Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

MOVE THE NEEDLE

FOSTERING INCLUSIVE INNOVATION IN JERSEY CITY’S MELTING POT

In the vibrant heart of downtown Jersey City, a city that boasts one of the most diverse populations in the nation, Move The Needle at the Brand Experience Lab (a retail technology showroom) stands as a testament to the power of inclusive innovation. Founded by Jose Espinoza, a visionary entrepreneur...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

INEOS

INEOS-POWER TO METHANOL

POWER TO METHANOL, FUTUREPROOF INNOVATION IN FUEL AND FEEDSTOCK

In 2022 the construction of the Power to Methanol Antwerp plant starts in the Port of Antwerp. The plant has a production capacity of 8,000 tonnes of sustainable methanol, produced from hydrogen generated from renewable energy and captured CO2. A consortium of seven companies is setting up the pilot plant...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

FARMERS FRIDGE

FARMERS FRIDGE- IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR EVERYONE TO EAT WELL

IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR EVERYONE TO EAT WELL

A former traveling salesman driving more than 3,000 miles each week, Farmer’s Fridge Founder and CEO Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, 24/7 options available on the road. Determined to solve this challenge, he built a high-tech smart Fridge that dispenses fresh meals within seconds. Despite facing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...

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® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

HSA Bank

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE Technology-driven experience and innovation have the potential to transform employee benefits from a traditional offering into a strategic differentiator for organizations. The benefits sector, traditionally not seen as a tech ‘powerhouse’, is undergoing rapid change as organizations leverage...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)

AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

SOLARSTEAM

LOWEST COST RENEWABLE HEAT

SolarSteam’s purpose is to decarbonize the highest emitting and hardest to abate heavy industry segments. The problem that SolarSteam addresses is the elephant in the energy room – industrial heat. Globally, thermal energy requirements constitute close to 50% of total GHG emissions. In Alberta approximately 2⁄3 of GHG emissions come...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

ESPACE RÉGIONAL ACCÉLÉRATION ET CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES

Depuis près de 15 ans, Chaudière-Appalaches Économique (CAÉ) a pour mission de stimuler le développement économique en soutenant la cohérence et la mise en commun des actions et des services de ses membres, en concertation avec les organismes partenaires du développement économique et dans le respect de leurs mandats. Parmi...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TIM

5G IN EVERY REGION OF CURITIBA

TIM was the first operator to offer 5G coverage in all 75 neighborhoods of the city of Curitiba. As of August 2022, more than 85% of the population is connected to this new technology. However, it is natural for the operator to be a protagonist, as it is the market...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

MEKUMI

Delivering Comprehensive Immersive Education and Training Solutions for K-12 and Professional Markets

Mekumi’s Education Solutions are big data driven enabling creation of immersive content; advanced instruction delivery technologies such as AR/VR driving learning & retention; AI driven assessments; and combining all these to deliver personalized learning. Mekumi solutions dramatically improve student learning, teaching skills & content effectiveness. MekumiEd combines LMS, LRS, LXP and LCMS...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

POTATO IMPROVER

ENGINEERING RESILIENCE IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

In a world of rapidly rising temperatures and unstable growing conditions, Potato Improver is reshaping the future of agriculture by empowering one of the world’s most essential food crops—potatoes—to thrive in heat-stressed environments. Founded with a singular mission to safeguard global food security, this Swedish biotech startup has developed a...

INNOVATE® Miami

SmartBarrel

SmartBarrel - The ultimate construction workforce management solution

The ultimate construction workforce management solution

SmartBarrel is the ultimate construction workforce management solution. Solar powered, self connected and loaded with the latest computer vision technologies, it’s able to manage labor workforces from anywhere.  SmartBarrel was founded by Albert Bou Fadel, a glazing (glass) project manager with years of experience in construction. The concept sprouted from...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

TECHNORI

TECHNORI-Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago

Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago, Our Mission Has Been Simple; Help Founders More Easily Raise Startup Funds By Building a Community Around Tech And Investing

Before Chicago became a tech hub featuring world-renowned incubators like 1871 and more than a dozen unicorns, there was Technori – a small group of early adopters and startup founders on a mission to turn Chicago into the largest and most diverse tech community in the world. And, what began...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Glüxkind

A Vancouver-based tech startup, is disrupting the baby gear market

Glüxkind- A Vancouver-based tech startup, is disrupting the baby gear market with the world’s smartest parent assist baby stroller. Powered by AI, Glüxkind is leading the charge,making gear for today’s families safer,more inclusive and convenient for all. Anyone who has had to push a conventional baby stroller while attending to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

USCREEN

BUILDING A MORE CONNECTED CREATOR FUTURE THROUGH THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIPS

USCREEN IS AN ALL-IN-ONE MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM BUILT FOR VIDEO CREATORS. Uscreen started as a bootstrapped company in 2014 with just an idea to start streaming DVDs and quickly pivoted to helping their customers sell video on demand subscriptions. Early customers include Yoga with Adriene and Sarah Beth Yoga, two highly...

