Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

GUMPTION

GUMPTION -TACKLES DIGITAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES WITH CO-CREATION

TACKLES DIGITAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES WITH CO-CREATION

The health crisis has presented companies with new challenges. The appetite for digitization is now larger than ever before. Start-ups play an important role as drivers of innovation. Gumption is an innovation hub and ecosystem for young companies. The group’s 20 companies focus on business challenges and IT solutions, such...

INNOVATE® Nashville

S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN BUSINESS AND CULTURE

S3 Recycling Solutions provides businesses with a hassle-free way to responsibly and safely manage their excess electronics. Headquartered in Springfield, Tenn., with a new location in California, S3 is an award-winning, R2v3-certified technology recycling firm that provides tailored e-waste solutions to customers across North America. S3’s core business is to...

INNOVATION Quebec

COREM

Corem- Is a centre of expertise and innovation in mineral processing with the largest concentration of resources dedicated to research and innovation in this field in Canada

s a centre of expertise and innovation in mineral processing with the largest concentration of resources dedicated to research and innovation in this field in Canada

As a not-for-profit organization, Corem works to improve the competitiveness of the mining industry and reduce environmental impact through the industrialization of innovative solutions. Corem works closely with its Canadian and international mining company members and clients, and its research and government partners to achieve this goal.   Founded in...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

NORTAL

THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY.

THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY. Founded in 2000, Nortal has established itself as a global leader in digital transformation, blending local expertise with an international footprint. As an employee-owned company operating across 26 offices worldwide, Nortal partners with some of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments, architecting a future defined...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

RENAISSANCE

UNITING SUPERFANS GLOBALLY

Renaissance is a social audio app for superfans. We’ve combined the best features from gaming with music to create a new fan experience. Leaderboards, achievements, daily adventures, and exclusive giveaways create an environment where music fans come together and share their love of music. For music labels and artists, Renaissance...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

VEROSOURCE SOLUTIONS

PUTTING THE POWER OF HEALTHCARE DATAIN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE

It was March 2016 and VeroSource had to lay off its sole employee. Picture it: Everything was looking great for VeroSource, the digital healthcare start-up based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The company was about to celebrate its second anniversary. It had just landed a deal with a large company...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FLOORSPACE

TRANSFORMING THE COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE - FLOORSPACE’S EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Floorspace originated from Matt Carlson’s experience in the industry, while working as Executive Vice President at a prominent commercial real estate brokerage. During his tenure, Matt observed the challenges faced by both seasoned brokers and young professionals aspiring to enter the commercial real estate industry. Certain hurdles like limited and...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SCHOOLTRY

BUILDING A SINGLE DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR EDUCATION WORLDWIDE

As education systems around the world shift rapidly toward digital operations, one company is quietly standing out. SchoolTry, a Stockholm-based tech company, has created a cloud-based platform that brings school management, digital learning, and career readiness together in one seamless system. Founded by software engineer Ismail Eleburuike, SchoolTry tackles a...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRISES

CENTRE DE RECHERCHE SURLES INNOVATIONS SOCIALES DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À MONTRÉAL (UQAM)

Fondé au Québec en 1986, le Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales (CRISES) fut un pionnier de la recherche sur les innovations sociales et il est aujourd’hui le principal centre de recherche francophone dans ce domaine à l’échelle internationale. Sa programmation scientifique actuelle étudie la contribution des innovations sociales...

INNOVATION Quebec

Centre ACER

Centre ACER- The maple syrup research

Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique en acériculture, est un leader mondial en innovation pour l’industrie acéricole depuis 1998

C’est en effet depuis près de 25 ans que le Centre ACER stimule l’excellence, soutient la qualité et la rentabilité de la filière acéricole. En conjuguant savoir et vision, ce véritable réseau d’innovation promeut le rayonnement, le développement international et assure la pérennité de l’industrie de l’érable au Québec.  ...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MadeiraMadeira

