Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MIDTOWN YOUTH ACADEMY

Fighting for youth through boxing and books

In establishing Midtown Youth Academy in 1977, Golden Gloves champ Eugene “Thunder” Hughes began with a make-shift boxing ring and a noble goal: draw at-risk youth away from the mean and drug-infested streets of Washington, D.C., and guide them to a successful path in life. “We let them knock themselves...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT

RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MINES AND ENVIRONMENT (RIME)

RIME, Solutions for Sustainable Mining DevelopmentLocated in the heart of a world-class mining sector, the Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME-UQAT) has been created in 2012, a strategic decision demonstrating the institution’s commitment to sustainable development in the mining sector. With a strong and constant growth since its inception,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

INFLUITIVE

INFLUITIVE - THE ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM OF CHOICE FOR ADVOCACY

THE ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM OF CHOICE FOR ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY, AND LOYALTY

Influitive helps the world’s leading brands engage with their customers to drive business value across multiple dimensions. Customer referrals, references and reviews are now recognized as the most effective way to drive business growth and Influitive enables this at scale. Since 2010, Influitive has pioneered advocate marketing and built an...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UFPR

FOUNDED IN 1912, UFPR IS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN BRAZIL.

It was initially known as the University of Paraná, and it has been since then a national reference when it comes to teaching, research, and outreach services. Therefore, the UFPR historic building, located at Praça Santos Andrade, was chosen by Curitiba residents as the very symbol of the city. Initially,...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

#THISISMINING

#THISISMINING -PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Mining Association is proud to represent an industry that provides the world with the building blocks of modern life and innovation. Minerals and metals are essential, irreplaceable components of everything from lifesaving medical devices to clean technologies, such as solar panels and EV batteries. We cannot have a...

INNOVATION Quebec

GERAD

L’INTELLIGENCE NUMÉRIQUE AU SERVICE DE L’INNOVATION

Qui sommes-nousLe GERAD est un centre de recherche interuniversitaire au cœur de l’intelligence numérique. Il se veut un pôle de référence en matière de mathématiques de la décision et de ses applications dans les systèmes complexes, en fédérant des chercheurs universitaires et industriels pour la réalisation de projets de recherche...

INNOVATE® South Florida

VETERANS FLORIDA

EMPOWERING VETERANS: THE VETERANS FLORIDA ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

EMPOWERING VETERANS: THE VETERANS FLORIDA ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY A Decade of Innovation and Veteran Success The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program at Florida Atlantic University is a transformative initiative designed to equip veterans with the skills, resources, and support needed to launch and grow successful businesses. Now entering...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ESTBAN

ESTONIAN BUSINESS ANGELS NETWORK IS A ROLE MODEL FOR EUROPEAN ANGEL CLUBS

The Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN) has been connecting and educating startup investors and providing a platform for innovation in Estonia and beyond since 2012. EstBAN has become one of Europe’s most respected and well-managed angel investor networks. With nearly 260 members and a growing track record of syndicated and...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YIEDI

YIEDI -A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Just over eight years ago the founder of YIEDI, Jayshree Naidoo and Jay Naidoo her business and life partner, sat across from a branding expert and outlined the vision for the company. They went on to describe a model that they had created, it was still drawn on a napkin...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Matidor.com

Matidor.com- “Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

“Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDER INSTITUTE

FOUNDER INSTITUTE-Since Its Inception In 2009

Since Its Inception In 2009, The Founder Institute Has Always Maintained One Guiding Principle; “There Are A Lot Of Big Problems In The World, And We Are Here To Help Founders Build Companies That Will Solve Them.”

OriginsFrom its Silicon Valley origins, Co-founders Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan have built an unparalleled global network of over 5,000 Portfolio Companies, across 200 cities with the largest mentor network in the world of 21,000 Mentors, innovators, investors and ecosystem builders. With chapters on every continent except Antarctica and $30B...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

UWE BRISTOL

UWE BRISTOL-WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

Skills for economic and inclusive growth UWE Bristol is a large, diverse university with over 3,500 staff and 27,000 students, contributing over £400m to the West of England economy – equivalent to 1.3% of the region’s economic output. Every year more than 50% of the University’s graduates remain in the...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

PEAC Solutions

Elevating Possibility Through Global Financing Expertise of Technology Innovation

From the dot-com collapse to the regional banking crisis, rising interest rates, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now government shutdowns and trade barrier uncertainty, the twenty-first century has seen its fair share of economic turmoil. It has also been a period of unprecedented growth fueled by technological innovations that have rewritten...

