Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ENTERPRISE ESTONIA
INNOVATING FOR A FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW
Known for its vast forests, thousands of islands, and strong traditions, Estonia has, in just thirty years, built a thriving liberal democracy and become one of the world’s most advanced digital societies. As Estonia continues to innovate, Enterprise Estonia plays a key role in supporting the country’s business environment by...
INNOVATION Quebec
CGI
A Leader in Innovation
In 1976, Serge Codin and Andre Imbeau, two young and ambitious entrepreneurs from Quebec City, Canada founded CGI, Consultants to Government and Industry. With a strong commitment and big dreams, Codin and Imbeau strived to create a company with an enjoyable work environment that promoted collaboration and innovation among its...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
E‑ESTONIA BRIEFING CENTRE
WHERE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT MEETS THE WORLD
The e-Estonia Briefing Centre serves as Estonia’s front door for public sector officials, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to experience digital government in action, while also showcasing Estonia as an innovative and digitally advanced nation. Established to share the lessons of a nation that digitalised 100% of public services, the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE
TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
KOLISI FOUNDATION
REMEMBER THE ONE, ONE BY ONE.
Rachel and Siya Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with this belief in mind: it is through the power of listening that positive change can happen in South Africa. We need to listen to what people dealing with challenging circumstances really need. We need to listen to the people already working...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
Aon
INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD
One of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic experience is that companies have fundamentally changed the way they look at risk. Risks are more interconnected, so the impact is more profound. For example, increased weather events and supply chain disruptions are happening more frequently and having a greater impact...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Consumers Energy
Powering Michigan’s Future with Reliability, Sustainability, and Community
For over a century, Consumers Energy has been the backbone of Michigan’s energy infrastructure, powering homes, businesses, and industries across the Lower Peninsula. Serving 6.8 million residents with electricity and natural gas, the company is more than an energy provider—it is an innovator driving sustainability and community-focused initiatives that ensure...
INNOVATE® Georgia
FASTTEK GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE
In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
PARK ADVERTISING
BORNE OUT OF A NEED TO OFFER WORLD-CLASS INNOVATIVE AND PIONEERING MEDIA OPTIONS WITHIN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDIA INDUSTRY, PARK ADVERTISING AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CONTINUALLY DRIVING THIS ETHOS FOR YEARS
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CARAVELA
A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA
CARAVELA-A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, FOCUSING ON PRE-SEED, SEED, AND SERIES A ROUNDS. They employ a sector-agnostic strategy, aiming to build a diverse portfolio of 25-30 companies in each of their funds. Caravela is known both for their go-to market approach, having analyzed more...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
DR. BRENT HOGARTH
Unlocking Innovation with Hyper-Focus and Flow
Attention entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and high-performance leaders who want to get ahead! The way we’re working is not working, it’s a crisis. Burnout is costing the global economy trillions of dollars in lost productivity and innovation. Not to mention, rising health care costs. Burnout feels like emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HEAVY CHEF
THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO
A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...
INNOVATE® Miami
Penpal Schools
Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds
PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
JUMPSTART NJ
INVESTING IN EARLY-STAGE GROWTH COMPANIES IN NEW JERSEY AND BEYOND
JumpStart NJ Angel Network invests in early-stage growth companies with high potential and innovative technology that disrupts traditional businesses. The group of angel investors screens more than 100 companies each year and invests an average $1.5 million annually in leading-edge startups. Based in the Garden State, JumpStart NJ invests in...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOVLOG
CCTT IN LOGISTICS THE INSTITUT D’INNOVATION EN LOGISTIQUE DU QUÉBEC : A HELPING HAND FOR QUEBEC
For many years, innovation in logistics took a back seat to other priorities: market expansion, financial profitability, new product development, etc. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a collective realization of how important logistics is for territorial development, local autonomy, supply chain resilience and agility, and of course,...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS
INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
THE INDUS ENTREPRENEUR
ABOUT THE INDUS ENTREPRENEUR (TiE) ORGANIZATIONTiE ranks among the world’s largest ecosystems for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE’s efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation. With a focus on giving back...
