Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Toronto
GAIRDNER FOUNDATION
WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957
The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
DOCSIE
IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING, COLLABORATIVE EDITING AND CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ANALYTICS
Docsie has one simple mission: helping businesses everywhere to write better documentation using reader insights, and removing barriers around web publishing and team collaboration. Docsie brings product, support and development teams together, alongside their tools, in one AIpowered knowledge management system. Docsie breaks down silos and creates a fluid,...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
WUNDERMAN THOMPSON
BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS
Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Southeastern Freight Lines
Serving the Sunbelt since 1950
Southeastern Freight Lines, a privately-owned company, has been a trusted name in South Carolina’s business community since its founding in 1950. Established in Columbia by W.T. Cassels, Sr., the company began with 14 trucks, 20 associates, and a $5,000 loan. From the very beginning, Cassels emphasized a simple yet powerful...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
TECHSVERIGE
A DRIVING FORCE FOR SWEDEN’S TECH INDUSTRY
TechSverige is the industry and employer association representing companies across Sweden’s tech, IT, and telecom sectors. With approximately 1,400 member companies—ranging from startups to multinational enterprises—and close to 100,000 employees, TechSverige plays a central role in building the conditions for a competitive and innovative tech industry. As both an industry...
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...
INNOVATE® South Florida
CORAL GABLES - THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS A LEADING SMART CITY
Coral Gables was founded on innovation, being one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Today, we’re known internationally as a Smart City, leveraging information and communication technologies and intelligent connected infrastructure to benefit our residents, employees, businesses, and visitors, as well as make our city more...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HOTMILK
THE MAIN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM IN THE SMARTEST CITY IN THE WORLD
Hotmilk is the innovation ecosystem of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), considered the most innovative university in the country. Regarded as the primary innovation ecosystem in Paraná (and positioned among the largest in Brazil), Hotmilk operates on multiple fronts: accelerating over 100 resident startups, opening new business opportunities...
INNOVATION Quebec
MONTÉRÉGIE ÉCONOMIQUE
THE INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM OF THE MONTÉRÉGIE
Espace régional d’accélération et de croissance de la Montérégie was established in 2020 and is powered by Montérégie Économique, which brings together economic development organizations from the MRCs and the agglomeration of Longueuil. The NPO supports economic operators, guides businesses towards business support and acceleration services and cooperates with key...
INNOVATION Quebec
AXELYS
AN ESSENTIAL MISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF QUÉBEC Axelys integrates innovations from Quebec’s public research into the mainstream of society. Our mission is at the heart of the new 2022 2027 Québec strategy to support research and investment in innovation, launched in May 2022 by the Quebec government. At Axelys,...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT
FROM VISION TO IMPACT
Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Turkish Delight
NO FRILLS, JUST VERY TASTY FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED WITH LOTS OF LOVE.
NO FRILLS, JUST VERY TASTY FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED WITH LOTS OF LOVE. Turkish Delight Turkish Delight was established in 1982, and with Ahmet and Semra’s dedication, it has become a cherished tradition with locals and also a delectable experience for visitors. A foodie delight with a spectacular view tucked...
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™ Stockholm
THINK BIG LEADERS
THINK BIG, BUILD FOR SCALE: UNLOCKING INNOVATION AND AI’S POTENTIAL
Sweden and Stockholm must leverage innovation and AI to remain relevant and competitive, and to achieve the values that we believe in. But it’s hard to achieve the scale, speed, and direction that we aim for in a sustainable way. Think Big Leaders helps organizations formulate a strategic direction and...
INNOVATE® Nashville
MobiusAI
Equipping Fleets for the Next Generation of Mobility
In the transportation industry every extra minute and every extra mile eats away at a fleet’s profit. MobiusAI is helping fleets operate at their best. The industry struggles with inefficient planning, outdated software, and razor-thin margins, but Mobius is using AI to empower fleets for excellence. From Research to Real-World...
INNOVATE® Seattle
READ
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE. Founded in 2021 by David Shim, Robert Williams, and Elliott Waldron, Read AI brings together your meetings, emails, and messages and transforms them into collaborative partners, so that they talk to each other, share information, offer updates, find answers, and organize tasks through...
