Stories of Innovation

SharpSpring

SharpSpring - The company

The company, built in Gainesville, is committed to fueling growth and deepening roots in its hometown

When SharpSpring CEO Rick Carlson gets questions about moving his growing tech company to a larger, more metropolitan city, his answer is always the same. “We have no plans to go anywhere. The talent coming out of the university is fueling the emergence of a true tech center in Gainesville,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

FinEst Centre

Creating Smarter Cities Through Collaborative Innovation

FinEst Centre for Smart Cities is a research and development centre driven by the passion to enhance the quality of life in urban areas. It brings together cities, researchers and entrepreneurs to co-create scalable, research-based solutions for the most pressing urban challenges. Based in Tallinn, Estonia, the centre serves as...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

KARTRIJ

KARTRIJ-TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

Kartrij is a free platform that helps gamers discover brands through cash back offers. Gamers earn cash back automatically by securely linking their credit card to the platform and shopping at the stores they already do. Kartrij enables gaming brands to effectively advertise through real-time customer insights and custom offers....

INNOVATE® Detroit

CommuniTee

Your New Favorite Way to Golf with Friends

CommuniTee Golf began with a simple revelation during a college football game:a room full of friends and acquaintances who never realized they shared a love for golf and had never played together. This moment sparked the creation of CommuniTee Golf, a platform designed to help golfers easily connect, find playing...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up

When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

DIGITAL NATIVES

DIGITAL NATIVES LEADING THE CHANGE

LEADING THE CHANGE

Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AfroCharts

AMPLIFYING THE PULSE OF AFRICAN MUSIC WORLDWIDE

AMPLIFYING THE PULSE OFAFRICAN MUSIC WORLDWIDE AfroCharts, founded by Leonard Novati in 2020, is a pioneering digital music platform dedicated to showcasing the rich tapestry of African music to the global audiences. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, AfroCharts has rapidly grown to become a vibrant hub for artists, fans, and event...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ABARCA HEALTH

ABARCA HEALTH-A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

Abarca was founded to deliver a better way in healthcare. For more than fifteen years, the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and technology company has been delivering on that promise for its health plan clients and their members through: A smarter platform: Abarca built DarwinTM, its healthcare technology platform, in-house from the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIRANO

KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION

CIRANO is the leading institution in Quebec for knowledge enhancement in the economic evaluation of decisions on major societal issues, and for the development and evaluation of public policies. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin, Polytechnique Montreal professor, President and CEO, CIRANO Catherine Beaudry Polytechnique Montréal “CIRANO plays a crucial role in Quebec’s...

INNOVATION Quebec

TransMedTech Institute

Empowering human-centered medtech innovation

OUR MISSIONThe TransMedTech Institute (iTMT) aims to support innovation in medical technologies that meet the needs of users and the healthcare community, in order to facilitate and catalyze their development and implementation in the healthcare system. While supporting the industry and the innovation community, the iTMT also aims to train...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

NUTRISENSE

NUTRISENSE-Our Mission Is To Help Anyone Reach Their Health Potential.

Our Mission Is To Help Anyone Reach Their Health Potential

Already a successful tech entrepreneur, Alex Skryl had not intended to take on another similar venture. However, Alex was deeply moved by the growing epidemic of chronic disease in the United States. He felt that it was time to put his entrepreneurial mindset towards giving back to the community. Thus,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CGI

Human-centered and strategic

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. We are insights-driven and outcomes-based to help accelerate returns on your investments. Across 21 industry sectors in 400 locations worldwide, our 90,000 professionals provide comprehensive, scalable, and sustainable IT and business consulting services...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Epochal Intelligence

The Focus is Unlocking Access to Information and Building Communities Within the IT Space

The Midwest’s tech scene isn’t just growing – it’s booming, with Wisconsin heavily contributing. Milwaukee has transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a digital dynamo, attracting major players and cementing its status as an emerging tech hub where innovation meets Midwestern grit. The opportunities here are continuing to emerge every...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Startups Use Incentives to Build Adoption

Startups rarely grow because a product exists. They grow when people understand the value quickly enough to try it, return to it and tell others about it. That first step is often the hardest. Even strong products face hesitation from users who are busy, cautious or already loyal to existing...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE BOTSWANA INVESTMENT AND TRADE CENTRE (BITC)

ESTABLISHED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT IN 2012 AS AN INTEGRATED INVESTMENT AND TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY (ITPA) WITH A MANDATE ENCOMPASSING INVESTMENT

Through its critical role within Botswana’s economy, BITC also encourages and nourishes domestic investment and expansions, promotes locally manufactured goods to regional and international markets, contributes towards improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, increases citizen participation in the economy and seeks to create sustainable job opportunities. BITC seeks...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KENNIE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ONE PLAY AT A TIME

Let a theatrical play be the way that immerses you in storytelling so powerful, it will live with you forever. Kennie Playhouse Theatre (KPT) is one of the city’s hidden jewels, a thriving artistic hub that brings dynamic, thought-provoking, and spirit-lifting stories to the stage for everyone to enjoy. From...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MUNAI

TURNING DATA INTO HEALTH INTELLIGENCE

Munai is a healthtech whose impact in the healthcare field is noteworthy, driving significant transformations through the application of advanced technological solutions, particularly leveraging Artificial Intelligence. Its commitment extends beyond technological advancements; it’s rooted in the core mission of reshaping healthcare by generating personalized and scalable solutions that empower healthcare...

