Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
CATALYST COMMONS
BUILT FOR ENTREPRENEURS, BY ENTREPRENEURS
In the heart of KW’s tech hub, a century-old industrial site has been reimagined as one of Canada’s largest privately held coworking spaces. What used to be Dominion Tire factory is now the home base for more than 170 companies who work out of Catalyst Commons. Inside its 120,000-plus square...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
The Positive Life Company
In a World of Chaos, Our Happiness Is Being Tested Everyday
In a world of chaos, our happiness is being tested everyday. According to the World Happiness Report, the United States is the unhappiest it has ever been. Finding innovative ways to protect and sustain our happiness levels is the basis of The Positive Life Company. We believe that, through...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
CENTRIQ
OPENING NEW PATHWAYS INTO TECHNOLOGY
From classrooms and retail counters to military service and recent graduation, professionals from many backgrounds are finding their way into technology. Practical training provides the bridge that helps them build real-world skills and begin new careers. For more than three decades, Centriq Training has helped people take that step. Based...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
YORKTEL
YOUR CATALYST FOR COLLABORATION IN AV, IT, AND VOICE
In a world where the only constant is change, the ability to adapt and innovate is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity. Within the increasingly dynamic collaboration industry, Yorktel stands as a shining example of a company that embodies these qualities. Their journey as a Managed Collaboration Services Provider...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
NTT DATA
A TRUSTED GLOBAL INNOVATOR
Between the Top 10 Global IT Services Providers NTT DATA helps your clients to transform their businesses and society for the digital future. As a part of NTT Group, one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, NTT DATA leverages its global reach and local expertise to serve clients in over...
INNOVATE® South Florida
ISACA South Florida Chapter
EMPOWERING SOUTH FLORIDA’S INNOVATORS THROUGH IT RISK MANAGEMENT & CYBERSECURITY
EMPOWERING SOUTH FLORIDA’S INNOVATORSTHROUGH IT RISK MANAGEMENT & CYBERSECURITY ISACA South Florida Overview ISACA South Florida is a prominent chapter of the global Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), dedicated to advancing professionals in IT governance, risk management, cybersecurity, and related fields. Chartered on December 2, 1978, as the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
WHEEL DATA STRATEGIES
STEERING ANALYTICS TOWARDS SOCIAL AND BUSINESS IMPACT
Executives and knowledge workers in corporate America view the world through the lens of their company’s products, services, and their profitability. Successful corporations adopt focused product development strategies that align with their corporate objectives and deliver projects using planned resources and expertise. Dr. Priya Sarathy, founder of Wheel Data Strategies...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GW - George Washington University
Technology Commercialization Office and Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Technology Commercialization Office and Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Inspire, Innovate, Impact The George Washington University (GW) GW is a vibrant hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the core of this dynamic institution are two offices founded in 2010: The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO), a powerhouse dedicated to transforming groundbreaking...
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™ South Africa
iTOUCH
FROM ZERO TO BILLION$
In a world where data has become the currency of our supposed future resulting in valuations of businesses from zero to billions within a relatively short while, you need to ask yourself this question; How am I benefitting from the data-sets I have in my business, if at all? And...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Gemba Systems
Empowering People with Smarter Technologies
In the heart of Greenville, South Carolina, Gemba Systems Inc. is redefining what “smart manufacturing” really means. Rather than chasing automation for its own sake, the company focuses on empowering people with smarter technologies – solutions that give manufacturers the visibility, insight, and control they need to perform at their...
INNOVATE® Georgia
PLAYON
ONWARD AND UPWARD: INNOVATION FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WITH PLAYON
PlayOn was created to champion the spirit of play. The PlayOn team is comprised of GoFan, the NFHS Network, and rSchoolToday – three brands united by a shared passion for school athletics and activities. PlayOn propels schools onward with enduring innovation and service to save time and focus on what...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
THE WISTAR INSTITUTE
TODAY’S DISCOVERIES, TOMORROW’S CURES
More than 130 years after its founding, The Wistar Institute, the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute, is in the midst of its most consequential chapter yet. In December 2025, the National Cancer Institute awarded Wistar’s Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center an “Exceptional” rating, recognizing the Institute’s role as...