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® Milwaukee
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION
EXPANDING HUMAN POSSIBILITY
The Allen-Bradley® Clock Tower, part of the Rockwell Automation headquarters, is an iconic piece of the Milwaukee skyline and a symbol of the city’s rich industrial and technological heritage. For 120 years, Rockwell Automation has been innovating and engineering solutions that advance industrial automation – allowing manufacturers around the globe...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
W21C
W21C- Interdisciplinary collaboration to make care better
ABOUTW21C is a research and innovation centre based in the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Institute for Public Health in the Cumming School of Medicine and the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS). W21C conducts research to improve health services and systems to Make Care Better. OUR HISTORYW21C was created...
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® South Florida
LEVATAS
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION The AI platform and model library from Levatas enables mobile robots, autonomous drones and unmanned submersibles to understand what they’re seeing in our customer’s dynamic, real-world environments, alerting human co-workers to potential safety, security, and maintenance anomalies. These automated inspection solutions keep humans out of...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SCHELL GAMES
MAKING EXPERIENCES WE’RE PROUD OF WITH PEOPLE WE LIKE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
Founded in 2002 by award-winning game designer and author Jesse Schell, Schell Games is the largest full-service educational and entertainment game development company in the United States. We make experiences across various platforms, specializing in four vertical areas: Health and Wellness, Education, Home Entertainment, and Theme Parks and Museums. In...
INNOVATE® Seattle
FROM THE CULTURE
REVOLUTIONIZING BLACK INNOVATION IN THE AI STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
From The Culture is redefining the tech game, empowering Black founders to thrive in the fast-paced world of startups. Specializing in AI-driven product development, strategic guidance, and expanded market access, this startup studio transforms visionary ideas into scalable ventures. It’s more than an incubator—it’s a community built to amplify Black...
INNOVATE® Georgia
HUMANS DOING
INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF RECRUITMENT: THE HUMANS DOING APPROACH
In the heart of Georgia, a technical revolution is quietly reshaping the landscape of recruitment and talent acquisition. By redefining the way businesses and candidates connect in a rapidly evolving job market through innovation, Humans Doing is at the forefront of this transformation. Founded in 2019, Humans Doing leverages its...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
GAIRDNER FOUNDATION
WAS ESTABLISHED BY TORONTO STOCKBROKER, JAMES GAIRDNER IN 1957
The Foundation awards the annual Canada Gairdner Awards to leading scientists from around the world whose discoveries have had a major impact on scientific progress and human health. The awards are Canada’s only globally recognized international scientific prize. Since 1959, more than 400 scientists from 40 countries have received a...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
DOCSIE
IS DISRUPTING THE DOCUMENTATION INDUSTRY WITH MANAGED PUBLISHING, COLLABORATIVE EDITING AND CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ANALYTICS
Docsie has one simple mission: helping businesses everywhere to write better documentation using reader insights, and removing barriers around web publishing and team collaboration. Docsie brings product, support and development teams together, alongside their tools, in one AIpowered knowledge management system. Docsie breaks down silos and creates a fluid,...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
WUNDERMAN THOMPSON
BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS
Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Southeastern Freight Lines
Serving the Sunbelt since 1950
Southeastern Freight Lines, a privately-owned company, has been a trusted name in South Carolina’s business community since its founding in 1950. Established in Columbia by W.T. Cassels, Sr., the company began with 14 trucks, 20 associates, and a $5,000 loan. From the very beginning, Cassels emphasized a simple yet powerful...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
TECHSVERIGE
A DRIVING FORCE FOR SWEDEN’S TECH INDUSTRY
TechSverige is the industry and employer association representing companies across Sweden’s tech, IT, and telecom sectors. With approximately 1,400 member companies—ranging from startups to multinational enterprises—and close to 100,000 employees, TechSverige plays a central role in building the conditions for a competitive and innovative tech industry. As both an industry...
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...
INNOVATE® South Florida
CORAL GABLES - THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS A LEADING SMART CITY
Coral Gables was founded on innovation, being one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Today, we’re known internationally as a Smart City, leveraging information and communication technologies and intelligent connected infrastructure to benefit our residents, employees, businesses, and visitors, as well as make our city more...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HOTMILK
THE MAIN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM IN THE SMARTEST CITY IN THE WORLD
Hotmilk is the innovation ecosystem of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), considered the most innovative university in the country. Regarded as the primary innovation ecosystem in Paraná (and positioned among the largest in Brazil), Hotmilk operates on multiple fronts: accelerating over 100 resident startups, opening new business opportunities...
