Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Blockchain
ENLEDGER
Is a story of fortuitous serendipity and strange coincidence, a random meeting of minds and a coming together of disparate expertise, chasing wild breakthrough ideas in data science and blockchain incentives engineering
Jason Dispenza, an energy exec running a solar energy and building performance company in D.C., meets Ryan Molecke, cryptocurrency exchange technical officer, on a tour bus taking the Icelandic Southern coastal tour, Jan 2016. By the next year, they are paired up with a new blockchain energy applications company, pitching...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CDL ROCKIES
ACCELERATES THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF EARLY-STAGE VENTURES
There is an economic transformation underway in Alberta and Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (“CDL-Rockies”) is playing an important role in that transformation. CDL-Rockies is focused on accelerating the commercial potential of the next generation of promising science- and technology-based ventures across a variety of sectors, including energy and agriculture....
INNOVATE™ Alberta
TRIDO ENERGY SERVICES
SUPPORTING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY TOWARDS A DECARBONIZED FUTURE
Trido Energy Services, a Centurion Group company is a renewable energy technology company focused on reducing methane emissions to help clients reach carbon-reduction targets and support the energy industry on its journey toward a decarbonized future. To date, Trido has supported more than 40 clients to reduce CO2e emissions by...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
CONCURRENCY
LEADING THE FUTURE WITH INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
At Concurrency, the journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of innovation, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to transforming businesses through cutting-edge technology solutions. As a distinguished 12-time Microsoft Partner of the Year winner and a top AI Partner, Concurrency is at the forefront of the digital revolution, empowering organizations...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CAST GROUP
WITH OVER 33-YEARS OF HISTORY, CAST GROUP STANDS OUT AS A LEADING BRAZILIAN COMPANY IN IT
Specializing in IT and TA consulting and solutions, it offers comprehensive services, including development outsourcing, applications, infrastructure, SAP solutions implementation, 4.0 industry and digital transformation. Pelissari, one of Cast group’s companies, has a solid track record of over 20-years in the technology market, focusing primarily on ERP solutions. Specialized in...
INNOVATION Quebec
Agrinova
CCTT EN AGRICULTURE
Centre collégial de transfert de technologie en agriculture créé en 1996, Agrinova est dédié à la recherche appliquée menée en partenariat avec les entreprises et les organisations. Nous réalisons des travaux de recherche concrets dans un but ou un objectif pratique déterminé et répondant aux besoins des entreprises. Agrinova est...
INNOVATION Quebec
PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC
CCTT IN DIGITAL STRATEGY AND PRODUCTIVITY
Productique Québec is Cégep de Sherbrooke’s centre for technology transfer. Our mission is to improve productivity and drive innovation in businesses by promoting the development of knowledge and expertise in digital technologies and quantum technology applications. When our centre was founded in 1986, our work mainly consisted in providing Quebec...
INNOVATION Manitoba
GEOFILTER STUDIO
CATCHING LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE
In early 2016, social media was undergoing a shift towards interactive visual content. While watching a YouTube video, Chris Schmidt caught a brief mention of a newly released Snapchat feature: custom location-based graphic overlays known as “geofilters.” Recognizing a massive shift in demand for digital design before it became a...
INNOVATION Manitoba
SCHMIDT TREE BANDING
PROTECTING AN URBAN FOREST CANOPY
Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a city defined by its trees. It has the largest urban elm canopy in North America. However, maintaining this canopy requires constant vigilance against the devastating impact of cankerworms and Dutch Elm Disease. Cankerworms feast on elm, ash, maple, linden, oak, fruit, and ornamental trees, often leaving...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ACOM
EASE AND SECURITY
ACOM Sistemas is a company founded in Paraná, it develops management software for clients in Brazil. It has a focus on contributing to the digital transformation of businesses, especially in the out-of-home food sector, through the ERP EVEREST Food Service®. This software integrates the entire operation, from the sales receipt...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
325
ART. DESIGN. BRANDING. To me, it’s not work, it’s life.
