Stories of Innovation

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all companies in the United States. Within a year, 20% of new small businesses fail. That number rises to 30% before the end of the second year. After five years, half of those small businesses have failed. Profits only start trickling in after 18...

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...

Located in the innovative city of Curitiba, Prime Control stands out as a guardian of quality in software testing. With over 15-years of dedicated service, this company has carved out a unique niche, bringing quality and efficiency in to the digital environment. Its team, comprising more than 270 specialists scattered...

PlayOn was created to champion the spirit of play. The PlayOn team is comprised of GoFan, the NFHS Network, and rSchoolToday – three brands united by a shared passion for school athletics and activities. PlayOn propels schools onward with enduring innovation and service to save time and focus on what...

“Esposure is connecting esports and education to create opportunities. We are committed to doing our part in building the esports talent pipeline through our Education to Entertainment ecosystem.” — Danny R. Martin Danny R. Martin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Esposure, Inc., a global esports technology company with an...

The great management consultant, educator, and author Peter Drucker said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”. As the CEO of Adlucent, a performance marketing agency, I find this quote resonates with me on a deep level. But, while there are many inspiring quotes out there that help leaders set...

Ensuring competitive advantages, fostering business opportunities, introducing new products and optimizing processes. When it comes to innovation, startups serve as crucial partners for propelling progress in the automotive sector. In this scenario, those who stand out are the ones helping dealerships identify opportunities to enhance the customer experience while adapting...

Co-founded by a young entrepreneur just in her twenties, Eliise Lehtsaar, the company produces biodegradable air filters from waste wool, offering a solution to the staggering figure of nine billion plastic ventilation system filters discarded worldwide each year. For Voon, the goal is straightforward yet compelling: why continue to landfill...

Tembici is the leading company in micromobility technology in Latin America, responsible for over 250 million bike journeys. Recognized as one of Brazil’s most promising and innovative startups, the company has, in recent years, contributed to a potential saving of 46,000 tons of CO2. In 2022, the company conducted the...

Beacon HR is in the business of transforming companies to help them become stronger, more modern, and more resilient. Change seems to be the only constant in this era of the Great Resignation, followed by a recessionary environment. Scrambling to come up with short-term actions and pivots to stay competitive...

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....

Code/Art is a Miami-based nonprofit on a mission to increase the number of girls in computer science by delighting and inspiring them with the creative possibilities of computer programming. Art is the secret sauce that enables Code/Art to meet girls where they are at with in-demand tech skills – fueling...

“The constraint was never capability. It was how capability was being evaluated.” The future of hiring won’t be decided by résumés, but by who can see potential others miss. For decades, employers have relied on job titles, keywords, and pedigree as proxies for capability. Those filters were built for scale,...

Family time has never looked quite like this before. Screens, apps, and gadgets have moved far beyond solo entertainment — they’re now tools for connection, creativity, and shared adventure. Whether your household is full of toddlers or teenagers, there’s a digital experience waiting to bring everyone to the same table....

ExxonMobil manages an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. Innovation and collaboration are keys to our success in delivering for customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. Working with the world’s leading research institutions and universities, ExxonMobil’s scientists and engineers...

American University’s Kogod School of Business breeds the spirit of changemakers at the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship. It’s more than just an academic unit; it’s a thriving ecosystem where entrepreneurial dreams are developed, challenged, and nurtured. Entrepreneurship is a worldview. Entrepreneurs are risk-taking, resilient, innovative problem-solvers and dreamers with the...

OUR STORYBiggins Lacy Shapiro & Company (BLS & Co.) is one of the largest independent firms in the specialty fields of site selection and economic development incentives advisory services. Our principals have been delivering our mix of services for more than twenty-five years and arehighly respected leaders in their field....

In an effort to facilitate its use when developing new applications, the Infrastructure en recherche et développement du Québec (IRDQ) [Quebec research and development infrastructure] portal brings together worldclass facilities and state-of-the-art equipment from universities, college technology transfer centres (CTTC), and public research centres. The IRDQ’s objective is to provide...

La Chaire de recherche en prévention de la cybercriminalité a été lancée en septembre 2018 à l’initiative de l’Université de Montréal, de Desjardins et de la Banque Nationale du Canada. Elle est dirigée par Benoît Dupont, professeur de criminologie et chercheur au Centre international de criminologie comparée de l’Université de...

The dental mirror is the single-most important tool for dentists and hygienists alike, but it hasn’t changed in form or function for more than 100 years. SmartMirror looks, feels and acts like a traditional dental mirror, but features pioneering technology that meets the needs of today’s dentists and patients alike....

The Estonian material technology company KIUD, founded in 2022, is addressing two major global waste problems simultaneously: textile waste and packaging waste. The company has developed a patented mechanical process to transform synthetic and mixed textile waste into rigid, reusable packaging — offering a sustainable alternative to cardboard and plastic....

Supported by the Québec Ministry of Economy and Innovation’s ACCORD approach, the TechniTextile team assists industry leaders with implementing innovative, collaborative projects driven by their own needs.     Innovation-Focused Cluster ProjectsThe projects backed or managed by TechniTextile provide a springboard for companies to reduce the risks involved in collaboration,...

In a world defined by rapid technological change, constant disruption, and ever-higher performance demands, Ola Ahlvarsson has spent nearly three decades championing a quietly radical idea: that true innovation doesn’t start with pressure or tools—it starts with people. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s most influential thought leaders...

Focused on professional excellence, the university has played a pivotal role in shaping over 10 thousand entrepreneurs in the past 20 years, leading to the establishment of 24 thousand businesses nationwide. Committed to sustainable development since 2019, Universidade Positivo incorporates the United Nation’s sustainable development goals into every facet of...