INNOVATION Quebec
MONTÉRÉGIE ÉCONOMIQUE
THE INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM OF THE MONTÉRÉGIE
Espace régional d’accélération et de croissance de la Montérégie was established in 2020 and is powered by Montérégie Économique, which brings together economic development organizations from the MRCs and the agglomeration of Longueuil. The NPO supports economic operators, guides businesses towards business support and acceleration services and cooperates with key...
INNOVATION Quebec
AXELYS
AN ESSENTIAL MISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF QUÉBEC Axelys integrates innovations from Quebec’s public research into the mainstream of society. Our mission is at the heart of the new 2022 2027 Québec strategy to support research and investment in innovation, launched in May 2022 by the Quebec government. At Axelys,...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT
FROM VISION TO IMPACT
Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Turkish Delight
NO FRILLS, JUST VERY TASTY FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED WITH LOTS OF LOVE.
NO FRILLS, JUST VERY TASTY FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED WITH LOTS OF LOVE. Turkish Delight Turkish Delight was established in 1982, and with Ahmet and Semra’s dedication, it has become a cherished tradition with locals and also a delectable experience for visitors. A foodie delight with a spectacular view tucked...
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™ Stockholm
THINK BIG LEADERS
THINK BIG, BUILD FOR SCALE: UNLOCKING INNOVATION AND AI’S POTENTIAL
Sweden and Stockholm must leverage innovation and AI to remain relevant and competitive, and to achieve the values that we believe in. But it’s hard to achieve the scale, speed, and direction that we aim for in a sustainable way. Think Big Leaders helps organizations formulate a strategic direction and...
INNOVATE® Nashville
MobiusAI
Equipping Fleets for the Next Generation of Mobility
In the transportation industry every extra minute and every extra mile eats away at a fleet’s profit. MobiusAI is helping fleets operate at their best. The industry struggles with inefficient planning, outdated software, and razor-thin margins, but Mobius is using AI to empower fleets for excellence. From Research to Real-World...
INNOVATE® Seattle
READ
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF WORKWITH CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE. Founded in 2021 by David Shim, Robert Williams, and Elliott Waldron, Read AI brings together your meetings, emails, and messages and transforms them into collaborative partners, so that they talk to each other, share information, offer updates, find answers, and organize tasks through...
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® Milwaukee
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION
EXPANDING HUMAN POSSIBILITY
The Allen-Bradley® Clock Tower, part of the Rockwell Automation headquarters, is an iconic piece of the Milwaukee skyline and a symbol of the city’s rich industrial and technological heritage. For 120 years, Rockwell Automation has been innovating and engineering solutions that advance industrial automation – allowing manufacturers around the globe...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
W21C
W21C- Interdisciplinary collaboration to make care better
ABOUTW21C is a research and innovation centre based in the University of Calgary’s O’Brien Institute for Public Health in the Cumming School of Medicine and the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS). W21C conducts research to improve health services and systems to Make Care Better. OUR HISTORYW21C was created...
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® South Florida
LEVATAS
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION
VISUAL AI FOR EVERY INSPECTION The AI platform and model library from Levatas enables mobile robots, autonomous drones and unmanned submersibles to understand what they’re seeing in our customer’s dynamic, real-world environments, alerting human co-workers to potential safety, security, and maintenance anomalies. These automated inspection solutions keep humans out of...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SCHELL GAMES
MAKING EXPERIENCES WE’RE PROUD OF WITH PEOPLE WE LIKE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
Founded in 2002 by award-winning game designer and author Jesse Schell, Schell Games is the largest full-service educational and entertainment game development company in the United States. We make experiences across various platforms, specializing in four vertical areas: Health and Wellness, Education, Home Entertainment, and Theme Parks and Museums. In...
INNOVATE® Seattle
FROM THE CULTURE
REVOLUTIONIZING BLACK INNOVATION IN THE AI STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
From The Culture is redefining the tech game, empowering Black founders to thrive in the fast-paced world of startups. Specializing in AI-driven product development, strategic guidance, and expanded market access, this startup studio transforms visionary ideas into scalable ventures. It’s more than an incubator—it’s a community built to amplify Black...
INNOVATE® Georgia
HUMANS DOING
INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF RECRUITMENT: THE HUMANS DOING APPROACH
In the heart of Georgia, a technical revolution is quietly reshaping the landscape of recruitment and talent acquisition. By redefining the way businesses and candidates connect in a rapidly evolving job market through innovation, Humans Doing is at the forefront of this transformation. Founded in 2019, Humans Doing leverages its...