Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Estonia

TFTAK

PIONEERING FOOD INNOVATION

The Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies (TFTAK), a multidisciplinary CRO based in Estonia, has been a driving force in the advancement of food science and biotechnology since its establishment in 2004. With a mission to support companies in refining bio processes and developing groundbreaking food products, TFTAK has established...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BOOMPLAATS

BOOMPLAATS -ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Boomplaats has been in the same family for over a century, nestled in the Maluti Mountains in the south-eastern Free State. This is South Africa’s only certified organic cattle, sheep, and pasture-raised pig farm. Regenerative farming isn’t a new agricultural method. This was the traditional farming way in previous centuries...

INNOVATE® Georgia

OGEECHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

GREAT THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Despite being one of the smallest technical colleges in the state, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) has carved out a significant niche in the educational landscape of Georgia, standing as a beacon of technical education and workforce development. Under the forward-thinking leadership of Lori Durden, the college’s president since 2016, OTC...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KNEAD

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF FOOD RESCUE: KNEAD TECHNOLOGIES LEADS THE CHARGE TOWARDS ZERO WASTE

In a world where nearly 40% of produced food goes to waste, Knead Technologies has emerged as a trailblazer, revolutionizing the fight against food waste (Parfitt et al., 2021, p. 6). With their innovative logistics solutions, this software development company is redefining how food rescue organizations operate worldwide. By seamlessly...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE (RI-MUHC)

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE (RI-MUHC) IS A UNIQUE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM AFFILIATED WITH THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY. A global leader in precision healthcare across the lifespan, the RI-MUHC is home to more than 600 researchers, 1472 research trainees and 1,300...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTRI

FOR INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Our mission at Centre technologique des résidus industriels (CTRI) is to promote socio-economic development by providing support to companies in the mining, forest and agricultural sectors. Through exploring, identifying and achieving innovative solutions for the valorization of industrial waste and underutilized natural resources, we aim to accelerate the implementation of...

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® Jacksonville

Eagle Wings Enterprises - Using Technology To Improve All Facets Of A Business

Eagle Wings Enterprises - Using Technology To Improve All Facets Of A Business

ELEVATOR PITCH We document a plan for efficiency and success. That plan could include hardware, software, app development, or just the use of apps that offer better efficiency. We measure our progress, document the improvement, profitability, and savings that are produced by our efforts. Then we help our customers identify...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CORESITE

EMPOWERING A MORE CONNECTED FUTURE

CoreSite probably is a part of your life today. As a colocation data center provider, CoreSite and its partners deliver services that shape how we live, work and play, creating the “intersection of interconnection” that helps empower modern digital life. CoreSite started in 2001 as CRG West, a portfolio company...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Denmark Technical College

Reimagining the Rural College Landscape

Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

AGGREKO

AGGREKO- GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

South Africa will have to make a distinct shift to embrace the new norms in global climate and energy landscape discussions. Current infrastructure relies heavily on fuels that are not necessarily the most environmentally friendly, and this poses a threat to the country’s role in a global energy sector with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ESPOSURE

THE GOAL FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS IS TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER

“Esposure is connecting esports and education to create opportunities. We are committed to doing our part in building the esports talent pipeline through our Education to Entertainment ecosystem.” — Danny R. Martin Danny R. Martin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Esposure, Inc., a global esports technology company with an...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

SOUTH CAROLINA’S TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE

In a state known for its industrious spirit and manufacturing strength, the South Carolina Technical College System has quietly – and powerfully – become the engine driving economic growth, workforce transformation, and social mobility. With 16 colleges strategically located across the state, this system isn’t just preparing students for jobs...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

REAL VENTURES

REAL VENTURES -CANADA’S MOST ACTIVE EARLY-STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM

CANADA’S MOST ACTIVE EARLY-STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM

Real Ventures is one of Canada’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, dedicated to serving entrepreneurs and nurturing the communities in which they thrive. In 2007, we questioned why brilliant Canadian founders should have to fly to San Francisco to raise seed capital. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KU INNOVATION PARK

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATIVE BUSINESS GROWTH

Tucked into a hill on the west campus of the University of Kansas, a group of engineers is tackling global climate change with technology to recycle refrigerants. A team of industry professionals and academic researchers is staying ahead of cybersecurity threats using NSA-licensed technology. A married team of PhDs is...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

MITACS

BRINGING INNOVATION INTO REACH FOR ALBERTANS

A national not-for-profit organization, Mitacs empowers Canadian innovation through effective partnerships that deliver solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. It assists organizations in reaching their goals, funds cutting-edge innovation, and creates job opportunities for students and postdocs. These achievements are supported by the Government of Alberta, the Government of...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

ILSE

ILSE-Accelerate. Ignite. Innovate

Accelerate. Ignite. Innovate

The Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization and staffed by a team of executives and entrepreneurs to accelerate life science discoveries to improve human health, including new medicines, devices, and transformative technologies. ILSE is a hub for hands-on entrepreneur support and company formation and...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CARBON REFORM

WHEN BUILDINGS START WORKING FOR THE PLANET

CARBON REFORM TURNS EVERYDAY HVAC INFRASTRUCTURE INTO A PLATFORM FOR ENERGY SAVINGS, CLEAN AIR, AND CARBON REMOVAL Most climate solutions feel far removed from everyday life. Direct air capture, industrial-scale carbon removal, next-generation infrastructure – these approaches matter, but they often feel inaccessible or years away from practical use. Carbon...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GO WEST CREATIVE

Go West isn’t a Direction… it’s a state of mind…and that state of mind is filled with Curiosity & Innovation!

