Stories of Innovation

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MUUAAA DESIGN AGENCY

MUUAAA DESIGN AGENCY-A superfresh design and branding agency

A superfresh design and branding agency

Muuaaa Design Agency is an award-winning #FreshDesign and branding agency with over 10 years of experience offering design as a solution to increase market share. With a lean mentality, we work with established and emerging businesses to build brands that effectively communicate your message and stay in the mind of...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

MBQ PHARMA

The first biopharmaceutical drug development company started in Puerto Rico based on proprietary research in cancer, autoimmune and fibrotic diseases

Selective Targeting of GTPases – A novel, promising approach to treating Cancer, Autoimmune Conditions and Chronic Fibrotic DiseaseMBQ PHARMA – The Company and its missionMBQ Pharma is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments with high unmet medical needs such as Cancer, Autoimmune Disease and Chronic Fibrotic Syndromes. Our...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Tyler York

Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same.

“Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same” – this was the vision of Founder and CEO Charlie Peterson when launching Tyler York Real Estate Brokers at the beginning of 2018. After a meteoric rise in Nashville real estate beginning in 2013, Charlie quickly...

INNOVATE® Detroit

METALBUILT

Forming the Future of Mobility

Metalbuilt understands the importance of leveraging generations of manufacturing wisdom to shape the future of mobility in our world. When walking through their Metro Detroit facility, one will see a synchronized dance of large metal stamping presses cycling up and down, sparks flying behind welding curtains, and high-tech lasers cutting...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Miami Dade College

LEADING INNOVATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

LEADING INNOVATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT There’s a tech revolution happening in the heart of Miami. It’s being fueled by big thinkers, risk-taking entrepreneurs, public and private supporters. And alongside them at the grown-up’s table: Miami Dade College. Long acknowledged as one of the nation’s biggest and most diverse institutions of...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Launch Tennessee

Advances legacy of innovation

Public-private partnership Launch Tennessee has spent more than a decade creating a unique statewide startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs in all 95 counties across the Volunteer State by providing capital, commercialization support, and connections. “It’s a great privilege to work on behalf of the entire state to boost innovation and entrepreneurship,”...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SMARTGREEN

CONNECTING EVERYTHING

CONNECT TO THE FUTURESMARTGREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTCITIESWe create solutions to connect devices and sensors to the cities through mesh network infrastructure. 1998 – The Beginning of a New Era and the HistoryThe history of Smartgreen begins in 1998 in Brazil when its founders participated in a project called Rede Omega,...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Metron

Turning Water Data Into Actionable Intelligence

In an era where water costs are rising faster than any other utility and infrastructure is under unprecedented strain, Metron has positioned itself at the center of a critical shift: transforming water from a hidden cost into a measurable, manageable, and strategic asset. From its base in Colorado, its leadership...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HIRSCH’S

HIRSCH’S - FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

Hirsch’s has become a name synonymous with service and brand excellence over the years. They have grown into one of the most well-respected and trusted appliance and electronics retailers in the industry in South Africa, and it’s interesting to see how they got there. Allan and Margaret set up their first...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA- THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

GIA STORY“What if learning felt like a game?” This initial question was actually the starting point for the Games Institute. When Thomas Kunze stumbled over the topic of Game Based Learning in 2010, it was a question that never really left his thoughts again. Learning, especially in a digital world,...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Zentrix.ai

The Founders of Zentrix.ai Turn Their Passion for Stock Trading and Innovation Into an AI-Powered Stock Insights Platform

Founded in 2024 by Wyatt Johnson and Connor Van Crete, Zentrix.ai brings the tools and confidence of institutional trading to retail stock traders. Wyatt and Connor became interested in the stock market throughout high school, and quickly came to understand how cut-throat it can be. Conducting thorough research and data...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

JOE PUBLIC

JOE PUBLIC-OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE

OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE, OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COUNTRY.

