Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

Aon

Aon-INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD

INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD

One of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic experience is that companies have fundamentally changed the way they look at risk. Risks are more interconnected, so the impact is more profound. For example, increased weather events and supply chain disruptions are happening more frequently and having a greater impact...

INNOVATE® Detroit

FRANCO

The Power of Relationships, Culture & Innovation Propels Franco to 60 Years of Success

When you think of Detroit and the public relations industry, it may not be obvious at first how much they have in common. But anyone working in the PR industry in the city will tell you both have weathered significant changes over the past several decades. Founded in 1964 in...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

AHRENS

120 YEARS FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Proudly, Ahrens is a 120-year-old family-owned SA company, spanning five generations, delivering a diverse range of high-quality and cost-effective products, projects and services. Beginning in 1902 as a one-dimensional business in Sheaoak Log, on the edge of the Barossa Valley, and offering blacksmithing services of its time, the business has...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

4thBrain

Reimagining Enterprises for the AI Age

Tackling The Outdated Enterprise Software in a New Era Despite advancements in technology, many enterprises remain trapped in outdated software systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools, the backbone of modern organizations, are static, rigid, and expensive to implement and maintain. They fail to keep pace with the speed and complexity...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

QREDIBLE®

CULTIVATING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY: HOW QREDIBLE® IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Qredible is a first-of-its-kind platform, leading the way in building trust and transparency in the cannabis, CBD, and hemp supply chains. The legalized cannabis industry can be a maze of false, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Qredible’s unique platform is revolutionizing the industry by connecting the entire CBD, hemp, and...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VITAL

The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing

“Vital envisions a future where AI and human expertise unite to empower personal growth, creating a seamless path to complete well-being.” In today’s fast-paced world, individuals face constant pressures that can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of overwhelm. Vital was created to address these challenges head-on, offering AI-driven...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Better Basics

Cleans up homes of toxins and saves billions of plastic bottles

Better Basics is on a mission to eliminate homes of toxins and plastic. Their household cleaning personal care and cleaning industry. and personal care refill system is designed to make using all natural, high performing products that save plastic bottles easy and convenient. Better Basics makes “eco-friendly” beautiful and functional...

INNOVATION Quebec

CILEX

CILEX- AU SERVICE DES ENTREPRENEURS D’AUJOURD’HUI ET DE DEMAIN

DEDICATED TO ENTREPRENEURS OF TODAY AND OF THE FUTURE

Created in 2005 as the Language Technologies Research Centre, the incubator-accelerator Cilex has always nursed a great passion for technological innovation. Reoriented in 2014 and renamed Cilex in 2016, the non-profit organization is now dedicated to the development of a culture of innovation in the entire Outaouais region and the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MAGGIE O’NEILL

WHAT IF COLOR IS THE ANSWER?

Maggie O’Neill is a Washington, D.C.-based artist, designer, entrepreneur, and activist with 20+ years of experience supporting the city’s creative community through her multifaceted work. Her integral role as one of the District’s cultural leaders at the intersection of arts and hospitality is a culmination of her creative design firm...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

XElement Technology 

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY As climate change accelerates, the effects on our environment become more pronounced. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and dwindling resources create a host of problems, with water quality being acritical concern. Warmer temperatures and oxygen depletion disrupt the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

OSCARS ARC

OSCARS ARC- DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO

DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO

WOOF Project is a dynamic ‘pop–up’ mobile dog adoption initiative by Oscars Arc, a NPO born to inspire dog adoption and to save dogs’ lives. It was founded by Joanne Lefson in honour of Oscar, the adopted dog with whom she travelled around the world, visiting 43 countries across 5...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CYTOIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS

CYTOIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS-PUERTO RICO’S SIX DECADES PHARMA JOURNEY AND GOING….

PUERTO RICO’S SIX DECADES PHARMA JOURNEY AND GOING….

