Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES
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 Florida
LAS OLAS VENTURE CAPITAL
DRIVING INNOVATION & COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA VENTURE ECOSYSTEM
Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC) stands out in the venture capital ecosystem as an early-stage firm dedicated to transforming the B2B software sector. Founded in 2015 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, LOVC has quickly distinguished itself by leading investment rounds with an initial check size typically ranging from $1...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
KLABIN IN PARANÁ
ROOTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
The largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, Klabin is a protagonist in a history characterized by innovation and a commitment with sustainable development. Founded in 1899, the Company stands out as the only one in Brazil offering solutions in softwood,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
NORTAL
THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY.
THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY. Founded in 2000, Nortal has established itself as a global leader in digital transformation, blending local expertise with an international footprint. As an employee-owned company operating across 26 offices worldwide, Nortal partners with some of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments, architecting a future defined...
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® 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® Nashville
MOMENTUM UNIVERSITY
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT NEED, WE GOT YOU COVERED
Momentum University offers in-person and virtual sessions to over 1200 corporate leaders in over 60 companies around the globe. Whether it’s experiencing high-energy keynote speeches, training, or group coaching, the business is one of the fastest growing minority owned leadership and development companies in the state of Tennessee. The mission...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
METIQUITY
A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.
A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVAFAST HOLDINGS
BEYOND PIPE DREAMS
Chev. Charles Figallo OAM OSJ is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian-owned private equity business, Novafast Holdings, and its three subsidiaries: DSA, Novafast, and Basetec Services. Based in Kilkenny, South Australia, Novafast Holdings, through its group of companies, offer project management, engineering, design, construction and maintenance services for the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Gresham Smith
Pioneering Innovation in Design
Gresham Smith, a leading architecture, engineering, design and consulting firm that has called Nashville home for more than 50 years, is an industry leader in innovation. At Gresham Smith, innovation is not just about adopting emerging technologies—it’s about transforming the design and planning process to create healthier, more connected communities....
INNOVATE® Nashville
CELERO COMMERCE
WAS FOUNDED WITH ONE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE: TO HELP SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES WIN
We know that we can deliver that by leveraging our investment in FinTech and our commitment to partnerships with community /regional banks. It is this combination that truly empowers local businesses in a way that enables them to compete and win in this ever more complex and competitive market. ...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Hackathons International
Where ideas are put into action!
Many of us have ideas, but how many of us have actually tried to make their ideas a reality? While often seen as tech events for coders, Hackathons offers tremendous value – more than meets the eye. Hackathons are a framework used by CEOs, educators, community leaders, and marketers across...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NVNG
ELEVATING WISCONSIN’S VENTURE SCENE: THE POWER OF NETWORKS UNLEASHED
Wisconsin-based NVNG is a boutique investment advisory firm with a unique superpower: curating connections. Founded by Carrie Thome and Grady Buchanan in 2019, NVNG (Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained) is on a mission to make Wisconsin’s venture ecosystem globally competitive by leveraging the power of strategic networks. “We have the right...
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™ Antwerp Vol.2
IMBY
NUTRITION THAT DELIGHTS YOUR PET & HEALS THE PLANET TURNING THE CONVENTIONAL PETFOOD INDUSTRY UPSIDE DOWN
Did you know that 20% of the global meat production is consumed by dogs and cats? And that meat is the number one cause of pet allergies? The meat industry has an enormous negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contributes to numerous unwanted climate effects. Moreover, it harms...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SPLITIT
REVOLUTIONIZING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS
In a world dominated by ever-evolving financial technology, Splitit emerged as a beacon of innovation, ushering in a new era of responsible shopping. While the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) industry surged forward, Splitit stood out as a trailblazer, transforming the landscape through their merchant-branded Installments-as-a-Service platform. Their mission was...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
FECOMÉRCIO PR
THE TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE OF INNOVATION BOOSTS THE HORIZONS OF FECOMÉRCIO PR SYSTEM
In a world in constant evolution, our focus stands out for its ability to reinvent itself, converting challenges into opportunities. Fecomércio PR, Sesc PR and Senac PR reflect our commitment promoting entrepreneurship, the creative economy and innovative education. These are entities that form true innovation ecosystems, seeking not only to...
INNOVATION Quebec
TechniTextile Québec
Since 2017, TechniTextile Québec has been working in conjunction with companies and other key members of the textile industry. Serving as a vehicle for collaboration, this textile cluster promotes innovation, enhanced opportunities, commercialization and companies’ competitiveness
Supported by the Québec Ministry of Economy and Innovation’s ACCORD approach, the TechniTextile team assists industry leaders with implementing innovative, collaborative projects driven by their own needs. Innovation-Focused Cluster ProjectsThe projects backed or managed by TechniTextile provide a springboard for companies to reduce the risks involved in collaboration,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Crypto Loans:
Unlocking Financial Flexibility Without Selling Your Assets
As digital assets become more integrated into the global economy, crypto loans are emerging as a practical solution for individuals and institutions seeking liquidity without parting with their cryptocurrency. In particular, Bitcoin loans are increasingly used as a way to access cash while maintaining long-term positions in BTC. Hold Your Crypto, Unlock...