INNOVATION Quebec
HYDRO-QUÉBEC
L’INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE
LA TRANSITION ÉNERGÉTIQUE EST EN MARCHE. LE SECTEUR DE L’ÉNERGIE CONNAÎT DE PROFONDES TRANSFORMATIONS PROVOQUÉES NOTAMMENT PAR LA RECHERCHE DE SOLUTIONS DURABLES AUX EFFETS DES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES, AUX NOUVEAUX BESOINS ET HABITUDES DE CONSOMMATION DE NOS CLIENTS, ET PAR LA GRANDE ACCESSIBILITÉ DE NOUVELLES TECHNOLOGIES. Si l’invention du transport d’électricité...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
VALLEY BANK
INNOVATION BREEDS CREATIVITY
Valley Bank is committed to fostering a culture where people can collaborate, create, and conceive ideas that provide our customers with an unmatched banking experience. That’s why we don’t define innovation from strictly a technological perspective, but rather as a way to enhance our customers’ experience through thoughtful, creative solutions...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
ESFANDIARI
DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION
Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...
Global Innovation Spotlight
PINKTUM
Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital
A new form of human resources development is needed to successfully master global challenges. As one of the leading providers of E-learning and web-based trainings for effective and sustainable personnel development in companies, PINKTUM breaks new ground in Madrid’s start-up scene. PINKTUM offers scientifically based personnel development in the digital...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
Stone & Chalk Group
Is the largest innovation community in Australia.
Since its inception in 2015, Stone & Chalk’s mission has been to transform Australia into a sustainable, technology-driven economy. As a not-for-profit, purpose-driven, and sustainable organisation, Stone & Chalk works to support startups, scaleups, corporations, and governments through every stage of their innovation journey. The Stone & Chalk capital G...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THE CIRCLE
FIRST NATIONS ENTREPRENEUR HUB AT THE CENTRE OF SA’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Located within the Lot Fourteen innovation district in the heart of Adelaide, is a vibrant and welcoming First Nations entrepreneur hub called The Circle. A partnership between the Australian and South Australian Governments, and funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, The Circle is positioned at the centre of the...
INNOVATE™ Logistics
OMP
THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE: HOW BUSINESSES STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH ADVANCED SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING
The world today is dynamic and disruptive, making supply chains more complex than ever before. With the rise of globalization, collaboration among different players in the supply chain is crucial. Business leaders, supply chain planners, financial teams, and technology teams all have their own concerns. As if that weren’t enough,...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
TINDO SOLAR
Australian Made and Proud of it
FOUNDING STORYTindo Solar has been making solar PV modules in South Australia since 2011, producing more than 280,000 panels and even exporting to Asia. The company was aptly named with ‘Tindo’ meaning ‘sun’ in the Kaurna language. Australians are now demanding sovereign capability for high-quality, durable panels that are custom-made...
INNOVATION Manitoba
PLUTO VENTURES
THE MISSING DATA POINT
While growing Geofilter Studio, an account representative from Google reached out to Chris Schmidt, informing him that his Google Ads had generated some of the highest-performing metrics they had ever seen. This opened the opportunity to see behind the scenes at Google, which sparked an immediate interest in big data....