Joe Public was established in Cape Town in 1998 by Gareth Leck and Pepe Marais. They opened the agency’s doors to the public with something completely new, Take-Away Advertising. This revolutionary model allowed hungry clients to order an ad off a menu with a price list, making Joe Public a...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

GIGHOUND

Temp Labour for the 21st Century

In today’s fast-paced economy, employers are facing a major challenge: how to handle their changing day-to-day labour needs without over-hiring full-time staff. Finding, screening, and training new employees can be a costly and time-consuming process for companies. GigHound solves these problems by providing a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective solution that...

INNOVATE® Maryland

SoKat

Turning AI Research Into Mission-Ready Infrastructure

When Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew founded SoKat in 2014, the problem he set out to solve wasn’t a shortage of AI innovation. It was separation. Research was accelerating inside the world’s leading universities. Yet much of that intelligence stalled before it reached the institutions that needed it most. Federal agencies...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing - MPOWERING THE STATE

Institute for Health Computing Primed to Partner with Life Science Companies.

Institute for Health Computing Primed to Partner with Life Science Companies. The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (IHC) is a new academic health research institute in North Bethesda, Maryland, that serves as a hub for health computing innovation and collaboration in Montgomery County. Founded in November 2022, the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

4 Innovative Methods Redefining Market Research for Companies in the US

The U.S business marketplace is extremely competitive, which may be a strength of the national economy, but it poses critical challenges for individual companies trying to stand out. As customer preferences shift and industry trends disrupt the status quo, keeping a pulse on the wider market and your target audience...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GENLOGS

THEY USED TO TRACK TERRORISTS… NOW THEY TRACK TRUCKS

Like many on September 11th 2001, Ryan Joyce stared in disbelief at the television screens as he watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center in New York City. But it was the next image on the screen that made his heart sink further: the gaping hole and ensuing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

SHRMLABS

Spearheading Workplace Innovation Globally

Spearheading Workplace Innovation Globally As the pioneering innovation lab and venture capital arm of SHRM, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., SHRMLabs drives the development of revolutionary and ethical technologies tailored to solve pressing real-world workplace challenges. By connecting a global community of over 325,000 HR professionals with leading startups and innovators...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Atkins

Atkins - A Member Of The SNC-Lavalin Group

A Member Of The SNC-Lavalin Group, Is One Of The World’s Most Respected Design, Engineering And Project Management Consultancies.

There is an expectation that Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) will play a significant role in the future of transport. They have the potential to address critical safety issues associated with human-driven vehicles, and to increase accessibility and inclusivity, addressing some of the broader socio-economic challenges faced by an ageing...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

OMERS VENTURES

OMERS VENTURES-REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

OMERS Ventures has been backing early-stage technology companies for more than a decade.   Currently managing CAD$2 billion, with close to 60 investments in disruptive technology companies across North America and Europe, we are proud to support some of the world’s biggest thinkers and builders.   Spanning three countries, OMERS...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SUPERWISE

AI That Works for the Real World

SUPERWISE® is leading the next evolution in AI – making intelligent technology work for real-world industries, not just research labs. With practical, scalable, and low-friction tools, SUPERWISE empowers organizations to use AI to increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and transform how work gets done – from the executive suite to the...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Arzeda.

SOLVING TODAY’S HARDEST CHALLENGES THROUGH INTELLIGENT PROTEIN DESIGN

SOLVING TODAY’S HARDEST CHALLENGES THROUGH INTELLIGENT PROTEIN DESIGN It’s no secret that the future of more sustainable products is already being driven by cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking innovation. Among the leaders defining this future is Seattle-based industry-leading Protein Design Company, Arzeda. Recognizing the vast potential and opportunity to transform the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Vision Behind Soft2Bet:

How Uri Poliavich Built More Than a Platform

Not every founder is a product person. Fewer still are patient. But Uri Poliavich built Soft2Bet by being both. From the start, he wasn’t chasing headlines or hype—he was building an engine for growth. Not the flashy kind. The kind that lasts. He understood something early on that many in...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MUUAAA DESIGN AGENCY

MUUAAA DESIGN AGENCY-A superfresh design and branding agency

A superfresh design and branding agency

Muuaaa Design Agency is an award-winning #FreshDesign and branding agency with over 10 years of experience offering design as a solution to increase market share. With a lean mentality, we work with established and emerging businesses to build brands that effectively communicate your message and stay in the mind of...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

