Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Georgia

COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY

INNOVATING PARTNERSHIPS

Columbus State University is a just-the-right-size institution that serves workforce needs with a wide array of affordable, relevant programs — several of which have become nationally distinctive. Built on an exceptional history of partnerships, Columbus State has created two campuses that create a foundation for students to succeed in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ QUANTUM INNOVATION ZONE

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 ofthe Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TESE TECHNOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE URBANISM AND CULTURE

Located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, and affiliated with the Tecnoparque, a City Hall program, TESE Technology Architecture Urban Planning and Culture is part of a group of companies founded by Mirna Cortopassi Lobo, Rodrigo and Diogo Cortopassi Lobo in 1987. The scope of TESE is wide and operates...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Airstream Ventures

Airstream Ventures - Business.Entertainment.Sports

Business.Entertainment.Sports

Memorable moments come in many different shapes and sizes. Airstream Ventures partners with events, companies, and non-profits to create those moments and unique experiences that connect the community on a deeper level. In July of 2018, Alan Verlander and Joel Lamp decided to take a risk and leave their current...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Serve the Common Good

Create the FutureIn order to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges — nationally and globally — Georgetown Entrepreneurship is dedicated to championing common good entrepreneurship across its programming, teachings, and networks. Serving all of Georgetown University from the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown Entrepreneurship uses the power...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Konica Minolta

KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been operating out of its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, NJ since the 1970s. Across the country, more than 5,000 employees work together to reshape and revolutionize the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

THE OLDEST INSTITUTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA REMAINS THE BOLDEST IN EMBRACING INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770 and rooted in the liberal arts and sciences, the College of Charleston is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The College of...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

MITACS

MAKING WAVES AND BUILDING HOMES: THE IMPACT OF MITACS IN ATLANTIC CANADA

THE IMPACT OF MITACS IN ATLANTIC CANADA Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization, drives innovation across Atlantic Canada through strategic collaborations. With a network of over 197 postsecondary institutions across the country and more than 25 years of experience, Mitacs employs a collaborative approach to research and innovation, matching need with...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

MAX MATTHIESSEN

RESHAPING FINANCIAL ADVISORY FOR A MORE HUMAN AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

As Europe faces widening wealth gaps, rising climate pressures, and a demographic shift toward longer retirements, traditional financial advice is no longer enough. Companies today want more than solid pension and investment products — they want to build resilience, protect their people and position themselves as employers of choice in...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

VENTURE FOR CANADA

VENTURE FOR CANADA-ACCELERATING THE IMPACT OF CANADA’S FUTURE LEADERS

ACCELERATING THE IMPACT OF CANADA’S FUTURE LEADERS

Venture for Canada is a national charity that fosters the entrepreneurial skills and mindset of young Canadians. We recruit, train, and support young people to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups. Participants develop the network, knowledge, and entrepreneurial skills to have more impactful careers through our programs. In...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

CuliVino Hospitality Management + Consulting: Chef Tom Gray

OUR STORY Chef Tom Gray is one of North Florida’s most lauded and respected chefs, with two James Beard Award nominations as well as countless awards and accolades. He began his career in his hometown of Jacksonville at the age of 15 at a local country club, with culinary school...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

START ME UP

SPEAK YOUR TRUTH. OWN YOUR STORY.

In a galaxy far, far away but closer than you may think lived a company called Start Me Up PR. Landing in YYC first — because even extraterrestrials love the mountains — to invade the local and global tech scene, they set off to support emerging-founders, the investors who help...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

FREELY PAYMENTS

HARNESSING INNOVATION TO TRANSFORM FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

“We are not just facilitating transactions; we are redefining them to create tangible benefits for our clients.” In the bustling city of Washington, D.C., a pioneering force is reshaping the financial contours of the food and beverage industry. freely Payments, a visionary B2B payments gateway, has not just entered the...

INNOVATION Quebec

DEL

THE BUSINESS RIGHT-HAND MAN FOR ENTREPRENEURS

For 20 years, DEL (Développement économique de l’agglomération de Longueuil) has been supporting entrepreneurs and accelerating the realization of their business projects. How? By offering personalized business coaching, mostly free of charge. DEL’s objective is simple: to help businesses in the greater Longueuil area succeed through its services:• Innovation• Digitization...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?

From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing

From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...

INNOVATE® Nashville

JAILCORE

LISTENING FIRST, INNOVATING FAST

Guided by real-world feedback, JailCore blends clear logic with human understanding to create technology that truly serves those who serve. When JailCore was founded, it wasn’t built on the old “if you build it, they will come” mindset. The goal wasn’t to create software and hope facilities would adapt to...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

#THISISMINING

#THISISMINING -PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Mining Association is proud to represent an industry that provides the world with the building blocks of modern life and innovation. Minerals and metals are essential, irreplaceable components of everything from lifesaving medical devices to clean technologies, such as solar panels and EV batteries. We cannot have a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ANDY THOMAS SPACE FOUNDATION

RECOGNISED AS AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL SPACE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GOALS

With strong support from the Australian Space Agency, South Australian Government and a number of start-up and corporate space industry partners, the Foundation has provided invaluable education and engagement opportunities for students and individuals across Australia. Named after Founding Patron and retired NASA astronaut, Dr Andrew Thomas, a veteran of...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE

ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE-THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN

THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN

Blythedale Coastal Estate is a catalytic development with a makeup of near 5,000 residential opportunities including 350 retirement opportunities, Mega Retail and Mega Beach Resort Hotel and Entertainment Developments. The Development is on prime real estate on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and will boast schools, sports and more...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

INNOVATE® Miami

Miami DDA

Miami DDA - An independent agency of the City of Miami

An independent agency of the City of Miami

The Miami DDA is committed to fulfilling its mission collaboratively, ethically and professionally, consistent with the Authority’s public purpose. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is...

INNOVATION Quebec

STIQ (SOUS-TRAITANCE INDUSTRIELLE QUÉBEC)

INCONTOURNABLE DANS L’ÉCOSYSTÈME MANUFACTURIER QUÉBÉCOIS

STIQ est une association multisectorielle d’entreprises québécoises qui a pour mission de développer les relations d’affaires et améliorer la compétitivité des entreprises manufacturières afin de favoriser l’essor de l’économie québécoise. Depuis sa fondation en 1987, STIQ agit comme activateur de performance en créant des maillages fructueux et en déployant des...

INNOVATE® Georgia

FASTTEK GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE

In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....

INNOVATE® Georgia

COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY

INNOVATING PARTNERSHIPS

Columbus State University is a just-the-right-size institution that serves workforce needs with a wide array of affordable, relevant programs — several of which have become nationally distinctive. Built on an exceptional history of partnerships, Columbus State has created two campuses that create a foundation for students to succeed in the...

INNOVATION Quebec

DISTRIQ QUANTUM INNOVATION ZONE

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 ofthe Quebec government, the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone. Since its designation in...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

TESE TECHNOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE URBANISM AND CULTURE

Located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, and affiliated with the Tecnoparque, a City Hall program, TESE Technology Architecture Urban Planning and Culture is part of a group of companies founded by Mirna Cortopassi Lobo, Rodrigo and Diogo Cortopassi Lobo in 1987. The scope of TESE is wide and operates...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Airstream Ventures

Airstream Ventures - Business.Entertainment.Sports

Business.Entertainment.Sports

Memorable moments come in many different shapes and sizes. Airstream Ventures partners with events, companies, and non-profits to create those moments and unique experiences that connect the community on a deeper level. In July of 2018, Alan Verlander and Joel Lamp decided to take a risk and leave their current...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Serve the Common Good

Create the FutureIn order to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges — nationally and globally — Georgetown Entrepreneurship is dedicated to championing common good entrepreneurship across its programming, teachings, and networks. Serving all of Georgetown University from the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown Entrepreneurship uses the power...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Konica Minolta

KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been operating out of its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, NJ since the 1970s. Across the country, more than 5,000 employees work together to reshape and revolutionize the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

THE OLDEST INSTITUTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA REMAINS THE BOLDEST IN EMBRACING INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770 and rooted in the liberal arts and sciences, the College of Charleston is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The College of...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

MITACS

MAKING WAVES AND BUILDING HOMES: THE IMPACT OF MITACS IN ATLANTIC CANADA

THE IMPACT OF MITACS IN ATLANTIC CANADA Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization, drives innovation across Atlantic Canada through strategic collaborations. With a network of over 197 postsecondary institutions across the country and more than 25 years of experience, Mitacs employs a collaborative approach to research and innovation, matching need with...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

MAX MATTHIESSEN

RESHAPING FINANCIAL ADVISORY FOR A MORE HUMAN AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

As Europe faces widening wealth gaps, rising climate pressures, and a demographic shift toward longer retirements, traditional financial advice is no longer enough. Companies today want more than solid pension and investment products — they want to build resilience, protect their people and position themselves as employers of choice in...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

VENTURE FOR CANADA

VENTURE FOR CANADA-ACCELERATING THE IMPACT OF CANADA’S FUTURE LEADERS

ACCELERATING THE IMPACT OF CANADA’S FUTURE LEADERS

Venture for Canada is a national charity that fosters the entrepreneurial skills and mindset of young Canadians. We recruit, train, and support young people to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups. Participants develop the network, knowledge, and entrepreneurial skills to have more impactful careers through our programs. In...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

CuliVino Hospitality Management + Consulting: Chef Tom Gray

OUR STORY Chef Tom Gray is one of North Florida’s most lauded and respected chefs, with two James Beard Award nominations as well as countless awards and accolades. He began his career in his hometown of Jacksonville at the age of 15 at a local country club, with culinary school...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

START ME UP

SPEAK YOUR TRUTH. OWN YOUR STORY.

