Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Flanders

FOUR & FIVE

Business Advisors Disguised as Lawyers

In a rapidly evolving world where technology consistently outpaces the law, bridging the divide between legal frameworks and innovation has become more critical than ever. At the heart of this intersection lies Four & Five, a boutique law firm founded six years ago by Dimitri Coun and Anneleen Vander Elstraeten...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

TURTLE

Envisioning the Future Through a Century of Excellence

Founded in 1923, Turtle stands tall as a beacon of enduring success in the US market, marking its presence as one of the largest independent electrical and industrial distribution companies. Having amassed a century of experience, Turtle doesn’t just rest on its past laurels. Instead, it envisions a future illuminated...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

PONTOMAIS

MESHED STORIES OF INNOVATION AND SOCIAL IMPACT

Founded in 2016 in the city of Curitiba, State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, Pontomais was created to solve the challenges of Human Resource units by means of digitalization and automation of processes. Until then, many of the routines were performed manually, and, with the arrival of Pontomais, HR professionals were...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BOSS INSIGHTS

BOSS INSIGHTS-ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD

ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD

You know how to lend. But, to whom do you lend, when you don’t have the right data? Too many business lenders are constrained by partial data and manual processes. And, speed is paramount. Keren Moynihan, CEOBoss Insights empowers fintechs and lenders to respond faster, make underwriting decisions more quickly,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

KION

FROM GLOBAL VISION TO LOCAL INGENUITY: HOW KION NORTH AMERICA IS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION

IN AN INDUSTRY OFTEN DEFINED BY POWER AND PRECISION, KION NORTH AMERICA STANDS APART FOR SOMETHING MORE INTANGIBLE: ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS INNOVATION. FROM ADVANCED ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING TO A CULTURE THAT VALUES CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, KION NA’S APPROACH IS ONE OF GLOBAL COLLABORATION, LOCAL EXECUTION, AND DEEP CUSTOMER FOCUS. AT...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Global Ascent Partners (GAP)

Helping companies grow globally by bridging the GAPs

GAP (Global Ascent Partners) is a business development and international operations advisory firm that offers cross border operations, commercial, strategy and transactional support to technology clients. GAP works with organizations to develop and execute technology initiatives that support specific business objectives to improve their bottom line, competitive advantage and digital...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

VIL

Empowering logistics for over 20 years

Creating added value for and enhancing competitiveness of all Flemish companies with logistics operations is VIL’s main focus. And it has been for over twenty years. From a small non-profit organization, VIL has grown to be a hands-on, company driven organization, with a staff of 35 employees. Since 2017 VIL...

INNOVATION Quebec

InnovÉÉ

InnovÉÉ-Unir idées et savoir

Unir idées et savoir

Les innovations dans les secteurs de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et intelligents sont le moteur de la transition énergétique en cours au Québec et ailleurs dans le monde. Stimuler, accompagner et financer des projets de recherche collaborative dans les filières de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

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® South Carolina

Catch Talent

We focus on understanding the career needs of individuals in the workforce.

Real Relationships Matter Catch Talent is a high-touch recruiting agency that delivers end-to-end talent acquisition solutions to growing technology, financial services, healthcare, digital & creative, professional services, and government contracting companies. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, Catch specializes in the full talent attraction life cycle by sourcing and recruiting qualified candidates...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULATING INNOVATION IN THE MAURICIE: THE HEART OF OUR MISSION

In 2011, economic development actors in the Mauricie region were visionary in creating an organization dedicated to innovation. Claude Bourassa, General Manager “Innovation is no longer optional, but rather a mandatory management method for business sustainability and growth!”– Claude Bourassa, General Manager of ESM and ERAC Mauricie Over the years, Économie...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

AVIA GIS

SOFT WARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR A HEALTHIER WORLD

“OUR RESEARCH DOESN’T STOP AFTER WRITING THE CONCLUSION.” – GUY HENDRICKX, FOUNDING MANAGING DIRECTOR, AVIA-GIS Ever heard of the proverb “better safe than sorry”? Well, Avia-GIS sure has. Even better: they built their entire business around it. Founder and CEO Guy Hendrickx started Avia-GIS in 2001 as a company with...