Go West Creative. We think about things differently. Not just some things, all things. You see, our company has never seen the word NO as an absolute. There is always a why behind the NO and we want to know why? What went wrong before? What didn’t work? Why NO?...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

IMPRESA

IMPRESA-Our Values: Commitment / Cooperation / Integrity / Innovation / Excellence

Our Values: Commitment / Cooperation / Integrity / Innovation / Excellence

IMPRESA was founded by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, one-time prime minister and founding member of Portuguese SocialDemocratic Party (PSD). The journey started with Expresso: the first democratic weekly newspaper published during the dictatorship regime.   Now its portfolio of brands are the country’s leader in sales. Impresa then escalated with SIC,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LEADS 2B

A SALES-FOCUSED TECH COMPANY

Founded by three experienced systems developers and sales professionals, the company was born with the goal to offer the market a platform with all the features that a marketing and sales department need to achieve its goals. During the previous experiences of its founders, an opportunity was noticed in providing...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CARMELLA

TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

Carmella, an award-winning, nationally certified, net-zero, woman-owned, and women-led full-service marketing and sales agency, is on a mission to transform communities and make a significant GDP level impact. Grounded in a philosophy of providing complimentary education without expectations, offering extraordinary hospitality, relentlessly pursuing excellence, Carmella delivers the ultimate customer experience....

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

CHOOSE NEW JERSEY

New Jersey, a hub for entrepreneurs and multinationals alike, is located in the most highly connected region in the U.S., with all the assets and accessibility any business needs

Choose New Jersey is New Jersey’s leading nonprofit economic development organization. We stimulate job creation and attract capital investment with the aim of growing New Jersey’s economy. We market New Jersey globally as the most ideal state in the U.S. to live, work, and play, and we guide businesses in...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

TFTAK

PIONEERING FOOD INNOVATION

The Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies (TFTAK), a multidisciplinary CRO based in Estonia, has been a driving force in the advancement of food science and biotechnology since its establishment in 2004. With a mission to support companies in refining bio processes and developing groundbreaking food products, TFTAK has established...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

BOOMPLAATS

BOOMPLAATS -ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

ORGANIC FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Boomplaats has been in the same family for over a century, nestled in the Maluti Mountains in the south-eastern Free State. This is South Africa’s only certified organic cattle, sheep, and pasture-raised pig farm. Regenerative farming isn’t a new agricultural method. This was the traditional farming way in previous centuries...

INNOVATE® Georgia

OGEECHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

GREAT THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Despite being one of the smallest technical colleges in the state, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) has carved out a significant niche in the educational landscape of Georgia, standing as a beacon of technical education and workforce development. Under the forward-thinking leadership of Lori Durden, the college’s president since 2016, OTC...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

KNEAD

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF FOOD RESCUE: KNEAD TECHNOLOGIES LEADS THE CHARGE TOWARDS ZERO WASTE

In a world where nearly 40% of produced food goes to waste, Knead Technologies has emerged as a trailblazer, revolutionizing the fight against food waste (Parfitt et al., 2021, p. 6). With their innovative logistics solutions, this software development company is redefining how food rescue organizations operate worldwide. By seamlessly...

INNOVATION Quebec

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE (RI-MUHC)

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE (RI-MUHC) IS A UNIQUE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM AFFILIATED WITH THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY. A global leader in precision healthcare across the lifespan, the RI-MUHC is home to more than 600 researchers, 1472 research trainees and 1,300...

INNOVATION Quebec

CTRI

FOR INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Our mission at Centre technologique des résidus industriels (CTRI) is to promote socio-economic development by providing support to companies in the mining, forest and agricultural sectors. Through exploring, identifying and achieving innovative solutions for the valorization of industrial waste and underutilized natural resources, we aim to accelerate the implementation of...

