Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Nashville

RJ Young

How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast

For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PECHAKUCHA

This Japanese-Inspired Creator Platform Inspires Meaningful Connections – In Real Life And VIrtually – Using Time As Its Superpower

PechaKucha was born in 2003 because people talk too much. That’s what happens when passionate people gather together to share ideas and creations. PechaKucha, which means “chit-chat” in Japanese, was founded in Tokyo by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture. It originated as a “20×20’’ live...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Everything You Need to Know When You Arrive in Canada as a South African

Screenshot of the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) website with the tagline “Helping South Africans Make Canada Home,” showcasing resources, checklists, and community support for South African expats in Canada.

The South African Institute of Canada Has Your Back

Moving to Canada as a South African is an exciting leap, but it comes with a steep learning curve—especially when it comes to settling in. From pre-departure checklists to navigating life after arrival, everything you need to know when you arrive in Canada as a South African can feel overwhelming....

INNOVATION Quebec

CYBERQUÉBEC

A HUB FOR SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN CYBERSECURITY

CyberQuébec is one of 59 college centres for technology transfer (CCTT) in the Synchronex CCTT Network. As part of the Cégep de l’Outaouais, we offer a wide range of cybersecurity services to help SMEs meet the technological challenges of digital security and support the development of a skilled technical workforce....

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Office Evolution Of Jacksonville

Office Evolution Of Jacksonville-Provides Flexible Shared Workspace

Provides Flexible Shared Workspace

Office Evolution provides flexible shared workspace to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startup companies. This is done by providing turnkey workspace solutions in the form of coworking, private offices, meeting space, and other business services. Office Evolution plays a key role in building Jacksonville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through creating a collaborative community...

INNOVATE® Miami

CIC Miami

CIC Miami - An Established Platform That Enhances A Location's Innovation Structure

An established platform that enhances a location's innovation structure

CIC is an established platform that enhances a location’s innovation infrastructure and creates a physical center of gravity. As a vehicle that transforms an economic development opportunity into a mature innovation hub, CIC’s mission is to fix the world through innovation by creating and managing developing multifaceted communities that support...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

NRSTOR INCORPORATED

NRSTOR INCORPORATED – INNOVATIVE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS INSPIRING THE GRID TO DELIVER A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

INNOVATIVE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS INSPIRING THE GRID TO DELIVER A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

NRStor Incorporated is an industry-leading Canadian energy storage developer, owner and operator with experience deploying energy storage across the energy supply chain. Our vision is to deploy energy storage projects at scale in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy system. NRStor has successfully deployed numerous first-of-a-kind energy...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SHAUN ROWLES

THE GREAT DISTRACTION

On October 31st 2008, a white paper was published by an obscure character named Satoshi Nakamoto. Curiously, this paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” came to dominate media headlines and popular consciousness a decade later. The excitement surrounding Bitcoin, and its underlying technology Blockchain, became eerily similar to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FARM SANCTUARY SA

FARM SANCTUARY SA: PIGCASSO INSPIRING A KINDER

PIGCASSO INSPIRING A KINDER, MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD

A painting pig from Farm Sanctuary SA is hogging the limelight and inspiring animal lovers to make the connection between what they eat and the industries that they support.   When South African Joanne Lefson rescued a small piglet from a local industrialized hog facility in 2016, she knew this...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FINCLUSION GROUP

WHO ARE THE FINCLUSION GROUP?

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...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Product Passport That Outlives the Packaging

Repairing an appliance with hand tools and a circuit board on the bench

Under the EU's ESPR, a product's data now outlives its packaging.

A broken appliance often presents a data problem before a repair problem. Its model label may be scratched and the manual lost. Reliable information about components, materials and spare parts can be harder to locate than the fault. Digital Product Passports keep that information attached throughout a product’s useful life....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

LEF IS MORE

LEF IS MORE- INNOVATION HAS A FACE

INNOVATION HAS A FACE

Lef’ is the Dutch word for ‘guts’ or ‘courage’, which is the perfect description of what I do: with LEF I push organizations and their leaders to explore, examine and create business opportunities for the day after tomorrow. Not only by optimizing their strategic thinking and solving underlying problems that...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Dev Technology Group