I’ve always had a passion for art and design. In high school, I painted a Shakespeare mural on the hallway wall in lieu of writing my English literature paper. Today, as I walk through the streets of New Jersey and New York City, I see my art, designs and branding...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
DMPED (Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development)
Driving Innovation and Economic Growth in Washington, D.C.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is a driving force behind Washington, D.C.’s economic engine, a catalyst for innovation, growth, and opportunity in the nation’s capital. With a mission to foster a thriving, inclusive ecosystem, DMPED spearheads initiatives that attract businesses and cultivate job...
INNOVATE® Nashville
InPaceline
Riding Alongside Entrepreneurs
“You are the most qualified person to help the person you used to be.” This belief is the foundation of InPaceline, a venture studio model built by Clay Banks, a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor, and endurance athlete. After years of scaling mountains – both literal and entrepreneurial – Banks is...
INNOVATION Quebec
TechniTextile Québec
Le créneau d’excellence TechniTextile Québec concerte les entreprises et autres acteurs clés du secteur textile depuis 2017. Il agit comme vecteur de collaboration afin de favoriser l’innovation, l’élargissement des opportunités, la commercialisation et la compétitivité des entreprises
Soutenue par la démarche ACCORD du ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation, l’équipe de TechniTextile accompagne les dirigeants de l’industrie dans la réalisation de projets d’innovation collaboratifs issus de leurs propres besoins. Des projets de Créneau axés sur l’innovationLes projets appuyés ou gérés par TechniTextile servent de levier aux entreprises...
INNOVATION Quebec
BIOPTERRE
CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE BIOPRODUITS
Dans un contexte marqué par les changements climatiques, la perte de biodiversité, la pression croissante exercée sur les ressources naturelles et les préoccupations en matière de santé publique; tous s’entendent sur l’importance de miser sur la bioéconomie. Définie comme l’activité économique associée à l’invention, au développement et à la production...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Potluck
And the Reimagining of Social Tech
In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE® Ohio
PROJECT MEDTECH
GUIDING THE WAY FROM IDEA TO IMPACT
BECAUSE BOLD IDEAS DESERVE A REAL SHOT AT CHANGING THE WORLD For medical technology innovators, getting from a promising idea to a market-ready solution is rarely a straight line. Regulatory requirements, quality systems, reimbursement, commercialization, financing, fundraising, sales, and marketing can each present significant challenges, and navigating them successfully often...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HONEST CHOCOLATE
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
Honest Chocolate was founded in 2010 by two friends Anthony Gird and Michael de Klerk. When they couldn’t find high quality, locally made chocolate on the retail shelf they decided to start making their own. When their friends couldn’t get enough of these homemade treats, Anthony and Michael realised there...
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....
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Eatible Delights
Working Tirelessly to Bring Customers’ Visions to Life
You may not find “Humble Beginnings” or “soul-searing passion” in the nutrition facts of any label – on any product – in all the world; but at 1540 E Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, it’s been a key ingredient. June 26, 2026 will make 30 years of business for David Simms....
INNOVATE™ South Africa
NEDBANK
A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS ON DIGITISATION ALLOWS NEDBANK TO MEET FAST-CHANGING BANKING CUSTOMER NEEDS
Digitisation and technological innovation are nothing new to the South African banking industry, but those banks that had made significant progress on their digital journeys before the Covid-19 pandemic, have been best placed to meet the fast-changing needs of their clients and, as is the case with Nedbank, gain efficiencies...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
ENLEDGER
Is a story of fortuitous serendipity and strange coincidence, a random meeting of minds and a coming together of disparate expertise, chasing wild breakthrough ideas in data science and blockchain incentives engineering
Jason Dispenza, an energy exec running a solar energy and building performance company in D.C., meets Ryan Molecke, cryptocurrency exchange technical officer, on a tour bus taking the Icelandic Southern coastal tour, Jan 2016. By the next year, they are paired up with a new blockchain energy applications company, pitching...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CDL ROCKIES
ACCELERATES THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF EARLY-STAGE VENTURES
There is an economic transformation underway in Alberta and Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (“CDL-Rockies”) is playing an important role in that transformation. CDL-Rockies is focused on accelerating the commercial potential of the next generation of promising science- and technology-based ventures across a variety of sectors, including energy and agriculture....