MBQ PHARMA

The first biopharmaceutical drug development company started in Puerto Rico based on proprietary research in cancer, autoimmune and fibrotic diseases

Selective Targeting of GTPases – A novel, promising approach to treating Cancer, Autoimmune Conditions and Chronic Fibrotic DiseaseMBQ PHARMA – The Company and its missionMBQ Pharma is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments with high unmet medical needs such as Cancer, Autoimmune Disease and Chronic Fibrotic Syndromes. Our...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Tyler York

Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same.

“Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same” – this was the vision of Founder and CEO Charlie Peterson when launching Tyler York Real Estate Brokers at the beginning of 2018. After a meteoric rise in Nashville real estate beginning in 2013, Charlie quickly...

INNOVATE® Detroit

METALBUILT

Forming the Future of Mobility

Metalbuilt understands the importance of leveraging generations of manufacturing wisdom to shape the future of mobility in our world. When walking through their Metro Detroit facility, one will see a synchronized dance of large metal stamping presses cycling up and down, sparks flying behind welding curtains, and high-tech lasers cutting...

INNOVATE® South Florida

Miami Dade College

LEADING INNOVATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

LEADING INNOVATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT There’s a tech revolution happening in the heart of Miami. It’s being fueled by big thinkers, risk-taking entrepreneurs, public and private supporters. And alongside them at the grown-up’s table: Miami Dade College. Long acknowledged as one of the nation’s biggest and most diverse institutions of...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Launch Tennessee

Advances legacy of innovation

Public-private partnership Launch Tennessee has spent more than a decade creating a unique statewide startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs in all 95 counties across the Volunteer State by providing capital, commercialization support, and connections. “It’s a great privilege to work on behalf of the entire state to boost innovation and entrepreneurship,”...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

SMARTGREEN

CONNECTING EVERYTHING

CONNECT TO THE FUTURESMARTGREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTCITIESWe create solutions to connect devices and sensors to the cities through mesh network infrastructure. 1998 – The Beginning of a New Era and the HistoryThe history of Smartgreen begins in 1998 in Brazil when its founders participated in a project called Rede Omega,...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Metron

Turning Water Data Into Actionable Intelligence

In an era where water costs are rising faster than any other utility and infrastructure is under unprecedented strain, Metron has positioned itself at the center of a critical shift: transforming water from a hidden cost into a measurable, manageable, and strategic asset. From its base in Colorado, its leadership...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REVERSE RESOURCES

THE DIGITAL THREAD: HOW REVERSE RESOURCES IS INDUSTRIALIZING THE GLOBAL TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating from its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, Reverse Resources (RR) stands at the intersection of technology, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability. The company’s core mission is to solve one of the fashion industry’s most pressing and complex challenges: textile waste. By focusing on digitalization and transparency, RR is enabling...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HIRSCH’S

HIRSCH’S - FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

FOUNDED ON TRUST AND SERVICE

Hirsch’s has become a name synonymous with service and brand excellence over the years. They have grown into one of the most well-respected and trusted appliance and electronics retailers in the industry in South Africa, and it’s interesting to see how they got there. Allan and Margaret set up their first...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA

GAMES INSTITUTE AUSTRIA- THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

THERE IS A GAME FOR EVERYONE

GIA STORY“What if learning felt like a game?” This initial question was actually the starting point for the Games Institute. When Thomas Kunze stumbled over the topic of Game Based Learning in 2010, it was a question that never really left his thoughts again. Learning, especially in a digital world,...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Zentrix.ai

The Founders of Zentrix.ai Turn Their Passion for Stock Trading and Innovation Into an AI-Powered Stock Insights Platform

Founded in 2024 by Wyatt Johnson and Connor Van Crete, Zentrix.ai brings the tools and confidence of institutional trading to retail stock traders. Wyatt and Connor became interested in the stock market throughout high school, and quickly came to understand how cut-throat it can be. Conducting thorough research and data...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

JOE PUBLIC

JOE PUBLIC-OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE

OUR PURPOSE IS GROWTH. TO BE THE FERTILE SOIL THAT GROWS OUR PEOPLE, OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COUNTRY.

