Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE® Maryland
BioHealth Innovation
Translating Breakthroughs into Impact
In Maryland, scientific discovery rarely slows progress. Laboratories across the state generate breakthrough therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical technologies at remarkable speed. Moving those innovations beyond the lab and into the hands of patients and investors requires a different kind of expertise, grounded in market insight, capital strategy, and disciplined execution....
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
GLADIUS STUDIOS
TRANSFORMING IDEAS INTO A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT AND INNOVATION
Gladius Studios is an Emmy Award Winner animation studio located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The innovation and emerging technologies company is committed to develop superior quality projects such as content for advertising, educational purposes and entertainment. To support and retain local talent in the industry of animation and technology,...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
BEENOCULUS
METAVERSE A NEW HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Beenoculus made its epic debut in 2015 with an innovative vision to accelerate innovation in education through disruptive solutions in extended reality. Through the development of hardware, software, and content for spatial computing, the company has evolved significantly, becoming a leading force in technological development in this sector in Latin...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
TRIALLY
KANSAS CITY’S AI ANSWER TO CLINICAL TRIAL BREAKTHROUGHS
“There are trials out there that give people hope. Our job is to make sure no one misses out on that chance because of slow processes.” In the heart of the Midwest – where BBQ smoke mixes with startup ambition – a new breed of innovation is transforming medicine’s most...
INNOVATION Quebec
MERINOV
À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA
Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
FLEXPODS
Our mission is to empower a collective of fitness and wellness professionals to build their brand
Laurent is a regular on the media circuit, seen on Oprah’s Live Your Best Life Tour, the Dr.Oz Show, TEDx talks, and many local news programs. Laurent had an idea. His idea was to create a space to support the fitness community. Providing affordable expertly designed and fully equipped fitness...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Detroit Opera
Setting the Scene for Opera's Future
Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
COPPERBOX
Leadership. Inspired.
Although leadership is hard work, the work of developing leaders is at its essence ‘heart work.’ That became increasingly clear to Wayland Lum as he thought about how to help business executives achieve transformational change in their leadership. “I started Copperbox because I believed that we could do leadership development...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
BioNJ
Helping New Jersey’s Life Sciences Industry Bring Medical Innovation to Patients Around the World
For more than 30 years, BioNJ has been the life sciences trade association for New Jersey – representing close to 400 research–based life sciences organizations and stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem from the largest biopharmaceutical companies to early–stage start–ups. Because Patients Can’t Wait®, BioNJ is dedicated to ensuring a vibrant...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MARIMO
INNOVATING LUXURY FASHION THROUGH EDUCATION AND CONSCIOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP
Marimo’s innovation is not just in delivering a personal luxury experience, but in educating the customer toward a new mindset: one that embraces intentionality, sustainability, and long-term value in fashion. Marimo is a small Estonian luxury fashion brand quietly leading a mindset shift in how fashion is worn, understood, and...
INNOVATION Quebec
MILA
EN TANT QU’INSTITUT QUÉBÉCOIS D’INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIELLE, MILA EST L’ÉPICENTRE DE L’EXPERTISE EN APPRENTISSAGE PROFOND (DEEP LEARNING) AU CANADA
Dirigé par le professeur Yoshua Bengio, corécipiendaire en 2018 du prix Turing pour ses travaux fondateurs sur l’apprentissage profond, Mila regroupe une communauté de plus de 1000 chercheuses et chercheurs en IA parmi les plus talentueux au monde. Cette concentration d’experts effectuant des travaux de pointe a permis au Québec...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Stateside Brands
An Innovative Leader
Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
DC BLOX
DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Polsinelli
What a law firm should be
Companies in Nashville and across the country turn to Polsinelli for more than skilled legal representation. With Polsinelli by their side, they have a strategic partner who brings business-first solutions. Shaped by executive perspective, Polsinelli – a national law firm with over 1,200 attorneys across 25 offices – provides commercially...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Northeastern University Seattle
NORTHEASTERN BRINGS OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
NORTHEASTERN BRINGS OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a global research university with 13 campuses and the recognized leader in lifelong, experiential learning. Our emphasis on experience empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to make an impact in their communities,...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOVATION MARITIME
CCTT IN THE MARITIME SECTOR
Creativity and expertise serving the maritime industry. Affiliated with the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ), Innovation maritime (IMAR) is an applied research centre that has been active in the maritime sector for over twenty years. Our mission is to contribute to the development of the maritime sector and stimulate excellence...
