Stories of Innovation

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® Blockchain

KALEIDO

KALEIDO-

WHEN KALEIDO, A RALEIGH, NC BASED COMPANY, BROUGHT THE BLOCKCHAIN BUSINESS CLOUD TO MARKET, BLOCKCHAIN DEVELOPMENT TOOK A LEAP FORWARD

When Kaleido, a Raleigh, NC based company, brought the Blockchain Business Cloud to market, blockchain development took a leap forward. For the first time, developers had access to a full-stack SaaS platform for creating, operating, and scaling enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. Kaleido made it possible to deploy blockchain nodes across clouds...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

FLÖDE

REWRITING FASHION’S DNA THROUGH SCALABLE UPCYCLING AND RADICAL RESPONSIBILITY

FLÖDE is a research-driven upcycling studio and remanufacturing lab founded in 2024 with one purpose: to prove that sustainable fashion production is not only possible, it’s necessary, scalable, and better by design. Where others see textile waste, Flöde sees a vast, untapped resource. Beyond waste: How Flöde turns discarded clothing...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BENCHMARK SIXTY

THINK DIFFERENTLY. PROTECT PEOPLE. CHANGE RESTAURANTS

Benchmark Sixty is not your usual entrepreneurial story. It wasn’t an idea that was burning inside of a serial entrepreneur, or a strategically thought out plan. It was an “accidental startup” that sprouted from the pain points of an industry that was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What started as...

INNOVATION Quebec

CQMF

LE CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS SUR LES MATÉRIAUX FONCTIONNELS (CQMF) EST UN REGROUPEMENT STRATÉGIQUE DU FRQNT1 QUI RASSEMBLE PLUS DE 100 GROUPES DE RECHERCHE UNIVERSITAIRES ET COLLÉGIAUX, AINSI QUE PLUSIEURS PLATEFORMES SCIENTIFIQUES. Le CQMF adresse les grands défis de société par le biais des matériaux ayant des fonctionnalités avancées2 développés en étroite...

INNOVATE® Seattle

SYNDIO

SYNDIO HELPS HR LEADERS NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD WITH TECHNOLOGY

SYNDIO HELPS HR LEADERS NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD WITH TECHNOLOGY Companies with great cultures win in the market. Yet today, vital  elements that define culture — like how a company values its employees through pay and advancement — are on full display. In this environment of growing transparency requirements, it’s...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ZENUS BANK

ZENUS BANK-Banking beyond borders

Banking beyond borders

We’re on a mission to build a financial institution that gives people and businesses around the world access to the security, freedom and convenience of US banking. And to create a world where physical borders don’t limit the financial services you have access to – taking banking beyond borders. By...

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

ARTENSO

CCTT IN ART AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

Artenso—a French acronym for art and social engagement—strongly believes that culture can be a vehicle for economic and social development within communities. Affiliated with Montreal’s Cégep de Saint-Laurent, our CCTT boasts cross-disciplinary expertise in the fields of public policy, artistic practices, digital culture and social innovation. Our interdisciplinary team carries...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS

NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

BLISS APPLICATIONS

BLISS APPLICATIONS-We Think

We Think, Design And Create Digital Products

Bliss Applications was officially launched in late 2009 by its partners: André Gil, Tiago Janela and WYgroup, in which Bliss is included. After going to New York and buying their first iPhones, the dream was born: to create a company dedicated to the development of mobile apps. 2010 was year...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

= SPACE

WE BELIEVE THAT ACCESS + RESOURCES =SPACE & OPPORTUNITIES

=SPACE strives to create a unique culture and positive sharespace. Headquartered in the City of Newark, our sharespace provides resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and an ecosystem for artists to share their work and thrive. We offer programming to help build, grow and scale businesses, with the vast...

INNOVATION Quebec

Innofibre

Innofibre-Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses

Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CONTABILIZEI

INNOVATES WITH A PROJECT THAT INTEGRATES THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR COMPANIES

Over more than a decade, Contabilizei has been offering products and services that simplify and strengthen the work of entrepreneurs in Brazil. The company is established as the largest accounting company in the country and leader in starting companies processes and accounting management for legal entities. Created and headquartered in...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Fem Equity

Our vision is to close the pay gap for career women by $1 BILLION DOLLARS by 2030

Fem Equity, a pioneering career & workforce platform driven by artificial intelligence, has reached a significant milestone by generating over a million dollars in salary impact since its establishment. With a vision to narrow the pay gap for career women by $1 billion by 2030, Fem Equity is dedicated to...