INNOVATION Quebec
OROT
CONNECTED HEALTH INNOVATION HUB
The connected health innovation hub – OROT plays a key role in revolutionizing how health and medical technologies are developed to improve care. Clinicians, researchers, healthcare users and entrepreneurs are challenged to use innovative, human-centred design to create exceptional, lower-cost experiences for healthcare recipients. OROT is part of the Integrated...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
CATALYST COMMONS
BUILT FOR ENTREPRENEURS, BY ENTREPRENEURS
In the heart of KW’s tech hub, a century-old industrial site has been reimagined as one of Canada’s largest privately held coworking spaces. What used to be Dominion Tire factory is now the home base for more than 170 companies who work out of Catalyst Commons. Inside its 120,000-plus square...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
The Positive Life Company
In a World of Chaos, Our Happiness Is Being Tested Everyday
In a world of chaos, our happiness is being tested everyday. According to the World Happiness Report, the United States is the unhappiest it has ever been. Finding innovative ways to protect and sustain our happiness levels is the basis of The Positive Life Company. We believe that, through...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
CENTRIQ
OPENING NEW PATHWAYS INTO TECHNOLOGY
From classrooms and retail counters to military service and recent graduation, professionals from many backgrounds are finding their way into technology. Practical training provides the bridge that helps them build real-world skills and begin new careers. For more than three decades, Centriq Training has helped people take that step. Based...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
YORKTEL
YOUR CATALYST FOR COLLABORATION IN AV, IT, AND VOICE
In a world where the only constant is change, the ability to adapt and innovate is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity. Within the increasingly dynamic collaboration industry, Yorktel stands as a shining example of a company that embodies these qualities. Their journey as a Managed Collaboration Services Provider...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CIRCA
BRANDING THAT DRIVES MEANINGFUL & MEASURED GROWTH
Circa helps organizations in vital growth periods uncover who they are, connect with who they serve, and build brands that last. In 2015, founders Tori Thomas and Laura Deleot set out with a clear vision: create what matters. They built Circa to not only deliver value for clients, but also...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
NTT DATA
A TRUSTED GLOBAL INNOVATOR
Between the Top 10 Global IT Services Providers NTT DATA helps your clients to transform their businesses and society for the digital future. As a part of NTT Group, one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, NTT DATA leverages its global reach and local expertise to serve clients in over...
INNOVATE® South Florida
ISACA South Florida Chapter
EMPOWERING SOUTH FLORIDA’S INNOVATORS THROUGH IT RISK MANAGEMENT & CYBERSECURITY
EMPOWERING SOUTH FLORIDA’S INNOVATORSTHROUGH IT RISK MANAGEMENT & CYBERSECURITY ISACA South Florida Overview ISACA South Florida is a prominent chapter of the global Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), dedicated to advancing professionals in IT governance, risk management, cybersecurity, and related fields. Chartered on December 2, 1978, as the...
INNOVATE® Georgia
WHEEL DATA STRATEGIES
STEERING ANALYTICS TOWARDS SOCIAL AND BUSINESS IMPACT
Executives and knowledge workers in corporate America view the world through the lens of their company’s products, services, and their profitability. Successful corporations adopt focused product development strategies that align with their corporate objectives and deliver projects using planned resources and expertise. Dr. Priya Sarathy, founder of Wheel Data Strategies...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GW - George Washington University
Technology Commercialization Office and Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Technology Commercialization Office and Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Inspire, Innovate, Impact The George Washington University (GW) GW is a vibrant hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the core of this dynamic institution are two offices founded in 2010: The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO), a powerhouse dedicated to transforming groundbreaking...
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™ South Africa
iTOUCH
FROM ZERO TO BILLION$
In a world where data has become the currency of our supposed future resulting in valuations of businesses from zero to billions within a relatively short while, you need to ask yourself this question; How am I benefitting from the data-sets I have in my business, if at all? And...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
Gemba Systems
Empowering People with Smarter Technologies
In the heart of Greenville, South Carolina, Gemba Systems Inc. is redefining what “smart manufacturing” really means. Rather than chasing automation for its own sake, the company focuses on empowering people with smarter technologies – solutions that give manufacturers the visibility, insight, and control they need to perform at their...
INNOVATE® Georgia
PLAYON
ONWARD AND UPWARD: INNOVATION FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WITH PLAYON
PlayOn was created to champion the spirit of play. The PlayOn team is comprised of GoFan, the NFHS Network, and rSchoolToday – three brands united by a shared passion for school athletics and activities. PlayOn propels schools onward with enduring innovation and service to save time and focus on what...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
THE WISTAR INSTITUTE
TODAY’S DISCOVERIES, TOMORROW’S CURES
More than 130 years after its founding, The Wistar Institute, the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute, is in the midst of its most consequential chapter yet. In December 2025, the National Cancer Institute awarded Wistar’s Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center an “Exceptional” rating, recognizing the Institute’s role as...