INNOVATE® Detroit

CommuniTee

Your New Favorite Way to Golf with Friends

CommuniTee Golf began with a simple revelation during a college football game:a room full of friends and acquaintances who never realized they shared a love for golf and had never played together. This moment sparked the creation of CommuniTee Golf, a platform designed to help golfers easily connect, find playing...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs

EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

BC entrepreneurs Bill Roche and Charles Chang have a vision to make Canada more competitive by nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit in young people. In 2017, they co-founded Young Entrepreneurs of Canada Association, a registered Canadian charity that operates under the name PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs. “Our mandate is to help school-aged...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Mintwood Strategies

THE INNOVATORS OF UNOFFICIAL WASHINGTON

There is official Washington you see on TV, which features the National Mall, Congress, and the White House, and there is unofficial Washington, which is home to 700,000 citizens who are denied the ability to electorally participate in official Washington. Mintwood Strategies has carved out a niche in the media...

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LACTEC

INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Lactec is one of Brazil’s largest private, self-sustaining and non-profit research centers, which for over 60-years has been at the service of the market and society, offering solutions based on science, technology and innovation. It operates strongly in the Energy, Sanitation, Environment, Industry and Infrastructure markets, throughout the innovation cycle,...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

BlendedDesigns: Empower. Educate. Elevate.

Blended Designs: Empower. Educate. Elevate.

When shopping for back-to-school supplies, more consumers are turning to online shopping instead of going to the mall. One entrepreneur is looking to encourage young students to become first-generation college graduates with an online shop, BlendedDesigns.com. Encouraging students with backpacks that say, “I can do anything,” founder and CEO Casey...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

MOVE THE NEEDLE

FOSTERING INCLUSIVE INNOVATION IN JERSEY CITY’S MELTING POT

In the vibrant heart of downtown Jersey City, a city that boasts one of the most diverse populations in the nation, Move The Needle at the Brand Experience Lab (a retail technology showroom) stands as a testament to the power of inclusive innovation. Founded by Jose Espinoza, a visionary entrepreneur...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

INEOS

INEOS-POWER TO METHANOL

POWER TO METHANOL, FUTUREPROOF INNOVATION IN FUEL AND FEEDSTOCK

In 2022 the construction of the Power to Methanol Antwerp plant starts in the Port of Antwerp. The plant has a production capacity of 8,000 tonnes of sustainable methanol, produced from hydrogen generated from renewable energy and captured CO2. A consortium of seven companies is setting up the pilot plant...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

FARMERS FRIDGE

FARMERS FRIDGE- IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR EVERYONE TO EAT WELL

IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR EVERYONE TO EAT WELL

A former traveling salesman driving more than 3,000 miles each week, Farmer’s Fridge Founder and CEO Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, 24/7 options available on the road. Determined to solve this challenge, he built a high-tech smart Fridge that dispenses fresh meals within seconds. Despite facing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...

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® Gaming & Esports

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY-IF YOU BUILD IT

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...” THIS MISQUOTED LINE DERIVED FROM THE MOVIE, FIELD OF DREAMS, IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STARTUP DEVELOPMENT. IT SOUNDS GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT REALISTIC

What does work is the act of providing a reason for why they should come. That is the central theme of Oakwood University’s Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad, and it is why gaming is at the heart of the center’s success. OU Launchpad is structured around ideation and microentrepreneurship. These two...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

HSA Bank

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE

HSA BANK IS BUILDING A NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES IN FINANCE Technology-driven experience and innovation have the potential to transform employee benefits from a traditional offering into a strategic differentiator for organizations. The benefits sector, traditionally not seen as a tech ‘powerhouse’, is undergoing rapid change as organizations leverage...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF)

AN INNOVATIVE FORCE-THE PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Canada’s population is growing older. In 2019, the population of seniors 65-years of age and older was almost one-fifth of the overall population, and by 2040 the population of seniors is predicted to reach one-fourth of the overall population, with over one-third of seniors having two or more chronic diseases.1...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

SOLARSTEAM

LOWEST COST RENEWABLE HEAT

SolarSteam’s purpose is to decarbonize the highest emitting and hardest to abate heavy industry segments. The problem that SolarSteam addresses is the elephant in the energy room – industrial heat. Globally, thermal energy requirements constitute close to 50% of total GHG emissions. In Alberta approximately 2⁄3 of GHG emissions come...