INNOVATE® Seattle
TECH ALLIANCE
ADVANCING WASHINGTON’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
In the late 1990s, a visionary goal was conceived by a group of business and academic leaders in Washington state: to cultivate a flourishing landscape of thriving, innovation-driven enterprises within the expanding economy of Washington. At that point, the Washington state economy was based on manufacturing (primarily airplanes), agriculture (wheat,...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PORTER HOUSE KC
GOING BEYOND SURFACE-LEVEL IMPACT
The Porter House KC is renowned in Kansas City for its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among the underrepresented. Its story is not just about an entrepreneurship support organization; it’s about a catalyst for change in Kansas City’s urban core, pushing the envelope of what it means to ‘scale deep’ in...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAIRE DIAMENT
HUMANISER L’INNOVATION NUMÉRIQUE EN SANTÉ MENTALE
La Chaire Diament est la Chaire de recherche stratégique de l’UQAM en design pour la cybersanté mentale. Son titulaire est le professeur Stéphane Vial. Mission et visionCréée en janvier 2020, la Chaire Diament est hébergée à l’École de design de l’Université du Québec à Montréal, et rattachée au Centre de...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
THE ECOLOGICAL ENTREPRENEUR
THE PATHWAY TO YOUR CLIMATE NEUTRAL BUSINESS
The “Why” of sustainability is clear for most, the “how” and “what”, unfortunately much less. For many, sustainability remains an utterly vague, complex, and confusing concept. And even without confusion, questions concerning usefulness of actions and impact arise. The Ecological Entrepreneur translates complexity to concrete guidelines, policies, and activities...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Pittsburgh Institute for Aeronautics
Keeping America’s Aviation Industry Flying High
Originally founded in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1929, PIA has offered industry-leading aviation training for nearly a century. As the organization’s newest campus, PIA Myrtle Beach first opened its doors in January 2012 in the same building that once housed the avionics facilities for the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. This...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES
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 Florida
LAS OLAS VENTURE CAPITAL
DRIVING INNOVATION & COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA VENTURE ECOSYSTEM
Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC) stands out in the venture capital ecosystem as an early-stage firm dedicated to transforming the B2B software sector. Founded in 2015 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, LOVC has quickly distinguished itself by leading investment rounds with an initial check size typically ranging from $1...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
KLABIN IN PARANÁ
ROOTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
The largest producer and exporter of paper for packaging and sustainable solutions in paper packaging in Brazil, Klabin is a protagonist in a history characterized by innovation and a commitment with sustainable development. Founded in 1899, the Company stands out as the only one in Brazil offering solutions in softwood,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
NORTAL
THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY.
THE FUTURE DELIVERED. SEAMLESSLY. Founded in 2000, Nortal has established itself as a global leader in digital transformation, blending local expertise with an international footprint. As an employee-owned company operating across 26 offices worldwide, Nortal partners with some of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments, architecting a future defined...
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® 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® Nashville
MOMENTUM UNIVERSITY
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT NEED, WE GOT YOU COVERED
Momentum University offers in-person and virtual sessions to over 1200 corporate leaders in over 60 companies around the globe. Whether it’s experiencing high-energy keynote speeches, training, or group coaching, the business is one of the fastest growing minority owned leadership and development companies in the state of Tennessee. The mission...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
METIQUITY
A FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS, NOT HYPE.
A CHANGE FOR THE SMALLER.Micro, in fact. Rapidly decreasing technology costs, combined with digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, data and analytics, cloud computing, SaaS, and the Internet of Things, are disrupting our existing business and operating models. This means that Alberta’s emerging-technology sector is primed to be a catalyst...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVAFAST HOLDINGS
BEYOND PIPE DREAMS
Chev. Charles Figallo OAM OSJ is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian-owned private equity business, Novafast Holdings, and its three subsidiaries: DSA, Novafast, and Basetec Services. Based in Kilkenny, South Australia, Novafast Holdings, through its group of companies, offer project management, engineering, design, construction and maintenance services for the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Gresham Smith
Pioneering Innovation in Design
Gresham Smith, a leading architecture, engineering, design and consulting firm that has called Nashville home for more than 50 years, is an industry leader in innovation. At Gresham Smith, innovation is not just about adopting emerging technologies—it’s about transforming the design and planning process to create healthier, more connected communities....
INNOVATE® Nashville
CELERO COMMERCE
WAS FOUNDED WITH ONE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE: TO HELP SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES WIN
We know that we can deliver that by leveraging our investment in FinTech and our commitment to partnerships with community /regional banks. It is this combination that truly empowers local businesses in a way that enables them to compete and win in this ever more complex and competitive market. ...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Hackathons International
Where ideas are put into action!