INNOVATION Quebec

SUPPORTS AND PROPELS ENTREPRENEURS WHO CREATE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

ZÚ SUPPORTS AND PROPELS ENTREPRENEURS WHO CREATE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO REVOLUTIONIZE CREATIVE ZÚ INDUSTRIES AND GENERATE WORLD-CLASS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES. Incubator initiated by Guy Laliberté in 2018, Zú offers programs for startups, open innovation services for SMEs and large companies, expertise in financing, including privileged access to a venture capital fund,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

TWINZO

TWINZO-TRANSFORMS YOUR MOBILE DEVICE INTO A COMMAND CENTER

TRANSFORMS YOUR MOBILE DEVICE INTO A COMMAND CENTER, WHICH CAN ONLY BE MATCHED BY NASA’S CENTRAL CONTROL

Twinzo was founded in 2020 as a spin-off from INFOTECH. Twinzo fully integrated INFOTECH’s 20 years of experience and know-how associated with the development of custom software solutions, from over more than 30 professional team members. Twinzo is at the same time the name of the company as well as...

INNOVATE® Detroit

GENOMENON-Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Genomenon is a leading genomic intelligence company dedicated to improving the quality of patients’ lives by uncovering the genomic drivers of genetic disease and cancer. Blending the power of AI with genomic expertise, Genomenon simplifi es complex genetic data into actionable insights for patient diagnosis and precision medicine development. With...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Furman University

Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership: Shaping Leaders, Sparking Innovation.

Furman University, consistently recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities, made a decisive move in 2023 by launching the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). Building on Furman’s mission to build lifelong learners who lead lives of meaning and consequence, its reputation for producing high-potential leaders and the Hill Institute for...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GLOBAL ESTONIAN

BRIDGING BORDERS, BUILDING THE FUTURE

When a nation of just over a million people finds nearly 200,000 of its own scattered across the globe, the question of how to maintain bonds becomes both practical and existential. Estonia’s answer to that challenge is Global Estonian, a government-backed initiative designed to serve as a bridge between Estonia...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Urban SDK

Urban SDK-Helping To Transform Cities’ Mobility

Helping To Transform Cities’ Mobility, Transportation And Safety Operations

Urban SDK streamlines government and IoT data to automate performance measures and discover insights in real-time, helping to transform cities’ mobility, transportation, and safety operations. Established in 2018 by Justin Dennis and Drew Messer, Urban SDK is a digital government intelligence platform combining real-time location data with predictive analytics. It...

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® Blockchain

KALEIDO

KALEIDO-

WHEN KALEIDO, A RALEIGH, NC BASED COMPANY, BROUGHT THE BLOCKCHAIN BUSINESS CLOUD TO MARKET, BLOCKCHAIN DEVELOPMENT TOOK A LEAP FORWARD

When Kaleido, a Raleigh, NC based company, brought the Blockchain Business Cloud to market, blockchain development took a leap forward. For the first time, developers had access to a full-stack SaaS platform for creating, operating, and scaling enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. Kaleido made it possible to deploy blockchain nodes across clouds...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

FLÖDE

REWRITING FASHION’S DNA THROUGH SCALABLE UPCYCLING AND RADICAL RESPONSIBILITY

FLÖDE is a research-driven upcycling studio and remanufacturing lab founded in 2024 with one purpose: to prove that sustainable fashion production is not only possible, it’s necessary, scalable, and better by design. Where others see textile waste, Flöde sees a vast, untapped resource. Beyond waste: How Flöde turns discarded clothing...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BENCHMARK SIXTY

THINK DIFFERENTLY. PROTECT PEOPLE. CHANGE RESTAURANTS

Benchmark Sixty is not your usual entrepreneurial story. It wasn’t an idea that was burning inside of a serial entrepreneur, or a strategically thought out plan. It was an “accidental startup” that sprouted from the pain points of an industry that was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What started as...

INNOVATION Quebec

CQMF

LE CENTRE QUÉBÉCOIS SUR LES MATÉRIAUX FONCTIONNELS (CQMF) EST UN REGROUPEMENT STRATÉGIQUE DU FRQNT1 QUI RASSEMBLE PLUS DE 100 GROUPES DE RECHERCHE UNIVERSITAIRES ET COLLÉGIAUX, AINSI QUE PLUSIEURS PLATEFORMES SCIENTIFIQUES. Le CQMF adresse les grands défis de société par le biais des matériaux ayant des fonctionnalités avancées2 développés en étroite...

INNOVATE® Seattle

SYNDIO

SYNDIO HELPS HR LEADERS NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD WITH TECHNOLOGY

SYNDIO HELPS HR LEADERS NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD WITH TECHNOLOGY Companies with great cultures win in the market. Yet today, vital  elements that define culture — like how a company values its employees through pay and advancement — are on full display. In this environment of growing transparency requirements, it’s...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ZENUS BANK

ZENUS BANK-Banking beyond borders

Banking beyond borders

We’re on a mission to build a financial institution that gives people and businesses around the world access to the security, freedom and convenience of US banking. And to create a world where physical borders don’t limit the financial services you have access to – taking banking beyond borders. By...

