Stories of Innovation

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® Washington DMV Edition

Fairfax County EDA

Igniting Innovation and Growth in Fairfax County.

Fairfax County is not just a hub for innovation; it’s a powerhouse supported by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). Chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and governed by a board of county business leaders, FCEDA is dedicated to transforming Fairfax County into one of the world’s premier business...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read

Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...

INNOVATION Quebec

Cteau

THE FUTURE OF WATER: A GLOBAL CONCERN!

Cteau – The Water Technology Centre has been devoting all its efforts to this issue since 2008. It is the only technology transfer centre dedicated to water technologies and ecological water management. With its multidisciplinary team of microbiologists, chemists, engineers (water, civil, process and mechanical) and test and analytical chemistry...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia Health

Innovation Hub

Making Healthcare in Nova Scotia Better There is a smarter way to deliver quality healthcare, but achieving it requires fresh thinking, a forward-focused approach, and the courage to move beyond traditional methods. That is exactly what the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub is designed to do. Established in 2023, the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Compassus

Where Compassion Meets Innovation in Home-Based Health Care

As more patients and families choose care at home, Compassus is redefining what compassionate, high-quality home-based care looks like. Since its founding in 2006, Compassus has grown from a hospice provider into one of the nation’s largest and most trusted home-based health care organizations. Today, Compassus operates in more than...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MEDLESS

YOUR SOURCE FOR THE BEST MEDICINE PRICES

Medless Group is a HealthTech company founded in 2017 in the city of Curitiba by the gynecologist and scientist Dr. Rodrigo Berger, with the aim of studying and developing innovative treatments for women’s health. Having dedicated its first two years to the development and study of an innovative technology, the...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

INCEPTIONU

The Un-School challenging Calgarians to think and build differently

Have you ever thought about the difference between being future proof or future fit? InceptionU co-founders Margo Purcell and Greg Hart certainly have. In fact, the two Calgary professionals have built a business around it. InceptionU is a place of meaningful learning where individuals, businesses and organizations go to learn...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

Athletico Paranaense

INNOVATION AND FOREFRONT

Innovation is a key element that not only facilitates but also provides significant advantages in the customer experience. In the contemporary landscape, where the pursuit of new technologies and disruptive approaches is relentless, visionary companies stand out by incorporating innovation into every aspect of their operations. Club Athletico Paranaense is...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES-FOOD

FOOD, HOPE, DIGNITY … AND THE MOST TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

What started as five men in Austin, Texas answering God’s call to “love your neighbor” by serving meals out of the back of a green minivan has turned into one of the country’s most innovative approaches for mitigating homelessness. In 1998, the seed of the idea for Mobile Loaves &...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

WHYFIVE INSIGHTS - BRANDMAPP

WHYFIVE INSIGHTS - BRANDMAPP- A WEALTH OF CONSUMER INSIGHTS

A WEALTH OF CONSUMER INSIGHTS

Where do brands and marketers look to understand middle-class consumers go to find actionable, realistic, useful data? That was the question the team at WhyFive Insights asked almost a decade ago when they launched a unique annual survey and data set called BrandMapp. “We were working in media at the...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

LIQUID AVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INC

LIQUID AVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INC-WELCOME TO A UNIVERSE WHERE ANYONE CAN BE A HERO™

WELCOME TO A UNIVERSE WHERE ANYONE CAN BE A HERO™

Want to climb a virtual mountain? Become a master of virtual cooking, or own your own virtual yacht? The Metaverse and other mixed reality opportunities will change the way we play, learn, work, build, entertain and socialize. Aftermath Islands Metaverse is an emerging mixed reality platform that allows individuals and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA- THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

GIA STORY“What if learning felt like a game?” This initial question was actually the starting point for the Games Institute. When Thomas Kunze stumbled over the topic of Game Based Learning in 2010, it was a question that never really left his thoughts again. Learning, especially in a digital world,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SILEN

HOW SILENCE BECAME SILEN’S GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Silen’s journey began with a simple conviction: silence is not a luxury, but a necessity for focus, creativity, and well-being. What started as an idea in Estonia has grown into the world’s leading provider of office pods and privacy solutions, trusted by companies in more than 60 countries — including...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Eatible Delights

Working Tirelessly to Bring Customers’ Visions to Life

You may not find “Humble Beginnings” or “soul-searing passion” in the nutrition facts of any label – on any product – in all the world; but at 1540 E Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, it’s been a key ingredient. June 26, 2026 will make 30 years of business for David Simms....

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DATADISTILLR

DATADISTILLR- COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE DATA LIKE NEVER BEFORE

COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE DATA LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Data is the source of all learning, and nothing should get in the way of that. Data should be easy to access and explore. We spend too long working on our data instead of with our data. Data tells a story, and it’s our job to unearth and tell that...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Vanderbilt University

Innovation at Vanderbilt

An R1 research institution, Vanderbilt University is known for pathbreaking research, advancing discoveries and fueling breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. With more than $1 billion in annual research expenditures, Vanderbilt fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration with global impact. But Vanderbilt isn’t just a research university, it’s a powerful economic engine that turns ideas...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

CLARICY

POWERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WITH DEEPTECH

Founded in 2022 by Johanna Stina Haar (MA) at the age of 24, Claricy is an Estonian DeepTech company that helps small and mid-sized enterprises navigate digital transformation. Johanna holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in IT management, complemented by experience as both a financial specialist...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Borderless Startups and the Digital Tools Powering Them

Previously, opening a business largely depended on location. A startup owner was expected to establish an office, hire staff in their home city or country, and run their company in that location. However, there’s a growing number of startups that operate internationally from the day they launch, mainly due to...