United Nations Lesotho

UNITED NATIONS LESOTHO

MESSAGE BY THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Ka lebelo la Ntšoekhe – With the speed of Ntšoekhe and aligned to the call by UN Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, this Cooperation Framework (CF) calls for accelerated pace in decision making, delivering and coordinating of development priorities, while leveraging all available resources,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

JLABS @ Toronto

Not by Chance – By Choice

At Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS (JLABS), our goal is to provide the optimal environment for emerging life science companies to catalyze growth by exposing them to vital industry connections, delivering entrepreneurial programs, and providing a capital-efficient, flexible platform where they can transform the scientific discoveries of today into...

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

UNIVERSITY STARTUPS

Empowering Tomorrow

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN(SSA) QUÉBEC

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN(SSA) QUÉBEC-Working together for a Learning Health System

Working together for a Learning Health System

We cannot do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. That is why we need to rethink our health system and innovate to make it a learning system. The collective challenge of continuously improving Quebec’s health care system is significant. How can we achieve the necessary change? By...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

AAX BIOTECH

PIONEERING THE NEXT WAVE OF PRECISION ANTIBODY THERAPEUTICS

In the heart of Sweden’s thriving life sciences ecosystem, a young biotechnology company is redefining how the world understands and engineers therapeutic antibodies. Founded by researchers from the prestigious Karolinska Institutet, AAX Biotech is on a mission to transform antibody-based medicine—turning scientific breakthroughs into next-generation therapies for some of the...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

South Coast Cyber Center

Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.

The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAIMIN

“THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF COMPUTING POWER …” WE HAVE A SOLUTION-GAIMIN DELIVERS SUPERCOMPUTER DATA PROCESSING POWER

THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF DATA PROCESSING POWER…GAIMIN has developed a PC-based app that utilizes, in the background, the processing power of the GPU in a gaming PC to create a decentralized data processing network with the power of a supercomputer. GAIMIN utilizes this processing power for a number...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MIDTOWN YOUTH ACADEMY

Fighting for youth through boxing and books

In establishing Midtown Youth Academy in 1977, Golden Gloves champ Eugene “Thunder” Hughes began with a make-shift boxing ring and a noble goal: draw at-risk youth away from the mean and drug-infested streets of Washington, D.C., and guide them to a successful path in life. “We let them knock themselves...

INNOVATION Quebec

UQAT

RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MINES AND ENVIRONMENT (RIME)

RIME, Solutions for Sustainable Mining DevelopmentLocated in the heart of a world-class mining sector, the Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME-UQAT) has been created in 2012, a strategic decision demonstrating the institution’s commitment to sustainable development in the mining sector. With a strong and constant growth since its inception,...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

David Sobey Retailing Centre

Shaping the Future of Retail

“In the past decade, retailers have been forced to innovate, and in some cases transform themselves in response to several external factors. Changing consumer behaviour and employee expectations, the advent of AI, and the need to meet sustainability targets are just some of the factors driving big changes in the...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

INFLUITIVE

INFLUITIVE - THE ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM OF CHOICE FOR ADVOCACY

THE ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM OF CHOICE FOR ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY, AND LOYALTY

Influitive helps the world’s leading brands engage with their customers to drive business value across multiple dimensions. Customer referrals, references and reviews are now recognized as the most effective way to drive business growth and Influitive enables this at scale. Since 2010, Influitive has pioneered advocate marketing and built an...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

UFPR

FOUNDED IN 1912, UFPR IS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN BRAZIL.

It was initially known as the University of Paraná, and it has been since then a national reference when it comes to teaching, research, and outreach services. Therefore, the UFPR historic building, located at Praça Santos Andrade, was chosen by Curitiba residents as the very symbol of the city. Initially,...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

RIVER CLEANUP

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers

From a 10-minute cleanup to 1000 plastic-free rivers River Cleanup is a Belgium-based organization with one clear goal: making rivers plastic-free. The non-profit started with manual cleanup actions and evolved into a pioneer in the field of river protection, with mentions in Forbes, De Tijd, The Economist and many more....

INNOVATE™ Toronto

#THISISMINING

#THISISMINING -PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

PRESENTED BY THE ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Mining Association is proud to represent an industry that provides the world with the building blocks of modern life and innovation. Minerals and metals are essential, irreplaceable components of everything from lifesaving medical devices to clean technologies, such as solar panels and EV batteries. We cannot have a...

INNOVATION Quebec

GERAD

L’INTELLIGENCE NUMÉRIQUE AU SERVICE DE L’INNOVATION

Qui sommes-nousLe GERAD est un centre de recherche interuniversitaire au cœur de l’intelligence numérique. Il se veut un pôle de référence en matière de mathématiques de la décision et de ses applications dans les systèmes complexes, en fédérant des chercheurs universitaires et industriels pour la réalisation de projets de recherche...