INNOVATION Quebec

CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE

ESPACE RÉGIONAL ACCÉLÉRATION ET CROISSANCE DES ENTREPRISES

Depuis près de 15 ans, Chaudière-Appalaches Économique (CAÉ) a pour mission de stimuler le développement économique en soutenant la cohérence et la mise en commun des actions et des services de ses membres, en concertation avec les organismes partenaires du développement économique et dans le respect de leurs mandats. Parmi...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TIM

5G IN EVERY REGION OF CURITIBA

TIM was the first operator to offer 5G coverage in all 75 neighborhoods of the city of Curitiba. As of August 2022, more than 85% of the population is connected to this new technology. However, it is natural for the operator to be a protagonist, as it is the market...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

MEKUMI

Delivering Comprehensive Immersive Education and Training Solutions for K-12 and Professional Markets

Mekumi’s Education Solutions are big data driven enabling creation of immersive content; advanced instruction delivery technologies such as AR/VR driving learning & retention; AI driven assessments; and combining all these to deliver personalized learning. Mekumi solutions dramatically improve student learning, teaching skills & content effectiveness. MekumiEd combines LMS, LRS, LXP and LCMS...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

POTATO IMPROVER

ENGINEERING RESILIENCE IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

In a world of rapidly rising temperatures and unstable growing conditions, Potato Improver is reshaping the future of agriculture by empowering one of the world’s most essential food crops—potatoes—to thrive in heat-stressed environments. Founded with a singular mission to safeguard global food security, this Swedish biotech startup has developed a...

INNOVATE® Miami

SmartBarrel

SmartBarrel - The ultimate construction workforce management solution

The ultimate construction workforce management solution

SmartBarrel is the ultimate construction workforce management solution. Solar powered, self connected and loaded with the latest computer vision technologies, it’s able to manage labor workforces from anywhere.  SmartBarrel was founded by Albert Bou Fadel, a glazing (glass) project manager with years of experience in construction. The concept sprouted from...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

TECHNORI

TECHNORI-Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago

Since Launching Nearly a Decade Ago, Our Mission Has Been Simple; Help Founders More Easily Raise Startup Funds By Building a Community Around Tech And Investing

Before Chicago became a tech hub featuring world-renowned incubators like 1871 and more than a dozen unicorns, there was Technori – a small group of early adopters and startup founders on a mission to turn Chicago into the largest and most diverse tech community in the world. And, what began...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Youth Growth Network

Empowering the Next Generation

Founding Story: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Real-World Experience Youth Growth Network (YGN) was founded with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world skills students need to thrive in their future careers. Recognizing that traditional education often falls short in providing hands-on experiences,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Glüxkind

A Vancouver-based tech startup, is disrupting the baby gear market

Glüxkind- A Vancouver-based tech startup, is disrupting the baby gear market with the world’s smartest parent assist baby stroller. Powered by AI, Glüxkind is leading the charge,making gear for today’s families safer,more inclusive and convenient for all. Anyone who has had to push a conventional baby stroller while attending to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

USCREEN

BUILDING A MORE CONNECTED CREATOR FUTURE THROUGH THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIPS

USCREEN IS AN ALL-IN-ONE MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM BUILT FOR VIDEO CREATORS. Uscreen started as a bootstrapped company in 2014 with just an idea to start streaming DVDs and quickly pivoted to helping their customers sell video on demand subscriptions. Early customers include Yoga with Adriene and Sarah Beth Yoga, two highly...

INNOVATE® Detroit

CommuniTee

Your New Favorite Way to Golf with Friends

CommuniTee Golf began with a simple revelation during a college football game:a room full of friends and acquaintances who never realized they shared a love for golf and had never played together. This moment sparked the creation of CommuniTee Golf, a platform designed to help golfers easily connect, find playing...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs

EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

BC entrepreneurs Bill Roche and Charles Chang have a vision to make Canada more competitive by nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit in young people. In 2017, they co-founded Young Entrepreneurs of Canada Association, a registered Canadian charity that operates under the name PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs. “Our mandate is to help school-aged...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Mintwood Strategies

THE INNOVATORS OF UNOFFICIAL WASHINGTON

There is official Washington you see on TV, which features the National Mall, Congress, and the White House, and there is unofficial Washington, which is home to 700,000 citizens who are denied the ability to electorally participate in official Washington. Mintwood Strategies has carved out a niche in the media...

INNOVATION Quebec

DigiHub

Created in 2014, the Shawinigan DigiHub is a non-profit organization that offers a complete ecosystem designed to foster innovation, collaboration, business development, and digital-related projects

Since its founding, the DigiHub has become a model that is being emulated and recognized as the 3rd digital hub in Quebec behind Montrèal and Québec City. As a key player in Shawinigan’s economic shift towards a digital economy and a smart city status, the Digihub has always been at...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

LACTEC

INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Lactec is one of Brazil’s largest private, self-sustaining and non-profit research centers, which for over 60-years has been at the service of the market and society, offering solutions based on science, technology and innovation. It operates strongly in the Energy, Sanitation, Environment, Industry and Infrastructure markets, throughout the innovation cycle,...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

BlendedDesigns: Empower. Educate. Elevate.

Blended Designs: Empower. Educate. Elevate.

When shopping for back-to-school supplies, more consumers are turning to online shopping instead of going to the mall. One entrepreneur is looking to encourage young students to become first-generation college graduates with an online shop, BlendedDesigns.com. Encouraging students with backpacks that say, “I can do anything,” founder and CEO Casey...

Ecosystems