INNOVATION Quebec

C2T3

CCTT EN TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS

Le C2T3 a pour mission de contribuer à l’innovation technologique et à l’essor économique des entreprises associées au secteur des télécommunications, de l’Internet des objets, des réseaux 5G et de la connectivité intelligente. En adoptant des procédures d’innovation technologique, le C2T3 se veut un pôle d’excellence en télécommunications qui valorise...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

RIOBLANCO CAPITAL, LLC

FOCUS IS ON VALUE CREATION AND REIMAGINED ASSET ENTERPRISES

RioBlanco Capital LLC (RBC) is a premier Puerto Rico-based private equity and real estate asset management firm founded in 2015...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Betr Holdings, Inc.

REDEFINING SPORTS GAMING AND MEDIA FROM SOUTH FLORIDA

REDEFINING SPORTS GAMING AND MEDIA FROM SOUTH FLORIDA Betr Holdings, Inc. is a Miami-based sports gaming and media company at the forefront of innovation in the sports betting and entertainment sectors. Co-founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Joey Levy and professional boxer and serial entrepreneur Jake Paul. Betr is revolutionizing how...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RACHEL + WINFREE

In a data-driven economy, being able to use your data to make better decisions, develop better products, or better target your customer are skills that will separate businesses that thrive from those that fail

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all companies in the United States. Within a year, 20% of new small businesses fail. That number rises to 30% before the end of the second year. After five years, half of those small businesses have failed. Profits only start trickling in after 18...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est animé par le Collectif régional de développement (CRD). Créé par les huit MRC du Bas-Saint-Laurent, cet organisme de concertation et de planification...

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® Washington DMV Edition

Fairfax County EDA

Igniting Innovation and Growth in Fairfax County.

Fairfax County is not just a hub for innovation; it’s a powerhouse supported by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). Chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and governed by a board of county business leaders, FCEDA is dedicated to transforming Fairfax County into one of the world’s premier business...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Audiobooks and AI: Transforming the Way We Read

Once, reading was a quiet act. A private conversation between you and the page. Now? That’s changing. Audiobooks have crashed through the library doors, and artificial intelligence is riding shotgun. In 2023, the global audiobook market was valued at over $8 billion. By 2032, some projections place it above $35...

INNOVATION Quebec

Cteau

THE FUTURE OF WATER: A GLOBAL CONCERN!

Cteau – The Water Technology Centre has been devoting all its efforts to this issue since 2008. It is the only technology transfer centre dedicated to water technologies and ecological water management. With its multidisciplinary team of microbiologists, chemists, engineers (water, civil, process and mechanical) and test and analytical chemistry...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia Health

Innovation Hub

Making Healthcare in Nova Scotia Better There is a smarter way to deliver quality healthcare, but achieving it requires fresh thinking, a forward-focused approach, and the courage to move beyond traditional methods. That is exactly what the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub is designed to do. Established in 2023, the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Compassus

Where Compassion Meets Innovation in Home-Based Health Care

As more patients and families choose care at home, Compassus is redefining what compassionate, high-quality home-based care looks like. Since its founding in 2006, Compassus has grown from a hospice provider into one of the nation’s largest and most trusted home-based health care organizations. Today, Compassus operates in more than...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

MEDLESS

YOUR SOURCE FOR THE BEST MEDICINE PRICES

Medless Group is a HealthTech company founded in 2017 in the city of Curitiba by the gynecologist and scientist Dr. Rodrigo Berger, with the aim of studying and developing innovative treatments for women’s health. Having dedicated its first two years to the development and study of an innovative technology, the...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

INCEPTIONU

The Un-School challenging Calgarians to think and build differently

Have you ever thought about the difference between being future proof or future fit? InceptionU co-founders Margo Purcell and Greg Hart certainly have. In fact, the two Calgary professionals have built a business around it. InceptionU is a place of meaningful learning where individuals, businesses and organizations go to learn...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

Athletico Paranaense

INNOVATION AND FOREFRONT

Innovation is a key element that not only facilitates but also provides significant advantages in the customer experience. In the contemporary landscape, where the pursuit of new technologies and disruptive approaches is relentless, visionary companies stand out by incorporating innovation into every aspect of their operations. Club Athletico Paranaense is...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES-FOOD

FOOD, HOPE, DIGNITY … AND THE MOST TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

What started as five men in Austin, Texas answering God’s call to “love your neighbor” by serving meals out of the back of a green minivan has turned into one of the country’s most innovative approaches for mitigating homelessness. In 1998, the seed of the idea for Mobile Loaves &...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