INNOVATE® Detroit

GENOMENON-Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Genomenon is a leading genomic intelligence company dedicated to improving the quality of patients’ lives by uncovering the genomic drivers of genetic disease and cancer. Blending the power of AI with genomic expertise, Genomenon simplifi es complex genetic data into actionable insights for patient diagnosis and precision medicine development. With...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GLOBEDRY

SOLAR-DRIED FOODS FOR A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

In many rural regions, fresh harvests are lost before they ever reach a market — not because of poor quality, but due to heat, humidity, and lack of proper preservation. GlobeDry, a family-owned Estonian company, is tackling this challenge with solar-powered food dryers that allow communities and food entrepreneurs to...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

POCKETPILLS

CANADA'S ONLINE PHARMACY: THROUGH OUR EASY-TO-USE APP AND WEBSITE, YOU CAN FILL PRESCRIPTIONS ONLINE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME WITH FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN CANADA

OUR MISSIONPocketpills’ mission is to improve accessibility and affordability of prescription medication for Canadians to live healthier lives. OUR GOALPocketpills always puts you at the front of the line! No more waiting, chasing refills, or missing your doses. Medications are delivereddirectly to you in discreet packaging. We even offer same...

INNOVATE® Seattle

READ

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE. Founded in 2021 by David Shim, Robert Williams, and Elliott Waldron, Read AI brings together your meetings, emails, and messages and transforms them into collaborative partners, so that they talk to each other, share information, offer updates, find answers, and organize tasks through...

SharpSpring

SharpSpring - The company

The company, built in Gainesville, is committed to fueling growth and deepening roots in its hometown

When SharpSpring CEO Rick Carlson gets questions about moving his growing tech company to a larger, more metropolitan city, his answer is always the same. “We have no plans to go anywhere. The talent coming out of the university is fueling the emergence of a true tech center in Gainesville,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

FinEst Centre

Creating Smarter Cities Through Collaborative Innovation

FinEst Centre for Smart Cities is a research and development centre driven by the passion to enhance the quality of life in urban areas. It brings together cities, researchers and entrepreneurs to co-create scalable, research-based solutions for the most pressing urban challenges. Based in Tallinn, Estonia, the centre serves as...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Sparkle & Sabre

Sparkle & Sabre - Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

Fashion and Jewellery That Boost Wearers’ Sense of Security and Well-Being

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

KARTRIJ

KARTRIJ-TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

Kartrij is a free platform that helps gamers discover brands through cash back offers. Gamers earn cash back automatically by securely linking their credit card to the platform and shopping at the stores they already do. Kartrij enables gaming brands to effectively advertise through real-time customer insights and custom offers....

INNOVATE® Detroit

CommuniTee

Your New Favorite Way to Golf with Friends

CommuniTee Golf began with a simple revelation during a college football game:a room full of friends and acquaintances who never realized they shared a love for golf and had never played together. This moment sparked the creation of CommuniTee Golf, a platform designed to help golfers easily connect, find playing...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP

Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up

When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HIGHER STATE TECHNOLOGY

HUMANS HELPING HUMANS MANAGE TECH

CYBER RESILIENCE What we care about: We are all connected. Technology is the current that runs through our businesses and global villages. Higher State Technology (HST) serves SMBs in a “Techno-city” where we can focus on what matters – taking care of employees and clients. Cyber Resilience is at the...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

DIGITAL NATIVES

DIGITAL NATIVES LEADING THE CHANGE

LEADING THE CHANGE

Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

AfroCharts

AMPLIFYING THE PULSE OF AFRICAN MUSIC WORLDWIDE

AMPLIFYING THE PULSE OFAFRICAN MUSIC WORLDWIDE AfroCharts, founded by Leonard Novati in 2020, is a pioneering digital music platform dedicated to showcasing the rich tapestry of African music to the global audiences. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, AfroCharts has rapidly grown to become a vibrant hub for artists, fans, and event...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ABARCA HEALTH

ABARCA HEALTH-A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER

Abarca was founded to deliver a better way in healthcare. For more than fifteen years, the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and technology company has been delivering on that promise for its health plan clients and their members through: A smarter platform: Abarca built DarwinTM, its healthcare technology platform, in-house from the...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIRANO

KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION

CIRANO is the leading institution in Quebec for knowledge enhancement in the economic evaluation of decisions on major societal issues, and for the development and evaluation of public policies. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin, Polytechnique Montreal professor, President and CEO, CIRANO Catherine Beaudry Polytechnique Montréal “CIRANO plays a crucial role in Quebec’s...

