Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONNECTPLUG
RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE
2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIRADD
CCTT FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Founded in 2006, CIRADD has been a CCTT in innovative social practices since 2010, specializing in sustainable territorial development. The centre is located in Gaspésie and is a member of the Synchronex CCTT Network. Our mission is to help organizations, businesses and communities sustainably develop their environment through applied research...
INNOVATE® Georgia
JOULEA
REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY - MAXIMIZING PROFITABILITY WHILE MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT.
The building sector, which accounts for 40% of all U.S. energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wastes $150 billion annually due to inefficient design, operation, and maintenance of buildings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings are responsible for 76% of the nation’s electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Nashville
QUORE
Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide
During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
LionShare Cowork
Opportunity To Grow
With the entrepreneur, small business owner, and business professional in mind, we provide you an opportunity to grow, to shine, and to succeed. Our fully furnished innovative spaces give you the creative and productive flow you need to achieve your goals and get work done. Founder, Mike Januzzi discovered an...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MOTORICA
ANIMATION AT SCALE, CREATIVITY IN CONTROL
The gaming and interactive media industries are built on the ambition of creating experiences that customers love. Players expect living, reactive worlds. Studios dream big to fulfill those expectations but often find themselves blocked by outdated workflows and legacy pipelines. Instead of creating, teams are stuck firefighting, forced to choose...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SPARK
WHERE IDEAS IGNITE IN THE HEART OF KANSAS CITY
When the future of work spilled out of traditional offices and into vibrant spaces where community mattered as much as connectivity, Spark Coworking emerged as a beacon for entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovators. Launched in 2016 by The Cordish Companies, Spark has grown into a national network of collaborative workspaces –...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors
20 years providing unparalleled tax compliance and consulting as well as business consulting services
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors, LLC (“ATBA”), formerly known as Zaragoza & Alvarado LLP, was founded on July 1, 2002, by CPA and Attorney Juan A. Alvarado and CPA Juan Zaragoza as a separate and specialized tax boutique firm. Both Juanes, as commonly referred to, were the tax partners of...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Digital Marketplaces in Commercial Real Estate
The Rise of Digital Marketplaces in Commercial Real Estate The new starting line: discovery happens earlier and faster The rise of digital marketplaces in commercial real estate is most obvious in the first week of a deal. A tenant rep team can build a shortlist in days: saved criteria, map...
INNOVATE® South Florida
MyBundle
SIBLINGS SIMPLIFY STREAMING BY THE SEASHORE
SIBLINGS SIMPLIFY STREAMING BY THE SEASHORE For years now, households all over the United States have heard rallying cries to “cut the cord,” to spend less and get more, including better internet service, by canceling their traditional cable television packages and, instead, subscribing to live streaming television services like YouTube...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
PROEKSPERT
BUILDING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER WORLD
BUILDING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER WORLD Estonia’s reputation as a digital powerhouse owes much to its innovative companies, and Proekspert is no exception. Founded in 1993 during a time of economic uncertainty, this software development firm seized the opportunity to pioneer ground-breaking solutions in the newly independent nation. Today,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
INNOVATION Quebec
NUMANA
QUEBEC’S MACRO-ACCELERATOR
Numana is a Quebec based not-forprofit organization (NPO) and acts as a macro-accelerator by creating, promoting and energizing ICT technology ecosystem projects. In this endeavour, Numana brings together ecosystems composed of companies using technologies and technology providers (hardware, software and applications), public organisations, and research and test centers to foster...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
HUPSIDE
Measuring the Human Advantage in an AI-Saturated World
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than almost any technology shift before it. Organizations are adopting generative tools at scale, automating workflows, accelerating output, and celebrating efficiency gains. Yet beneath the surface of this rapid adoption, a quieter problem is emerging. As AI becomes more capable and more accessible, ideas are...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
STELLAR GAME ASSETS
STEP UP YOUR GAME
If you love video games, you may have thought about making one. So, what’s stopping you? Ten years ago, the answer likely would have been the industry itself. Video games were typically produced only by studios with enough capital to house the entire game creation pipeline. And that pipeline was...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOODFYND
Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses
Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
Respawn Therapy
Is A Group Of Doctors Of Physical Therapy That Strive To Help Gamers Play With Healthier Habits And Less Pain
We’ve taken the lessons learned from our extensive experience in working with professional players to teach gamers of every level how to play while simultaneously reducing risk of injury. Everyone plays better when they play pain-free and we want to help them achieve that. I started Respawn Therapy in...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TARTU
IT’S TIME TO sTARTUp
Don’t tell anyone, but Tartu is like a Steve Jobs’ garage for business. If you have innovative ideas or want to be part of the next great venture, Tartu is the place to be. It is a city that supports innovations with an effective ecosystem, a savvy talent pool, and...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
NORDIC ANGELS
THE NORDIC REGION HAS LONG BEEN CELEBRATED FOR ITS STABILITY, RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND ABILITY TO TURN INNOVATIVE IDEAS INTO GLOBAL COMPANIES.