Engineering Innovation for the Nation’s Most Critical Missions

“Innovation succeeds when people understand the mission behind the technology.” Inside modern government operations, technology environments demand precision and reliability. Systems process enormous volumes of data that support national security programs and help agencies serve millions of people. Delivering those capabilities requires organizations combining advanced engineering and innovation with deep...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Why Soft2Bet’s MEGA Platform Is Changing the Game

Soft2Bet’s MEGA Platform Redefines iGaming Growth in 2025

Most online casinos follow the same playbook: bright colors, big bonuses, and hope players stick around long enough to lose money. Soft2Bet decided that they were going to change the scene. In 2023, they launched MEGA: a platform that treats players like gamers instead of walking ATMs. Every bet becomes...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HYBR

HYBR-INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

Africa needs African solutions. Adversities unquestionably limit the potential of people, communities, and economies in Africa. However, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. HYBR proves scalable entrepreneurship is the answer for social change and impact in Africa.   HYBR is a unique social enterprise founded in Africa with the...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VIDYA

ENHANCING SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH AI-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS

Industrial operations rely on data to ensure the efficiency and safety of their processes. However, the information that the operators need to carry out their routines safely and efficiently is spread among a multitude of data sources, reports, systems, and documents. That’s where Vidya Technology comes in. Founded in 2013...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN AU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ APPRENANT (SSA) QUÉBEC

Ensemble pour un système de santé qui apprend

Impossible de refaire sans cesse la même chose en espérant un résultat différent. C’est pourquoi nous devons repenser notre système de santé et innover afin d’en faire un système qui apprend.   Le défi collectif de l’amélioration continue du système de santé québécois est de taille. Comment réussir le changement...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How StarkBet India Combines Online Casino Games and Sports Betting in One Place

Look into how StarkBet India brings casino games, cricket betting, live sports, mobile access and one account together in a simple betting experience

For many players, convenience matters almost as much as game choice. Switching between separate casino sites, sportsbook apps and payment accounts gets old quickly. That is where the StarkBet platform https://starkbet.mobi/ has a clear appeal for users who prefer to keep casino entertainment and sports betting under one account, with...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNSTUCK LABS

Unleashing Potential

“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you need the right people to help you overcome challenges.”Unstuck Labs carves a unique path under the leadership of Wa’il Ashshowwaf, embodying innovation, collaboration, and relentless ambition. It’s a story not just of a company’s success but of transformation and belief in the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GraphiteRx

GraphiteRx-HEALTHCARE PROCUREMENT & DISTRIBUTION

HEALTHCARE PROCUREMENT & DISTRIBUTION, REIMAGINED

After spending several years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a consultant for a pharmaceutical distributor, GraphiteRx Founder and CEO David Zilberman resolved to tackle some crucial challenges facing the healthcare industry: high distribution costs and limited access to critical medications. Many small- to medium-sized pharmaceutical manufacturers sell their...

INNOVATION Quebec

INAF

TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FOOD

Challenges in the bio-food sector are complex and exacerbated by significant threats such as climate change and social inequalities. It is critical to be concerned about the impact of our food choices on society and the environment. Fostering access to a healthy, varied and sustainable food while supporting the growth...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA

BUILDING A THRIVING COMMUNITY

Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LSNS) is more than just an organization; it is the cornerstone of Nova Scotia’s life sciences community, fostering growth, innovation, and collaboration across the province and Atlantic Canada. At its core, LSNS is driven by the belief that transformative ideas in biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals can...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

K STREET CAPITAL (KSC)

FUELING INNOVATION IN HIGH-GROWTH MARKETS

K Street Capital (KSC) is at the heart of Washington, D.C.’s innovation scene, fueling the rise of high-growth startups in industries like fintech, climatetech, and cybersecurity. Since 2012, KSC has been more than just a venture capital firm – it’s a launchpad for groundbreaking companies. With over $65 million in...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RJ Young

How RJ Young and Velocity1 Are Redefining Technology Solutions Across the Southeast

For more than 70 years, RJ Young has stood at the forefront of helping businesses adapt to change. What began in 1955 as a local provider of office equipment in Nashville has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected and comprehensive business technology partners. Over the decades, RJ Young...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

PECHAKUCHA

This Japanese-Inspired Creator Platform Inspires Meaningful Connections – In Real Life And VIrtually – Using Time As Its Superpower

PechaKucha was born in 2003 because people talk too much. That’s what happens when passionate people gather together to share ideas and creations. PechaKucha, which means “chit-chat” in Japanese, was founded in Tokyo by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture. It originated as a “20×20’’ live...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Everything You Need to Know When You Arrive in Canada as a South African

Screenshot of the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) website with the tagline “Helping South Africans Make Canada Home,” showcasing resources, checklists, and community support for South African expats in Canada.

