Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

CAY COLLECTIVE

REDEFINING THE CREATIVE MARKET

In a world where creative talent often struggles to meet commerce, Cay Collective is shaping a new path. Founded in 2023 by Johanna Gauffin and Natalie Navia, the Stockholm-based platform serves as a marketplace for independent artists, fashion designers, and lifestyle creators offering more than just a digital storefront. Cay...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

C2GRID

TURNING VIDEO INTO REAL-TIME 3D INTELLIGENCE

C2GRID didn’t start life as a company with a polished business plan or venture capital pitch. It began at Estonia’s Darkstar Defence Hackathon – an event uniting innovators, veterans, and investors to build technologies that strengthen NATO and its allies. The founders, originally exploring human–robot integration at Tallinn University of...

INNOVATE® Miami

Startup Safari Miami

Startup Safari Miami - An adventure into one of the fastest-growing startup hotspots in the Americas

An adventure into one of the fastest-growing startup hotspots in the Americas

Multi-day, Unconference that brings together startups and early-stage entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, service providers, accelerator programs, in a multi-venue to experience the city’s local startup ecosystem including a startup competition. DISCOVER YOUR FUTURE SELF AND GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE BEST STARTUPS AND TECH COMPANIES IN MIAMI. Startup SAFARI...

INNOVATION Quebec

ExperiSens

CCTT IN THE MULTISENSORY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND HOSPITALITY

ExperiSens is a college centre for the transfer of technologies and innovative social practices (CCTT) at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) that performs applied research and provides technical assistance, training, and information to tourismand hospitality organizations and professionals while enriching the ITHQ’s educational mission. Optimizing hospitality...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

H3ALTH TECHNOLOGIES INC

REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AUTONOMY

The founder’s father was raised in a one-room home in the country side of a small town in Ethiopia that is unknown to most people. Tin roof, mudded walls. The founder’s mother from another town where education wasn’t supposed to be the path for women. His parents didn’t have access...

INNOVATION Quebec

PME MTL

SERVING MONTRÉAL ENTREPRENEURS

The mission of PME MTL, Ville de Montréal support network for businesses, is to anticipate and foster the socioeconomic development of our communities in an integrated, concerted and sustainable manner. PME MTL offers financing and support for: It offers support to private sector and social economy entrepreneurs on the Island...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

pH7 TECHNOLOGIES

At the forefront of sustainable resource extraction

Specialized cleantech solutions.pH7 Technologies Inc. delivers specialized cleantech solutions for the extraction of critical metals necessary for the transition to renewable energies. We have pioneered a proprietary process that provides a near-net-zero environmental impact in the extraction of key metals and minerals. This sustainable closed-loop process makes it an ideal...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR

PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR - ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)

Canada’s first NSERC-P&WC Executive Industrial Chair in Aerospace Research on Propulsion System Integration and Optimization (2011-2016). These projects filled a significant lack of data and criteria in the literature on the preliminary design phase of aircraft engines. The goal was to develop an automated and integrated turbine design system that...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DESTINATION TORONTO IFC

FOUNDED ON INNOVATION

Today, as Toronto strives to be a model of wellness and sustainability, the city looks to learn from Indigenous communities, combining many traditional practices with contemporary medicine, design and green technologies....

INNOVATE® Detroit

POCKETNEST

Financial Wellness for the Next Generation

Many people think having a “financial plan” means having a budget, a retirement savings account, and maybe a small cash reserve. But, those basic financials are only scratching the surface and exclude some key details like estate documents, saving strategies, or debt elimination plans. With that popular—and lacking—mindset, it’s perhaps...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK

ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the largest co-located multi-disciplinary robotics research centre in the UK. It is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol and home to over 300 academics, industry practitioners, and researchers from all over the world. Together, they are world leaders...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ

ZONE D’INNOVATION QUANTIQUE

DistriQ, Quantum Innovation Zone, is an organization that provides expertise and infrastructure to foster the emergence and acceleration of innovation in the quantum science and technology sector. DistriQ supports the development of one of the first innovation zones of the Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BMA GROUP