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

ARTENSO

CCTT IN ART AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

Artenso—a French acronym for art and social engagement—strongly believes that culture can be a vehicle for economic and social development within communities. Affiliated with Montreal’s Cégep de Saint-Laurent, our CCTT boasts cross-disciplinary expertise in the fields of public policy, artistic practices, digital culture and social innovation. Our interdisciplinary team carries...

INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS

NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

BLISS APPLICATIONS

BLISS APPLICATIONS-We Think

We Think, Design And Create Digital Products

Bliss Applications was officially launched in late 2009 by its partners: André Gil, Tiago Janela and WYgroup, in which Bliss is included. After going to New York and buying their first iPhones, the dream was born: to create a company dedicated to the development of mobile apps. 2010 was year...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

(DSLBD) - DC DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

History of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and success of small businesses in Washington, DC. Established with a mission to support and empower local entrepreneurs, DSLBD...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

= SPACE

WE BELIEVE THAT ACCESS + RESOURCES =SPACE & OPPORTUNITIES

=SPACE strives to create a unique culture and positive sharespace. Headquartered in the City of Newark, our sharespace provides resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and an ecosystem for artists to share their work and thrive. We offer programming to help build, grow and scale businesses, with the vast...

INNOVATION Quebec

Innofibre

Innofibre-Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses

Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

CONTABILIZEI

INNOVATES WITH A PROJECT THAT INTEGRATES THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR COMPANIES

Over more than a decade, Contabilizei has been offering products and services that simplify and strengthen the work of entrepreneurs in Brazil. The company is established as the largest accounting company in the country and leader in starting companies processes and accounting management for legal entities. Created and headquartered in...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Fem Equity

Our vision is to close the pay gap for career women by $1 BILLION DOLLARS by 2030

Fem Equity, a pioneering career & workforce platform driven by artificial intelligence, has reached a significant milestone by generating over a million dollars in salary impact since its establishment. With a vision to narrow the pay gap for career women by $1 billion by 2030, Fem Equity is dedicated to...

INNOVATION Quebec

SUPPORTS AND PROPELS ENTREPRENEURS WHO CREATE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

ZÚ SUPPORTS AND PROPELS ENTREPRENEURS WHO CREATE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO REVOLUTIONIZE CREATIVE ZÚ INDUSTRIES AND GENERATE WORLD-CLASS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES. Incubator initiated by Guy Laliberté in 2018, Zú offers programs for startups, open innovation services for SMEs and large companies, expertise in financing, including privileged access to a venture capital fund,...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

ACELERA BRASIL

TRANSFORMING CORPORATE TRAVEL INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

The corporate travel agency market closed 2023 with a record turnover, indicating a promising future for the sector. It is in this context that Acelera Brasil has been operating since 2017, with a keen focus on the use of Advanced Technology, Service Personalization, Sustainability, Risk Management, Value-Added Offer, Service Integration,...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

TWINZO

TWINZO-TRANSFORMS YOUR MOBILE DEVICE INTO A COMMAND CENTER

TRANSFORMS YOUR MOBILE DEVICE INTO A COMMAND CENTER, WHICH CAN ONLY BE MATCHED BY NASA’S CENTRAL CONTROL

Twinzo was founded in 2020 as a spin-off from INFOTECH. Twinzo fully integrated INFOTECH’s 20 years of experience and know-how associated with the development of custom software solutions, from over more than 30 professional team members. Twinzo is at the same time the name of the company as well as...

INNOVATE® Detroit

GENOMENON-Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Simplifying complex genetic data into actionable insights

Genomenon is a leading genomic intelligence company dedicated to improving the quality of patients’ lives by uncovering the genomic drivers of genetic disease and cancer. Blending the power of AI with genomic expertise, Genomenon simplifi es complex genetic data into actionable insights for patient diagnosis and precision medicine development. With...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Furman University

Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership: Shaping Leaders, Sparking Innovation.

Furman University, consistently recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities, made a decisive move in 2023 by launching the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). Building on Furman’s mission to build lifelong learners who lead lives of meaning and consequence, its reputation for producing high-potential leaders and the Hill Institute for...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

GLOBAL ESTONIAN

BRIDGING BORDERS, BUILDING THE FUTURE

When a nation of just over a million people finds nearly 200,000 of its own scattered across the globe, the question of how to maintain bonds becomes both practical and existential. Estonia’s answer to that challenge is Global Estonian, a government-backed initiative designed to serve as a bridge between Estonia...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Urban SDK

Urban SDK-Helping To Transform Cities’ Mobility

Helping To Transform Cities’ Mobility, Transportation And Safety Operations

Urban SDK streamlines government and IoT data to automate performance measures and discover insights in real-time, helping to transform cities’ mobility, transportation, and safety operations. Established in 2018 by Justin Dennis and Drew Messer, Urban SDK is a digital government intelligence platform combining real-time location data with predictive analytics. It...

Ecosystems