INNOVATION Quebec

TransMedTech Institute

Empowering human-centered medtech innovation

OUR MISSIONThe TransMedTech Institute (iTMT) aims to support innovation in medical technologies that meet the needs of users and the healthcare community, in order to facilitate and catalyze their development and implementation in the healthcare system. While supporting the industry and the innovation community, the iTMT also aims to train...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

NUTRISENSE

NUTRISENSE-Our Mission Is To Help Anyone Reach Their Health Potential.

Our Mission Is To Help Anyone Reach Their Health Potential

Already a successful tech entrepreneur, Alex Skryl had not intended to take on another similar venture. However, Alex was deeply moved by the growing epidemic of chronic disease in the United States. He felt that it was time to put his entrepreneurial mindset towards giving back to the community. Thus,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CGI

Human-centered and strategic

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. We are insights-driven and outcomes-based to help accelerate returns on your investments. Across 21 industry sectors in 400 locations worldwide, our 90,000 professionals provide comprehensive, scalable, and sustainable IT and business consulting services...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Epochal Intelligence

The Focus is Unlocking Access to Information and Building Communities Within the IT Space

The Midwest’s tech scene isn’t just growing – it’s booming, with Wisconsin heavily contributing. Milwaukee has transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a digital dynamo, attracting major players and cementing its status as an emerging tech hub where innovation meets Midwestern grit. The opportunities here are continuing to emerge every...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Startups Use Incentives to Build Adoption

Startups rarely grow because a product exists. They grow when people understand the value quickly enough to try it, return to it and tell others about it. That first step is often the hardest. Even strong products face hesitation from users who are busy, cautious or already loyal to existing...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE BOTSWANA INVESTMENT AND TRADE CENTRE (BITC)

ESTABLISHED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT IN 2012 AS AN INTEGRATED INVESTMENT AND TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY (ITPA) WITH A MANDATE ENCOMPASSING INVESTMENT

Through its critical role within Botswana’s economy, BITC also encourages and nourishes domestic investment and expansions, promotes locally manufactured goods to regional and international markets, contributes towards improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, increases citizen participation in the economy and seeks to create sustainable job opportunities. BITC seeks...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KENNIE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ONE PLAY AT A TIME

Let a theatrical play be the way that immerses you in storytelling so powerful, it will live with you forever. Kennie Playhouse Theatre (KPT) is one of the city’s hidden jewels, a thriving artistic hub that brings dynamic, thought-provoking, and spirit-lifting stories to the stage for everyone to enjoy. From...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MUNAI

TURNING DATA INTO HEALTH INTELLIGENCE

Munai is a healthtech whose impact in the healthcare field is noteworthy, driving significant transformations through the application of advanced technological solutions, particularly leveraging Artificial Intelligence. Its commitment extends beyond technological advancements; it’s rooted in the core mission of reshaping healthcare by generating personalized and scalable solutions that empower healthcare...

INNOVATE® Detroit

GENOMENON-Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Genomenon is a leading genomic intelligence company dedicated to improving the quality of patients’ lives by uncovering the genomic drivers of genetic disease and cancer. Blending the power of AI with genomic expertise, Genomenon simplifi es complex genetic data into actionable insights for patient diagnosis and precision medicine development. With...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GLOBEDRY

SOLAR-DRIED FOODS FOR A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

In many rural regions, fresh harvests are lost before they ever reach a market — not because of poor quality, but due to heat, humidity, and lack of proper preservation. GlobeDry, a family-owned Estonian company, is tackling this challenge with solar-powered food dryers that allow communities and food entrepreneurs to...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

POCKETPILLS

CANADA'S ONLINE PHARMACY: THROUGH OUR EASY-TO-USE APP AND WEBSITE, YOU CAN FILL PRESCRIPTIONS ONLINE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME WITH FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN CANADA

OUR MISSIONPocketpills’ mission is to improve accessibility and affordability of prescription medication for Canadians to live healthier lives. OUR GOALPocketpills always puts you at the front of the line! No more waiting, chasing refills, or missing your doses. Medications are delivereddirectly to you in discreet packaging. We even offer same...

INNOVATE® Seattle

READ

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE. Founded in 2021 by David Shim, Robert Williams, and Elliott Waldron, Read AI brings together your meetings, emails, and messages and transforms them into collaborative partners, so that they talk to each other, share information, offer updates, find answers, and organize tasks through...

Ecosystems