INNOVATION Quebec

SOUTIENT ET PROPULSE LES ENTREPRENEURS QUI UTILISENT LES TECHNOLOGIES INNOVANTES POUR RÉVOLUTIONNER LES INDUSTRIES CRÉATIVES ET GÉNÉRER DES PROPRIÉTÉS INTELLECTUELLES DE CLASSE MONDIALE Incubateur initié par Guy Laliberté en 2018, Zú offre des programmes d’accompagnement pour startups, des services en innovation ouverte pour les PME et grandes entreprises, une expertise...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

COM-SEC

EMPOWERING BUSINESSES WITH COMPREHENSIVE CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS

Founded in 2020, Com-Sec has emerged as a leading provider of comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, empowering businesses to safeguard their digital assets and achieve regulatory compliance. With a team of highly skilled cybersecurity experts boasting decades of industry experience, Com-Sec has become a trusted partner for organizations across various sectors. A...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RINSA

Creating Impact for Entrepreneurs

The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Alberta Innovates with Economic Development Lethbridge/ Tecconnect, Lethbridge College, and the University of Lethbridge. Through trusted relationship building and a commitment to serving rural/remote and under-represented groups, RINSA has expanded to 14 members....

INNOVATE® Detroit

TREMEC

A Tier 1 Supplier Continuously Innovating and Elevating Performance

TREMEC is a leading manufacturer of high-performance, highly engineered propulsion and driveline systems, subsystems, and componentry supporting conventional, hybrid, and fully electrified vehicles. TREMEC is agile and vertically integrated focusing on niche and moderate-volume applications across abroad spectrum of sectors including passenger car, commercial truck, vocational truck, off-highway heavy-duty, off-road...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KCI

BRIDGING THE BUILT AND NATURAL WORLDS: KCI’S NASHVILLE LEGACY

From transportation networks to environmental stewardship, KCI’s multidisciplinary team is redefining what it means to engineer progress. The architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is constantly evolving at a rapid pace, driven by advancements in technology, sustainability, and design thinking. As cities grow and infrastructure needs intensify, firms are embracing...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NOTION GAMES

NOTION GAMES

Innovators rarely consider themselves to be pioneers within their own industry. And Andrew Augustin is a prime example of this axiom. Augustin is a graphic designer who, in 2011, founded Notion Games, an Austin-based video gaming company that creates games for people of all ages. But that brief description fails...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

JLABS @ WASHINGTON, DC

Accelerating Innovation in the Capital Region

Where the corridors of power intersect with groundbreaking research, JLABS @ Washington DC is a haven of innovation. As part of the global Johnson & Johnson Innovation network, JLABS is more than just a state-of-the-art facility; it’s a thriving ecosystem designed to accelerate life sciences innovation. Since its inception, JLABS...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDCHIP

THE RISE AT SEA: HOW MINDCHIP TEACHES SHIPS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES

The sea has always been humanity’s vital artery—through it flow goods, people, and ideas. Yet the sea is also unpredictable and harsh. It is here, among waves and storms, that the Estonian deep-tech company MindChip faces a challenge that could reshape the future of maritime operations: how to make ships...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VERSUS - The Rise of a Lifestyle Powerhouse

The Rise of a Lifestyle Powerhouse

VERSUS is a multi-dimensional lifestyle brand rewriting the rules of hospitality, marketing, and venture capital in Washington, D.C. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Vinoda Basnayake, VERSUS has become synonymous with innovation and disruption. This dynamic brand is not just about creating spaces but crafting experiences that resonate deeply with...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

FOUR & FIVE

Business Advisors Disguised as Lawyers

In a rapidly evolving world where technology consistently outpaces the law, bridging the divide between legal frameworks and innovation has become more critical than ever. At the heart of this intersection lies Four & Five, a boutique law firm founded six years ago by Dimitri Coun and Anneleen Vander Elstraeten...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

TURTLE

Envisioning the Future Through a Century of Excellence

Founded in 1923, Turtle stands tall as a beacon of enduring success in the US market, marking its presence as one of the largest independent electrical and industrial distribution companies. Having amassed a century of experience, Turtle doesn’t just rest on its past laurels. Instead, it envisions a future illuminated...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

PONTOMAIS

MESHED STORIES OF INNOVATION AND SOCIAL IMPACT

Founded in 2016 in the city of Curitiba, State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, Pontomais was created to solve the challenges of Human Resource units by means of digitalization and automation of processes. Until then, many of the routines were performed manually, and, with the arrival of Pontomais, HR professionals were...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

BOSS INSIGHTS

BOSS INSIGHTS-ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD

ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD

You know how to lend. But, to whom do you lend, when you don’t have the right data? Too many business lenders are constrained by partial data and manual processes. And, speed is paramount. Keren Moynihan, CEOBoss Insights empowers fintechs and lenders to respond faster, make underwriting decisions more quickly,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

KION

FROM GLOBAL VISION TO LOCAL INGENUITY: HOW KION NORTH AMERICA IS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION

IN AN INDUSTRY OFTEN DEFINED BY POWER AND PRECISION, KION NORTH AMERICA STANDS APART FOR SOMETHING MORE INTANGIBLE: ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS INNOVATION. FROM ADVANCED ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING TO A CULTURE THAT VALUES CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, KION NA’S APPROACH IS ONE OF GLOBAL COLLABORATION, LOCAL EXECUTION, AND DEEP CUSTOMER FOCUS. AT...

Global Innovation Spotlight

HOUSELL

HOUSELL-The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

The Proptech That Has Democratised The Real Estate Market

Housell is a proptech – a company that applies information technology and the new economy to the property sector – founded in Madrid in 2017 by Guillermo Llibre, CEO of the company. Its revolutionary concept, which seeks to use technology to give autonomy and power to the user, so that...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Global Ascent Partners (GAP)

Helping companies grow globally by bridging the GAPs

GAP (Global Ascent Partners) is a business development and international operations advisory firm that offers cross border operations, commercial, strategy and transactional support to technology clients. GAP works with organizations to develop and execute technology initiatives that support specific business objectives to improve their bottom line, competitive advantage and digital...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

VIL

Empowering logistics for over 20 years

Creating added value for and enhancing competitiveness of all Flemish companies with logistics operations is VIL’s main focus. And it has been for over twenty years. From a small non-profit organization, VIL has grown to be a hands-on, company driven organization, with a staff of 35 employees. Since 2017 VIL...

INNOVATION Quebec

InnovÉÉ

InnovÉÉ-Unir idées et savoir

Unir idées et savoir

Les innovations dans les secteurs de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et intelligents sont le moteur de la transition énergétique en cours au Québec et ailleurs dans le monde. Stimuler, accompagner et financer des projets de recherche collaborative dans les filières de l’énergie électrique et des transports électriques et...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

SOUNDBOARD VENTURE FUND

A COLLABORATIVE FUND INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE COMPANIES

SoundBoard Venture Fund leverages the diverse perspectives of our LPs to make investments through a collaborative and facilitated process. SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled, and capital-efficient businesses. We value collaboration, mobilizing our LP base to join our deal flow, diligence, and decision-making processes, assembling...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mill Village Ministries

Flourishing Takes a Village

Mill Village Ministries is a family of nonprofit social enterprises that was founded in 2012 by Furman University Alum Dan Weidenbenner. Weidenbenner serves as the Executive Director of the West Greenville based “umbrella” nonprofit. The organization is a faith based family of enterprises that aims to elevate the whole community...

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® South Carolina

Catch Talent

We focus on understanding the career needs of individuals in the workforce.

Real Relationships Matter Catch Talent is a high-touch recruiting agency that delivers end-to-end talent acquisition solutions to growing technology, financial services, healthcare, digital & creative, professional services, and government contracting companies. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, Catch specializes in the full talent attraction life cycle by sourcing and recruiting qualified candidates...

