Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EDSVÄRD
THE MILLION-DOLLAR SMILE
“Don’t worry I am not gonna steal it,” says one of Edsvärd’s co-founders to a man who sits by himself at a table. He is holding on to his backpack for dear life. The man cracks into a warm, bubbly laughter showing off his flawless white smile. His name is...
INNOVATE® Georgia
WILLIAM MILLS AGENCY
INFLUENCING WHAT THE INDUSTRY TALKS ABOUT
William Mills Agency (WMA) has been at the forefront of financial technology innovation since its inception. A storied company and perennially one of the top five public relations agencies in Georgia, WMA is trusted by financial companies and institutions around the country and the world. The agency’s history extends before...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
LIVING OPERA
HITTING A HIGH NOTE WITH NFTS
Classical musicians and technologists rarely interact with one another, but the people behind Living Opera believe that they can be important allies in the journey to produce transformative content that makes societies better off. Living Opera demonstrates how the collaboration of artists and technologists will be a pivotal element in...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SAGE
SAGE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES
Helping SMBs Thrive Sage aims to transform the way people think and work by leveraging AI and machine learning to help organizations manage money and people. Every day, from its Atlanta headquarters and around the world, 11,000 colleagues and partners work with millions of businesses in countless industries pursuing one...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
WUNDERMAN THOMPSON
BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS
Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP
Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FIRSTBANK
PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE
It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
RICE ME UP
DISCOVER THE TRUE VALUE OF RICE
RiceMeUp is a food startup with a focus on changing the image of rice. RiceMeUp offers a wide range of rice varieties with the highest quality through an E-commerce channel and carefully selected retailers. The company is founded by Antwerpians Babak Khazaeli and Annemie Struyf. Rice was cultivated in the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
MISSION IMPACT
DRIVING IMPACT IN THE METAVERSE AND IN THE REAL WORLD
Users can shape the metaverse. Unlike any other internet technology before it, Web 3.0 has the potential to be a deep space to , explore, and unleash our creativity. The metaverse can do good in the real world; it can have an immense social impact. Mission Impact is empowering...
INNOVATION Quebec
CINTECH AGROALIMENTAIRE
CCTT EN AGROALIMENTAIRE
Chez Cintech agroalimentaire c’est en collectif que nous entendons bien agir. En misant sur l’association des expertises de nos équipes, mais également en nous appuyant sur les savoirfaire spécifiques de chacun de nos clients, nous cherchons à répondre aux nouvelles attentes des consommateurs, plus généralement de la société en matière...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
THE AGENCY
HELPING CALGARY INNOVATORS TELL THEIR STORY
“When I started The Agency in 2009 as a boutique firm servicing the tech sector in Calgary, I heard the same thing over and over: What tech sector?” — Arleigh Vasconcellos, CEO/Founder, The Agency Communications Inc Calgary is one of the fastest growing tech centres in North America, and The...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNFOLD HOSPITALITY
Innovating D.C.’s Culinary Scene
Unfold Hospitality is the brainchild of Richard Brandenburg and Rubén García, two culinary powerhouses with a shared passion for transforming the food and hospitality industry. Both have extensive experience working under the legendary chef José Andrés, where they earned the nickname “Delta Force” for their ability to conceptualize and execute...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
BICKFORD'S GROUP
LEADER IN BEVERAGE INNOVATION
The Bickford’s Group is an Every day, the group strives to make the ordinary, extraordinary. independently owned collection of companies headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. The group has a rich history that dates back to 1839 when William Bickford opened a small apothecary in Rundle Street after moving to Australia....
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
WE ARE CISCO
Cisco Helps Seize The Opportunities Of Tomorrow By Proving That Amazing Things Can Happen When You Connect The Unconnected
An integral part of our DNA is creating long-lasting customer partnerships, working together to identify our customers’ needs and provide solutions that fuel their success. We have preserved this keen focus on solving business challenges since our founding in 1984. Len Bosack and wife Sandy Lerner, both working for Stanford...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
CarpeDM
Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women
“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
ASM GLOBAL
DELIVERS LIVE EXPERIENCES
PUERTO RICO’S PREMIERE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUESASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company has an elite venue network that spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues....
INNOVATION Quebec
JACOBB
INNOVATION ET RECHERCHE APPLIQUÉE EN INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIELLE (IA)
JACOBB est un centre d’innovation et de recherche appliquée en Intelligence Artificielle (IA) ayant pour mission d’accélérer l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans le tissu économique québécois. Établi en 2019, le centre connait depuis sa création une croissance rapide avec plus d’une douzaine de spécialistes à son bord, sous la supervision...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATION Quebec
INOVEM
CCTT EN ÉBÉNISTERIE ET MEUBLES
Centre d’innovation en ébénisterie et en meuble, Inovem accompagne les entreprises du domaine depuis 1983. Véritable catalyseur d’innovations, il est la référence en technologies durables pour les entreprises québécoises d’ébénisterie, de l’ameublement et des produits d’apparence en bois. L’industrie du meuble, de l’ébénisterie et des produits d’apparence peut compter sur...
