Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Estonia
INNOSTEPS
ESTONIA’S INNOVATION COMPASS
Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation. Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The economy of the fandom experience:
Merch, innovation, and sustainability
Everybody’s part of a fandom nowadays, with many people being part of several communities for different musicians, bands, movies, series, and sports teams at the same time. Since many are quite passionate about the fandoms they’re part of, it’s natural that they’d want to wear their interests on their sleeve....
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
NINETEEN 21
UNORTHODOX THINKING
Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer
Bringing together world-renowned expertise, innovation and patient-centered care in one destination. Beating cancer demands the extraordinary. That’s why Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s preferred health care provider, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the No.1-ranked cancer center in America, created a destination for cancer treatment that is second to none. Jacksonville,...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
THE CITY OF ANTWERP
A SMART CITY, WHERE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION GO HAND IN HAND
Antwerp, just another historic city with a port? Think again. The urge to excel, a nose for opportunities and an impressive flamboyance make Antwerp an ideal breeding ground for creative ideas. Discover in this introduction the story of an extended network for innovation and entrepreneurship, across a wide range of...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRIAQ
AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION
CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
The Napkin Network
A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO HELP MOMS IN NEED
Headquartered in DC, the social network of moms spans all 50 states with the help of Lindsay’s specialization in social media, strategic communications, fundraising, and the natural inclination for moms to help other moms in need. Unfortunately, children are expensive and not everyone is in the same position to provide...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MINDVALLEY
REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education platform, serving over 20 million students across the globe. Its mission is ambitious yet profoundly simple: to transform education by teaching the skills that truly matter for human flourishing – from mindset and well-being to leadership and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2003 by...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Citibot
Revolutionizes how local governments interact with their residents.
Local governments have struggled to engage residents, ensure accessibility, and provide timely responses to community needs for a long time. In 2016, Bratton Riley founded Citibot to revolutionize how local governments interact with their residents. With a deep-rooted passion for public service and a desire to foster community connections, Riley...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
SERIOUSLY CREATIVE
Not your Business-as-Usual
SeriouslyCreative is an innovation, strategy and experience by design firm. They believe the most valuable asset in an organization is its humans. That is why their mission is to empower people with the mindset, confidence, skills and tools they need to become agents of change for organizations, communities and the...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
TRANSPORT EN LOGISTIEK VLAANDEREN
UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR
Every year, the number of transport and logistics companies in Belgium keeps growing. All projections show that the transportation of goods by the road will also continue to grow in the following 20 years. The sector thus plays a vital role in the Belgian economy. However, with rising costs, stricter...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY & PNC NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Cultivating the Future of HBCU Innovation
Howard University: A Catalyst for Change Howard University is a bastion of excellence and a catalyst for change. This historically Black College and University (HBCU) has long been at the forefront of educating and empowering diverse minds, and its latest venture, the Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ALPA KIDS
LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE
Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
XP LEAGUE
NORTH AMERICA’S PREMIER COACH-LED COMPETITIVE YOUTH ESPORTS LEAGUE
Despite launching in September 2020, during the height of a global pandemic, XP League quickly caught the attention of tech-savvy franchisees looking to turn their passion into a career. And esports are certainly a lucrative activity worthy of franchise investment; by 2023, it’s predicted that the industry could see revenues...
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® South Carolina
McNair Aerospace
USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
The McNAIR Aerospace Center, in partnership with the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, engages university students in innovative, industry-led research in fields such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, automation, 3D printing, and materials manufacturing. This world-class, hands-on education, along with our commitment to cutting-edge innovation, actively creates leaders...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SLALOM
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE: SLALOM’S PURSUIT OF A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL
Better tomorrows, together. That’s the future that Slalom, a next generation professional services company, is striving to build with its customers. For Slalom, better tomorrows are found at the intersection of business, technology, and humanity. This might mean developing a data hub that accelerates research for childhood brain cancer, launching...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026
The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
BENEDICT COLLEGE
Pioneering an Entrepreneurial Revolution
In the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, Benedict College is redefining the landscape of higher education by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the forefront of this transformation is the Burroughs Enterprise, Startup, and Technology (B.E.S.T.) Innovation Lab, a dynamic hub that empowers students, faculty, and entrepreneurs to...
INNOVATE® Georgia
AFLAC
REIMAGINING THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
Aflac’s vision is to create a world in which people are better prepared for the expected — and unexpected — with benefits primary health insurance doesn’t cover. For nearly 70 years, Aflac supplemental insurance has provided millions of people worldwide the opportunity to focus on recovery instead of financial stress,...
INNOVATE® Maryland
Montgomery County EDC
Maryland's Launchpad For Innovation
Steps from the nation’s capital, Montgomery County, Maryland, is one of America’s most dynamic centers of innovation and talent. From mapping the human genome (DNA) as a result of the Human Genome Projects, one of the most influential scientific endeavors in history, to the first successful transplant of a pig...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ALT TEX
FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION
Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
INNOSTEPS
ESTONIA’S INNOVATION COMPASS
Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation. Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The economy of the fandom experience:
Merch, innovation, and sustainability
Everybody’s part of a fandom nowadays, with many people being part of several communities for different musicians, bands, movies, series, and sports teams at the same time. Since many are quite passionate about the fandoms they’re part of, it’s natural that they’d want to wear their interests on their sleeve....