INNOVATE™ Alberta
TRIDO ENERGY SERVICES
SUPPORTING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY TOWARDS A DECARBONIZED FUTURE
Trido Energy Services, a Centurion Group company is a renewable energy technology company focused on reducing methane emissions to help clients reach carbon-reduction targets and support the energy industry on its journey toward a decarbonized future. To date, Trido has supported more than 40 clients to reduce CO2e emissions by...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SFU’s CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INNOVATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
World-Class Spirit & InnovationAs the World’s #1 university for Entrepreneurial Spirit and #1 in Canada for Innovation*, Simon Fraser University is recognized as one of Canada’s most supportive post-secondary ecosystems for innovative research and education across disciplines. The heart of its entrepreneurship education pillar beats in the Charles Chang Institute...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
CONCURRENCY
LEADING THE FUTURE WITH INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
At Concurrency, the journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of innovation, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to transforming businesses through cutting-edge technology solutions. As a distinguished 12-time Microsoft Partner of the Year winner and a top AI Partner, Concurrency is at the forefront of the digital revolution, empowering organizations...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CAST GROUP
WITH OVER 33-YEARS OF HISTORY, CAST GROUP STANDS OUT AS A LEADING BRAZILIAN COMPANY IN IT
Specializing in IT and TA consulting and solutions, it offers comprehensive services, including development outsourcing, applications, infrastructure, SAP solutions implementation, 4.0 industry and digital transformation. Pelissari, one of Cast group’s companies, has a solid track record of over 20-years in the technology market, focusing primarily on ERP solutions. Specialized in...
INNOVATION Quebec
Agrinova
CCTT EN AGRICULTURE
Centre collégial de transfert de technologie en agriculture créé en 1996, Agrinova est dédié à la recherche appliquée menée en partenariat avec les entreprises et les organisations. Nous réalisons des travaux de recherche concrets dans un but ou un objectif pratique déterminé et répondant aux besoins des entreprises. Agrinova est...
INNOVATION Quebec
PRODUCTIQUE QUÉBEC
CCTT IN DIGITAL STRATEGY AND PRODUCTIVITY
Productique Québec is Cégep de Sherbrooke’s centre for technology transfer. Our mission is to improve productivity and drive innovation in businesses by promoting the development of knowledge and expertise in digital technologies and quantum technology applications. When our centre was founded in 1986, our work mainly consisted in providing Quebec...
INNOVATION Manitoba
GEOFILTER STUDIO
CATCHING LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE
In early 2016, social media was undergoing a shift towards interactive visual content. While watching a YouTube video, Chris Schmidt caught a brief mention of a newly released Snapchat feature: custom location-based graphic overlays known as “geofilters.” Recognizing a massive shift in demand for digital design before it became a...
INNOVATION Manitoba
SCHMIDT TREE BANDING
PROTECTING AN URBAN FOREST CANOPY
Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a city defined by its trees. It has the largest urban elm canopy in North America. However, maintaining this canopy requires constant vigilance against the devastating impact of cankerworms and Dutch Elm Disease. Cankerworms feast on elm, ash, maple, linden, oak, fruit, and ornamental trees, often leaving...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
ACOM
EASE AND SECURITY
ACOM Sistemas is a company founded in Paraná, it develops management software for clients in Brazil. It has a focus on contributing to the digital transformation of businesses, especially in the out-of-home food sector, through the ERP EVEREST Food Service®. This software integrates the entire operation, from the sales receipt...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
325
ART. DESIGN. BRANDING. To me, it’s not work, it’s life.
