitoba's AI Future, Together
When the artificial intelligence revolution accelerated, Manitoba was home to exceptional AI talent, but there was no unified voice to connect professionals, engage industry, or help shape public policy. That gap inspired the creation of the Manitoba Association of AI Professionals (MAAIP), a volunteer-led and partnership-powered organization dedicated to ensuring...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
SHROOMWELL
HOW SHROOMWELL IS REDEFINING GLOBAL HEALTH AND FORESTRY THROUGH MYCOTECHNOLOGY
Operating out of Estonia, a nation known for its deep connection to nature and a rapidly developing technology sector, Shroomwell stands as a pioneer in the global mycotechnology landscape. The company’s core mission transcends the production of traditional supplements; it aims to bring greater health to both people and the...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
GUNKII
REDESIGNING AFFORDABLE LUXURY ORAL CARE
It is possible to have fresher breath and a healthier mouth with a tongue cleaner. gunkii brings affordable luxury oral care to the market. Founded in May 2020, gunkii is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Jayesh and Nicole Parmar, who had the vision to offer a tongue scraper to help...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ESFERA
DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION
ESFERA-DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PERSONALIZED INNOVATION AND IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS! With a history that spans three decades, Esfera Informática establishes itself as an institution committed to excellence, with advanced technologies and innovation as its fundamental pillars. Certified by MPSBr, the company constantly improves the development of software...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL)
IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTD (SANRAL) WAS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1998 BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT, AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY COMPANY OPERATING ALONG COMMERCIAL LINES AND AT ARM’S LENGTH FROM GOVERNMENT
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...
Global Innovation Spotlight
65% of Progressive Jackpots Are Now Won on Phones, Yet the Tech World Is Looking to Smart Glasses. Is the Timing Right?
The image was created by us with AI, specifically for this article. The next platform debate is already moving past the phone. In May 2025, Reuters reported that Apple was aiming for smart glasses by the end of 2026. Around the same time, Apple services chief Eddy Cue said, “You...