Stories of Innovation

In business, location is everything. The South Carolina Department of Commerce’s vision is to embrace the future while ensuring the state’s sustainable growth and creating economic opportunity for all South Carolinians — from launch to legacy. South Carolina’s prime East Coast location and strong transportation infrastructure give companies efficient, reliable...

The Giant Flag is a world-first green innovation project that celebrates the spirit of South Africa, her land and her people, while bringing together job creation, climate change mitigation, clean energy and tourism. The Giant Flag will be made up of millions of coloured desert plants, agricultural tunnels, a tourism...

Lancée en avril 2002, la démarche ACCORD vise à créer un environnement propice au développement des entreprises. Elle favorise la collaboration entre celles-ci et des organisations dans un domaine particulier et un territoire précis. Depuis plus de 20 ans, cette stratégiede développement régional demeure un outil important pour stimuler l’économie...

Never before have we seen so much talk about digital transformation, predictive maintenance, operational optimization, and both industrial and economic innovation in our industry and SME ecosystem. And that’s just the beginning! At the Institut technologique de maintenance industrielle (ITMI), we are pleased with this trend as it is consistent...

The mission of the pharmaceutical industry is to further innovation and the development of therapies that meet existing needs in terms of treatments and the prevention of new diseases, and to make available medications that constitute an improvement in the health and life quality of the population. APIFARMA, the Portuguese...

Canada is full of big ideas. From coast to coast, founders are building technologies with the potential to reshape industries, strengthen communities, and solve problems that extend far beyond our borders. But while innovation is everywhere, successful companies are not. The difference between a brilliant idea and a globally competitive...

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....

Founded by three experienced systems developers and sales professionals, the company was born with the goal to offer the market a platform with all the features that a marketing and sales department need to achieve its goals. During the previous experiences of its founders, an opportunity was noticed in providing...

In the dynamic world of facility management and maintenance, one name stands out for its innovative approach and remarkable success: Leankeep. This SaaS company has transformed the way businesses handle their maintenance and facilities management, offering a suite of solutions that cater to a diverse range of sectors including condominium...

Breshna.io is a barrier-breaking platform. It is a game maker platform that empowers a non-tech, non-gamer audience to create, share, and monetize their own video games with no code and at lightning speed. With Breshna, everyone can create snackable games for entertainment, educational, marketing, and training purposes, like Canva for...

Elcogen’s roots trace back to Estonia’s post-independence period in the early 1990s. With the country newly liberated from Soviet rule, Estonia faced a major challenge in reorganizing its energy infrastructure. Energy prices soared, and the need for energy independence became critical. Enn Õunpuu, who had helped establish the Estonian Power...

Mason EnterpriseTM is a George Mason University-based economic development division that focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on new company creation and small business expansion. Through 24 intertwined, complementary programs that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connection to university assets (research, class projects, interns), Mason Enterprise...

Heidi is an entrepreneur and computer scientist who anticipates the needs of businesses and society as they’re transformed by digital technology. She earned her Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She is constantly seeking the edge of change and where she finds it, she...

Boutique Vancouver architectural firm committed to collaborative design and mixed-use projects using engineered wood solutions. The boutique architectural firm of SLA (Stephane Laroye Architect Inc.) is a Vancouver-based architectural firm focused on collaborative design with a passion for Passive House and engineered wood solutions in British Columbia. Established in 2016,...

FINCLUSION GROUP IS ENHANCING FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN AFRICA BY COMBINING A WORLD-CLASS PRODUCT OFFERING WITH TOP OF THE LINE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF THOSE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR. Finclusion Group is a diverse team of fintech professionals and entrepreneurs. They are passionate about...

Many people think having a “financial plan” means having a budget, a retirement savings account, and maybe a small cash reserve. But, those basic financials are only scratching the surface and exclude some key details like estate documents, saving strategies, or debt elimination plans. With that popular—and lacking—mindset, it’s perhaps...

A dedicated group of seasoned financial advisory professionals who coordinate the various skills and background of each team member to meet the needs of their client base. The Forbes Gilham Group of Wells Fargo Advisors takes a different approach to the needs of business owners and families. They have ability...

NTT DATA is a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services and a catalyst for transformation. With a presence in more than 70 countries and a legacy of innovation spanning decades, NTT DATA brings together deep industry expertise, cutting-edge technology and a human-centered approach to help clients solve...

ELEVATOR PITCH “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful; every woman deserves to feel safe; every woman deserves to feel happy.” is the motto at Sparkle & Sabre, a small jewelry company specializing in stylish pieces that boost wearers’ sense of security and well-being. With a majority of available self-defense products...

Nerd Street Gamers is a national esports infrastructure that puts accessibility, integrity and opportunity at the forefront of everything they do. As gaming communities slowly began to gain traction on a small scale, the CEO of Nerd Street Gamers and Localhost, John Fazio, knew that individuals nationwide would soon realize...

Rachel and Siya Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with this belief in mind: it is through the power of listening that positive change can happen in South Africa. We need to listen to what people dealing with challenging circumstances really need. We need to listen to the people already working...

SAHMRI is South Australia’s independent, not-for-profit health and medical research institute. It sits at the nexus of health and medical research in South Australia, facilitating diverse and innovative collaborations that deliver better, more equitable, health and health care to people across the state and beyond. SAHMRI was created in 2009...

“Nineteen years ago, Gary Harwood and I were assigned to a project in Lagos, Nigeria, by the large multinational for which we were working. On the evening of the first day of the project, we sat in the hotel bar enjoying an ice-cold local beer and wondered, what on Earth...

Abilitie offers world-class leadership development experiences that inspire, shape and develop people through differentiated learning programs, tools for self-discovery, and networks that expand opportunities.   The most transformational training hinges on experiential learning. This belief drives Abilitie’s team-based leadership simulations which put participants under pressure in rich, complex environments that...