Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CO-OP
SINCE THE BEGINNING, WATERLOO’S CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of University of Waterloo students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Tyler York
Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same.
“Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same” – this was the vision of Founder and CEO Charlie Peterson when launching Tyler York Real Estate Brokers at the beginning of 2018. After a meteoric rise in Nashville real estate beginning in 2013, Charlie quickly...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
TRIPLE HELIX GROUP
TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS
Material reincarnation or trying to preserve existing molecules at their end of life, is the core business of Triple Helix Molecules as a Service, THX in short. The Antwerp based start-up takes specific waste streams and transforms those back into valuable building blocks for the chemical industry or produces new...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Bow Valley College has been an access college since 1965, earning a reputation for fast-paced programs that quickly respond to the practical needs of adult students and our economy. On May 16, 2023, the College launched a new Digital Strategy, which outlines how technology will enhance the student experience, improve...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
BEAMABLE
WE FREE THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF GAME MAKERS TO FOCUS ON WHAT THEY LOVE MOST: CREATIVITY
Trapper, Ali and I had lived through building and operating live games like Star Trek Timelines, investing millions to build up the infrastructure to enable it. We didn’t think anyone should have to do all of that again. Our team has a unique background that includes not only making games—but...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
STARTUP DAY
A COMMUNITY-POWERED FESTIVAL FOR BOLD INNOVATORS
sTARTUp Has ‘Tartu’ in its name – and that’s no coincidence. sTARTUp Day, Northern Europe’s most startup-minded business festival, is a unique event that thrives on the power of its community. Born from a shared vision in a sauna in 2015, it has evolved into a world-class gathering in Tartu,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
INNOVATE™ Alberta
ENVOY
MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees. At Envoy...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
ICONIX ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD T/A SMARTEE
COMPANIES ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND LOSSES DUE TO INFORMATION MISMANAGEMENT.
The concept of the Internet of Things and Big Data has always intrigued Ashveer and Nivashnee Ramparsad, a husband and wife team that are so passionate about the world of technology and data-driven business. As founders of Smartee, they saw the need to invest themselves into this vision. During his...
INNOVATE® Miami
Creator Connect
Giving People The Power To Create New Things
Creator Connect came to me in October 2017, lying on my couch in Boca Raton, Florida. I thought to myself, what if every time someone posted to Facebook or Instagram they could turn their post into an inspiration for custom artwork. That day the concept of Creator Connect was born....
INNOVATION Quebec
MAIN
IS THE MOVEMENT OF QUEBEC INNOVATION ACCELERATORS
Since 2016, we have firmly embraced the notion that by promoting collaboration and the mutual exchange of practices and resources (movement) among all those involved in accelerating startup growth (accelerators), we can amplify the impact of startups (innovation) from all regions of Quebec. Our goal is to ensure that every...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN CAMDEN
Research Innovation with Local Impact and Global Reach
Rutgers University in Camden provides groundbreaking, impactful research while offering students truly experiential education in a close-knit, supportive environment. Rutgers University is one of the oldest, most respected institutions of higher learning in the country; Camden is a city known for its determination and resilience. Rutgers–Camden is resolute, relentlessly driving...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOPURSUE
Empowering the Next Generation
GoPursue is a revolutionary organization transforming the landscape of career exploration for K-12 students. This vibrant social impact company has carved a unique niche in the educational technology space, addressing critical gaps in workforce development and career preparedness. Founded by Kathryn Adabonyan, a former math teacher and career and technical...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ANTIBE THERAPEUTICS
THIS TORONTO BIOTECH FIRM IS DEVELOPING SAFER TREATMENTS FOR PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
The key to innovation is seeing opportunity in unlikely places. For Antibe Therapeutics, the place is a cloud of noxious gas; the prize is a new generation of painkillers. In the wake of the opioid crisis, there is an urgent need for safer analgesics. Almost one-in-10 Canadians prescribed opioid medications...