GET TO KNOW THE CURITIBA UNICORN THAT TRANSFORMED THE FURNITURE AND DECORATION MARKET IN THE COUNTRY

Established in 2009, MadeiraMadeira is now the largest online furniture and decoration platform in Latin America. Prior to its foundation, the company’s story began with brothers Daniel Scandian and Marcelo Scandian. Coming from an entrepreneurial family background, they grew up with the same values. During a challenging period in both...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ESFANDIARI

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION

Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Bamboo

Building a Statewide Ecosystem

Bamboo began in 2013 out of a community movement. It was the first co-working space in Downtown Detroit. The organization’s model has since evolved to develop and operate hubs that serve as centers for entrepreneurship and creativity. When it started, Bamboo borrowed a $5,000 friends-and-family loan and activated a space...

INNOVATE® South Florida

MODERN TRIALS®

DEMOCRATIZES ACCESS TO ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS FOR PATIENTS IN NEED

What does Modern Trials actually do? Modern Trials provides access to cutting-edge treatments to patients by matching them with appropriate clinical trial opportunities. What do patients have to do? Nothing, that’s the beauty of the Modern Trials process; Modern Trials identifies the patients most likely to benefit from the investigational...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ANTLER

Find People and Funding to Build Something Great

If you woke up tomorrow and decided to start a company, how would you do it? Where would you begin? The reality is that most founders start companies alone, spending the first few months in a metaphorical (or, oftentimes, literal) garage figuring out how to get off the ground and...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Bees in the D

Revitalizing Detroit’s Ecosystem, One Pollinator at a Time

In the heart of Detroit’s revitalization, an organization is buzzing with purpose – Bees in the D. Founded in 2016 by Brian Peterson-Roest, a lifelong educator and conservationist, this nonprofit has grown into a movement dedicated to protecting pollinators, restoring native habitats, and educating communities on the critical role these...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

3PARK

GROWING ADVENTURES IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

What if playgrounds could grow with the forest instead of replacing it? At 3park, the team designs and builds adventure parks that blend safety, creativity, and sustainability. Born in Estonia, 3park believes play should bring people together and strengthen communities. Their parks are more than climbing frames: they are safe...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATION Manitoba

POPP3R CYBERSECURITY

REDEFINING CYBERSECURITY: HOW ONE BOUTIQUE FIRM IS PUTTING HUMANS AT THE HEART OF DIGITAL DEFENSE

In an industry obsessed with firewalls, encryption algorithms, and artificial intelligence, POPP3R Cybersecurity has built its reputation on a simple but contrarian belief: the greatest opportunity to strengthen any organization’s security lies not in adding more technology, but in empowering the people who use it. Founded and led by Hernan...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

ICF

Where Mission Meets Technology

“When technology and industry expertise come together, organizations move beyond experimentation to solutions that operate at scale and deliver measurable impact.” For more than five decades, ICF has operated where complexity is highest and outcomes matter most. Across energy, environment, public health, economic development, and beyond, ICF applies advanced analytics,...

INNOVATION Quebec

RQIS

FAIRE BATTRE LE CŒUR DE L’INNOVATION SOCIALE AU SERVICE DU DÉVELOPPEMENT DU QUÉBEC

Le Réseau québécois en innovation sociale (RQIS) est un espace de partage et de mobilisation des savoirs et des expériences qui contribue à faire de l’innovation sociale un levier indispensable au développement durable du Québec. Né en 2005 au sein du réseau de l’Université du Québec, le RQIS s’affaire d’abord...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

NJEDA

Offshore wind presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will further New Jersey’s clean energy goals, create thousands of union construction jobs, and ensure a more resilient environment and economy for future generations. This booming industry will open doors for thousands of New Jerseyans looking to reap the benefits from these investments,...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Synapse Florida

Synapse Florida – Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities

Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities

SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE.Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VALMET

MARKET LEADER, VALMET OFFERS UNIQUE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR PAPER, PULP AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES

With more than 220-years of industrial history and 63-years of presence in Brazil, the Finnish multinational provides integrated technologies, reaffirming its commitment to constant improvement and renewal. Valmet is a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

GUMPTION

GUMPTION -TACKLES DIGITAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES WITH CO-CREATION

TACKLES DIGITAL AND BUSINESS ISSUES WITH CO-CREATION

The health crisis has presented companies with new challenges. The appetite for digitization is now larger than ever before. Start-ups play an important role as drivers of innovation. Gumption is an innovation hub and ecosystem for young companies. The group’s 20 companies focus on business challenges and IT solutions, such...

