Stories of Innovation
INNOVATION Quebec
CINDERELLA'S
ELEVATING CLEANING STANDARDS FOR A PRISTINE SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The dynamic husband and wife team of Mark and Tracey Ferdinands, set out to disrupt the cleaning industry with their innovative Territory Management System. Armed with a strong hospitality background and a team of highly trained and caring professionals, the Cinderella’s team consistently delivers exceptional results. Larger organisations are flocking...
INNOVATE® Miami
PADL
Makes getting out on the water easy by combining technology and paddleboards into its paddle share system
PADL makes getting out on the water easy by combining technology and paddleboards into its paddle share system. Users can quickly unlock a smart board from one of PADL’s docking stations through the mobile app and enjoy their ride. PADL is on a mission to get more people out on...
Global Innovation Spotlight
GreenGeeks vs. InMotion:
A Real WordPress Performance Comparison
GreenGeeks vs. InMotion: A Real WordPress Performance Comparison I spent the better part of 2025 months running WordPress sites on both GreenGeeks and InMotion Hosting. I tested load times, uptime, server response, and how each platform handled traffic under pressure. I also paid attention to the smaller things, like how...
INNOVATION Quebec
CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS D’INNOVATION EN BIOTECHNOLOGIE (CQIB)
LE CQIB, AU CŒUR DE L’ÉCOSYSTÈME ENTREPRENEURRIAL EN SCIENCES DE LA VIE
Les lecteurs de cette publication sont bien placés pour le savoir : le Québec est un terreau incroyablement fertile pour l’innovation. Si on génère autant d’innovations en sol québécois, c’est notamment parce que nous avons en place des organisations mobilisatrice qui catalyse notre expertise et notre savoir. Parmi ces organisations,...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Madrona
A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages
Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
GLOBAL E-TALENT
MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS
Global e-Talent Pty Ltd (GeT) is a young Sandton, Johannesburg-based talent search, placement, and onboarding firm. It partners with both private and public organisations, to meet their talent acquisition needs and that such talent is adequately integrated into their business. Behind the conventional recruitment agency, behind it sits a very...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
NBIF
Established in 2003, NBIF continues to build on New Brunswick's history as a leading innovation hub
At the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, we’re building on a remarkable history of ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit in New Brunswick to propel the development of the next generation of global technology firms. Heading into our third decade of catapulting innovative ideas into thriving enterprises, our organization – better known by...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ROOMII
ROOMII’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ASPIRATIONAL FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME
Roomii is an online marketplace that lets you lease out your furniture to people who don’t want to own it. Our platform lets you earn a return on your furniture investment while helping people furnish their space short-term with quality pre-owned furniture. Roomii’s story began in the spring of 2020....
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
TAV SYSTEMS
EXPORTING HIGH-QUALITY E-BIKE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE WORLD
TAV is an E-Bike startup based in Adelaide, Australia, that was incorporated in April 2020. Supported by the Government of South Australia and Flinders University under the program called Supporting innovation in South Australia, TAV’s mission is to export Australian-built E-Bike technologies to global brands, foster local innovation, and deliver...
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™ Curitiba
PINATI
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, SO HAVE THE SNACKS
Not wanting to conform with the snack industry, Waldemiro Pereira founded Pinati Snacks in 2013. But the beginning was not easy. With little financial resources, he would buy healthy homemade cereal bars from a local couple in the metropolitan area in Curitiba and, with personalized packaging, sell them on to...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
JOE PUBLIC
OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE, OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COUNTRY.
Joe Public was established in Cape Town in 1998 by Gareth Leck and Pepe Marais. They opened the agency’s doors to the public with something completely new, Take-Away Advertising. This revolutionary model allowed hungry clients to order an ad off a menu with a price list, making Joe Public a...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Innovate Calgary
Bridging the gap between discovery and creating economic and societal impact
We are the innovation engine for UCalgary, one of the top research universities in Canada. We support existing business models while nurturing innovative and disruptive thinking through a plethora of services such as providing IP/patent support for University of Calgary (UCalgary) faculty, managing an investment fund, managing unique facilities for...
INNOVATE® Georgia
R2 LABS
SOLUTIONS ALLOW ANY MODERN SOFTWARE ENGINEER TO CONTROL EQUIPMENT THROUGH CODE ALONE.
R2 Labs builds robotic control and monitoring systems to help companies address skilled worker shortages, increase operational efficiency, and decrease time-to-market for newly introduced equipment. Their disruptive technology and tailor-made turnkey solution development services empower businesses to solve the most demanding robotics applications. HISTORY R2 was founded in 2021 by...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
AQUATIK ESPORTS
CREATING AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER!
With a mantra of ‘Esports for Everyone,’ Aquatik Esports is truly unique and has propelled an abrupt tidal wave of followers, fans, and participants spread across multiple channels and touchpoints across the world. By providing approachable spaces, opportunities, and platforms for amateur competitive gamers, creators, and streamers to launch their...