INNOVATE® Georgia
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
SHAPING GENERATIONS OF BLACK MALE LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND CHANGE MAKERS FOR OVER 150 YEARS
Founded in 1867, Morehouse College stands as the nation’s only institution created to educate men of color. As Georgia’s top-ranked liberal arts college for men, Morehouse is a trailblazer in higher education, fostering a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The College has become a vital...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
TOAST
IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR
We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
MOTRAC
SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
NINETEEN 21
UNORTHODOX THINKING
Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVA SYSTEMS
Smart people, solving complex problems, making our world safe and secure
About Nova SystemsNova Systems is a 100% Australian owned and controlled engineering services and technology solutions company. Founded by two veterans – Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff – in 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia, the company now employs more than 1000 people globally in strategically located offices in Australia, New...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CITI
TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, THE CAPE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (CITI) SEEDED IT’S VISION OF A FUTURE FIT INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, IN THE WESTERN CAPE, THEN A PREDOMINANTLY AGRARIAN ECONOMY
Using Michael Porter’s cluster theory as a cornerstone of its strategy, CiTi designed interventions to grow, transform and enable a leading digital economy on the continent. CiTi’s interventions have been acknowledged to have supported South Africa’s charge to the top of the inaugural fDi Africa “Tech Ecosystems of the...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TALTECH
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION: IT DIDACTICS RESEARCH GROUP AT TALTECH
Our Vision and Laboratory Looking around us, we witness the rapid rise of technology that touches every aspect of our lives—robots, artificial intelligence, social media, and countless other digital tools. But how do these innovations translate into meaningful changes in education? At Tallinn University of Technology’s IT College, the IT...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SUGAR GAMERS
MEET THE NEW FACE OF GEEK CULTURE
GAMING APPEALS TO OUR INNATE SENSE OF HUMANITY. IT INSPIRES CREATIVITY, PLAY, CONNECTIVITY, AND COMMUNITY These also happen to be the fundamentals of today’s video games. This wasn’t designed by accident, either. Playing video games empowers people no matter their backgrounds, religion, politics, race, gender or location. Sugar Gamers exemplify...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE MAKERSPACE
WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING, A LANGUAGE THAT TRANSCENDS CLASS & CULTURE AND THAT UPLIFTS AS IT ENLIGHTENS
By leveraging the natural generosity inherent in maker culture, the project is able to unlock a new level of efficiency in skills transfer. Creating a safe environment where anyone can learn to use new technologies, where experienced professionals can share their knowledge and help the next generation. Makers” make things,...
AI Québec
RETAIL INNOVATION LAB
AT THE BENSADOUN SCHOOL OF RETAIL MANAGEMENT, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
The Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at McGill University recently launched a retail innovation lab. This initiative is a collaboration between McGill University and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ACT). The lab is a convenience store as well as a living lab that operates on the McGill University campus and houses...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CO-OP
SINCE THE BEGINNING, WATERLOO’S CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of University of Waterloo students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a...
INNOVATE® Nashville
Tyler York
Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same.
“Relationship-centered real estate, valuing people over profit, and inspiring others to do the same” – this was the vision of Founder and CEO Charlie Peterson when launching Tyler York Real Estate Brokers at the beginning of 2018. After a meteoric rise in Nashville real estate beginning in 2013, Charlie quickly...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
TRIPLE HELIX GROUP
TURNING WASTE INTO RAW MATERIALS
Material reincarnation or trying to preserve existing molecules at their end of life, is the core business of Triple Helix Molecules as a Service, THX in short. The Antwerp based start-up takes specific waste streams and transforms those back into valuable building blocks for the chemical industry or produces new...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Bow Valley College has been an access college since 1965, earning a reputation for fast-paced programs that quickly respond to the practical needs of adult students and our economy. On May 16, 2023, the College launched a new Digital Strategy, which outlines how technology will enhance the student experience, improve...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
BEAMABLE
WE FREE THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF GAME MAKERS TO FOCUS ON WHAT THEY LOVE MOST: CREATIVITY
Trapper, Ali and I had lived through building and operating live games like Star Trek Timelines, investing millions to build up the infrastructure to enable it. We didn’t think anyone should have to do all of that again. Our team has a unique background that includes not only making games—but...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
STARTUP DAY
A COMMUNITY-POWERED FESTIVAL FOR BOLD INNOVATORS
sTARTUp Has ‘Tartu’ in its name – and that’s no coincidence. sTARTUp Day, Northern Europe’s most startup-minded business festival, is a unique event that thrives on the power of its community. Born from a shared vision in a sauna in 2015, it has evolved into a world-class gathering in Tartu,...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
INNOVATE™ Alberta
ENVOY
MAKES HIRING AND MANAGING AN INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Envoy is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. We combine expert legal representation and proprietary technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the immigration process for employers and employees. At Envoy...
INNOVATION Quebec
Centre d’expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL)
Depuis 1998, Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent, un organisme à but non lucratif, a pour mission de propulser l’excellence des entreprises manufacturières en stimulant l’adoption de pratiques innovantes, technologiques et durables
Son offre se déploie en cinq services spécialisés : soutien aux entreprises, innovation, exportation, développement durable et mobilité alternative. Un hub manufacturier au cœur de MontréalParmi l’un des plus grand pôle industriel et technologique du Québec, le territoire de Saint-Laurent détient de nombreux atouts, opportunités et forces de développement...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
ICONIX ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD T/A SMARTEE
COMPANIES ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND LOSSES DUE TO INFORMATION MISMANAGEMENT.
The concept of the Internet of Things and Big Data has always intrigued Ashveer and Nivashnee Ramparsad, a husband and wife team that are so passionate about the world of technology and data-driven business. As founders of Smartee, they saw the need to invest themselves into this vision. During his...