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
NINETEEN 21
UNORTHODOX THINKING
Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center-Uses The Most Advanced Technology And Research In The Fight Against Cancer
Bringing together world-renowned expertise, innovation and patient-centered care in one destination. Beating cancer demands the extraordinary. That’s why Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s preferred health care provider, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the No.1-ranked cancer center in America, created a destination for cancer treatment that is second to none. Jacksonville,...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
THE CITY OF ANTWERP
A SMART CITY, WHERE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION GO HAND IN HAND
Antwerp, just another historic city with a port? Think again. The urge to excel, a nose for opportunities and an impressive flamboyance make Antwerp an ideal breeding ground for creative ideas. Discover in this introduction the story of an extended network for innovation and entrepreneurship, across a wide range of...
INNOVATION Quebec
CRIAQ
AT THE HEART OF AEROSPACE INNOVATION
CRIAQ plays a key role in ensuring the development of new aerospace technologies that enable the entire ecosystem to prosper. Quebec is one of the 3 main aerospace centres in the world and the effervescence of its industrial industry and research centres makes it a prime location for innovation. In...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
The Napkin Network
A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO HELP MOMS IN NEED
Headquartered in DC, the social network of moms spans all 50 states with the help of Lindsay’s specialization in social media, strategic communications, fundraising, and the natural inclination for moms to help other moms in need. Unfortunately, children are expensive and not everyone is in the same position to provide...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MINDVALLEY
REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education platform, serving over 20 million students across the globe. Its mission is ambitious yet profoundly simple: to transform education by teaching the skills that truly matter for human flourishing – from mindset and well-being to leadership and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2003 by...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Citibot
Revolutionizes how local governments interact with their residents.
Local governments have struggled to engage residents, ensure accessibility, and provide timely responses to community needs for a long time. In 2016, Bratton Riley founded Citibot to revolutionize how local governments interact with their residents. With a deep-rooted passion for public service and a desire to foster community connections, Riley...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
SERIOUSLY CREATIVE
Not your Business-as-Usual
SeriouslyCreative is an innovation, strategy and experience by design firm. They believe the most valuable asset in an organization is its humans. That is why their mission is to empower people with the mindset, confidence, skills and tools they need to become agents of change for organizations, communities and the...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
TRANSPORT EN LOGISTIEK VLAANDEREN
UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR
Every year, the number of transport and logistics companies in Belgium keeps growing. All projections show that the transportation of goods by the road will also continue to grow in the following 20 years. The sector thus plays a vital role in the Belgian economy. However, with rising costs, stricter...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY & PNC NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Cultivating the Future of HBCU Innovation
Howard University: A Catalyst for Change Howard University is a bastion of excellence and a catalyst for change. This historically Black College and University (HBCU) has long been at the forefront of educating and empowering diverse minds, and its latest venture, the Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ALPA KIDS
LOCALISED E-LEARNING GAMES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE
Founded in 2018, ALPA Kids creates digital learning games for children aged 3–8, developed in close collaboration with local teachers and researchers to ensure pedagogically sound, age-appropriate content in each child’s native language. ALPA Kids mission is to turn children’s screen time into a safe, enriching learning experience by offering...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
XP LEAGUE
NORTH AMERICA’S PREMIER COACH-LED COMPETITIVE YOUTH ESPORTS LEAGUE
Despite launching in September 2020, during the height of a global pandemic, XP League quickly caught the attention of tech-savvy franchisees looking to turn their passion into a career. And esports are certainly a lucrative activity worthy of franchise investment; by 2023, it’s predicted that the industry could see revenues...
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® South Carolina
McNair Aerospace
USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
The McNAIR Aerospace Center, in partnership with the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, engages university students in innovative, industry-led research in fields such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, automation, 3D printing, and materials manufacturing. This world-class, hands-on education, along with our commitment to cutting-edge innovation, actively creates leaders...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SLALOM
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE: SLALOM’S PURSUIT OF A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL
Better tomorrows, together. That’s the future that Slalom, a next generation professional services company, is striving to build with its customers. For Slalom, better tomorrows are found at the intersection of business, technology, and humanity. This might mean developing a data hub that accelerates research for childhood brain cancer, launching...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
ADVANCING INNOVATION AGENDA
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (www.prsciencetrust.org) was established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private non-profit organization to encourage, promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology, and the creation of high tech jobs in the technology sector. The PRSTRT© invest, facilitate and build capacity to...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026
The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
BENEDICT COLLEGE
Pioneering an Entrepreneurial Revolution
In the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, Benedict College is redefining the landscape of higher education by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the forefront of this transformation is the Burroughs Enterprise, Startup, and Technology (B.E.S.T.) Innovation Lab, a dynamic hub that empowers students, faculty, and entrepreneurs to...
INNOVATE® Georgia
AFLAC
REIMAGINING THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
Aflac’s vision is to create a world in which people are better prepared for the expected — and unexpected — with benefits primary health insurance doesn’t cover. For nearly 70 years, Aflac supplemental insurance has provided millions of people worldwide the opportunity to focus on recovery instead of financial stress,...
INNOVATE® Maryland
Montgomery County EDC
Maryland's Launchpad For Innovation
Steps from the nation’s capital, Montgomery County, Maryland, is one of America’s most dynamic centers of innovation and talent. From mapping the human genome (DNA) as a result of the Human Genome Projects, one of the most influential scientific endeavors in history, to the first successful transplant of a pig...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ALT TEX
FOOD-TO-FABRIC FASHION
Fashion’s Pollution ProblemThe $2.5 trillion fashion industry is one of the top-most polluting industries in the world, generating 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the heavy reliance by the industry on synthetic, petroleum-derived, fabrics such as polyester, is projected to create over a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions...