Stories of Innovation

INNOVATION Quebec

MERINOV

À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA

Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

INSPIRING INNOVATION AROUND AN ENDURING PURPOSE

What never changes: Christ-centeredness and transformative experiences.What drives change: Curiosity and courage. For more than 134 years, Lipscomb University has been a Christ-centered academic institution rooted in purpose-driven education. Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Lipscomb is one of the few institutions in the nation offering educational pathways from...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EGGSPLAIN

FROM HOME BUILT SERVERS TO A SCALABLE, SECURE AI PLATFORM

The story of Eggsplain begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a Stockholm apartment filled with servers, wires, and curiosity. Yasaar Biladama, a lifelong coder and technology enthusiast, had been experimenting with artificial intelligence long before it became a business buzzword. Driven by a passion for computers since childhood,...

INNOVATION Quebec

InnovÉÉ

InnovÉÉ-Unir idées et savoir

Unir idées et savoir

Les innovations dans les secteurs de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et intelligents sont le moteur de la transition énergétique en cours au Québec et ailleurs dans le monde. Stimuler, accompagner et financer des projets de recherche collaborative dans les filières de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

THE FLAMING HEART OF NANDO’S

THE FLAMING HEART OF NANDO’S -WE ARE PROUD TO COUNT OURSELVES ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST LOVED EXPORTS

WE ARE PROUD TO COUNT OURSELVES ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST LOVED EXPORTS

The story of Nando’s is well-known to South Africans who grew up alongside us in our relatively new democracy. In 1987 two friends shared a meal at a humble Portuguese eatery in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Here they were inspired by the taste of the African Bird’s Eye Chilli, a spice that...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CHICAGO INNOVATION

CHICAGO INNOVATION- EDUCATING

EDUCATING, CONNECTING AND CELEBRATING INNOVATORS IN THE CHICAGO REGION

Established in 2002 as the Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago Innovation has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to empower Chicago’s innovation ecosystem. Its vision is to solidify the Chicago region as a global hub of innovation and ensure that innovation is for...

INNOVATION Quebec

PHI CENTRE

Founded in 2012, the PHI Centre is dedicated to innovation at the frontiers of creative production and fosters the design, development, production, and presentation of a wide variety of disciplines and forms, with an emphasis on digital technologies and new media. Its programs and architecture are designed to be agile,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

THE PUERTO RICO 5G ZONE

THE PUERTO RICO 5G ZONE-IS ADVANCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHYSICAL INDUSTRIES BY POWERING SMART CITIES

IS ADVANCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHYSICAL INDUSTRIES BY POWERING SMART CITIES, SMART LOGISTICS , AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

The only ZTA enabled research lab for development, testing, training, and research on next gen communications applications in the U.S. that is open source, publicly owned, and has resident interface of foreign/domestic, terrestrial/non-terrestrial, and cooperative non-cooperative networks. Dedicated to providing cost-effective access to government, industry and academia to better understand...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HIRSCH’S

HIRSCH’S - FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

Hirsch’s has become a name synonymous with service and brand excellence over the years. They have grown into one of the most well-respected and trusted appliance and electronics retailers in the industry in South Africa, and it’s interesting to see how they got there. Allan and Margaret set up their first...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

CLEANSPARK

CLEANSPARK

A LEADING SUSTAINABLE BITCOIN MINER WITH AN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND

CleanSpark is a NASDAQ-listed, sustainable bitcoin mining and energy technology company headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. CleanSpark’s mission is to transform how bitcoin is mined by being the world’s most trusted and transparent bitcoin miner. They are leading the proof-of work mining industry with sustainable business practices. CleanSpark is addressing some...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CHERRY BEKAERT

EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: LEVERAGING AUTOMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND SUCCESS

At Cherry Bekaert, being a digitally driven Firm means more than providing clients with technology-forward solutions. It also means that the Firm itself is committed to in-house digital transformation, using automation to improve the experience of its people and deliver better efficiencies in its business model. The Firm’s digital transformation...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMPLIFY CAPITAL

TARGETING QUANTITATIVE IMPACT OUTCOMES; DELIVERING DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE RETURNS

Amplify Capital is a Canadian-based investment fund that provides early-stage companies long-term equity solutions and strategic support to develop their business to solve challenges affecting our future. Led by veteran private equity executive Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify Capital invests exclusively in impact ventures that demonstrate significant, measurable impact alongside market-rate returns....

INNOVATE® Nashville

JULIE LILLISTON COMMUNICATIONS

WHEN INNOVATION MEETS EXPERTISE

Julie Lilliston Communications Shapes the Future of PR. When Julie Lilliston founded Julie Lilliston Communications in 2014, she envisioned more than just another public relations firm. Drawing from more than two decades of corporate communications expertise at global agencies Weber Shandwick and MSL Group, she set out to revolutionize how...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNFOLD HOSPITALITY

Innovating D.C.’s Culinary Scene

Unfold Hospitality is the brainchild of Richard Brandenburg and Rubén García, two culinary powerhouses with a shared passion for transforming the food and hospitality industry. Both have extensive experience working under the legendary chef José Andrés, where they earned the nickname “Delta Force” for their ability to conceptualize and execute...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

FIBENOL

DEFOSSILIZING THE FUTURE OF MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS

In Estonia, where wood has shaped livelihoods for centuries, one company is reimagining its potential for the next industrial era. Fibenol is transforming undervalued hardwood and plywood industry residues into high-purity biomaterials that offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based inputs. Its mission is both simple and bold: To help industries defossilize...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RAINFOREST ALBERTA

Building the framework for tech and innovation in Alberta

RAINFOREST ALBERTA IS ROOTED IN AN ANALOGYAlthough the cold, dry climate of Alberta might not seem to have much in common with the Rainforest, our innovation ecosystem sure does. This connection is explored in the book: “The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley” by Greg Horowitt and...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

RADICAL VENTURES

RADICAL VENTURES - AN AI-FOCUSED VENTURE CAPITAL FUND INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOW WE LIVE

AN AI-FOCUSED VENTURE CAPITAL FUND INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOW WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

Like Benjamin Franklin knotting a key to a kite in a lightning storm, today’s AI researchers are unlocking technology that is reshaping our world. From quantum neural networks and natural language processing, to AI for drug discovery, the path to future innovations and commercialization is charted by a small subset...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

INTERSTATE TECHNOLOGY LOGISTICS

Interstate Technology Logistics data center

Engineering Certainty Behind the World's Most Critical Infrastructure

Logistics should be invisible as it works. For technology-driven organizations, government agencies, and enterprises running mission-critical infrastructure, efficient logistics is everything. Interstate Technology Logistics operates precisely in that high-stakes space: quietly, rigorously, and with an obsession with predictability, where failure is not an option. Interstate is an 80+ year leader...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Antwerp City

Antwerp is a city in full change, once again, as it has been so many times over the past centuries.

Antwerp is a city in full change, once again, as it has been so many times over the past centuries. Now it is mobility shaping the future of the city, in the form of the Oosterweel works. For about two decades, the plans for the completion of the ring road...

Vykon Performance Exhausts

From Humble Beginnings to a Global Brand

A New Chapter in Performance Excellence. Vykon Exhausts is not just a company; it’s a testament to a legacy of innovation, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Founded by Brad Anassis, Vykon is a continuation and evolution of the remarkable engineering prowess that began with his late father, Gerry, and...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Beeline

Beeline - A story of true innovation

A story of true innovation, perseverance, and grit

Ours is a story of true innovation, perseverance, and grit, which eventually led the company to be one of the two dominant forces in workforce management. ,     Beeline is a Jacksonville-based company just exiting its teenage years. Beeline isn’t a household name; in fact, most of the Jacksonville...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ExxonMobil

FUELING THE WORLD SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY

ExxonMobil manages an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. Innovation and collaboration are keys to our success in delivering for customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. Working with the world’s leading research institutions and universities, ExxonMobil’s scientists and engineers...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

OLIST

MEET OLIST, THE LEADING ECOSYSTEM IN E-COMMERCE SOLUTIONS FOR SMES

Founded in 2015, Olist is a benchmark startup in e-commerce solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, focused on operational management, increased competitiveness in marketplaces and multichannel sales. In 2021, the company acquired Tiny e Vnda, companies based on high technology that offer top-notch services and share the same goal of...

INNOVATION Quebec

MERINOV

À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA

Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

INSPIRING INNOVATION AROUND AN ENDURING PURPOSE

What never changes: Christ-centeredness and transformative experiences.What drives change: Curiosity and courage. For more than 134 years, Lipscomb University has been a Christ-centered academic institution rooted in purpose-driven education. Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Lipscomb is one of the few institutions in the nation offering educational pathways from...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EGGSPLAIN

FROM HOME BUILT SERVERS TO A SCALABLE, SECURE AI PLATFORM

The story of Eggsplain begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a Stockholm apartment filled with servers, wires, and curiosity. Yasaar Biladama, a lifelong coder and technology enthusiast, had been experimenting with artificial intelligence long before it became a business buzzword. Driven by a passion for computers since childhood,...

INNOVATION Quebec

InnovÉÉ

InnovÉÉ-Unir idées et savoir

Unir idées et savoir

Les innovations dans les secteurs de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et intelligents sont le moteur de la transition énergétique en cours au Québec et ailleurs dans le monde. Stimuler, accompagner et financer des projets de recherche collaborative dans les filières de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

THE FLAMING HEART OF NANDO’S

THE FLAMING HEART OF NANDO’S -WE ARE PROUD TO COUNT OURSELVES ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST LOVED EXPORTS

WE ARE PROUD TO COUNT OURSELVES ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST LOVED EXPORTS

The story of Nando’s is well-known to South Africans who grew up alongside us in our relatively new democracy. In 1987 two friends shared a meal at a humble Portuguese eatery in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Here they were inspired by the taste of the African Bird’s Eye Chilli, a spice that...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

CHICAGO INNOVATION

CHICAGO INNOVATION- EDUCATING

EDUCATING, CONNECTING AND CELEBRATING INNOVATORS IN THE CHICAGO REGION

Established in 2002 as the Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago Innovation has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to empower Chicago’s innovation ecosystem. Its vision is to solidify the Chicago region as a global hub of innovation and ensure that innovation is for...

INNOVATION Quebec

PHI CENTRE

Founded in 2012, the PHI Centre is dedicated to innovation at the frontiers of creative production and fosters the design, development, production, and presentation of a wide variety of disciplines and forms, with an emphasis on digital technologies and new media. Its programs and architecture are designed to be agile,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PORTAGE VENTURES

PORTAGE VENTURES-A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR

Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

THE PUERTO RICO 5G ZONE

THE PUERTO RICO 5G ZONE-IS ADVANCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHYSICAL INDUSTRIES BY POWERING SMART CITIES

IS ADVANCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHYSICAL INDUSTRIES BY POWERING SMART CITIES, SMART LOGISTICS , AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

The only ZTA enabled research lab for development, testing, training, and research on next gen communications applications in the U.S. that is open source, publicly owned, and has resident interface of foreign/domestic, terrestrial/non-terrestrial, and cooperative non-cooperative networks. Dedicated to providing cost-effective access to government, industry and academia to better understand...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HIRSCH’S

HIRSCH’S - FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

Hirsch’s has become a name synonymous with service and brand excellence over the years. They have grown into one of the most well-respected and trusted appliance and electronics retailers in the industry in South Africa, and it’s interesting to see how they got there. Allan and Margaret set up their first...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

CLEANSPARK

CLEANSPARK

A LEADING SUSTAINABLE BITCOIN MINER WITH AN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND

CleanSpark is a NASDAQ-listed, sustainable bitcoin mining and energy technology company headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. CleanSpark’s mission is to transform how bitcoin is mined by being the world’s most trusted and transparent bitcoin miner. They are leading the proof-of work mining industry with sustainable business practices. CleanSpark is addressing some...

INNOVATE® Georgia

CHERRY BEKAERT

EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: LEVERAGING AUTOMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND SUCCESS

At Cherry Bekaert, being a digitally driven Firm means more than providing clients with technology-forward solutions. It also means that the Firm itself is committed to in-house digital transformation, using automation to improve the experience of its people and deliver better efficiencies in its business model. The Firm’s digital transformation...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

AMPLIFY CAPITAL

TARGETING QUANTITATIVE IMPACT OUTCOMES; DELIVERING DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE RETURNS

Amplify Capital is a Canadian-based investment fund that provides early-stage companies long-term equity solutions and strategic support to develop their business to solve challenges affecting our future. Led by veteran private equity executive Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify Capital invests exclusively in impact ventures that demonstrate significant, measurable impact alongside market-rate returns....

INNOVATE® Nashville

JULIE LILLISTON COMMUNICATIONS

WHEN INNOVATION MEETS EXPERTISE

Julie Lilliston Communications Shapes the Future of PR. When Julie Lilliston founded Julie Lilliston Communications in 2014, she envisioned more than just another public relations firm. Drawing from more than two decades of corporate communications expertise at global agencies Weber Shandwick and MSL Group, she set out to revolutionize how...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNFOLD HOSPITALITY

Innovating D.C.’s Culinary Scene

Unfold Hospitality is the brainchild of Richard Brandenburg and Rubén García, two culinary powerhouses with a shared passion for transforming the food and hospitality industry. Both have extensive experience working under the legendary chef José Andrés, where they earned the nickname “Delta Force” for their ability to conceptualize and execute...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

FIBENOL

DEFOSSILIZING THE FUTURE OF MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS

In Estonia, where wood has shaped livelihoods for centuries, one company is reimagining its potential for the next industrial era. Fibenol is transforming undervalued hardwood and plywood industry residues into high-purity biomaterials that offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based inputs. Its mission is both simple and bold: To help industries defossilize...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RAINFOREST ALBERTA

Building the framework for tech and innovation in Alberta

RAINFOREST ALBERTA IS ROOTED IN AN ANALOGYAlthough the cold, dry climate of Alberta might not seem to have much in common with the Rainforest, our innovation ecosystem sure does. This connection is explored in the book: “The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley” by Greg Horowitt and...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

RADICAL VENTURES

RADICAL VENTURES - AN AI-FOCUSED VENTURE CAPITAL FUND INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOW WE LIVE

AN AI-FOCUSED VENTURE CAPITAL FUND INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOW WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

Like Benjamin Franklin knotting a key to a kite in a lightning storm, today’s AI researchers are unlocking technology that is reshaping our world. From quantum neural networks and natural language processing, to AI for drug discovery, the path to future innovations and commercialization is charted by a small subset...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

INTERSTATE TECHNOLOGY LOGISTICS

Interstate Technology Logistics data center

Engineering Certainty Behind the World's Most Critical Infrastructure

Logistics should be invisible as it works. For technology-driven organizations, government agencies, and enterprises running mission-critical infrastructure, efficient logistics is everything. Interstate Technology Logistics operates precisely in that high-stakes space: quietly, rigorously, and with an obsession with predictability, where failure is not an option. Interstate is an 80+ year leader...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

Antwerp City

Antwerp is a city in full change, once again, as it has been so many times over the past centuries.

Antwerp is a city in full change, once again, as it has been so many times over the past centuries. Now it is mobility shaping the future of the city, in the form of the Oosterweel works. For about two decades, the plans for the completion of the ring road...

Vykon Performance Exhausts

From Humble Beginnings to a Global Brand

A New Chapter in Performance Excellence. Vykon Exhausts is not just a company; it’s a testament to a legacy of innovation, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Founded by Brad Anassis, Vykon is a continuation and evolution of the remarkable engineering prowess that began with his late father, Gerry, and...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Beeline

Beeline - A story of true innovation

A story of true innovation, perseverance, and grit

Ours is a story of true innovation, perseverance, and grit, which eventually led the company to be one of the two dominant forces in workforce management. ,     Beeline is a Jacksonville-based company just exiting its teenage years. Beeline isn’t a household name; in fact, most of the Jacksonville...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ExxonMobil

FUELING THE WORLD SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY

ExxonMobil manages an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. Innovation and collaboration are keys to our success in delivering for customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. Working with the world’s leading research institutions and universities, ExxonMobil’s scientists and engineers...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

OLIST

MEET OLIST, THE LEADING ECOSYSTEM IN E-COMMERCE SOLUTIONS FOR SMES

Founded in 2015, Olist is a benchmark startup in e-commerce solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, focused on operational management, increased competitiveness in marketplaces and multichannel sales. In 2021, the company acquired Tiny e Vnda, companies based on high technology that offer top-notch services and share the same goal of...

Ecosystems