Puerto Rico (PR) has been one of the few countries fortunate to have lived the evolution of healthcare with the presence of pharmaceutical operations for more than six decades. The island’s pharmaceutical industry professionals have witnessed big changes from chemical synthesis derived compounds to complex biological molecules manufactured using biotechnology...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

iUnit

Building Sustainable, Attainable Communities

Changing the way we live – and build our homes and lives – is no mean feat. That is precisely what iUnit sets out to do. It is a visionary real estate development/tech start-up spearheading a revolution in sustainable housing. Founded by Brice Leconte, iUnit is a trailblazer in merging...

INNOVATE® Nashville

S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN BUSINESS AND CULTURE

S3 Recycling Solutions provides businesses with a hassle-free way to responsibly and safely manage their excess electronics. Headquartered in Springfield, Tenn., with a new location in California, S3 is an award-winning, R2v3-certified technology recycling firm that provides tailored e-waste solutions to customers across North America. S3’s core business is to...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

NUMIO

IS BUILDING APPLICATIONS TO MAKE CRYPTO FAST, CHEAP, AND SIMPLE. SIMPLE, SECURE, SWIFT AND SEAMLESS

We do this by integrating the latest in cutting edge Layer 2 technologies that allow you to send, swap, and trade your favorite cryptocurrencies instantly and up to 100x cheaper than on Ethereum. You can also show off your BAYC or Crypto Punk NFTs if you want to. By remaining...

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® Miami

Gaming Frog

Gaming Frog - Win cash & prizes playing your favorite video games

Win cash & prizes playing your favorite video games

Gaming Frog is an eSport platform that allows gamers to play their favorite games for cash and prizes. , Juan Duque – Founder & CTO Lucas Romero – CEO Juan and I met playing Call of Duty: MW2, in 2009. At the time I was living in Colombia and he...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CHEFS WAREHOUSE

CHEFS WAREHOUSE -WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

As businesses go, restaurants aren’t for the faint of heart. The hospitality industry is one of cutthroat competition. This industry demands discipline, dedication, constant innovation, passion, opportunity, and perseverance from restaurateurs, managers, kitchen staff, and front-of-house staff. Creating fine-dining cuisine is as much an art form as it is the science...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LIVEWIRE

LIVEWIRE-Is Focused On Being The Global Leader In Gaming Marketing And Gametech That Works Horizontally Across All Gaming Verticals

Is Focused On Being The Global Leader In Gaming Marketing And Gametech That Works Horizontally Across All Gaming Verticals

Livewire is a global gaming marketing and gametech company that leads major brands and agencies into the gaming ecosystem. We create bespoke gaming strategies based on proprietary research and knowledge that build authentic and culturally relevant brand positions within the gaming audience and deliver results that build brands fame and...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MIFUNDO

THE VERIFIED AND PASSPORTABLE FINANCIAL IDENTITY CONNECTING EUROPE’S CREDIT MARKETS

EUROPE’S FIRST INTEGRATED CREDIT INFRASTRUCTURE Mifundo provides European banks with cross-border credit data that allows consumer credit histories to move between countries. This technology removes one of the last remaining barriers to financial mobility in the European Union: fragmented data locked within national borders. For millions of people who live,...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

LETSHEGO HOLDINGS

BOTSWANA-BORN LETSHEGO ADOPTS INNOVATION ACROSS FUNCTIONS TO ACHIEVE FUTURE-FIT VISION FOR PAN-AFRICAN OPERATION

Since first opening its doors in Gaborone 24 years ago, inclusive finance leader, Letshego Holdings Limited, has extended its reach into 11 sub Saharan markets through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The Group went public with its listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2002. As one of Botswana’s few...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

DIGITAL NATIVES

DIGITAL NATIVES LEADING THE CHANGE

LEADING THE CHANGE

Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

Aon

Aon-INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD

INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD

One of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic experience is that companies have fundamentally changed the way they look at risk. Risks are more interconnected, so the impact is more profound. For example, increased weather events and supply chain disruptions are happening more frequently and having a greater impact...