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® Jacksonville

Eagle Wings Enterprises - Using Technology To Improve All Facets Of A Business

Eagle Wings Enterprises - Using Technology To Improve All Facets Of A Business

ELEVATOR PITCH We document a plan for efficiency and success. That plan could include hardware, software, app development, or just the use of apps that offer better efficiency. We measure our progress, document the improvement, profitability, and savings that are produced by our efforts. Then we help our customers identify...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CORESITE

EMPOWERING A MORE CONNECTED FUTURE

CoreSite probably is a part of your life today. As a colocation data center provider, CoreSite and its partners deliver services that shape how we live, work and play, creating the “intersection of interconnection” that helps empower modern digital life. CoreSite started in 2001 as CRG West, a portfolio company...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Denmark Technical College

Reimagining the Rural College Landscape

Since 1947, Denmark Technical College has been a lifeline for education and economic mobility in South Carolina’s rural corridor. Established as a training center for African American veterans returning from World War II, Denmark Tech has grown into a proud HBCU with a legacy of service, resilience and transformation. For...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

AGGREKO

AGGREKO- GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

GOING GREEN – MEETING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

South Africa will have to make a distinct shift to embrace the new norms in global climate and energy landscape discussions. Current infrastructure relies heavily on fuels that are not necessarily the most environmentally friendly, and this poses a threat to the country’s role in a global energy sector with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

ESPOSURE

THE GOAL FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS IS TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER

“Esposure is connecting esports and education to create opportunities. We are committed to doing our part in building the esports talent pipeline through our Education to Entertainment ecosystem.” — Danny R. Martin Danny R. Martin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Esposure, Inc., a global esports technology company with an...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

SC TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

SOUTH CAROLINA’S TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE

In a state known for its industrious spirit and manufacturing strength, the South Carolina Technical College System has quietly – and powerfully – become the engine driving economic growth, workforce transformation, and social mobility. With 16 colleges strategically located across the state, this system isn’t just preparing students for jobs...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

REAL VENTURES

REAL VENTURES -CANADA’S MOST ACTIVE EARLY-STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM

CANADA’S MOST ACTIVE EARLY-STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM

Real Ventures is one of Canada’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, dedicated to serving entrepreneurs and nurturing the communities in which they thrive. In 2007, we questioned why brilliant Canadian founders should have to fly to San Francisco to raise seed capital. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

KU INNOVATION PARK

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATIVE BUSINESS GROWTH

Tucked into a hill on the west campus of the University of Kansas, a group of engineers is tackling global climate change with technology to recycle refrigerants. A team of industry professionals and academic researchers is staying ahead of cybersecurity threats using NSA-licensed technology. A married team of PhDs is...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

MITACS

BRINGING INNOVATION INTO REACH FOR ALBERTANS

A national not-for-profit organization, Mitacs empowers Canadian innovation through effective partnerships that deliver solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. It assists organizations in reaching their goals, funds cutting-edge innovation, and creates job opportunities for students and postdocs. These achievements are supported by the Government of Alberta, the Government of...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

ILSE

ILSE-Accelerate. Ignite. Innovate

Accelerate. Ignite. Innovate

The Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization and staffed by a team of executives and entrepreneurs to accelerate life science discoveries to improve human health, including new medicines, devices, and transformative technologies. ILSE is a hub for hands-on entrepreneur support and company formation and...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

CARBON REFORM

WHEN BUILDINGS START WORKING FOR THE PLANET

CARBON REFORM TURNS EVERYDAY HVAC INFRASTRUCTURE INTO A PLATFORM FOR ENERGY SAVINGS, CLEAN AIR, AND CARBON REMOVAL Most climate solutions feel far removed from everyday life. Direct air capture, industrial-scale carbon removal, next-generation infrastructure – these approaches matter, but they often feel inaccessible or years away from practical use. Carbon...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GO WEST CREATIVE

Go West isn’t a Direction… it’s a state of mind…and that state of mind is filled with Curiosity & Innovation!

Go West Creative. We think about things differently. Not just some things, all things. You see, our company has never seen the word NO as an absolute. There is always a why behind the NO and we want to know why? What went wrong before? What didn’t work? Why NO?...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

IMPRESA

IMPRESA-Our Values: Commitment / Cooperation / Integrity / Innovation / Excellence

Our Values: Commitment / Cooperation / Integrity / Innovation / Excellence

IMPRESA was founded by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, one-time prime minister and founding member of Portuguese SocialDemocratic Party (PSD). The journey started with Expresso: the first democratic weekly newspaper published during the dictatorship regime.   Now its portfolio of brands are the country’s leader in sales. Impresa then escalated with SIC,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LEADS 2B

A SALES-FOCUSED TECH COMPANY

Founded by three experienced systems developers and sales professionals, the company was born with the goal to offer the market a platform with all the features that a marketing and sales department need to achieve its goals. During the previous experiences of its founders, an opportunity was noticed in providing...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CARMELLA

TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

Carmella, an award-winning, nationally certified, net-zero, woman-owned, and women-led full-service marketing and sales agency, is on a mission to transform communities and make a significant GDP level impact. Grounded in a philosophy of providing complimentary education without expectations, offering extraordinary hospitality, relentlessly pursuing excellence, Carmella delivers the ultimate customer experience....

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

CHOOSE NEW JERSEY

New Jersey, a hub for entrepreneurs and multinationals alike, is located in the most highly connected region in the U.S., with all the assets and accessibility any business needs

Choose New Jersey is New Jersey’s leading nonprofit economic development organization. We stimulate job creation and attract capital investment with the aim of growing New Jersey’s economy. We market New Jersey globally as the most ideal state in the U.S. to live, work, and play, and we guide businesses in...

Ecosystems