Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

upace™

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Airspace Link

Pioneering Safe Drone Integration for a Connected Future

Throughout history, the advancement of human civilization has been intrinsically linked to the development of transportation infrastructure. Each era has brought forth revolutionary changes that reshaped our world, our economies, and our way of life. From the expansion of railroads in the 19th century to the rise of automobiles and...

INNOVATION Quebec

CATALIS QUEBEC

CATALIS Québec-Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique

A leader in both accelerating clinical trial approval processes and fostering patient engagement in clinical research, is committed to positioning Quebec on the world stage of clinical research.

Mandated by the government and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, CATALIS is a seedbed of innovation in clinical research. Created in 2017, the NPO is carrying out a bold mandate to optimize Quebec’s clinical research environment and promote...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BEATDAPP

THE BUGGLES TOLD THE WORLD THAT VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR. RELEASED IN 1980, THEIR HIT SONG, “VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR,” MAY NOT BE ACCURATE TODAY. MORE THAN 10% OF ALL STREAMED MUSIC IS FRAUDULENTLY STREAMED, WIPING OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO ARTISTS AND LABELS

Beatdapp is a streaming fraud detection company. It helps music labels and artists track their songs to collect royalties. Think of it as a PWC for music play count. The company has a set of machine learning and predictive algorithms to detect streaming manipulation and has over 30 patents across...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BUENA VIBRA

Thriving in the ‘Multicooltural’ Creative Business-How culture shapes the entertainment business in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

For years, the founders of Buena Vibra asked themselves how to praise the Puerto Rican talent. They were always aware of all the potential that the island held, recognizing the fast evolution and future globalization of the latin music, star product of the island that gave them life. They had...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Innovating Charleston: 30 Years of Bold Ideas and Big Wins

The Charleston region is one that’s on the move. For the past 30 years, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has worked with its partners in government, academia and business to improve the three-county Charleston region’s economy now and into the future. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance serves as a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Papa

Papa - By connecting older adults to college students

By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations

Papa is a platform dedicated to solve the loneliness crisis. By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations. Our enthusiastic students – known as Papa Pals, are considered “Grandkids On-Demand!” to our members. Companionship, assistance, and transportation provided by our pals can be...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DGPR

REDEFINING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR CANADIAN TECH

The Canadian tech sector is booming, there’s no question about that. In 2021, despite the impacts of the pandemic and the general economic downturn, the information and communications technology (ICT) reflected a total 5.3% of the national GDP — that’s $104.5billion. This number, alongside a teeming collective of businesses that...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Technology and Family Leisure:

New Ways to Have Fun

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....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATION Quebec

MONTÉRÉGIE ÉCONOMIQUE

L’ÉCOSYSTÈME INNOVANT DE LA MONTÉRÉGIE

Mis en place en 2020, l’Espace régional d’accélération et de croissance de la Montérégie est propulsé par Montérégie Économique, qui regroupe les organismes de développement économique issus des MRC et de l’agglomération de Longueuil. L’OBNL soutient les agents économiques, guide les entreprises vers les services d’accompagnement et d’accélération d’affaires et...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Renewal House

Innovation Rooted in Compassion

Renewal House combines evidence-based treatment with deep compassion, creating innovative paths to recovery that strengthen both mothers and their children. As the only long-term family residential recovery program for women and their children in Middle Tennessee, Renewal House has always been driven by a vision that goes beyond addressing substance...

INNOVATE® Nashville

STUDIO BANK

STUDIO BANK

How Studio Bank is fueling Nashville’s creative economy with creative financial solutions and human connections

A bank for creators…A Studio is a place where creators do their thing. Studio Bank exists to empower creators. Whether you’re designing a company or creating a better life for your family, crafting a song or writing code, orchestrating social change or enhancing the quality of care, we launched Studio...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP - WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

As a Sport Management professor, I sat and spoke to my students about the various aspects of gaming. Knowing the majority of my classes were filled with gamers, we would have countless discussions about the business and possibilities of esports. From these conversations I saw first hand how limited the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Castano Group-Changes the way people communicate with brands in digital and physical environments.