A GLOBAL WORKFORCE

BMA Group Global is a prominent Human Resources consulting firm with 25 years of experience, serving organizations in 23 countries through innovative business solutions. Founded in Puerto Rico in 1997, the company has evolved with the changing needs of the worldwide marketplace. BMA Group made its entrance into the staffing...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

MAILPROTECTOR

MOVING OUR WORLD FORWARD WITH EMAIL

Zero Assumptions. Real Trust. The printing press. The telegraph wire. And email. Few inventions have shaped human progress as profoundly as our ability to communicate — sharing ideas, plans, failures, and discoveries across distance and time. Organizations move forward through communication, and so does society itself. Yet as email has...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CERFO

LE CENTRE D’ENSEIGNEMENT ET DE RECHERCHE EN FORESTERIE DE SAINTEFOY (CERFO) EST UN CENTRE COLLÉGIAL DE TRANSFERT TECHNOLOGIQUE (CCTT). Sa mission est de contribuer à la progression technologique et à l’essor des entreprises, des organismes et des maisons d’enseignement collégial associés au secteur forestier québécois, dans une perspective de développement...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CITRINE ANGELS

SUPPORTING FEMALE FOUNDERS AND FUNDERS FOR A STRONGER ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM

In a world where investment landscapes favor men, Citrine Angels emerges as a game-changer for its support of female founders and funders. Founded in 2019 by Allyson Redpath along with DC power players Lisa Friedlander, Stephanie Bauer Marshall and Aurelia Flores, Citrine Angels is a dynamic, female-only membership group based...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Hackathons International

Where ideas are put into action!

Many of us have ideas, but how many of us have actually tried to make their ideas a reality? While often seen as tech events for coders, Hackathons offers tremendous value – more than meets the eye. Hackathons are a framework used by CEOs, educators, community leaders, and marketers across...

Global Innovation Spotlight

LEXAWISE: WHERE REAL ESTATE EXAM PREP MEETS REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS

There are many platforms that offer courses to prepare students for the real estate exam, but most focus on concepts and formulas rather than on preparing students for the realities of the exam. Lexawise was created to address that recurring gap, with a real estate exam prep platform focused on candidates preparing for both...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIRADD

CCTT D’INNOVATION SOCIALE EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE

Fondé en 2006, le CIRADD est depuis 2010 un CCTT en pratiques sociales novatrices spécialisé en développement territorial durable. Situé en Gaspésie, le centre fait partie du Réseau des CCTT. La mission du CIRADD est de soutenir et d’accompagner les organismes, les entreprises et les collectivités vers le développement durable...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN CAMDEN

Research Innovation with Local Impact and Global Reach

Rutgers University in Camden provides groundbreaking, impactful research while offering students truly experiential education in a close-knit, supportive environment. Rutgers University is one of the oldest, most respected institutions of higher learning in the country; Camden is a city known for its determination and resilience. Rutgers–Camden is resolute, relentlessly driving...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BUENA VIBRA

Thriving in the ‘Multicooltural’ Creative Business-How culture shapes the entertainment business in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

For years, the founders of Buena Vibra asked themselves how to praise the Puerto Rican talent. They were always aware of all the potential that the island held, recognizing the fast evolution and future globalization of the latin music, star product of the island that gave them life. They had...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

CAY COLLECTIVE

REDEFINING THE CREATIVE MARKET

In a world where creative talent often struggles to meet commerce, Cay Collective is shaping a new path. Founded in 2023 by Johanna Gauffin and Natalie Navia, the Stockholm-based platform serves as a marketplace for independent artists, fashion designers, and lifestyle creators offering more than just a digital storefront. Cay...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

C2GRID

TURNING VIDEO INTO REAL-TIME 3D INTELLIGENCE

C2GRID didn’t start life as a company with a polished business plan or venture capital pitch. It began at Estonia’s Darkstar Defence Hackathon – an event uniting innovators, veterans, and investors to build technologies that strengthen NATO and its allies. The founders, originally exploring human–robot integration at Tallinn University of...