INNOVATE® South Florida

VETERANS FLORIDA

EMPOWERING VETERANS: THE VETERANS FLORIDA ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

EMPOWERING VETERANS: THE VETERANS FLORIDA ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY A Decade of Innovation and Veteran Success The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program at Florida Atlantic University is a transformative initiative designed to equip veterans with the skills, resources, and support needed to launch and grow successful businesses. Now entering...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEADFAST

MAKING IT WORK

Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ESTBAN

ESTONIAN BUSINESS ANGELS NETWORK IS A ROLE MODEL FOR EUROPEAN ANGEL CLUBS

The Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN) has been connecting and educating startup investors and providing a platform for innovation in Estonia and beyond since 2012. EstBAN has become one of Europe’s most respected and well-managed angel investor networks. With nearly 260 members and a growing track record of syndicated and...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

YIEDI

YIEDI -A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

A COMPANY DESIGNED BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Just over eight years ago the founder of YIEDI, Jayshree Naidoo and Jay Naidoo her business and life partner, sat across from a branding expert and outlined the vision for the company. They went on to describe a model that they had created, it was still drawn on a napkin...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Matidor.com

Matidor.com- “Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

“Matidor.com is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map”

How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDER INSTITUTE

FOUNDER INSTITUTE-Since Its Inception In 2009

Since Its Inception In 2009, The Founder Institute Has Always Maintained One Guiding Principle; “There Are A Lot Of Big Problems In The World, And We Are Here To Help Founders Build Companies That Will Solve Them.”

OriginsFrom its Silicon Valley origins, Co-founders Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan have built an unparalleled global network of over 5,000 Portfolio Companies, across 200 cities with the largest mentor network in the world of 21,000 Mentors, innovators, investors and ecosystem builders. With chapters on every continent except Antarctica and $30B...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

UWE BRISTOL

UWE BRISTOL-WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

Skills for economic and inclusive growth UWE Bristol is a large, diverse university with over 3,500 staff and 27,000 students, contributing over £400m to the West of England economy – equivalent to 1.3% of the region’s economic output. Every year more than 50% of the University’s graduates remain in the...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

PEAC Solutions

Elevating Possibility Through Global Financing Expertise of Technology Innovation

From the dot-com collapse to the regional banking crisis, rising interest rates, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now government shutdowns and trade barrier uncertainty, the twenty-first century has seen its fair share of economic turmoil. It has also been a period of unprecedented growth fueled by technological innovations that have rewritten...

United Nations Lesotho

UNITED NATIONS LESOTHO

MESSAGE BY THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Ka lebelo la Ntšoekhe – With the speed of Ntšoekhe and aligned to the call by UN Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, this Cooperation Framework (CF) calls for accelerated pace in decision making, delivering and coordinating of development priorities, while leveraging all available resources,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

JLABS @ Toronto

Not by Chance – By Choice

At Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS (JLABS), our goal is to provide the optimal environment for emerging life science companies to catalyze growth by exposing them to vital industry connections, delivering entrepreneurial programs, and providing a capital-efficient, flexible platform where they can transform the scientific discoveries of today into...

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

UNIVERSITY STARTUPS

Empowering Tomorrow

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN(SSA) QUÉBEC

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN(SSA) QUÉBEC-Working together for a Learning Health System

Working together for a Learning Health System

We cannot do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. That is why we need to rethink our health system and innovate to make it a learning system. The collective challenge of continuously improving Quebec’s health care system is significant. How can we achieve the necessary change? By...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

AAX BIOTECH

PIONEERING THE NEXT WAVE OF PRECISION ANTIBODY THERAPEUTICS

In the heart of Sweden’s thriving life sciences ecosystem, a young biotechnology company is redefining how the world understands and engineers therapeutic antibodies. Founded by researchers from the prestigious Karolinska Institutet, AAX Biotech is on a mission to transform antibody-based medicine—turning scientific breakthroughs into next-generation therapies for some of the...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

South Coast Cyber Center

Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.

The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAIMIN

“THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF COMPUTING POWER …” WE HAVE A SOLUTION-GAIMIN DELIVERS SUPERCOMPUTER DATA PROCESSING POWER

THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF DATA PROCESSING POWER…GAIMIN has developed a PC-based app that utilizes, in the background, the processing power of the GPU in a gaming PC to create a decentralized data processing network with the power of a supercomputer. GAIMIN utilizes this processing power for a number...

Ecosystems