Yet behind every breakthrough founder, there is a backbone of early believers – angels who provide not only capital, but experience, networks, and confidence at the most fragile stage of company building. For too long, this backbone has been fragmented. Individual angels operate in isolation, limiting their influence. Nordic Angels...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation
Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
TRIPLE S
Pushing the boundaries of healthcare
As a leading healthcare company in Puerto Rico, serving 1 in 3 people, Triple-S seeks to connect people to the health solutions they need, when and where they need them. In 2022, Triple-S launched a long-term initiative to address social isolation and loneliness in Puerto Rico. At its first symposium...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
From Ideas to Impact: MUSC’s Culture of Innovation.
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) serves as the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, dedicated to preserving and optimizing human life in South Carolina through education, research, and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students across six colleges—Dental Medicine, Graduate...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
STARTUP GARAGE
PUTTING STUDENTS IN CHARGE TO LEAD ESTONIA’S NEXT TECH WAVE
We hear more and more talks about the scarcity of startups and the risk-averseness of young people who will be responsible for a future that seems ever more uncertain. However, there are vast opportunities everywhere, especially in Estonia. Whether it be defence, cleantech or deeptech as a whole, we possess...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CONNECTPLUG
RETAIL AUTOMATION CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE
2014 doesn’t seem like a long time ago, but the technology was very different back then. AI was just science fiction, the internet was much slower — and retail software was expensive and unnecessarily complex. This scenario led to ConnectPlug’s creation by computer engineer Rafael Hasson. Hasson, who has worked...
INNOVATION Quebec
CIRADD
CCTT FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Founded in 2006, CIRADD has been a CCTT in innovative social practices since 2010, specializing in sustainable territorial development. The centre is located in Gaspésie and is a member of the Synchronex CCTT Network. Our mission is to help organizations, businesses and communities sustainably develop their environment through applied research...
INNOVATE® Georgia
JOULEA
REDEFINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY - MAXIMIZING PROFITABILITY WHILE MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT.
The building sector, which accounts for 40% of all U.S. energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wastes $150 billion annually due to inefficient design, operation, and maintenance of buildings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings are responsible for 76% of the nation’s electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Nashville
QUORE
Is a hospitality technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how hotels operate worldwide
During your last hotel stay, if your room was clean, the in-room appliances were fully functioning and your request for extra towels was addressed quickly then that hotel was probably using Quore. Our cloud-based operations app supports hotel staff in their day-to-day for better guest experiences, which means smarter teams...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
LionShare Cowork
Opportunity To Grow
With the entrepreneur, small business owner, and business professional in mind, we provide you an opportunity to grow, to shine, and to succeed. Our fully furnished innovative spaces give you the creative and productive flow you need to achieve your goals and get work done. Founder, Mike Januzzi discovered an...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MOTORICA
ANIMATION AT SCALE, CREATIVITY IN CONTROL
The gaming and interactive media industries are built on the ambition of creating experiences that customers love. Players expect living, reactive worlds. Studios dream big to fulfill those expectations but often find themselves blocked by outdated workflows and legacy pipelines. Instead of creating, teams are stuck firefighting, forced to choose...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SPARK
WHERE IDEAS IGNITE IN THE HEART OF KANSAS CITY
When the future of work spilled out of traditional offices and into vibrant spaces where community mattered as much as connectivity, Spark Coworking emerged as a beacon for entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovators. Launched in 2016 by The Cordish Companies, Spark has grown into a national network of collaborative workspaces –...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors
20 years providing unparalleled tax compliance and consulting as well as business consulting services
Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors, LLC (“ATBA”), formerly known as Zaragoza & Alvarado LLP, was founded on July 1, 2002, by CPA and Attorney Juan A. Alvarado and CPA Juan Zaragoza as a separate and specialized tax boutique firm. Both Juanes, as commonly referred to, were the tax partners of...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Digital Marketplaces in Commercial Real Estate
The Rise of Digital Marketplaces in Commercial Real Estate The new starting line: discovery happens earlier and faster The rise of digital marketplaces in commercial real estate is most obvious in the first week of a deal. A tenant rep team can build a shortlist in days: saved criteria, map...