INNOVATE® Detroit

FRANCO

The Power of Relationships, Culture & Innovation Propels Franco to 60 Years of Success

When you think of Detroit and the public relations industry, it may not be obvious at first how much they have in common. But anyone working in the PR industry in the city will tell you both have weathered significant changes over the past several decades. Founded in 1964 in...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

AHRENS

120 YEARS FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Proudly, Ahrens is a 120-year-old family-owned SA company, spanning five generations, delivering a diverse range of high-quality and cost-effective products, projects and services. Beginning in 1902 as a one-dimensional business in Sheaoak Log, on the edge of the Barossa Valley, and offering blacksmithing services of its time, the business has...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

4thBrain

Reimagining Enterprises for the AI Age

Tackling The Outdated Enterprise Software in a New Era Despite advancements in technology, many enterprises remain trapped in outdated software systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools, the backbone of modern organizations, are static, rigid, and expensive to implement and maintain. They fail to keep pace with the speed and complexity...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

QREDIBLE®

CULTIVATING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY: HOW QREDIBLE® IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Qredible is a first-of-its-kind platform, leading the way in building trust and transparency in the cannabis, CBD, and hemp supply chains. The legalized cannabis industry can be a maze of false, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Qredible’s unique platform is revolutionizing the industry by connecting the entire CBD, hemp, and...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VITAL

The Perfect Blend: AI Meets Human Flourishing

“Vital envisions a future where AI and human expertise unite to empower personal growth, creating a seamless path to complete well-being.” In today’s fast-paced world, individuals face constant pressures that can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of overwhelm. Vital was created to address these challenges head-on, offering AI-driven...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Better Basics

Cleans up homes of toxins and saves billions of plastic bottles

Better Basics is on a mission to eliminate homes of toxins and plastic. Their household cleaning personal care and cleaning industry. and personal care refill system is designed to make using all natural, high performing products that save plastic bottles easy and convenient. Better Basics makes “eco-friendly” beautiful and functional...

INNOVATION Quebec

CILEX

CILEX- AU SERVICE DES ENTREPRENEURS D’AUJOURD’HUI ET DE DEMAIN

DEDICATED TO ENTREPRENEURS OF TODAY AND OF THE FUTURE

Created in 2005 as the Language Technologies Research Centre, the incubator-accelerator Cilex has always nursed a great passion for technological innovation. Reoriented in 2014 and renamed Cilex in 2016, the non-profit organization is now dedicated to the development of a culture of innovation in the entire Outaouais region and the...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MAGGIE O’NEILL

WHAT IF COLOR IS THE ANSWER?

Maggie O’Neill is a Washington, D.C.-based artist, designer, entrepreneur, and activist with 20+ years of experience supporting the city’s creative community through her multifaceted work. Her integral role as one of the District’s cultural leaders at the intersection of arts and hospitality is a culmination of her creative design firm...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

XElement Technology 

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: XELEMENT TECHNOLOGY LEADS THE WAY As climate change accelerates, the effects on our environment become more pronounced. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and dwindling resources create a host of problems, with water quality being acritical concern. Warmer temperatures and oxygen depletion disrupt the...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

OSCARS ARC

OSCARS ARC- DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO

DOG ADOPTION. INSPIRED ADOPTION RATES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE LESS THAN 10%. WOOF PROJECT IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO

WOOF Project is a dynamic ‘pop–up’ mobile dog adoption initiative by Oscars Arc, a NPO born to inspire dog adoption and to save dogs’ lives. It was founded by Joanne Lefson in honour of Oscar, the adopted dog with whom she travelled around the world, visiting 43 countries across 5...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CYTOIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS

CYTOIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS-PUERTO RICO’S SIX DECADES PHARMA JOURNEY AND GOING….

PUERTO RICO’S SIX DECADES PHARMA JOURNEY AND GOING….

Puerto Rico (PR) has been one of the few countries fortunate to have lived the evolution of healthcare with the presence of pharmaceutical operations for more than six decades. The island’s pharmaceutical industry professionals have witnessed big changes from chemical synthesis derived compounds to complex biological molecules manufactured using biotechnology...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

iUnit

Building Sustainable, Attainable Communities

Changing the way we live – and build our homes and lives – is no mean feat. That is precisely what iUnit sets out to do. It is a visionary real estate development/tech start-up spearheading a revolution in sustainable housing. Founded by Brice Leconte, iUnit is a trailblazer in merging...