INNOVATE® Nashville
VENDENGINE
DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY
In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Mixallogy
Reinventing The Cocktail Making Experience
Mixallogy is reinventing the cocktail making experience in the US. Our USDA certified organic mixers make bartender-approved cocktails in a minute, anywhere. And they’re only 40 calories! class=”col-md-4 img-page”> Our powdered mixers are made in the US with a patented drying technology that uses minimal processing to eliminate...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
SUCCES KOFFIE
A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES
Succes Koffie is a coffee roaster/brand with a never ending passion for nature, experiences and a little rebellion. As a team they channel these interests into their coffees and the way they engage with their customers. Tom Arts, CEO The journey of Succes Koffie started more than 130 years ago...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand
ELEVATOR PITCH At Civilized Coffee it is not just about sourcing and roasting great coffee—it is about creating a culture around the brand. Northeast Florida has a very strong environment and support system for Coffee and Tea. Their reason to take this small business global was to bring awareness to...
INNOVATE® Nashville
RJ Young
How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast
For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HORUS SOLUTIONS
EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT HORUS SOLUTIONS INNOVATES WITH THE FALCON SOLUTION
Horus Solutions is a national company that stands out as a specialist in information management solutions. Since its foundation in 1995, Horus has played an important role in the business scene, offering excellent services throughout the national and international territories. As an official partner of leading software companies such as...
United Nations Lesotho
IOM
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
United Nations Migration Agency Established in 1951, with 175 Member States, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing support to migrants across the world, developing effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration and providing advice on migration...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
ECOHUB (PTY) LTD
“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”
July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
DCI MARKETING
CELEBRATING ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024, DCI MARKETING FOSTERS A CULTURE OF INNOVATION FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS FOR FORTUNE 50 COMPANIES, MAJOR RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS.
As American forces crossed the English Channel to liberate France in June 1944, Milwaukee native Lloyd A. Sauer was thinking forward to a post-war era. Sauer purchased a small company called ColorPrint Products Printing and began producing window signage for shoe stores. But it was Cadillac and Harley-Davidson that propelled...
INNOVATION Quebec
CINDERELLA'S
ELEVATING CLEANING STANDARDS FOR A PRISTINE SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The dynamic husband and wife team of Mark and Tracey Ferdinands, set out to disrupt the cleaning industry with their innovative Territory Management System. Armed with a strong hospitality background and a team of highly trained and caring professionals, the Cinderella’s team consistently delivers exceptional results. Larger organisations are flocking...
INNOVATE® Miami
PADL
Makes getting out on the water easy by combining technology and paddleboards into its paddle share system
PADL makes getting out on the water easy by combining technology and paddleboards into its paddle share system. Users can quickly unlock a smart board from one of PADL’s docking stations through the mobile app and enjoy their ride. PADL is on a mission to get more people out on...
Global Innovation Spotlight
GreenGeeks vs. InMotion:
A Real WordPress Performance Comparison
GreenGeeks vs. InMotion: A Real WordPress Performance Comparison I spent the better part of 2025 months running WordPress sites on both GreenGeeks and InMotion Hosting. I tested load times, uptime, server response, and how each platform handled traffic under pressure. I also paid attention to the smaller things, like how...
INNOVATION Quebec
CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS D’INNOVATION EN BIOTECHNOLOGIE (CQIB)
LE CQIB, AU CŒUR DE L’ÉCOSYSTÈME ENTREPRENEURRIAL EN SCIENCES DE LA VIE
Les lecteurs de cette publication sont bien placés pour le savoir : le Québec est un terreau incroyablement fertile pour l’innovation. Si on génère autant d’innovations en sol québécois, c’est notamment parce que nous avons en place des organisations mobilisatrice qui catalyse notre expertise et notre savoir. Parmi ces organisations,...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Madrona
A Partner and Backer of Founders at the Innovation, Early and Acceleration Stages
Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces and more. As the tech footprint in Seattle has grown, so have we. Madrona opened a Silicon Valley...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
GLOBAL E-TALENT
MEETING YOUR TALENT ACQUISITION NEEDS
Global e-Talent Pty Ltd (GeT) is a young Sandton, Johannesburg-based talent search, placement, and onboarding firm. It partners with both private and public organisations, to meet their talent acquisition needs and that such talent is adequately integrated into their business. Behind the conventional recruitment agency, behind it sits a very...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
NBIF
Established in 2003, NBIF continues to build on New Brunswick's history as a leading innovation hub
At the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, we’re building on a remarkable history of ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit in New Brunswick to propel the development of the next generation of global technology firms. Heading into our third decade of catapulting innovative ideas into thriving enterprises, our organization – better known by...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ROOMII
ROOMII’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ASPIRATIONAL FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME
Roomii is an online marketplace that lets you lease out your furniture to people who don’t want to own it. Our platform lets you earn a return on your furniture investment while helping people furnish their space short-term with quality pre-owned furniture. Roomii’s story began in the spring of 2020....