Many of us have ideas, but how many of us have actually tried to make their ideas a reality? While often seen as tech events for coders, Hackathons offers tremendous value – more than meets the eye. Hackathons are a framework used by CEOs, educators, community leaders, and marketers across...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NVNG
ELEVATING WISCONSIN’S VENTURE SCENE: THE POWER OF NETWORKS UNLEASHED
Wisconsin-based NVNG is a boutique investment advisory firm with a unique superpower: curating connections. Founded by Carrie Thome and Grady Buchanan in 2019, NVNG (Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained) is on a mission to make Wisconsin’s venture ecosystem globally competitive by leveraging the power of strategic networks. “We have the right...
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™ Antwerp Vol.2
IMBY
NUTRITION THAT DELIGHTS YOUR PET & HEALS THE PLANET TURNING THE CONVENTIONAL PETFOOD INDUSTRY UPSIDE DOWN
Did you know that 20% of the global meat production is consumed by dogs and cats? And that meat is the number one cause of pet allergies? The meat industry has an enormous negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contributes to numerous unwanted climate effects. Moreover, it harms...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SPLITIT
REVOLUTIONIZING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS
In a world dominated by ever-evolving financial technology, Splitit emerged as a beacon of innovation, ushering in a new era of responsible shopping. While the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) industry surged forward, Splitit stood out as a trailblazer, transforming the landscape through their merchant-branded Installments-as-a-Service platform. Their mission was...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
FECOMÉRCIO PR
THE TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE OF INNOVATION BOOSTS THE HORIZONS OF FECOMÉRCIO PR SYSTEM
In a world in constant evolution, our focus stands out for its ability to reinvent itself, converting challenges into opportunities. Fecomércio PR, Sesc PR and Senac PR reflect our commitment promoting entrepreneurship, the creative economy and innovative education. These are entities that form true innovation ecosystems, seeking not only to...
INNOVATION Quebec
TechniTextile Québec
Since 2017, TechniTextile Québec has been working in conjunction with companies and other key members of the textile industry. Serving as a vehicle for collaboration, this textile cluster promotes innovation, enhanced opportunities, commercialization and companies’ competitiveness
Supported by the Québec Ministry of Economy and Innovation’s ACCORD approach, the TechniTextile team assists industry leaders with implementing innovative, collaborative projects driven by their own needs. Innovation-Focused Cluster ProjectsThe projects backed or managed by TechniTextile provide a springboard for companies to reduce the risks involved in collaboration,...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Crypto Loans:
Unlocking Financial Flexibility Without Selling Your Assets
As digital assets become more integrated into the global economy, crypto loans are emerging as a practical solution for individuals and institutions seeking liquidity without parting with their cryptocurrency. In particular, Bitcoin loans are increasingly used as a way to access cash while maintaining long-term positions in BTC. Hold Your Crypto, Unlock...
INNOVATE® Seattle
TECH ALLIANCE
ADVANCING WASHINGTON’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
In the late 1990s, a visionary goal was conceived by a group of business and academic leaders in Washington state: to cultivate a flourishing landscape of thriving, innovation-driven enterprises within the expanding economy of Washington. At that point, the Washington state economy was based on manufacturing (primarily airplanes), agriculture (wheat,...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
PORTER HOUSE KC
GOING BEYOND SURFACE-LEVEL IMPACT
The Porter House KC is renowned in Kansas City for its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among the underrepresented. Its story is not just about an entrepreneurship support organization; it’s about a catalyst for change in Kansas City’s urban core, pushing the envelope of what it means to ‘scale deep’ in...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAIRE DIAMENT
HUMANISER L’INNOVATION NUMÉRIQUE EN SANTÉ MENTALE
La Chaire Diament est la Chaire de recherche stratégique de l’UQAM en design pour la cybersanté mentale. Son titulaire est le professeur Stéphane Vial. Mission et visionCréée en janvier 2020, la Chaire Diament est hébergée à l’École de design de l’Université du Québec à Montréal, et rattachée au Centre de...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
THE ECOLOGICAL ENTREPRENEUR
THE PATHWAY TO YOUR CLIMATE NEUTRAL BUSINESS
The “Why” of sustainability is clear for most, the “how” and “what”, unfortunately much less. For many, sustainability remains an utterly vague, complex, and confusing concept. And even without confusion, questions concerning usefulness of actions and impact arise. The Ecological Entrepreneur translates complexity to concrete guidelines, policies, and activities...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Pittsburgh Institute for Aeronautics
Keeping America’s Aviation Industry Flying High
Originally founded in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1929, PIA has offered industry-leading aviation training for nearly a century. As the organization’s newest campus, PIA Myrtle Beach first opened its doors in January 2012 in the same building that once housed the avionics facilities for the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. This...