When innovation is combined with creativity, it not only captures attention, it can create an experience that can lead to change. Castano Group specializes in designing and producing these experiences: multimedia, multisensory engagements that change the way people communicate with brands in digital and physical environments. Castano Group was launched...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KUDOTI

KUDOTI- A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT ENABLES FMCG BRANDS TO TRACE THEIR WASTE MATERIAL

A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT ENABLES FMCG BRANDS TO TRACE THEIR WASTE MATERIAL, PROVIDES REALTIME DATA FOR BETTER DECISION MAKING AND IMPROVES SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL PROCUREMENT

Kudoti was founded in 2019, offering a tailored solution based on our clients sustainability goals and offers an end-to-end solution from developing strategy with our clients, implementation thereof, and right through to tracking and tracing and reporting, enabling brands to become fully circular through real-time data. Unlike solutions from outside...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THINK.DIGITAL

INNOVATING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE

Think Digital is one of Australia’s leading innovative XR studios creating VR, AR and AI solutions for agriculture, to assist with marketing, education, training and on farm productivity gains. Founders Tim Gentle and Kat Bidstrup both have strong links to agriculture, having grown up in regional Australia – Kat on...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Endeavor

Fueling High-Impact Entrepreneurship in Detroit

Detroit’s entrepreneurial resurgence is being shaped by a powerful force: Endeavor. Since its establishment in the city in 2015, Endeavor Detroit has become a catalyst for scaling high-growth companies, selecting and supporting founders who have the potential to transform economies. More than just a business accelerator or an investment firm,...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

CYBER OPS

INNOVATION AND CYBER SECURITY GO HAND-IN-HAND

In 2016 the founders of CyberOps brought together their decades of experience in national and global technology and advisory roles to form a company to help service the growing need for expert technical advice in the Defence, space and Cyber Industries. The aim was to deliver innovative services and to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...

INNOVATE® Georgia

BROOKSOURCE

A RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED APPROACH TO BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TECH & GEORGIA!

Since 2000, Brooksource has established lasting relationships with its clients, consultants, and the Atlanta community to deliver unparalleled experiences. Brooksource is a trusted services provider that specializes in delivering Engineering and IT initiatives for Fortune 500 organizations and the public sector through Experience-Driven Staffing, Professional Services, and its Workforce Transformation...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

STREETSCHOOL - Journeys of Discovery

STREETSCHOOL - Journeys of Discovery -As Humans We Are Still Foraging

As Humans We Are Still Foraging, But Instead Of Turning Over Rocks In Search Of Insects And Nuts, We Are Wanting To Understand It All

Our search for clarity is probably the oldest quest we have. We are forever asking “what must I do”, “why are things the way they are”, and “how could my life be different?” Our deepest motivating force is to make a difference, to experience meaning and live with purpose. We...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

Holberton School

Holberton School

CHANGING THE FACE OF TECH IN PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico’s technology scene has been a prominent driver of economic growth over the last few years. The changes driven by the global pandemic have made it evident that we rely on technology for our everyday lives. These conditions are creating a higher-than-ever demand for tech skilled professionals. For Puerto...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

upace™

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers

Revolutionizing How Members Engage with Recreation Centers In 2014, Rachel Koretsky founded Upace, which has since skyrocketed to become the top mobile app engagement and reservation platform, supporting over one million members of community recreation centers across the US and Canada. Her journey started at American University, driven by a...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Airspace Link

Pioneering Safe Drone Integration for a Connected Future

Throughout history, the advancement of human civilization has been intrinsically linked to the development of transportation infrastructure. Each era has brought forth revolutionary changes that reshaped our world, our economies, and our way of life. From the expansion of railroads in the 19th century to the rise of automobiles and...

INNOVATION Quebec

CATALIS QUEBEC

CATALIS Québec-Véritable cheffe de file dans l’accélération des processus d’autorisation d’essais cliniques et leader de l’engagement des patient·e·s enrecherche clinique

A leader in both accelerating clinical trial approval processes and fostering patient engagement in clinical research, is committed to positioning Quebec on the world stage of clinical research.

Mandated by the government and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, CATALIS is a seedbed of innovation in clinical research. Created in 2017, the NPO is carrying out a bold mandate to optimize Quebec’s clinical research environment and promote...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

BEATDAPP

THE BUGGLES TOLD THE WORLD THAT VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR. RELEASED IN 1980, THEIR HIT SONG, “VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR,” MAY NOT BE ACCURATE TODAY. MORE THAN 10% OF ALL STREAMED MUSIC IS FRAUDULENTLY STREAMED, WIPING OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO ARTISTS AND LABELS

Beatdapp is a streaming fraud detection company. It helps music labels and artists track their songs to collect royalties. Think of it as a PWC for music play count. The company has a set of machine learning and predictive algorithms to detect streaming manipulation and has over 30 patents across...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

BUENA VIBRA

Thriving in the ‘Multicooltural’ Creative Business-How culture shapes the entertainment business in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

For years, the founders of Buena Vibra asked themselves how to praise the Puerto Rican talent. They were always aware of all the potential that the island held, recognizing the fast evolution and future globalization of the latin music, star product of the island that gave them life. They had...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Innovating Charleston: 30 Years of Bold Ideas and Big Wins

The Charleston region is one that’s on the move. For the past 30 years, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has worked with its partners in government, academia and business to improve the three-county Charleston region’s economy now and into the future. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance serves as a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Papa

Papa - By connecting older adults to college students

By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations

Papa is a platform dedicated to solve the loneliness crisis. By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations. Our enthusiastic students – known as Papa Pals, are considered “Grandkids On-Demand!” to our members. Companionship, assistance, and transportation provided by our pals can be...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DGPR

REDEFINING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR CANADIAN TECH

The Canadian tech sector is booming, there’s no question about that. In 2021, despite the impacts of the pandemic and the general economic downturn, the information and communications technology (ICT) reflected a total 5.3% of the national GDP — that’s $104.5billion. This number, alongside a teeming collective of businesses that...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Technology and Family Leisure:

New Ways to Have Fun

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....

INNOVATE® Georgia

ORTEC AMERICAS

PIONEERING INNOVATION IN ADVANCED ANALYTICSAND OPTIMIZATION

ORTEC Americas, a global leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, has a rich history rooted in innovation and a steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence for businesses across diverse industries. A Legacy of Innovation: The Origins of ORTEC Founded in 1981 in the Netherlands, ORTEC emerged as a trailblazer...

INNOVATION Quebec

MONTÉRÉGIE ÉCONOMIQUE

L’ÉCOSYSTÈME INNOVANT DE LA MONTÉRÉGIE

Mis en place en 2020, l’Espace régional d’accélération et de croissance de la Montérégie est propulsé par Montérégie Économique, qui regroupe les organismes de développement économique issus des MRC et de l’agglomération de Longueuil. L’OBNL soutient les agents économiques, guide les entreprises vers les services d’accompagnement et d’accélération d’affaires et...

INNOVATE® Nashville

Renewal House

Innovation Rooted in Compassion

Renewal House combines evidence-based treatment with deep compassion, creating innovative paths to recovery that strengthen both mothers and their children. As the only long-term family residential recovery program for women and their children in Middle Tennessee, Renewal House has always been driven by a vision that goes beyond addressing substance...