INNOVATE® Nashville

S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN BUSINESS AND CULTURE

S3 Recycling Solutions provides businesses with a hassle-free way to responsibly and safely manage their excess electronics. Headquartered in Springfield, Tenn., with a new location in California, S3 is an award-winning, R2v3-certified technology recycling firm that provides tailored e-waste solutions to customers across North America. S3’s core business is to...

INNOVATION Quebec

COREM

Corem- Is a centre of expertise and innovation in mineral processing with the largest concentration of resources dedicated to research and innovation in this field in Canada

s a centre of expertise and innovation in mineral processing with the largest concentration of resources dedicated to research and innovation in this field in Canada

As a not-for-profit organization, Corem works to improve the competitiveness of the mining industry and reduce environmental impact through the industrialization of innovative solutions. Corem works closely with its Canadian and international mining company members and clients, and its research and government partners to achieve this goal.   Founded in...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

NORTAL

THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY.

THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY. Founded in 2000, Nortal has established itself as a global leader in digital transformation, blending local expertise with an international footprint. As an employee-owned company operating across 26 offices worldwide, Nortal partners with some of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments, architecting a future defined...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

RENAISSANCE

UNITING SUPERFANS GLOBALLY

Renaissance is a social audio app for superfans. We’ve combined the best features from gaming with music to create a new fan experience. Leaderboards, achievements, daily adventures, and exclusive giveaways create an environment where music fans come together and share their love of music. For music labels and artists, Renaissance...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

VEROSOURCE SOLUTIONS

PUTTING THE POWER OF HEALTHCARE DATAIN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE

It was March 2016 and VeroSource had to lay off its sole employee. Picture it: Everything was looking great for VeroSource, the digital healthcare start-up based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The company was about to celebrate its second anniversary. It had just landed a deal with a large company...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

FLOORSPACE

TRANSFORMING THE COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE - FLOORSPACE’S EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Floorspace originated from Matt Carlson’s experience in the industry, while working as Executive Vice President at a prominent commercial real estate brokerage. During his tenure, Matt observed the challenges faced by both seasoned brokers and young professionals aspiring to enter the commercial real estate industry. Certain hurdles like limited and...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SCHOOLTRY

BUILDING A SINGLE DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR EDUCATION WORLDWIDE

As education systems around the world shift rapidly toward digital operations, one company is quietly standing out. SchoolTry, a Stockholm-based tech company, has created a cloud-based platform that brings school management, digital learning, and career readiness together in one seamless system. Founded by software engineer Ismail Eleburuike, SchoolTry tackles a...

INNOVATION Quebec

CRISES

CENTRE DE RECHERCHE SURLES INNOVATIONS SOCIALES DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À MONTRÉAL (UQAM)

Fondé au Québec en 1986, le Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales (CRISES) fut un pionnier de la recherche sur les innovations sociales et il est aujourd’hui le principal centre de recherche francophone dans ce domaine à l’échelle internationale. Sa programmation scientifique actuelle étudie la contribution des innovations sociales...

INNOVATION Quebec

Centre ACER

Centre ACER- The maple syrup research

Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique en acériculture, est un leader mondial en innovation pour l’industrie acéricole depuis 1998

C’est en effet depuis près de 25 ans que le Centre ACER stimule l’excellence, soutient la qualité et la rentabilité de la filière acéricole. En conjuguant savoir et vision, ce véritable réseau d’innovation promeut le rayonnement, le développement international et assure la pérennité de l’industrie de l’érable au Québec.  ...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MadeiraMadeira

GET TO KNOW THE CURITIBA UNICORN THAT TRANSFORMED THE FURNITURE AND DECORATION MARKET IN THE COUNTRY

Established in 2009, MadeiraMadeira is now the largest online furniture and decoration platform in Latin America. Prior to its foundation, the company’s story began with brothers Daniel Scandian and Marcelo Scandian. Coming from an entrepreneurial family background, they grew up with the same values. During a challenging period in both...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ESFANDIARI

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION

Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Bamboo

Building a Statewide Ecosystem

Bamboo began in 2013 out of a community movement. It was the first co-working space in Downtown Detroit. The organization’s model has since evolved to develop and operate hubs that serve as centers for entrepreneurship and creativity. When it started, Bamboo borrowed a $5,000 friends-and-family loan and activated a space...