INNOVATION Quebec
IRDQ
Une porte d’entrée gratuite vers les infrastructures R-D du Québec
Afin d’en faciliter l’utilisation pour le développement de nouvelles applications, le portail québécois des infrastructures en recherche et développement du Québec (IRDQ) regroupe les installations et équipements de pointe de classe mondiale des universités, des CCTT et des centres de recherche publics. L’objectif de l’IRDQ est de promouvoir ces équipements...
INNOVATION Quebec
PARI-G
REGIONAL SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION – ENGINEERING (PARI-G)
The need for companies to innovate is no longer to be demonstrated in a world where product development is happening on increasingly shorter cycles and where competition is more intense and less predictable. Innovation, whether it is related to the company’s products or its processes and equipment, is essential. Recognizing...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATION Quebec
COLAB
OPERATING SINCE 2019, COLAB IS A RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER
FOUR RESEARCH AREASDigital territoriesTo promote the development of digital, collaborative, and entrepreneurial skills among the ecosystem stakeholders. SMEs digital transitionSupport small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transition by fostering the digital skills of leaders, team managers and employees through digital transformation support. Digital entrepreneurship & leadershipStimulate digital entrepreneurship in...
INNOVATE® Georgia
THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA
THE SUBTLE RISE OF A TECH HUB
Situated between bustling downtown Atlanta and the tranquil the North Georgia mountains, the City of Alpharetta is emerging as a notable example of how a community can quietly yet effectively embrace innovation and growth. This story isn’t about rapid expansion or high-profile advancements; it’s a tale of how Alpharetta has...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EDSVÄRD
THE MILLION-DOLLAR SMILE
“Don’t worry I am not gonna steal it,” says one of Edsvärd’s co-founders to a man who sits by himself at a table. He is holding on to his backpack for dear life. The man cracks into a warm, bubbly laughter showing off his flawless white smile. His name is...
INNOVATE® Georgia
WILLIAM MILLS AGENCY
INFLUENCING WHAT THE INDUSTRY TALKS ABOUT
William Mills Agency (WMA) has been at the forefront of financial technology innovation since its inception. A storied company and perennially one of the top five public relations agencies in Georgia, WMA is trusted by financial companies and institutions around the country and the world. The agency’s history extends before...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
LIVING OPERA
HITTING A HIGH NOTE WITH NFTS
Classical musicians and technologists rarely interact with one another, but the people behind Living Opera believe that they can be important allies in the journey to produce transformative content that makes societies better off. Living Opera demonstrates how the collaboration of artists and technologists will be a pivotal element in...
INNOVATE® Georgia
SAGE
SAGE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES
Helping SMBs Thrive Sage aims to transform the way people think and work by leveraging AI and machine learning to help organizations manage money and people. Every day, from its Atlanta headquarters and around the world, 11,000 colleagues and partners work with millions of businesses in countless industries pursuing one...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
WUNDERMAN THOMPSON
BUILDING GROWTH FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS
Something has changed in the last two years in Puerto Rico, and we are not talking about the pandemic. J. Walter Thompson, a pioneer agency in strategy and creativity, merged with Wunderman, a leading agency in data and technology. In 2019, Wunderman Thompson Puerto Rico was born, an agency that...
INNOVATE® Nashville
LODESTONE ADVISORY GROUP
Is reimagining venture capital and economic development from the ground up
When we founded Lodestone Advisory Group in 2013, business leaders were tired of a management consulting industry that was a stiff, black box offering one-size-fits-all “solutions,” with little accountability on end results. Lodestone, named after the naturally occurring magnetic powder that gave early merchants and tradesmen the ability to navigate...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FIRSTBANK
PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW WAVE
It’s not often you hear about companies that thrive for over a century, but FirstBank, from its humble start in rural West Tennessee in 1906 continues to evolve and conquer 117 years later. From its original mission of serving a small-town farming community, FirstBank, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
RICE ME UP
DISCOVER THE TRUE VALUE OF RICE
RiceMeUp is a food startup with a focus on changing the image of rice. RiceMeUp offers a wide range of rice varieties with the highest quality through an E-commerce channel and carefully selected retailers. The company is founded by Antwerpians Babak Khazaeli and Annemie Struyf. Rice was cultivated in the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
MISSION IMPACT
DRIVING IMPACT IN THE METAVERSE AND IN THE REAL WORLD
Users can shape the metaverse. Unlike any other internet technology before it, Web 3.0 has the potential to be a deep space to , explore, and unleash our creativity. The metaverse can do good in the real world; it can have an immense social impact. Mission Impact is empowering...