I’ve always had a passion for art and design. In high school, I painted a Shakespeare mural on the hallway wall in lieu of writing my English literature paper. Today, as I walk through the streets of New Jersey and New York City, I see my art, designs and branding...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
DMPED (Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development)
Driving Innovation and Economic Growth in Washington, D.C.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is a driving force behind Washington, D.C.’s economic engine, a catalyst for innovation, growth, and opportunity in the nation’s capital. With a mission to foster a thriving, inclusive ecosystem, DMPED spearheads initiatives that attract businesses and cultivate job...
INNOVATE® Nashville
InPaceline
Riding Alongside Entrepreneurs
“You are the most qualified person to help the person you used to be.” This belief is the foundation of InPaceline, a venture studio model built by Clay Banks, a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor, and endurance athlete. After years of scaling mountains – both literal and entrepreneurial – Banks is...
INNOVATION Quebec
TechniTextile Québec
Le créneau d’excellence TechniTextile Québec concerte les entreprises et autres acteurs clés du secteur textile depuis 2017. Il agit comme vecteur de collaboration afin de favoriser l’innovation, l’élargissement des opportunités, la commercialisation et la compétitivité des entreprises
Soutenue par la démarche ACCORD du ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation, l’équipe de TechniTextile accompagne les dirigeants de l’industrie dans la réalisation de projets d’innovation collaboratifs issus de leurs propres besoins. Des projets de Créneau axés sur l’innovationLes projets appuyés ou gérés par TechniTextile servent de levier aux entreprises...
INNOVATION Quebec
BIOPTERRE
CCTT EN DÉVELOPPEMENT DE BIOPRODUITS
Dans un contexte marqué par les changements climatiques, la perte de biodiversité, la pression croissante exercée sur les ressources naturelles et les préoccupations en matière de santé publique; tous s’entendent sur l’importance de miser sur la bioéconomie. Définie comme l’activité économique associée à l’invention, au développement et à la production...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Potluck
And the Reimagining of Social Tech
In an era dominated by likes, follows, and infinite scrolls, Justin Gray, founder of Potluck, is betting on a different future—one where social technology isn’t about building an audience, but about deepening real-life connections with the people we actually see: our friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers. Potluck is more than...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE® Ohio
PROJECT MEDTECH
GUIDING THE WAY FROM IDEA TO IMPACT
BECAUSE BOLD IDEAS DESERVE A REAL SHOT AT CHANGING THE WORLD For medical technology innovators, getting from a promising idea to a market-ready solution is rarely a straight line. Regulatory requirements, quality systems, reimbursement, commercialization, financing, fundraising, sales, and marketing can each present significant challenges, and navigating them successfully often...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HONEST CHOCOLATE
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
Honest Chocolate was founded in 2010 by two friends Anthony Gird and Michael de Klerk. When they couldn’t find high quality, locally made chocolate on the retail shelf they decided to start making their own. When their friends couldn’t get enough of these homemade treats, Anthony and Michael realised there...
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....
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Eatible Delights
Working Tirelessly to Bring Customers’ Visions to Life
You may not find “Humble Beginnings” or “soul-searing passion” in the nutrition facts of any label – on any product – in all the world; but at 1540 E Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, it’s been a key ingredient. June 26, 2026 will make 30 years of business for David Simms....
INNOVATE™ South Africa
NEDBANK
A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS ON DIGITISATION ALLOWS NEDBANK TO MEET FAST-CHANGING BANKING CUSTOMER NEEDS
Digitisation and technological innovation are nothing new to the South African banking industry, but those banks that had made significant progress on their digital journeys before the Covid-19 pandemic, have been best placed to meet the fast-changing needs of their clients and, as is the case with Nedbank, gain efficiencies...