AI Québec
RETAIL INNOVATION LAB
AT THE BENSADOUN SCHOOL OF RETAIL MANAGEMENT, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
The Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at McGill University recently launched a retail innovation lab. This initiative is a collaboration between McGill University and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ACT). The lab is a convenience store as well as a living lab that operates on the McGill University campus and houses...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
WILLIAM BLAIR
INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOPURSUE
Empowering the Next Generation
GoPursue is a revolutionary organization transforming the landscape of career exploration for K-12 students. This vibrant social impact company has carved a unique niche in the educational technology space, addressing critical gaps in workforce development and career preparedness. Founded by Kathryn Adabonyan, a former math teacher and career and technical...
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® South Carolina
Mill Village Ministries
Flourishing Takes a Village
Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...
INNOVATION Quebec
FINTECH MONTRÉAL
“THE QUEBEC FINTECH INDUSTRY IS THRIVING. WITH THE LARGEST FINTECH HUB IN CANADA AND THE FINTECH CANADA FORUM, A MAJOR ANNUAL INDUSTRY GATHERING, THE STAGE IS SET FOR INNOVATION TO MEET THE REAL NEEDS OF A TRANSFORMING INDUSTRY.” Sebastian Boisjoly, vice-président, FinTech et Innovations technologiques, Finance Montréal Financial technologies (FinTech)...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
MICROSOFT SOUTH AFRICA
Unlocking The Value Of Mixed Reality In Manufacturing
Mixed reality continues to grow exponentially because of its ability to help businesses and their employees complete crucial tasks faster, safer, and more efficiently. It also creates new ways to connect to customers and partners by blending the physical and digital worlds so that they coexist and interact in real-time....
INNOVATE® Maryland
BioHealth Innovation
Translating Breakthroughs into Impact
In Maryland, scientific discovery rarely slows progress. Laboratories across the state generate breakthrough therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical technologies at remarkable speed. Moving those innovations beyond the lab and into the hands of patients and investors requires a different kind of expertise, grounded in market insight, capital strategy, and disciplined execution....
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
GLADIUS STUDIOS
TRANSFORMING IDEAS INTO A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT AND INNOVATION
Gladius Studios is an Emmy Award Winner animation studio located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The innovation and emerging technologies company is committed to develop superior quality projects such as content for advertising, educational purposes and entertainment. To support and retain local talent in the industry of animation and technology,...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
BEENOCULUS
METAVERSE A NEW HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Beenoculus made its epic debut in 2015 with an innovative vision to accelerate innovation in education through disruptive solutions in extended reality. Through the development of hardware, software, and content for spatial computing, the company has evolved significantly, becoming a leading force in technological development in this sector in Latin...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
TRIALLY
KANSAS CITY’S AI ANSWER TO CLINICAL TRIAL BREAKTHROUGHS
“There are trials out there that give people hope. Our job is to make sure no one misses out on that chance because of slow processes.” In the heart of the Midwest – where BBQ smoke mixes with startup ambition – a new breed of innovation is transforming medicine’s most...
INNOVATION Quebec
MERINOV
À LA TÊTE DE L’ÉCONOMIE BLEUE DANS L’EST DU CANADA
Merinov est un chef de file de l’économie bleue dans l’est du Canada. En fait, il est le plus important centre intégré de recherche appliquée au pays en pêches, aquaculture, transformation et valorisation des produits aquatiques. Depuis sa création en 2010, le centre de recherche vise à incarner le département...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
FLEXPODS
Our mission is to empower a collective of fitness and wellness professionals to build their brand
Laurent is a regular on the media circuit, seen on Oprah’s Live Your Best Life Tour, the Dr.Oz Show, TEDx talks, and many local news programs. Laurent had an idea. His idea was to create a space to support the fitness community. Providing affordable expertly designed and fully equipped fitness...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Detroit Opera
Setting the Scene for Opera's Future
Over the last half-century, Detroit Opera—formerly Michigan Opera Theatre—has become a deeply rooted cultural force in a city of innovation and diverse perspectives, presenting programs that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds while positively impacting the local economy. Appointed as the company’s second-ever Artistic Director in 2020, Yuval...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
COPPERBOX
Leadership. Inspired.
Although leadership is hard work, the work of developing leaders is at its essence ‘heart work.’ That became increasingly clear to Wayland Lum as he thought about how to help business executives achieve transformational change in their leadership. “I started Copperbox because I believed that we could do leadership development...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
BioNJ
Helping New Jersey’s Life Sciences Industry Bring Medical Innovation to Patients Around the World
For more than 30 years, BioNJ has been the life sciences trade association for New Jersey – representing close to 400 research–based life sciences organizations and stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem from the largest biopharmaceutical companies to early–stage start–ups. Because Patients Can’t Wait®, BioNJ is dedicated to ensuring a vibrant...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
MARIMO
INNOVATING LUXURY FASHION THROUGH EDUCATION AND CONSCIOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP
Marimo’s innovation is not just in delivering a personal luxury experience, but in educating the customer toward a new mindset: one that embraces intentionality, sustainability, and long-term value in fashion. Marimo is a small Estonian luxury fashion brand quietly leading a mindset shift in how fashion is worn, understood, and...
INNOVATION Quebec
MILA
EN TANT QU’INSTITUT QUÉBÉCOIS D’INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIELLE, MILA EST L’ÉPICENTRE DE L’EXPERTISE EN APPRENTISSAGE PROFOND (DEEP LEARNING) AU CANADA
Dirigé par le professeur Yoshua Bengio, corécipiendaire en 2018 du prix Turing pour ses travaux fondateurs sur l’apprentissage profond, Mila regroupe une communauté de plus de 1000 chercheuses et chercheurs en IA parmi les plus talentueux au monde. Cette concentration d’experts effectuant des travaux de pointe a permis au Québec...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation
Stateside Brands
An Innovative Leader
Few ready-to-drink beverage brands have captivated the market like Surfside. Since its 2022 launch, Surfside has taken off like a rocket ship, becoming the fastest-growing brand within the entire alcoholic beverage sector. At the close of 2025, Surfside achieved 11.1 million case sales, growing an astounding 6.2 million cases from...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
DC BLOX
DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Polsinelli
What a law firm should be
Companies in Nashville and across the country turn to Polsinelli for more than skilled legal representation. With Polsinelli by their side, they have a strategic partner who brings business-first solutions. Shaped by executive perspective, Polsinelli – a national law firm with over 1,200 attorneys across 25 offices – provides commercially...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Northeastern University Seattle
NORTHEASTERN BRINGS OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
NORTHEASTERN BRINGS OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a global research university with 13 campuses and the recognized leader in lifelong, experiential learning. Our emphasis on experience empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to make an impact in their communities,...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOVATION MARITIME
CCTT IN THE MARITIME SECTOR
Creativity and expertise serving the maritime industry. Affiliated with the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ), Innovation maritime (IMAR) is an applied research centre that has been active in the maritime sector for over twenty years. Our mission is to contribute to the development of the maritime sector and stimulate excellence...
AI Québec
RETAIL INNOVATION LAB
AT THE BENSADOUN SCHOOL OF RETAIL MANAGEMENT, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
The Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at McGill University recently launched a retail innovation lab. This initiative is a collaboration between McGill University and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ACT). The lab is a convenience store as well as a living lab that operates on the McGill University campus and houses...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
WILLIAM BLAIR
INVESTING AT THE NEXUS OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Committed to Growth and Innovation Since 1935At William Blair, growth and innovation are in our DNA. As an independent, private partnership, we are committed to providing the world’s leading venture firms with the expert guidance and creative solutions required to unlock value for investors and their portfolio companies. We are...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOPURSUE
Empowering the Next Generation
GoPursue is a revolutionary organization transforming the landscape of career exploration for K-12 students. This vibrant social impact company has carved a unique niche in the educational technology space, addressing critical gaps in workforce development and career preparedness. Founded by Kathryn Adabonyan, a former math teacher and career and technical...
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® South Carolina
Mill Village Ministries
Flourishing Takes a Village
Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...
INNOVATION Quebec
FINTECH MONTRÉAL
“THE QUEBEC FINTECH INDUSTRY IS THRIVING. WITH THE LARGEST FINTECH HUB IN CANADA AND THE FINTECH CANADA FORUM, A MAJOR ANNUAL INDUSTRY GATHERING, THE STAGE IS SET FOR INNOVATION TO MEET THE REAL NEEDS OF A TRANSFORMING INDUSTRY.” Sebastian Boisjoly, vice-président, FinTech et Innovations technologiques, Finance Montréal Financial technologies (FinTech)...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
MICROSOFT SOUTH AFRICA
Unlocking The Value Of Mixed Reality In Manufacturing
Mixed reality continues to grow exponentially because of its ability to help businesses and their employees complete crucial tasks faster, safer, and more efficiently. It also creates new ways to connect to customers and partners by blending the physical and digital worlds so that they coexist and interact in real-time....