INNOVATE™ Montréal
AIR CANADA
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS BURGEONING TECHNOLOGY
Air Canada has made it clear that the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) will play a key part of the airline’s future, and it has already established several initiatives within various branches that will have long-term benefits. In the current climate brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
DALTON GETS PEOPLE
AND THAT'S HOW THEY GET RESULTS
Since 1989, truly understanding people has been a unique trait of Dalton – a leading advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency with offices across the Southeast, in Nashville, Atlanta and Jacksonville. On every project, Dalton digs deep to uncover the insights and human truths that get to the emotional...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE
BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATOR
For nearly 15 years, our mission at ChaudièresAppalaches Économique (CAE) has been to stimulate economic development by pooling our members’ assets and services, as well as those of our economic development partners. CAE’s services include business mentoring, entrepreneurship outreach, and support for eco-friendly businesses and eco-innovation. Since 2018, CAE has...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EGGSPLAIN
FROM HOME BUILT SERVERS TO A SCALABLE, SECURE AI PLATFORM
The story of Eggsplain begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a Stockholm apartment filled with servers, wires, and curiosity. Yasaar Biladama, a lifelong coder and technology enthusiast, had been experimenting with artificial intelligence long before it became a business buzzword. Driven by a passion for computers since childhood,...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Bold City Bots
Was founded In 2017 To Provide Solutions For Small Businesses In Jacksonville
WHO WE HELP Bold City Bots was founded in 2017 to provide solutions for small businesses in Jacksonville that struggle with or are too short-staffed to answer each email or message from their customers and prospective customers on platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or LinkedIn. 39% of people that message...
INNOVATION Quebec
ARTENSO
CCTT EN ART ET ENGAGEMENT SOCIAL
Artenso est un acronyme signifiant art et engagement social. Le CCTT croit activement au pouvoir de la culture comme vecteur de développement économique et social des collectivités. Affilié au cégep de Saint-Laurent à Montréal, Artenso se démarque par son expertise croisée dans les champs des politiques publiques, des pratiques artistiques...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ENTERPRISE ESTONIA
INNOVATING FOR A FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW
Known for its vast forests, thousands of islands, and strong traditions, Estonia has, in just thirty years, built a thriving liberal democracy and become one of the world’s most advanced digital societies. As Estonia continues to innovate, Enterprise Estonia plays a key role in supporting the country’s business environment by...
INNOVATION Quebec
CGI
A Leader in Innovation
In 1976, Serge Codin and Andre Imbeau, two young and ambitious entrepreneurs from Quebec City, Canada founded CGI, Consultants to Government and Industry. With a strong commitment and big dreams, Codin and Imbeau strived to create a company with an enjoyable work environment that promoted collaboration and innovation among its...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
E‑ESTONIA BRIEFING CENTRE
WHERE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT MEETS THE WORLD
The e-Estonia Briefing Centre serves as Estonia’s front door for public sector officials, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to experience digital government in action, while also showcasing Estonia as an innovative and digitally advanced nation. Established to share the lessons of a nation that digitalised 100% of public services, the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE
TOGETHER, WE CAN DECIMATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
Two decades after the first laws around human trafficking were created, the Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) founders noticed a gap in the global response to trafficking: these great laws were not being enforced. HTI stepped in to provide prosecutors and investigators around the world with the tools and guidance necessary...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
KOLISI FOUNDATION
REMEMBER THE ONE, ONE BY ONE.
Rachel and Siya Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with this belief in mind: it is through the power of listening that positive change can happen in South Africa. We need to listen to what people dealing with challenging circumstances really need. We need to listen to the people already working...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
Aon
INNOVATION’S ROLE IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE WORLD
One of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic experience is that companies have fundamentally changed the way they look at risk. Risks are more interconnected, so the impact is more profound. For example, increased weather events and supply chain disruptions are happening more frequently and having a greater impact...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Consumers Energy
Powering Michigan’s Future with Reliability, Sustainability, and Community
For over a century, Consumers Energy has been the backbone of Michigan’s energy infrastructure, powering homes, businesses, and industries across the Lower Peninsula. Serving 6.8 million residents with electricity and natural gas, the company is more than an energy provider—it is an innovator driving sustainability and community-focused initiatives that ensure...
INNOVATE® Georgia
FASTTEK GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE
In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....