INNOVATION Quebec

ÉCONOMIE DU SAVOIR MAURICIE (ESM)

STIMULATING INNOVATION IN THE MAURICIE: THE HEART OF OUR MISSION

In 2011, economic development actors in the Mauricie region were visionary in creating an organization dedicated to innovation. Claude Bourassa, General Manager “Innovation is no longer optional, but rather a mandatory management method for business sustainability and growth!”– Claude Bourassa, General Manager of ESM and ERAC Mauricie Over the years, Économie...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

AVIA GIS

SOFT WARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR A HEALTHIER WORLD

“OUR RESEARCH DOESN’T STOP AFTER WRITING THE CONCLUSION.” – GUY HENDRICKX, FOUNDING MANAGING DIRECTOR, AVIA-GIS Ever heard of the proverb “better safe than sorry”? Well, Avia-GIS sure has. Even better: they built their entire business around it. Founder and CEO Guy Hendrickx started Avia-GIS in 2001 as a company with...

INNOVATION Quebec

SOUTIENT ET PROPULSE LES ENTREPRENEURS QUI UTILISENT LES TECHNOLOGIES INNOVANTES POUR RÉVOLUTIONNER LES INDUSTRIES CRÉATIVES ET GÉNÉRER DES PROPRIÉTÉS INTELLECTUELLES DE CLASSE MONDIALE Incubateur initié par Guy Laliberté en 2018, Zú offre des programmes d’accompagnement pour startups, des services en innovation ouverte pour les PME et grandes entreprises, une expertise...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

COM-SEC

EMPOWERING BUSINESSES WITH COMPREHENSIVE CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS

Founded in 2020, Com-Sec has emerged as a leading provider of comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, empowering businesses to safeguard their digital assets and achieve regulatory compliance. With a team of highly skilled cybersecurity experts boasting decades of industry experience, Com-Sec has become a trusted partner for organizations across various sectors. A...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RINSA

Creating Impact for Entrepreneurs

The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Alberta Innovates with Economic Development Lethbridge/ Tecconnect, Lethbridge College, and the University of Lethbridge. Through trusted relationship building and a commitment to serving rural/remote and under-represented groups, RINSA has expanded to 14 members....

INNOVATE® Detroit

TREMEC

A Tier 1 Supplier Continuously Innovating and Elevating Performance

TREMEC is a leading manufacturer of high-performance, highly engineered propulsion and driveline systems, subsystems, and componentry supporting conventional, hybrid, and fully electrified vehicles. TREMEC is agile and vertically integrated focusing on niche and moderate-volume applications across abroad spectrum of sectors including passenger car, commercial truck, vocational truck, off-highway heavy-duty, off-road...

INNOVATE® Nashville

KCI

BRIDGING THE BUILT AND NATURAL WORLDS: KCI’S NASHVILLE LEGACY

From transportation networks to environmental stewardship, KCI’s multidisciplinary team is redefining what it means to engineer progress. The architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is constantly evolving at a rapid pace, driven by advancements in technology, sustainability, and design thinking. As cities grow and infrastructure needs intensify, firms are embracing...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NOTION GAMES

NOTION GAMES

Innovators rarely consider themselves to be pioneers within their own industry. And Andrew Augustin is a prime example of this axiom. Augustin is a graphic designer who, in 2011, founded Notion Games, an Austin-based video gaming company that creates games for people of all ages. But that brief description fails...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

JLABS @ WASHINGTON, DC

Accelerating Innovation in the Capital Region

Where the corridors of power intersect with groundbreaking research, JLABS @ Washington DC is a haven of innovation. As part of the global Johnson & Johnson Innovation network, JLABS is more than just a state-of-the-art facility; it’s a thriving ecosystem designed to accelerate life sciences innovation. Since its inception, JLABS...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MINDCHIP

THE RISE AT SEA: HOW MINDCHIP TEACHES SHIPS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES

The sea has always been humanity’s vital artery—through it flow goods, people, and ideas. Yet the sea is also unpredictable and harsh. It is here, among waves and storms, that the Estonian deep-tech company MindChip faces a challenge that could reshape the future of maritime operations: how to make ships...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

VERSUS - The Rise of a Lifestyle Powerhouse

The Rise of a Lifestyle Powerhouse

VERSUS is a multi-dimensional lifestyle brand rewriting the rules of hospitality, marketing, and venture capital in Washington, D.C. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Vinoda Basnayake, VERSUS has become synonymous with innovation and disruption. This dynamic brand is not just about creating spaces but crafting experiences that resonate deeply with...

Ecosystems