INNOVATE® Miami
Creator Connect
Giving People The Power To Create New Things
Creator Connect came to me in October 2017, lying on my couch in Boca Raton, Florida. I thought to myself, what if every time someone posted to Facebook or Instagram they could turn their post into an inspiration for custom artwork. That day the concept of Creator Connect was born....
INNOVATION Quebec
MAIN
IS THE MOVEMENT OF QUEBEC INNOVATION ACCELERATORS
Since 2016, we have firmly embraced the notion that by promoting collaboration and the mutual exchange of practices and resources (movement) among all those involved in accelerating startup growth (accelerators), we can amplify the impact of startups (innovation) from all regions of Quebec. Our goal is to ensure that every...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN CAMDEN
Research Innovation with Local Impact and Global Reach
Rutgers University in Camden provides groundbreaking, impactful research while offering students truly experiential education in a close-knit, supportive environment. Rutgers University is one of the oldest, most respected institutions of higher learning in the country; Camden is a city known for its determination and resilience. Rutgers–Camden is resolute, relentlessly driving...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
GOPURSUE
Empowering the Next Generation
GoPursue is a revolutionary organization transforming the landscape of career exploration for K-12 students. This vibrant social impact company has carved a unique niche in the educational technology space, addressing critical gaps in workforce development and career preparedness. Founded by Kathryn Adabonyan, a former math teacher and career and technical...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ANTIBE THERAPEUTICS
THIS TORONTO BIOTECH FIRM IS DEVELOPING SAFER TREATMENTS FOR PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
The key to innovation is seeing opportunity in unlikely places. For Antibe Therapeutics, the place is a cloud of noxious gas; the prize is a new generation of painkillers. In the wake of the opioid crisis, there is an urgent need for safer analgesics. Almost one-in-10 Canadians prescribed opioid medications...
INNOVATE® Georgia
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
SHAPING GENERATIONS OF BLACK MALE LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND CHANGE MAKERS FOR OVER 150 YEARS
Founded in 1867, Morehouse College stands as the nation’s only institution created to educate men of color. As Georgia’s top-ranked liberal arts college for men, Morehouse is a trailblazer in higher education, fostering a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The College has become a vital...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
TOAST
IS ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP BY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE TECH SECTOR
We know that women approach job applications differently than men do. They are far less likely to apply for positions that are more senior than the one they’re in currently, whereas men are less concerned by that. Still, recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable accepting “women aren’t applying” as a...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
MOTRAC
SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
NINETEEN 21
UNORTHODOX THINKING
Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
NOVA SYSTEMS
Smart people, solving complex problems, making our world safe and secure
About Nova SystemsNova Systems is a 100% Australian owned and controlled engineering services and technology solutions company. Founded by two veterans – Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff – in 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia, the company now employs more than 1000 people globally in strategically located offices in Australia, New...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
CITI
TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, THE CAPE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (CITI) SEEDED IT’S VISION OF A FUTURE FIT INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, IN THE WESTERN CAPE, THEN A PREDOMINANTLY AGRARIAN ECONOMY
Using Michael Porter’s cluster theory as a cornerstone of its strategy, CiTi designed interventions to grow, transform and enable a leading digital economy on the continent. CiTi’s interventions have been acknowledged to have supported South Africa’s charge to the top of the inaugural fDi Africa “Tech Ecosystems of the...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TALTECH
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION: IT DIDACTICS RESEARCH GROUP AT TALTECH
Our Vision and Laboratory Looking around us, we witness the rapid rise of technology that touches every aspect of our lives—robots, artificial intelligence, social media, and countless other digital tools. But how do these innovations translate into meaningful changes in education? At Tallinn University of Technology’s IT College, the IT...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SUGAR GAMERS
MEET THE NEW FACE OF GEEK CULTURE
GAMING APPEALS TO OUR INNATE SENSE OF HUMANITY. IT INSPIRES CREATIVITY, PLAY, CONNECTIVITY, AND COMMUNITY These also happen to be the fundamentals of today’s video games. This wasn’t designed by accident, either. Playing video games empowers people no matter their backgrounds, religion, politics, race, gender or location. Sugar Gamers exemplify...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THE MAKERSPACE
WE DRIVE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF MAKING, A LANGUAGE THAT TRANSCENDS CLASS & CULTURE AND THAT UPLIFTS AS IT ENLIGHTENS
By leveraging the natural generosity inherent in maker culture, the project is able to unlock a new level of efficiency in skills transfer. Creating a safe environment where anyone can learn to use new technologies, where experienced professionals can share their knowledge and help the next generation. Makers” make things,...
AI Québec
RETAIL INNOVATION LAB
AT THE BENSADOUN SCHOOL OF RETAIL MANAGEMENT, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
The Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at McGill University recently launched a retail innovation lab. This initiative is a collaboration between McGill University and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ACT). The lab is a convenience store as well as a living lab that operates on the McGill University campus and houses...