INNOVATE® Miami

Startup Safari Miami

Startup Safari Miami - An adventure into one of the fastest-growing startup hotspots in the Americas

An adventure into one of the fastest-growing startup hotspots in the Americas

Multi-day, Unconference that brings together startups and early-stage entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, service providers, accelerator programs, in a multi-venue to experience the city’s local startup ecosystem including a startup competition. DISCOVER YOUR FUTURE SELF AND GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE BEST STARTUPS AND TECH COMPANIES IN MIAMI. Startup SAFARI...

INNOVATION Quebec

ExperiSens

CCTT IN THE MULTISENSORY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND HOSPITALITY

ExperiSens is a college centre for the transfer of technologies and innovative social practices (CCTT) at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) that performs applied research and provides technical assistance, training, and information to tourismand hospitality organizations and professionals while enriching the ITHQ’s educational mission. Optimizing hospitality...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

H3ALTH TECHNOLOGIES INC

REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AUTONOMY

The founder’s father was raised in a one-room home in the country side of a small town in Ethiopia that is unknown to most people. Tin roof, mudded walls. The founder’s mother from another town where education wasn’t supposed to be the path for women. His parents didn’t have access...

INNOVATION Quebec

PME MTL

SERVING MONTRÉAL ENTREPRENEURS

The mission of PME MTL, Ville de Montréal support network for businesses, is to anticipate and foster the socioeconomic development of our communities in an integrated, concerted and sustainable manner. PME MTL offers financing and support for: It offers support to private sector and social economy entrepreneurs on the Island...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

pH7 TECHNOLOGIES

At the forefront of sustainable resource extraction

Specialized cleantech solutions.pH7 Technologies Inc. delivers specialized cleantech solutions for the extraction of critical metals necessary for the transition to renewable energies. We have pioneered a proprietary process that provides a near-net-zero environmental impact in the extraction of key metals and minerals. This sustainable closed-loop process makes it an ideal...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

PERCH

PERCH-THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

THE PROPTECH STARTUP EMPOWERING CANADIANS ON THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP JOURNEY TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

Through technology and automation, Perch’s free analytics platform gives users detailed insights into all aspects regarding homeownership, all of which is supplemented by a dedicated mortgage advisor that strategizes with clients to help them achieve their homeownership goals. Perch’s mission is to empower Canadians to make more informed decisions when...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR

PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA INDUSTRIAL CHAIR - ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)

ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE ON PROPULSION SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND OPTIMIZATION (2011-2028)

Canada’s first NSERC-P&WC Executive Industrial Chair in Aerospace Research on Propulsion System Integration and Optimization (2011-2016). These projects filled a significant lack of data and criteria in the literature on the preliminary design phase of aircraft engines. The goal was to develop an automated and integrated turbine design system that...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

DESTINATION TORONTO IFC

FOUNDED ON INNOVATION

Today, as Toronto strives to be a model of wellness and sustainability, the city looks to learn from Indigenous communities, combining many traditional practices with contemporary medicine, design and green technologies....

INNOVATE® Detroit

POCKETNEST

Financial Wellness for the Next Generation

Many people think having a “financial plan” means having a budget, a retirement savings account, and maybe a small cash reserve. But, those basic financials are only scratching the surface and exclude some key details like estate documents, saving strategies, or debt elimination plans. With that popular—and lacking—mindset, it’s perhaps...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)-Is The Largest Co-Located Multidisciplinary Robotics Research Centre In The UK

ELEVATOR PITCH Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the largest co-located multi-disciplinary robotics research centre in the UK. It is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol and home to over 300 academics, industry practitioners, and researchers from all over the world. Together, they are world leaders...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ

ZONE D’INNOVATION QUANTIQUE

DistriQ, Quantum Innovation Zone, is an organization that provides expertise and infrastructure to foster the emergence and acceleration of innovation in the quantum science and technology sector. DistriQ supports the development of one of the first innovation zones of the Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BMA GROUP

A GLOBAL WORKFORCE

BMA Group Global is a prominent Human Resources consulting firm with 25 years of experience, serving organizations in 23 countries through innovative business solutions. Founded in Puerto Rico in 1997, the company has evolved with the changing needs of the worldwide marketplace. BMA Group made its entrance into the staffing...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

MAILPROTECTOR

MOVING OUR WORLD FORWARD WITH EMAIL

Zero Assumptions. Real Trust. The printing press. The telegraph wire. And email. Few inventions have shaped human progress as profoundly as our ability to communicate — sharing ideas, plans, failures, and discoveries across distance and time. Organizations move forward through communication, and so does society itself. Yet as email has...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE CERFO

LE CENTRE D’ENSEIGNEMENT ET DE RECHERCHE EN FORESTERIE DE SAINTEFOY (CERFO) EST UN CENTRE COLLÉGIAL DE TRANSFERT TECHNOLOGIQUE (CCTT). Sa mission est de contribuer à la progression technologique et à l’essor des entreprises, des organismes et des maisons d’enseignement collégial associés au secteur forestier québécois, dans une perspective de développement...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CITRINE ANGELS

SUPPORTING FEMALE FOUNDERS AND FUNDERS FOR A STRONGER ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM

In a world where investment landscapes favor men, Citrine Angels emerges as a game-changer for its support of female founders and funders. Founded in 2019 by Allyson Redpath along with DC power players Lisa Friedlander, Stephanie Bauer Marshall and Aurelia Flores, Citrine Angels is a dynamic, female-only membership group based...

INNOVATE® South Florida

ROBOHOOD

REVOLUTIONIZING ART WITH ROBOTICS

Robohood is a groundbreaking startup that enables anyone to turn an image into a painting with their software and robotic arms. Originally founded by Anna Mishchenko and Nikolay Gavrilin, the company was inspired by Anna’s personal journey. Anna grew up with hand tremors that prevented her from painting, so she...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Hackathons International

Where ideas are put into action!

Many of us have ideas, but how many of us have actually tried to make their ideas a reality? While often seen as tech events for coders, Hackathons offers tremendous value – more than meets the eye. Hackathons are a framework used by CEOs, educators, community leaders, and marketers across...

Global Innovation Spotlight

LEXAWISE: WHERE REAL ESTATE EXAM PREP MEETS REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS

There are many platforms that offer courses to prepare students for the real estate exam, but most focus on concepts and formulas rather than on preparing students for the realities of the exam. Lexawise was created to address that recurring gap, with a real estate exam prep platform focused on candidates preparing for both...

INNOVATION Quebec

CIRADD

CCTT D’INNOVATION SOCIALE EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE

Fondé en 2006, le CIRADD est depuis 2010 un CCTT en pratiques sociales novatrices spécialisé en développement territorial durable. Situé en Gaspésie, le centre fait partie du Réseau des CCTT. La mission du CIRADD est de soutenir et d’accompagner les organismes, les entreprises et les collectivités vers le développement durable...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

CarpeDM

Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women

“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN CAMDEN

Research Innovation with Local Impact and Global Reach

Rutgers University in Camden provides groundbreaking, impactful research while offering students truly experiential education in a close-knit, supportive environment. Rutgers University is one of the oldest, most respected institutions of higher learning in the country; Camden is a city known for its determination and resilience. Rutgers–Camden is resolute, relentlessly driving...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BUENA VIBRA

Thriving in the ‘Multicooltural’ Creative Business-How culture shapes the entertainment business in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

For years, the founders of Buena Vibra asked themselves how to praise the Puerto Rican talent. They were always aware of all the potential that the island held, recognizing the fast evolution and future globalization of the latin music, star product of the island that gave them life. They had...

Ecosystems