Joe Public was established in Cape Town in 1998 by Gareth Leck and Pepe Marais. They opened the agency’s doors to the public with something completely new, Take-Away Advertising. This revolutionary model allowed hungry clients to order an ad off a menu with a price list, making Joe Public a...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

GIGHOUND

Temp Labour for the 21st Century

In today’s fast-paced economy, employers are facing a major challenge: how to handle their changing day-to-day labour needs without over-hiring full-time staff. Finding, screening, and training new employees can be a costly and time-consuming process for companies. GigHound solves these problems by providing a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective solution that...

INNOVATE® Maryland

SoKat

Turning AI Research Into Mission-Ready Infrastructure

When Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew founded SoKat in 2014, the problem he set out to solve wasn’t a shortage of AI innovation. It was separation. Research was accelerating inside the world’s leading universities. Yet much of that intelligence stalled before it reached the institutions that needed it most. Federal agencies...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing - MPOWERING THE STATE

Institute for Health Computing Primed to Partner with Life Science Companies.

Institute for Health Computing Primed to Partner with Life Science Companies. The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (IHC) is a new academic health research institute in North Bethesda, Maryland, that serves as a hub for health computing innovation and collaboration in Montgomery County. Founded in November 2022, the...

Global Innovation Spotlight

4 Innovative Methods Redefining Market Research for Companies in the US

The U.S business marketplace is extremely competitive, which may be a strength of the national economy, but it poses critical challenges for individual companies trying to stand out. As customer preferences shift and industry trends disrupt the status quo, keeping a pulse on the wider market and your target audience...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

GENLOGS

THEY USED TO TRACK TERRORISTS… NOW THEY TRACK TRUCKS

Like many on September 11th 2001, Ryan Joyce stared in disbelief at the television screens as he watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center in New York City. But it was the next image on the screen that made his heart sink further: the gaping hole and ensuing...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

SHRMLABS

Spearheading Workplace Innovation Globally

Spearheading Workplace Innovation Globally As the pioneering innovation lab and venture capital arm of SHRM, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., SHRMLabs drives the development of revolutionary and ethical technologies tailored to solve pressing real-world workplace challenges. By connecting a global community of over 325,000 HR professionals with leading startups and innovators...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Atkins

Atkins - A Member Of The SNC-Lavalin Group

A Member Of The SNC-Lavalin Group, Is One Of The World’s Most Respected Design, Engineering And Project Management Consultancies.

There is an expectation that Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) will play a significant role in the future of transport. They have the potential to address critical safety issues associated with human-driven vehicles, and to increase accessibility and inclusivity, addressing some of the broader socio-economic challenges faced by an ageing...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

OMERS VENTURES

OMERS VENTURES-REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

REAL CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE A ROADMAP – WE BACK TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – IN SEARCH OF NEW SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

OMERS Ventures has been backing early-stage technology companies for more than a decade.   Currently managing CAD$2 billion, with close to 60 investments in disruptive technology companies across North America and Europe, we are proud to support some of the world’s biggest thinkers and builders.   Spanning three countries, OMERS...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SUPERWISE

AI That Works for the Real World

SUPERWISE® is leading the next evolution in AI – making intelligent technology work for real-world industries, not just research labs. With practical, scalable, and low-friction tools, SUPERWISE empowers organizations to use AI to increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and transform how work gets done – from the executive suite to the...

INNOVATE® Seattle

Arzeda.

SOLVING TODAY’S HARDEST CHALLENGES THROUGH INTELLIGENT PROTEIN DESIGN

SOLVING TODAY’S HARDEST CHALLENGES THROUGH INTELLIGENT PROTEIN DESIGN It’s no secret that the future of more sustainable products is already being driven by cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking innovation. Among the leaders defining this future is Seattle-based industry-leading Protein Design Company, Arzeda. Recognizing the vast potential and opportunity to transform the...

Ecosystems