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
TAV SYSTEMS
EXPORTING HIGH-QUALITY E-BIKE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE WORLD
TAV is an E-Bike startup based in Adelaide, Australia, that was incorporated in April 2020. Supported by the Government of South Australia and Flinders University under the program called Supporting innovation in South Australia, TAV’s mission is to export Australian-built E-Bike technologies to global brands, foster local innovation, and deliver...
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™ Curitiba
PINATI
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, SO HAVE THE SNACKS
Not wanting to conform with the snack industry, Waldemiro Pereira founded Pinati Snacks in 2013. But the beginning was not easy. With little financial resources, he would buy healthy homemade cereal bars from a local couple in the metropolitan area in Curitiba and, with personalized packaging, sell them on to...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
JOE PUBLIC
OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE, OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COUNTRY.
Joe Public was established in Cape Town in 1998 by Gareth Leck and Pepe Marais. They opened the agency’s doors to the public with something completely new, Take-Away Advertising. This revolutionary model allowed hungry clients to order an ad off a menu with a price list, making Joe Public a...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
Innovate Calgary
Bridging the gap between discovery and creating economic and societal impact
We are the innovation engine for UCalgary, one of the top research universities in Canada. We support existing business models while nurturing innovative and disruptive thinking through a plethora of services such as providing IP/patent support for University of Calgary (UCalgary) faculty, managing an investment fund, managing unique facilities for...
INNOVATE® Georgia
R2 LABS
SOLUTIONS ALLOW ANY MODERN SOFTWARE ENGINEER TO CONTROL EQUIPMENT THROUGH CODE ALONE.
R2 Labs builds robotic control and monitoring systems to help companies address skilled worker shortages, increase operational efficiency, and decrease time-to-market for newly introduced equipment. Their disruptive technology and tailor-made turnkey solution development services empower businesses to solve the most demanding robotics applications. HISTORY R2 was founded in 2021 by...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
AQUATIK ESPORTS
CREATING AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER!
With a mantra of ‘Esports for Everyone,’ Aquatik Esports is truly unique and has propelled an abrupt tidal wave of followers, fans, and participants spread across multiple channels and touchpoints across the world. By providing approachable spaces, opportunities, and platforms for amateur competitive gamers, creators, and streamers to launch their...
INNOVATE® Nashville
VENDENGINE
DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY
In 2011, VendEngine started as a simple concept — digitizing financial transactions for law enforcement, jails and prisons while providing easy, safe, and secure methods to transmit money between family members and inmates. Once the company got going however, this simple concept, something that had been done in nearly every...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Mixallogy
Reinventing The Cocktail Making Experience
Mixallogy is reinventing the cocktail making experience in the US. Our USDA certified organic mixers make bartender-approved cocktails in a minute, anywhere. And they’re only 40 calories! class=”col-md-4 img-page”> Our powdered mixers are made in the US with a patented drying technology that uses minimal processing to eliminate...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
SUCCES KOFFIE
A STORY ABOUT NEVER NO COFFEE AND NEW EXPERIENCES
Succes Koffie is a coffee roaster/brand with a never ending passion for nature, experiences and a little rebellion. As a team they channel these interests into their coffees and the way they engage with their customers. Tom Arts, CEO The journey of Succes Koffie started more than 130 years ago...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Civilized Coffee Company - About Creating A Culture Around The Brand
ELEVATOR PITCH At Civilized Coffee it is not just about sourcing and roasting great coffee—it is about creating a culture around the brand. Northeast Florida has a very strong environment and support system for Coffee and Tea. Their reason to take this small business global was to bring awareness to...
INNOVATE® Nashville
RJ Young
How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast
For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
HORUS SOLUTIONS
EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT HORUS SOLUTIONS INNOVATES WITH THE FALCON SOLUTION
Horus Solutions is a national company that stands out as a specialist in information management solutions. Since its foundation in 1995, Horus has played an important role in the business scene, offering excellent services throughout the national and international territories. As an official partner of leading software companies such as...
United Nations Lesotho
IOM
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
United Nations Migration Agency Established in 1951, with 175 Member States, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing support to migrants across the world, developing effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration and providing advice on migration...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
ECOHUB (PTY) LTD
“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”
July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
DCI MARKETING
CELEBRATING ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024, DCI MARKETING FOSTERS A CULTURE OF INNOVATION FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS FOR FORTUNE 50 COMPANIES, MAJOR RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS.
As American forces crossed the English Channel to liberate France in June 1944, Milwaukee native Lloyd A. Sauer was thinking forward to a post-war era. Sauer purchased a small company called ColorPrint Products Printing and began producing window signage for shoe stores. But it was Cadillac and Harley-Davidson that propelled...