INNOVATION Quebec
CINTECH AGROALIMENTAIRE
CCTT EN AGROALIMENTAIRE
Chez Cintech agroalimentaire c’est en collectif que nous entendons bien agir. En misant sur l’association des expertises de nos équipes, mais également en nous appuyant sur les savoirfaire spécifiques de chacun de nos clients, nous cherchons à répondre aux nouvelles attentes des consommateurs, plus généralement de la société en matière...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
THE AGENCY
HELPING CALGARY INNOVATORS TELL THEIR STORY
“When I started The Agency in 2009 as a boutique firm servicing the tech sector in Calgary, I heard the same thing over and over: What tech sector?” — Arleigh Vasconcellos, CEO/Founder, The Agency Communications Inc Calgary is one of the fastest growing tech centres in North America, and The...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
UNFOLD HOSPITALITY
Innovating D.C.’s Culinary Scene
Unfold Hospitality is the brainchild of Richard Brandenburg and Rubén García, two culinary powerhouses with a shared passion for transforming the food and hospitality industry. Both have extensive experience working under the legendary chef José Andrés, where they earned the nickname “Delta Force” for their ability to conceptualize and execute...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
BICKFORD'S GROUP
LEADER IN BEVERAGE INNOVATION
The Bickford’s Group is an Every day, the group strives to make the ordinary, extraordinary. independently owned collection of companies headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. The group has a rich history that dates back to 1839 when William Bickford opened a small apothecary in Rundle Street after moving to Australia....
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
WE ARE CISCO
Cisco Helps Seize The Opportunities Of Tomorrow By Proving That Amazing Things Can Happen When You Connect The Unconnected
An integral part of our DNA is creating long-lasting customer partnerships, working together to identify our customers’ needs and provide solutions that fuel their success. We have preserved this keen focus on solving business challenges since our founding in 1984. Len Bosack and wife Sandy Lerner, both working for Stanford...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
CarpeDM
Innovating the Dating Experience for Professional Black Women
“CarpeDM can have a massive positive impact on the collective economic and health status of the Black community.” Swiping right and superficial connections often dominate the realm of online dating. Naza Shelley founded CarpeDM to revolutionize how professional Black women find love in Washington, D.C., and beyond. This exclusive, member-only...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
ASM GLOBAL
DELIVERS LIVE EXPERIENCES
PUERTO RICO’S PREMIERE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUESASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company has an elite venue network that spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues....
INNOVATION Quebec
JACOBB
INNOVATION ET RECHERCHE APPLIQUÉE EN INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIELLE (IA)
JACOBB est un centre d’innovation et de recherche appliquée en Intelligence Artificielle (IA) ayant pour mission d’accélérer l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans le tissu économique québécois. Établi en 2019, le centre connait depuis sa création une croissance rapide avec plus d’une douzaine de spécialistes à son bord, sous la supervision...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATION Quebec
INOVEM
CCTT EN ÉBÉNISTERIE ET MEUBLES
Centre d’innovation en ébénisterie et en meuble, Inovem accompagne les entreprises du domaine depuis 1983. Véritable catalyseur d’innovations, il est la référence en technologies durables pour les entreprises québécoises d’ébénisterie, de l’ameublement et des produits d’apparence en bois. L’industrie du meuble, de l’ébénisterie et des produits d’apparence peut compter sur...
INNOVATION Quebec
IRDQ
Une porte d’entrée gratuite vers les infrastructures R-D du Québec
Afin d’en faciliter l’utilisation pour le développement de nouvelles applications, le portail québécois des infrastructures en recherche et développement du Québec (IRDQ) regroupe les installations et équipements de pointe de classe mondiale des universités, des CCTT et des centres de recherche publics. L’objectif de l’IRDQ est de promouvoir ces équipements...
INNOVATION Quebec
PARI-G
REGIONAL SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION – ENGINEERING (PARI-G)
The need for companies to innovate is no longer to be demonstrated in a world where product development is happening on increasingly shorter cycles and where competition is more intense and less predictable. Innovation, whether it is related to the company’s products or its processes and equipment, is essential. Recognizing...
INNOVATION Quebec
IVADO
MOTEUR D’UNE IA ROBUSTE, RAISONNANTE ET RESPONSABLE
IVADO est un consortium de recherche et de transfert de connaissances en IA basé à Montréal. Il mobilise une expertise universitaire unique au monde afin de combler le fossé entre l’IA actuelle et l’intelligence humaine et ainsi développer une IA capable de se déployer dans des environnements changeants et complexes....
INNOVATION Quebec
COLAB
OPERATING SINCE 2019, COLAB IS A RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER
FOUR RESEARCH AREASDigital territoriesTo promote the development of digital, collaborative, and entrepreneurial skills among the ecosystem stakeholders. SMEs digital transitionSupport small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transition by fostering the digital skills of leaders, team managers and employees through digital transformation support. Digital entrepreneurship & leadershipStimulate digital entrepreneurship in...
INNOVATE® Georgia
THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA
THE SUBTLE RISE OF A TECH HUB
Situated between bustling downtown Atlanta and the tranquil the North Georgia mountains, the City of Alpharetta is emerging as a notable example of how a community can quietly yet effectively embrace innovation and growth. This story isn’t about rapid expansion or high-profile advancements; it’s a tale of how Alpharetta has...