INNOVATION Quebec
HYDRO-QUÉBEC
L’INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE
LA TRANSITION ÉNERGÉTIQUE EST EN MARCHE. LE SECTEUR DE L’ÉNERGIE CONNAÎT DE PROFONDES TRANSFORMATIONS PROVOQUÉES NOTAMMENT PAR LA RECHERCHE DE SOLUTIONS DURABLES AUX EFFETS DES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES, AUX NOUVEAUX BESOINS ET HABITUDES DE CONSOMMATION DE NOS CLIENTS, ET PAR LA GRANDE ACCESSIBILITÉ DE NOUVELLES TECHNOLOGIES. Si l’invention du transport d’électricité...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
VALLEY BANK
INNOVATION BREEDS CREATIVITY
Valley Bank is committed to fostering a culture where people can collaborate, create, and conceive ideas that provide our customers with an unmatched banking experience. That’s why we don’t define innovation from strictly a technological perspective, but rather as a way to enhance our customers’ experience through thoughtful, creative solutions...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
ESFANDIARI
DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE FOR FASHION
Born just outside Stockholm in 2000, Samantha Esfandiari has quickly emerged as a powerful new voice in the Swedish fashion industry. One that merges skilled craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability and circular design. As a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she is shaping a bold vision of what fashion...
Global Innovation Spotlight
PINKTUM
Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital
A new form of human resources development is needed to successfully master global challenges. As one of the leading providers of E-learning and web-based trainings for effective and sustainable personnel development in companies, PINKTUM breaks new ground in Madrid’s start-up scene. PINKTUM offers scientifically based personnel development in the digital...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
Stone & Chalk Group
Is the largest innovation community in Australia.
Since its inception in 2015, Stone & Chalk’s mission has been to transform Australia into a sustainable, technology-driven economy. As a not-for-profit, purpose-driven, and sustainable organisation, Stone & Chalk works to support startups, scaleups, corporations, and governments through every stage of their innovation journey. The Stone & Chalk capital G...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THE CIRCLE
FIRST NATIONS ENTREPRENEUR HUB AT THE CENTRE OF SA’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Located within the Lot Fourteen innovation district in the heart of Adelaide, is a vibrant and welcoming First Nations entrepreneur hub called The Circle. A partnership between the Australian and South Australian Governments, and funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, The Circle is positioned at the centre of the...
INNOVATE™ Logistics
OMP
THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE: HOW BUSINESSES STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH ADVANCED SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING
The world today is dynamic and disruptive, making supply chains more complex than ever before. With the rise of globalization, collaboration among different players in the supply chain is crucial. Business leaders, supply chain planners, financial teams, and technology teams all have their own concerns. As if that weren’t enough,...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
TINDO SOLAR
Australian Made and Proud of it
FOUNDING STORYTindo Solar has been making solar PV modules in South Australia since 2011, producing more than 280,000 panels and even exporting to Asia. The company was aptly named with ‘Tindo’ meaning ‘sun’ in the Kaurna language. Australians are now demanding sovereign capability for high-quality, durable panels that are custom-made...
INNOVATION Manitoba
PLUTO VENTURES
THE MISSING DATA POINT
While growing Geofilter Studio, an account representative from Google reached out to Chris Schmidt, informing him that his Google Ads had generated some of the highest-performing metrics they had ever seen. This opened the opportunity to see behind the scenes at Google, which sparked an immediate interest in big data....
INNOVATION Quebec
OROT
CONNECTED HEALTH INNOVATION HUB
The connected health innovation hub – OROT plays a key role in revolutionizing how health and medical technologies are developed to improve care. Clinicians, researchers, healthcare users and entrepreneurs are challenged to use innovative, human-centred design to create exceptional, lower-cost experiences for healthcare recipients. OROT is part of the Integrated...