INNOVATE® Nashville

STUDIO BANK

STUDIO BANK

How Studio Bank is fueling Nashville’s creative economy with creative financial solutions and human connections

A bank for creators…A Studio is a place where creators do their thing. Studio Bank exists to empower creators. Whether you’re designing a company or creating a better life for your family, crafting a song or writing code, orchestrating social change or enhancing the quality of care, we launched Studio...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME TO PHORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP - WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

WHERE WE SHOWCASE THE BEST TALENT AND CONTENT IN GAMING

As a Sport Management professor, I sat and spoke to my students about the various aspects of gaming. Knowing the majority of my classes were filled with gamers, we would have countless discussions about the business and possibilities of esports. From these conversations I saw first hand how limited the...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Castano Group-Changes the way people communicate with brands in digital and physical environments.

When innovation is combined with creativity, it not only captures attention, it can create an experience that can lead to change. Castano Group specializes in designing and producing these experiences: multimedia, multisensory engagements that change the way people communicate with brands in digital and physical environments. Castano Group was launched...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KUDOTI

KUDOTI- A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT ENABLES FMCG BRANDS TO TRACE THEIR WASTE MATERIAL

A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT ENABLES FMCG BRANDS TO TRACE THEIR WASTE MATERIAL, PROVIDES REALTIME DATA FOR BETTER DECISION MAKING AND IMPROVES SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL PROCUREMENT

Kudoti was founded in 2019, offering a tailored solution based on our clients sustainability goals and offers an end-to-end solution from developing strategy with our clients, implementation thereof, and right through to tracking and tracing and reporting, enabling brands to become fully circular through real-time data. Unlike solutions from outside...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

THINK.DIGITAL

INNOVATING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE

Think Digital is one of Australia’s leading innovative XR studios creating VR, AR and AI solutions for agriculture, to assist with marketing, education, training and on farm productivity gains. Founders Tim Gentle and Kat Bidstrup both have strong links to agriculture, having grown up in regional Australia – Kat on...

INNOVATE® Detroit

Endeavor

Fueling High-Impact Entrepreneurship in Detroit

Detroit’s entrepreneurial resurgence is being shaped by a powerful force: Endeavor. Since its establishment in the city in 2015, Endeavor Detroit has become a catalyst for scaling high-growth companies, selecting and supporting founders who have the potential to transform economies. More than just a business accelerator or an investment firm,...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

CYBER OPS

INNOVATION AND CYBER SECURITY GO HAND-IN-HAND

In 2016 the founders of CyberOps brought together their decades of experience in national and global technology and advisory roles to form a company to help service the growing need for expert technical advice in the Defence, space and Cyber Industries. The aim was to deliver innovative services and to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

THE HARWOOD INSTITUTE

MAKING COMMUNITY A COMMON ENTERPRISE

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation equips people, organizations, communities, and networks with tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By Turning Outward, people enable communities to become a collective force for change. Catalyzing HopeThe Harwood Institute exists in a long tradition of catalytic organizations throughout American...

INNOVATE® Georgia

BROOKSOURCE

A RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED APPROACH TO BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TECH & GEORGIA!

Since 2000, Brooksource has established lasting relationships with its clients, consultants, and the Atlanta community to deliver unparalleled experiences. Brooksource is a trusted services provider that specializes in delivering Engineering and IT initiatives for Fortune 500 organizations and the public sector through Experience-Driven Staffing, Professional Services, and its Workforce Transformation...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

STREETSCHOOL - Journeys of Discovery

STREETSCHOOL - Journeys of Discovery -As Humans We Are Still Foraging

As Humans We Are Still Foraging, But Instead Of Turning Over Rocks In Search Of Insects And Nuts, We Are Wanting To Understand It All

Our search for clarity is probably the oldest quest we have. We are forever asking “what must I do”, “why are things the way they are”, and “how could my life be different?” Our deepest motivating force is to make a difference, to experience meaning and live with purpose. We...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

Holberton School

Holberton School

CHANGING THE FACE OF TECH IN PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico’s technology scene has been a prominent driver of economic growth over the last few years. The changes driven by the global pandemic have made it evident that we rely on technology for our everyday lives. These conditions are creating a higher-than-ever demand for tech skilled professionals. For Puerto...

Ecosystems