In a galaxy far, far away but closer than you may think lived a company called Start Me Up PR. Landing in YYC first — because even extraterrestrials love the mountains — to invade the local and global tech scene, they set off to support emerging-founders, the investors who help...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

FREELY PAYMENTS

HARNESSING INNOVATION TO TRANSFORM FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

“We are not just facilitating transactions; we are redefining them to create tangible benefits for our clients.” In the bustling city of Washington, D.C., a pioneering force is reshaping the financial contours of the food and beverage industry. freely Payments, a visionary B2B payments gateway, has not just entered the...

INNOVATION Quebec

DEL

THE BUSINESS RIGHT-HAND MAN FOR ENTREPRENEURS

For 20 years, DEL (Développement économique de l’agglomération de Longueuil) has been supporting entrepreneurs and accelerating the realization of their business projects. How? By offering personalized business coaching, mostly free of charge. DEL’s objective is simple: to help businesses in the greater Longueuil area succeed through its services:• Innovation• Digitization...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?

From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing

From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...

INNOVATE® Nashville

JAILCORE

LISTENING FIRST, INNOVATING FAST

Guided by real-world feedback, JailCore blends clear logic with human understanding to create technology that truly serves those who serve. When JailCore was founded, it wasn’t built on the old “if you build it, they will come” mindset. The goal wasn’t to create software and hope facilities would adapt to...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

#THISISMINING

#THISISMINING -PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Mining Association is proud to represent an industry that provides the world with the building blocks of modern life and innovation. Minerals and metals are essential, irreplaceable components of everything from lifesaving medical devices to clean technologies, such as solar panels and EV batteries. We cannot have a...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ANDY THOMAS SPACE FOUNDATION

RECOGNISED AS AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL SPACE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GOALS

With strong support from the Australian Space Agency, South Australian Government and a number of start-up and corporate space industry partners, the Foundation has provided invaluable education and engagement opportunities for students and individuals across Australia. Named after Founding Patron and retired NASA astronaut, Dr Andrew Thomas, a veteran of...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE

ELAN BLYTHEDALE COASTAL ESTATE-THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN

THE FUTURE OF ESTATE LIVING ON THE NORTH COAST OF KZN

Blythedale Coastal Estate is a catalytic development with a makeup of near 5,000 residential opportunities including 350 retirement opportunities, Mega Retail and Mega Beach Resort Hotel and Entertainment Developments. The Development is on prime real estate on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and will boast schools, sports and more...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THE NEUROTECH INSTITUTE

Would you like a robot to hold your hand when you die?

Would you rather have a human? What is the neural and physical difference – is a human more beneficial, and if so, why? How would we maximise the use of both humans and technology here? How does it reflect on us if a robot becomes the normal or only option?...

INNOVATE® Seattle

MAVERON

BACKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONSUMERBUSINESSES FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

In the 1990s, Howard Schultz built Starbucks into one of the world’s most iconic consumer businesses. In 1998, after taking Starbucks public, Dan Levitan and Howard founded Maveron. They recognized that digital technologies would integrate into people’s lives in unprecedented ways and that great teams attacking consumer-focused problems would require...

INNOVATE® Miami

Miami DDA

Miami DDA - An independent agency of the City of Miami

An independent agency of the City of Miami

The Miami DDA is committed to fulfilling its mission collaboratively, ethically and professionally, consistent with the Authority’s public purpose. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is...

INNOVATION Quebec

STIQ (SOUS-TRAITANCE INDUSTRIELLE QUÉBEC)

INCONTOURNABLE DANS L’ÉCOSYSTÈME MANUFACTURIER QUÉBÉCOIS

STIQ est une association multisectorielle d’entreprises québécoises qui a pour mission de développer les relations d’affaires et améliorer la compétitivité des entreprises manufacturières afin de favoriser l’essor de l’économie québécoise. Depuis sa fondation en 1987, STIQ agit comme activateur de performance en créant des maillages fructueux et en déployant des...

INNOVATE® Georgia

FASTTEK GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE

In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....

Ecosystems