Stories of Innovation

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...

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...

Nearly a century ago, an ice plant, sponge fishing boat, and 35 hard-working mules formed the foundation of what is today a global energy leader. Fast forward to today, and that humble beginning has paved the way for a groundbreaking innovation hub: 35 Mules. This energetic initiative, backed by NextEra...

The Journey of Social Mobile In the dynamic realm of enterprise mobility, where businesses strive to stay ahead in digital transformation, one company stands out as a true innovator: Social Mobile. Founded in 2011 by Robert Morcos, this startup’s journey has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast dedication...

MAKING REVOLUTIONARY SMART MATERIALS TO BRING FORCE SENSING TO APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE. Axioforce is a sensor company based on a smart materials breakthrough made by Drs. Cory Berkland and Jonathan Miller at the University of Kansas. The two were working on a DoE sponsored project developing cushions that leverage...

LEADING INNOVATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT There’s a tech revolution happening in the heart of Miami. It’s being fueled by big thinkers, risk-taking entrepreneurs, public and private supporters. And alongside them at the grown-up’s table: Miami Dade College. Long acknowledged as one of the nation’s biggest and most diverse institutions of...

INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES WHEREINNOVATION MEETS GROWTH. Voyager Capital thrives on working with early-stage entrepreneurs who drive innovation and take risks to create new markets. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, WA, Voyager is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B companies in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. When you...

Hirsch’s has become a name synonymous with service and brand excellence over the years. They have grown into one of the most well-respected and trusted appliance and electronics retailers in the industry in South Africa, and it’s interesting to see how they got there. Allan and Margaret set up their first...

DARVIS empowers companies with ultimate visibility of objects, processes and efficient solutions. This productivity as a service platform uses cutting edge artificial intelligence and computer vision technology to track objects and processes with the highest precision and privacy standards on the market. OUR TECHNOLOGY Using an existing camera infrastructure, DARVIS...

In the southern outskirts of Stockholm, in a repurposed industrial facility once devoted to generating heat, something entirely different is now being produced—culture, community, and creative opportunity. Värmeverket, founded as a response to the increasingly precarious conditions for artists and cultural workers, has quickly established itself as one of Sweden’s...

Montréal InVivo is a network for exchange, mobilization and collaboration in the life sciences and health technologies (LSHT) ecosystem. Founded in 2007 and headed by Frank Béraud since 2015, the mission of this non-profit organization is to advance and develop the LSHT cluster in the Montréal region by establishing a...

“When we work together, miracles happen.” Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, says those words often. Fr. Tim, as he is known, is president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center (PFC), a Detroit nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness. PFC started humbly in 1990 when Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church...

With more than 60 years of economic development work in Georgia, the Southeast, the United States, and the world, the Enterprise Innovation Institute is the largest university-based economic development organization of its kind in the nation. The Enterprise Innovation Institute supports entrepreneurs in building and scaling technology-based startups; drives and...

Just 15 minutes from Tallinn, in the village of Saula, lies one of Northern Estonia’s most renowned holiday centres: Viking Village. Here, history, legend, and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience. With free admission and open doors year-round, the village welcomes individuals, families, school groups, and corporate teams alike. A...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Southeastern United States, DC BLOX has positioned itself as a linchpin in the accelerating digital transformation that is sweeping across industries. The urgency of this transformation is underscored by several key factors, each playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of...

José Dueño is known as the most important promoter in Puerto Rico. His contribution to the arts, music and entertainment is highly recognized. Almost 40 years in this industry and more than 1,000 successful events are proof of the extraordinary career of this Titan of the Entertainment Industry. The biggest...

With our multidisciplinary team and unique infrastructure, we bring together both scientific and hands-on expertise to carry out research and development, training and support activities. Our multidisciplinary experimental site—a real open-air laboratory—allows for realistic simulations of the response to the main hazards as well as the emergency situations experienced by...

VITO is a leading international research centre. We focus on applied research and advice, bridging the gap between fundamental research and the industry.   We accelerate the transition to a sustainable world; we provide knowledge and technological innovations that facilitate this transition to a more sustainable society. We de-risk innovation...

In addition to promoting the business, marketing and sales market in Paraná state for almost 60-years, ADVB/PR is committed to innovation, through the exchange of experiences and ideas between members, professionals and nationally and internationally renowned professionals. Events that foster innovationThe range of events and activities carried out in partnership...

Why are there so many books about Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in online book stores and libraries, but so few of the innovators redefining Africa? “All you have to do is Google an African innovator and almost nothing pops up,” says researcher Nnamdi Oranye, who is also...

Most Vicious Players is now the parent company of the Amateur Esports Union (AEU). But before the AEU was created, MVPs has been most well known for its individual players having live-streamed over 1000 wins in a row on YouTube, in which this live stream record has not been broken...

L’Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER) franchit le cap de ses 25 ans en 2024. Rattaché à l’Université du Québec à Rimouski, l’ISMER est une référence mondiale en recherche, en formation et en innovation en sciences de la mer dans une perspective de développement durable et de...

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...

It’s all too easy to get swept up in the fervor of “innovation.” In the polished, produced world of prime-time, venture capitalists drop seven figures into start-ups while founders celebrate exits. Like most things that reach a level of celebrity status in our world of “reality” entertainment, the true story...