INNOVATE® Nashville

S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN BUSINESS AND CULTURE

S3 Recycling Solutions provides businesses with a hassle-free way to responsibly and safely manage their excess electronics. Headquartered in Springfield, Tenn., with a new location in California, S3 is an award-winning, R2v3-certified technology recycling firm that provides tailored e-waste solutions to customers across North America. S3’s core business is to...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026

The New MVP Tech Stack: What Forward-Thinking Founders Are Betting On in 2026 Somewhere right now, a founder is about to spend $120,000 building an MVP that could have been shipped for $25,000. Not because the cheaper version would be worse. Because the founder picked the wrong tech stack for...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

NUMIO

IS BUILDING APPLICATIONS TO MAKE CRYPTO FAST, CHEAP, AND SIMPLE. SIMPLE, SECURE, SWIFT AND SEAMLESS

We do this by integrating the latest in cutting edge Layer 2 technologies that allow you to send, swap, and trade your favorite cryptocurrencies instantly and up to 100x cheaper than on Ethereum. You can also show off your BAYC or Crypto Punk NFTs if you want to. By remaining...

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® Miami

Gaming Frog

Gaming Frog - Win cash & prizes playing your favorite video games

Win cash & prizes playing your favorite video games

Gaming Frog is an eSport platform that allows gamers to play their favorite games for cash and prizes. , Juan Duque – Founder & CTO Lucas Romero – CEO Juan and I met playing Call of Duty: MW2, in 2009. At the time I was living in Colombia and he...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

CHEFS WAREHOUSE

CHEFS WAREHOUSE -WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

WHIPPING UP A WINNING RECIPE

As businesses go, restaurants aren’t for the faint of heart. The hospitality industry is one of cutthroat competition. This industry demands discipline, dedication, constant innovation, passion, opportunity, and perseverance from restaurateurs, managers, kitchen staff, and front-of-house staff. Creating fine-dining cuisine is as much an art form as it is the science...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LIVEWIRE

LIVEWIRE-Is Focused On Being The Global Leader In Gaming Marketing And Gametech That Works Horizontally Across All Gaming Verticals

Is Focused On Being The Global Leader In Gaming Marketing And Gametech That Works Horizontally Across All Gaming Verticals

Livewire is a global gaming marketing and gametech company that leads major brands and agencies into the gaming ecosystem. We create bespoke gaming strategies based on proprietary research and knowledge that build authentic and culturally relevant brand positions within the gaming audience and deliver results that build brands fame and...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MIFUNDO

THE VERIFIED AND PASSPORTABLE FINANCIAL IDENTITY CONNECTING EUROPE’S CREDIT MARKETS

EUROPE’S FIRST INTEGRATED CREDIT INFRASTRUCTURE Mifundo provides European banks with cross-border credit data that allows consumer credit histories to move between countries. This technology removes one of the last remaining barriers to financial mobility in the European Union: fragmented data locked within national borders. For millions of people who live,...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

LETSHEGO HOLDINGS

BOTSWANA-BORN LETSHEGO ADOPTS INNOVATION ACROSS FUNCTIONS TO ACHIEVE FUTURE-FIT VISION FOR PAN-AFRICAN OPERATION

Since first opening its doors in Gaborone 24 years ago, inclusive finance leader, Letshego Holdings Limited, has extended its reach into 11 sub Saharan markets through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The Group went public with its listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2002. As one of Botswana’s few...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

DIGITAL NATIVES

DIGITAL NATIVES LEADING THE CHANGE

LEADING THE CHANGE

Digital Natives is a 100% youth and citizen-owned, multi-award-winning software and disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete, being Standard Bank Africa Group’s youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally. Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC Innovation and Investment Competition with their remarkable...

Ecosystems