The South African Institute of Canada Has Your Back

Moving to Canada as a South African is an exciting leap, but it comes with a steep learning curve—especially when it comes to settling in. From pre-departure checklists to navigating life after arrival, everything you need to know when you arrive in Canada as a South African can feel overwhelming....

INNOVATION Quebec

CYBERQUÉBEC

A HUB FOR SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN CYBERSECURITY

CyberQuébec is one of 59 college centres for technology transfer (CCTT) in the Synchronex CCTT Network. As part of the Cégep de l’Outaouais, we offer a wide range of cybersecurity services to help SMEs meet the technological challenges of digital security and support the development of a skilled technical workforce....

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Office Evolution Of Jacksonville

Office Evolution Of Jacksonville-Provides Flexible Shared Workspace

Provides Flexible Shared Workspace

Office Evolution provides flexible shared workspace to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startup companies. This is done by providing turnkey workspace solutions in the form of coworking, private offices, meeting space, and other business services. Office Evolution plays a key role in building Jacksonville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through creating a collaborative community...

INNOVATE® Miami

CIC Miami

CIC Miami - An Established Platform That Enhances A Location's Innovation Structure

An established platform that enhances a location's innovation structure

CIC is an established platform that enhances a location’s innovation infrastructure and creates a physical center of gravity. As a vehicle that transforms an economic development opportunity into a mature innovation hub, CIC’s mission is to fix the world through innovation by creating and managing developing multifaceted communities that support...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

NRSTOR INCORPORATED

NRSTOR INCORPORATED – INNOVATIVE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS INSPIRING THE GRID TO DELIVER A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

INNOVATIVE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS INSPIRING THE GRID TO DELIVER A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

NRStor Incorporated is an industry-leading Canadian energy storage developer, owner and operator with experience deploying energy storage across the energy supply chain. Our vision is to deploy energy storage projects at scale in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy system. NRStor has successfully deployed numerous first-of-a-kind energy...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

SHAUN ROWLES

THE GREAT DISTRACTION

On October 31st 2008, a white paper was published by an obscure character named Satoshi Nakamoto. Curiously, this paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” came to dominate media headlines and popular consciousness a decade later. The excitement surrounding Bitcoin, and its underlying technology Blockchain, became eerily similar to...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FARM SANCTUARY SA

FARM SANCTUARY SA: PIGCASSO INSPIRING A KINDER

PIGCASSO INSPIRING A KINDER, MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD

A painting pig from Farm Sanctuary SA is hogging the limelight and inspiring animal lovers to make the connection between what they eat and the industries that they support.   When South African Joanne Lefson rescued a small piglet from a local industrialized hog facility in 2016, she knew this...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

FINCLUSION GROUP

WHO ARE THE FINCLUSION GROUP?

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...

Global Innovation Spotlight

The Product Passport That Outlives the Packaging

Repairing an appliance with hand tools and a circuit board on the bench

Under the EU's ESPR, a product's data now outlives its packaging.

A broken appliance often presents a data problem before a repair problem. Its model label may be scratched and the manual lost. Reliable information about components, materials and spare parts can be harder to locate than the fault. Digital Product Passports keep that information attached throughout a product’s useful life....

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

LEF IS MORE

LEF IS MORE- INNOVATION HAS A FACE

INNOVATION HAS A FACE

Lef’ is the Dutch word for ‘guts’ or ‘courage’, which is the perfect description of what I do: with LEF I push organizations and their leaders to explore, examine and create business opportunities for the day after tomorrow. Not only by optimizing their strategic thinking and solving underlying problems that...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

Dev Technology Group

Engineering Innovation for the Nation’s Most Critical Missions

“Innovation succeeds when people understand the mission behind the technology.” Inside modern government operations, technology environments demand precision and reliability. Systems process enormous volumes of data that support national security programs and help agencies serve millions of people. Delivering those capabilities requires organizations combining advanced engineering and innovation with deep...