INNOVATE® South Florida
MyBundle
SIBLINGS SIMPLIFY STREAMING BY THE SEASHORE
SIBLINGS SIMPLIFY STREAMING BY THE SEASHORE For years now, households all over the United States have heard rallying cries to “cut the cord,” to spend less and get more, including better internet service, by canceling their traditional cable television packages and, instead, subscribing to live streaming television services like YouTube...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
PROEKSPERT
BUILDING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER WORLD
BUILDING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER WORLD Estonia’s reputation as a digital powerhouse owes much to its innovative companies, and Proekspert is no exception. Founded in 1993 during a time of economic uncertainty, this software development firm seized the opportunity to pioneer ground-breaking solutions in the newly independent nation. Today,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TOOMAS ALTNURME
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ART, INNOVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Few artists can claim to move as fluidly between continents, disciplines, and cultures as Dr. Toomas Altnurme. An Estonian sculptor, painter, designer, educator, and cultural ambassador, his creative life is a testament to how art can transcend geography and time. “I’ve always believed art is a universal language,” says Dr....
INNOVATION Quebec
NUMANA
QUEBEC’S MACRO-ACCELERATOR
Numana is a Quebec based not-forprofit organization (NPO) and acts as a macro-accelerator by creating, promoting and energizing ICT technology ecosystem projects. In this endeavour, Numana brings together ecosystems composed of companies using technologies and technology providers (hardware, software and applications), public organisations, and research and test centers to foster...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
HUPSIDE
Measuring the Human Advantage in an AI-Saturated World
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than almost any technology shift before it. Organizations are adopting generative tools at scale, automating workflows, accelerating output, and celebrating efficiency gains. Yet beneath the surface of this rapid adoption, a quieter problem is emerging. As AI becomes more capable and more accessible, ideas are...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
STELLAR GAME ASSETS
STEP UP YOUR GAME
If you love video games, you may have thought about making one. So, what’s stopping you? Ten years ago, the answer likely would have been the industry itself. Video games were typically produced only by studios with enough capital to house the entire game creation pipeline. And that pipeline was...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOODFYND
Revolutionizing Mobile Food Businesses
Amid Washington, D.C.’s vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial spirit, a game-changer is revolutionizing the landscape for mobile vendors. Meet Goodfynd, a cutting-edge payments platform and marketplace transforming how food trucks and mobile vendors operate. Founded by Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Kyle Miller, and Lemaire Stewart, Goodfynd epitomizes thoughtful innovation and simplicity, harnessing...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
Respawn Therapy
Is A Group Of Doctors Of Physical Therapy That Strive To Help Gamers Play With Healthier Habits And Less Pain
We’ve taken the lessons learned from our extensive experience in working with professional players to teach gamers of every level how to play while simultaneously reducing risk of injury. Everyone plays better when they play pain-free and we want to help them achieve that. I started Respawn Therapy in...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TARTU
IT’S TIME TO sTARTUp
Don’t tell anyone, but Tartu is like a Steve Jobs’ garage for business. If you have innovative ideas or want to be part of the next great venture, Tartu is the place to be. It is a city that supports innovations with an effective ecosystem, a savvy talent pool, and...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
NORDIC ANGELS
THE NORDIC REGION HAS LONG BEEN CELEBRATED FOR ITS STABILITY, RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND ABILITY TO TURN INNOVATIVE IDEAS INTO GLOBAL COMPANIES.
Yet behind every breakthrough founder, there is a backbone of early believers – angels who provide not only capital, but experience, networks, and confidence at the most fragile stage of company building. For too long, this backbone has been fragmented. Individual angels operate in isolation, limiting their influence. Nordic Angels...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Cybersecurity is Driving the Next Wave of Global Innovation
Cybersecurity has moved from the back-office control domain to a main driver in digital innovation. When there is confidence in system resilience, organizations can securely implement and scale AI, cloud, and IoT. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook, growth will be tied to cyber resilience because threats and...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
TRIPLE S
Pushing the boundaries of healthcare
As a leading healthcare company in Puerto Rico, serving 1 in 3 people, Triple-S seeks to connect people to the health solutions they need, when and where they need them. In 2022, Triple-S launched a long-term initiative to address social isolation and loneliness in Puerto Rico. At its first symposium...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
From Ideas to Impact: MUSC’s Culture of Innovation.
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) serves as the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, dedicated to preserving and optimizing human life in South Carolina through education, research, and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students across six colleges—Dental Medicine, Graduate...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
STARTUP GARAGE
PUTTING STUDENTS IN CHARGE TO LEAD ESTONIA’S NEXT TECH WAVE
We hear more and more talks about the scarcity of startups and the risk-averseness of young people who will be responsible for a future that seems ever more uncertain. However, there are vast opportunities everywhere, especially in Estonia. Whether it be defence, cleantech or deeptech as a whole, we possess...