INNOVATE® South Florida

MODERN TRIALS®

DEMOCRATIZES ACCESS TO ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS FOR PATIENTS IN NEED

What does Modern Trials actually do? Modern Trials provides access to cutting-edge treatments to patients by matching them with appropriate clinical trial opportunities. What do patients have to do? Nothing, that’s the beauty of the Modern Trials process; Modern Trials identifies the patients most likely to benefit from the investigational...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

ANTLER

Find People and Funding to Build Something Great

If you woke up tomorrow and decided to start a company, how would you do it? Where would you begin? The reality is that most founders start companies alone, spending the first few months in a metaphorical (or, oftentimes, literal) garage figuring out how to get off the ground and...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Bees in the D

Revitalizing Detroit’s Ecosystem, One Pollinator at a Time

In the heart of Detroit’s revitalization, an organization is buzzing with purpose – Bees in the D. Founded in 2016 by Brian Peterson-Roest, a lifelong educator and conservationist, this nonprofit has grown into a movement dedicated to protecting pollinators, restoring native habitats, and educating communities on the critical role these...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

3PARK

GROWING ADVENTURES IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

What if playgrounds could grow with the forest instead of replacing it? At 3park, the team designs and builds adventure parks that blend safety, creativity, and sustainability. Born in Estonia, 3park believes play should bring people together and strengthen communities. Their parks are more than climbing frames: they are safe...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: THE LEGACY OF KANSAS CITY WOMEN IN TECH

In 2013, against the backdrop of a male-dominated tech landscape, Jennifer Wadalla, a passionate advocate for gender equality, founded Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT). Her vision was to create a supportive ecosystem that would empower women to thrive in the technology industry. Under Jennifer’s visionary leadership, KCWiT quickly became...

INNOVATION Manitoba

POPP3R CYBERSECURITY

REDEFINING CYBERSECURITY: HOW ONE BOUTIQUE FIRM IS PUTTING HUMANS AT THE HEART OF DIGITAL DEFENSE

In an industry obsessed with firewalls, encryption algorithms, and artificial intelligence, POPP3R Cybersecurity has built its reputation on a simple but contrarian belief: the greatest opportunity to strengthen any organization’s security lies not in adding more technology, but in empowering the people who use it. Founded and led by Hernan...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

ICF

Where Mission Meets Technology

“When technology and industry expertise come together, organizations move beyond experimentation to solutions that operate at scale and deliver measurable impact.” For more than five decades, ICF has operated where complexity is highest and outcomes matter most. Across energy, environment, public health, economic development, and beyond, ICF applies advanced analytics,...

INNOVATION Quebec

RQIS

FAIRE BATTRE LE CŒUR DE L’INNOVATION SOCIALE AU SERVICE DU DÉVELOPPEMENT DU QUÉBEC

Le Réseau québécois en innovation sociale (RQIS) est un espace de partage et de mobilisation des savoirs et des expériences qui contribue à faire de l’innovation sociale un levier indispensable au développement durable du Québec. Né en 2005 au sein du réseau de l’Université du Québec, le RQIS s’affaire d’abord...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

NJEDA

Offshore wind presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will further New Jersey’s clean energy goals, create thousands of union construction jobs, and ensure a more resilient environment and economy for future generations. This booming industry will open doors for thousands of New Jerseyans looking to reap the benefits from these investments,...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Synapse Florida

Synapse Florida – Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities

Celebrating The Success Of Our Innovation Communities

SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE.Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that...

Ecosystems