Global Innovation Spotlight

Why Soft2Bet’s MEGA Platform Is Changing the Game

Soft2Bet’s MEGA Platform Redefines iGaming Growth in 2025

Most online casinos follow the same playbook: bright colors, big bonuses, and hope players stick around long enough to lose money. Soft2Bet decided that they were going to change the scene. In 2023, they launched MEGA: a platform that treats players like gamers instead of walking ATMs. Every bet becomes...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

HYBR

HYBR-INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

INNOVATIONS FOR AFRICA

Africa needs African solutions. Adversities unquestionably limit the potential of people, communities, and economies in Africa. However, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. HYBR proves scalable entrepreneurship is the answer for social change and impact in Africa.   HYBR is a unique social enterprise founded in Africa with the...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

VIDYA

ENHANCING SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH AI-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS

Industrial operations rely on data to ensure the efficiency and safety of their processes. However, the information that the operators need to carry out their routines safely and efficiently is spread among a multitude of data sources, reports, systems, and documents. That’s where Vidya Technology comes in. Founded in 2013...

INNOVATE® Kansas City

INVARY

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND

PROTECTING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE HEARTLAND Invary is a cybersecurity company focused on ensuring the security and confidentiality of public and private critical infrastructure. Founded on a technology license from the NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research, Invary validates that systems are functioning as intended, safeguarding them from...

INNOVATION Quebec

UNITÉ DE SOUTIEN AU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ APPRENANT (SSA) QUÉBEC

Ensemble pour un système de santé qui apprend

Impossible de refaire sans cesse la même chose en espérant un résultat différent. C’est pourquoi nous devons repenser notre système de santé et innover afin d’en faire un système qui apprend.   Le défi collectif de l’amélioration continue du système de santé québécois est de taille. Comment réussir le changement...

Global Innovation Spotlight

How StarkBet India Combines Online Casino Games and Sports Betting in One Place

Look into how StarkBet India brings casino games, cricket betting, live sports, mobile access and one account together in a simple betting experience

For many players, convenience matters almost as much as game choice. Switching between separate casino sites, sportsbook apps and payment accounts gets old quickly. That is where the StarkBet platform https://starkbet.mobi/ has a clear appeal for users who prefer to keep casino entertainment and sports betting under one account, with...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNSTUCK LABS

Unleashing Potential

“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you need the right people to help you overcome challenges.”Unstuck Labs carves a unique path under the leadership of Wa’il Ashshowwaf, embodying innovation, collaboration, and relentless ambition. It’s a story not just of a company’s success but of transformation and belief in the...

INNOVATE® Nashville

GraphiteRx

GraphiteRx-HEALTHCARE PROCUREMENT & DISTRIBUTION

HEALTHCARE PROCUREMENT & DISTRIBUTION, REIMAGINED

After spending several years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a consultant for a pharmaceutical distributor, GraphiteRx Founder and CEO David Zilberman resolved to tackle some crucial challenges facing the healthcare industry: high distribution costs and limited access to critical medications. Many small- to medium-sized pharmaceutical manufacturers sell their...

INNOVATION Quebec

INAF

TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FOOD

Challenges in the bio-food sector are complex and exacerbated by significant threats such as climate change and social inequalities. It is critical to be concerned about the impact of our food choices on society and the environment. Fostering access to a healthy, varied and sustainable food while supporting the growth...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA

BUILDING A THRIVING COMMUNITY

Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LSNS) is more than just an organization; it is the cornerstone of Nova Scotia’s life sciences community, fostering growth, innovation, and collaboration across the province and Atlantic Canada. At its core, LSNS is driven by the belief that transformative ideas in biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals can...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

K STREET CAPITAL (KSC)

FUELING INNOVATION IN HIGH-GROWTH MARKETS

K Street Capital (KSC) is at the heart of Washington, D.C.’s innovation scene, fueling the rise of high-growth startups in industries like fintech, climatetech, and cybersecurity. Since 2012, KSC has been more than just a venture capital firm – it’s a launchpad for groundbreaking companies. With over $65 million in...

Ecosystems