Global Innovation Spotlight
Latoria Williams — Chief Executive Officer, 1F Cash Advance
1F Cash Advance is a fintech company that provides short-term financial support for people who have trouble qualifying for traditional bank loans. The company was founded and is led by CEO Latoria Williams. Her business journey began with the realization that nearly half of Americans do not have an emergency...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
PARK ADVERTISING
BORNE OUT OF A NEED TO OFFER WORLD-CLASS INNOVATIVE AND PIONEERING MEDIA OPTIONS WITHIN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDIA INDUSTRY, PARK ADVERTISING AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CONTINUALLY DRIVING THIS ETHOS FOR YEARS
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
CARAVELA
A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA
CARAVELA-A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, FOCUSING ON PRE-SEED, SEED, AND SERIES A ROUNDS. They employ a sector-agnostic strategy, aiming to build a diverse portfolio of 25-30 companies in each of their funds. Caravela is known both for their go-to market approach, having analyzed more...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
DR. BRENT HOGARTH
Unlocking Innovation with Hyper-Focus and Flow
Attention entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and high-performance leaders who want to get ahead! The way we’re working is not working, it’s a crisis. Burnout is costing the global economy trillions of dollars in lost productivity and innovation. Not to mention, rising health care costs. Burnout feels like emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
HEAVY CHEF
THERE’S A SAYING THAT GOES NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. THIS GOES FOR BUSINESS ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS, TOO
A Heavy Chef is someone that speaks authoritatively about a specific subject because they have vast experience in that area. Some of our Heavy Chefs are not internationally known but still making a notable impact in their spaces, or who’s been performing notable work in the background. It is someone...
INNOVATE® Miami
Penpal Schools
Helping teachers connect their students to learn with penpals around the world and from different backgrounds
PenPal Schools PenPal Schools is the world’s largest project-based learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology, and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
JUMPSTART NJ
INVESTING IN EARLY-STAGE GROWTH COMPANIES IN NEW JERSEY AND BEYOND
JumpStart NJ Angel Network invests in early-stage growth companies with high potential and innovative technology that disrupts traditional businesses. The group of angel investors screens more than 100 companies each year and invests an average $1.5 million annually in leading-edge startups. Based in the Garden State, JumpStart NJ invests in...
INNOVATION Quebec
INNOVLOG
CCTT IN LOGISTICS THE INSTITUT D’INNOVATION EN LOGISTIQUE DU QUÉBEC : A HELPING HAND FOR QUEBEC
For many years, innovation in logistics took a back seat to other priorities: market expansion, financial profitability, new product development, etc. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a collective realization of how important logistics is for territorial development, local autonomy, supply chain resilience and agility, and of course,...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS
INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
THE INDUS ENTREPRENEUR
ABOUT THE INDUS ENTREPRENEUR (TiE) ORGANIZATIONTiE ranks among the world’s largest ecosystems for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE’s efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation. With a focus on giving back...
INNOVATE™ Montréal
AIR CANADA
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS BURGEONING TECHNOLOGY
Air Canada has made it clear that the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) will play a key part of the airline’s future, and it has already established several initiatives within various branches that will have long-term benefits. In the current climate brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
DALTON GETS PEOPLE
AND THAT'S HOW THEY GET RESULTS
Since 1989, truly understanding people has been a unique trait of Dalton – a leading advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency with offices across the Southeast, in Nashville, Atlanta and Jacksonville. On every project, Dalton digs deep to uncover the insights and human truths that get to the emotional...
INNOVATION Quebec
CHAUDIÈRES-APPALACHES ÉCONOMIQUE
BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATOR
For nearly 15 years, our mission at ChaudièresAppalaches Économique (CAE) has been to stimulate economic development by pooling our members’ assets and services, as well as those of our economic development partners. CAE’s services include business mentoring, entrepreneurship outreach, and support for eco-friendly businesses and eco-innovation. Since 2018, CAE has...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
EGGSPLAIN
FROM HOME BUILT SERVERS TO A SCALABLE, SECURE AI PLATFORM
The story of Eggsplain begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a Stockholm apartment filled with servers, wires, and curiosity. Yasaar Biladama, a lifelong coder and technology enthusiast, had been experimenting with artificial intelligence long before it became a business buzzword. Driven by a passion for computers since childhood,...
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Bold City Bots
Was founded In 2017 To Provide Solutions For Small Businesses In Jacksonville
WHO WE HELP Bold City Bots was founded in 2017 to provide solutions for small businesses in Jacksonville that struggle with or are too short-staffed to answer each email or message from their customers and prospective customers on platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or LinkedIn. 39% of people that message...
INNOVATION Quebec
ARTENSO
CCTT EN ART ET ENGAGEMENT SOCIAL
Artenso est un acronyme signifiant art et engagement social. Le CCTT croit activement au pouvoir de la culture comme vecteur de développement économique et social des collectivités. Affilié au cégep de Saint-Laurent à Montréal, Artenso se démarque par son expertise croisée dans les champs des politiques publiques, des pratiques artistiques...