WHYFIVE INSIGHTS - BRANDMAPP

WHYFIVE INSIGHTS - BRANDMAPP- A WEALTH OF CONSUMER INSIGHTS

A WEALTH OF CONSUMER INSIGHTS

Where do brands and marketers look to understand middle-class consumers go to find actionable, realistic, useful data? That was the question the team at WhyFive Insights asked almost a decade ago when they launched a unique annual survey and data set called BrandMapp. “We were working in media at the...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

LIQUID AVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INC

LIQUID AVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INC-WELCOME TO A UNIVERSE WHERE ANYONE CAN BE A HERO™

WELCOME TO A UNIVERSE WHERE ANYONE CAN BE A HERO™

Want to climb a virtual mountain? Become a master of virtual cooking, or own your own virtual yacht? The Metaverse and other mixed reality opportunities will change the way we play, learn, work, build, entertain and socialize. Aftermath Islands Metaverse is an emerging mixed reality platform that allows individuals and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA- THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

GIA STORY“What if learning felt like a game?” This initial question was actually the starting point for the Games Institute. When Thomas Kunze stumbled over the topic of Game Based Learning in 2010, it was a question that never really left his thoughts again. Learning, especially in a digital world,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

SILEN

HOW SILENCE BECAME SILEN’S GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Silen’s journey began with a simple conviction: silence is not a luxury, but a necessity for focus, creativity, and well-being. What started as an idea in Estonia has grown into the world’s leading provider of office pods and privacy solutions, trusted by companies in more than 60 countries — including...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Eatible Delights

Working Tirelessly to Bring Customers’ Visions to Life

You may not find “Humble Beginnings” or “soul-searing passion” in the nutrition facts of any label – on any product – in all the world; but at 1540 E Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, it’s been a key ingredient. June 26, 2026 will make 30 years of business for David Simms....

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DATADISTILLR

DATADISTILLR- COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE DATA LIKE NEVER BEFORE

COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE DATA LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Data is the source of all learning, and nothing should get in the way of that. Data should be easy to access and explore. We spend too long working on our data instead of with our data. Data tells a story, and it’s our job to unearth and tell that...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Vanderbilt University

Innovation at Vanderbilt

An R1 research institution, Vanderbilt University is known for pathbreaking research, advancing discoveries and fueling breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. With more than $1 billion in annual research expenditures, Vanderbilt fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration with global impact. But Vanderbilt isn’t just a research university, it’s a powerful economic engine that turns ideas...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

CLARICY

POWERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WITH DEEPTECH

Founded in 2022 by Johanna Stina Haar (MA) at the age of 24, Claricy is an Estonian DeepTech company that helps small and mid-sized enterprises navigate digital transformation. Johanna holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in IT management, complemented by experience as both a financial specialist...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Rise of Borderless Startups and the Digital Tools Powering Them

Previously, opening a business largely depended on location. A startup owner was expected to establish an office, hire staff in their home city or country, and run their company in that location. However, there’s a growing number of startups that operate internationally from the day they launch, mainly due to...

INNOVATION Quebec

C2T3

CCTT EN TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS

Le C2T3 a pour mission de contribuer à l’innovation technologique et à l’essor économique des entreprises associées au secteur des télécommunications, de l’Internet des objets, des réseaux 5G et de la connectivité intelligente. En adoptant des procédures d’innovation technologique, le C2T3 se veut un pôle d’excellence en télécommunications qui valorise...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

RIOBLANCO CAPITAL, LLC

FOCUS IS ON VALUE CREATION AND REIMAGINED ASSET ENTERPRISES

RioBlanco Capital LLC (RBC) is a premier Puerto Rico-based private equity and real estate asset management firm founded in 2015...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Betr Holdings, Inc.

REDEFINING SPORTS GAMING AND MEDIA FROM SOUTH FLORIDA

REDEFINING SPORTS GAMING AND MEDIA FROM SOUTH FLORIDA Betr Holdings, Inc. is a Miami-based sports gaming and media company at the forefront of innovation in the sports betting and entertainment sectors. Co-founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Joey Levy and professional boxer and serial entrepreneur Jake Paul. Betr is revolutionizing how...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RACHEL + WINFREE

In a data-driven economy, being able to use your data to make better decisions, develop better products, or better target your customer are skills that will separate businesses that thrive from those that fail

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all companies in the United States. Within a year, 20% of new small businesses fail. That number rises to 30% before the end of the second year. After five years, half of those small businesses have failed. Profits only start trickling in after 18...

INNOVATION Quebec

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT

L’ESPACE D’ACCÉLÉRATION ET DE CROISSANCE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT (EAC BSL) FACILITE LES PROJETS

Nos interventions comprennent le réseautage, la collaboration et le référencement des experts·es qui offrent aux entrepreneurs·es des services d’accompagnement technique et d’affaires. Une concertation régionale exemplaireL’EAC BSL est animé par le Collectif régional de développement (CRD). Créé par les huit MRC du Bas-Saint-Laurent, cet organisme de concertation et de planification...

Ecosystems