Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE® Maryland

ION

Powering the Next Generation of Batteries

Every year, the devices people rely on ask more from the batteries inside them. Smartphones have become more powerful, electric vehicles continue to push for greater range, and defense systems must operate in increasingly demanding environments. Meeting those expectations has forced researchers and manufacturers to rethink technologies many assumed had...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

eliteBco

Helping Organizations Automate their Business Processes

Founded in 2009, eliteBco provides technologically advanced consulting for state-of-the-art Business Process Automation (BPA) and Financial Management Systems. Many products claim to be flexible and quick to customize, but can these products truly make your process come to life faster? Most cannot… Traditional systems take months or even years to...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

AQUATIK ESPORTS

AQUATIK ESPORTS

CREATING AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER!

With a mantra of ‘Esports for Everyone,’ Aquatik Esports is truly unique and has propelled an abrupt tidal wave of followers, fans, and participants spread across multiple channels and touchpoints across the world. By providing approachable spaces, opportunities, and platforms for amateur competitive gamers, creators, and streamers to launch their...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SHAREARIDE

SHAREARIDE -TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology. The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Botswana’s everyday activities, including...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NERD STREET GAMERS

NERD STREET GAMERS-THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

Nerd Street Gamers is a national esports infrastructure that puts accessibility, integrity and opportunity at the forefront of everything they do. As gaming communities slowly began to gain traction on a small scale, the CEO of Nerd Street Gamers and Localhost, John Fazio, knew that individuals nationwide would soon realize...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

W3N

WHAT BEGAN AS AN EXPERIMENT QUICKLY GREW INTO ESTONIA’S LEADING EMERGING TECH FESTIVAL.

When Alexander Bitskov left Estonia at 12, he never imagined that nearly two decades later he would return to turn his hometown into a stage for global innovation. Narva, a city on the country’s eastern border long defined by smokestacks and heavy industry, was the last place most would associate...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

PLANET HATCH

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS Welcome to Planet Hatch, a vibrant entrepreneurial hub, incubator, and collaborative workplace. We empower startups across diverse sectors by providing the essential resources to turn bold ideas into successful ventures. In partnership with Ignite, Planet Hatch is dedicated to nurturing first-time entrepreneurs and newcomers, shaping the future...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC DU SAGUENAY-LAC ST-JEAN

The rootsFor nearly 20 years, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean – a region of more than 275,000 inhabitants located 500 km northeast of Montréal – concerted initiatives have been deployed to stimulate innovation among SMEs. Idéa innovation PME (2004-2010), then Innovation 02 (2011-2019) generated activities in turn to support innovation. It was when...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Cognisess

The complete predictive people analytics platform for hiring

Cognisess provides human resource and recruitment professionals with the data and insights they need to make better-informed decisions about their people. The journey to ethical AI begins with good data collection. Including more than 60 assessments measuring over 120 attributes, it helps you identify, retain, and maximise the performance, potential,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

OPERTO

A WORLD-LEADING PROPERTY AUTOMATION PLATFORM FOR THE SHORT-TERM, MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES

By bringing together innovative software and best-in-class hardware solutions, Operto enables property owners/managers to efficiently run, scale and monetize their business, while eliminating common friction points associated with the guest journey. Operto has built a huge global footprint in the accommodation industry, with customers ranging from single Airbnb operators, up...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MONLLOR CAPITAL PARTNERS

MONLLOR CAPITAL PARTNERS-INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF PUERTO

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF PUERTO RICO

With over 27 years of global private equity and investment banking experience, Jose A. Torres returns to Puerto Rico to bring innovation to the alternative assets and private equity industry. INNOVATION IN ALTERNATIVE ASSETSMonllor Capital Partners LLC (“MCP”) was founded in 2018 by Jose A. Torres, as a minority-owned alternative...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Union Kitchen

HOW A FOOD BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IN WASHINGTON,DC IS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT BIG CPG BRANDS

Cullen Gilchrist founded Union Kitchen in 2012 to partner with food businesses of all sizes to grow and scale their success. Cullen got his start in the food industry with his sister and friends when they opened the Blind Dog Cafe. Faced with the challenge of increased demand and not...

INNOVATE® Maryland

TEDCO

LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET – A MISSION IN ACTION

As a state filled with brilliant minds, access to world-class laboratories and researchers, and high-ranking universities, it only makes sense for Maryland to lead efforts to support the innovation derived from these assets to the commercial market. At the center of this vision stands TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation); founded...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO

LEADING THE WAY IN SALES & MARKETING

The Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Puerto Rico (SME) is a non-profit organization that brings together a community of more than 500 professionals from diverse industries, major corporations, and local businesses, as well as college students on the island. For the past 72 years, the association has been advancing...

INNOVATION Quebec

Aliments Santé

Aliments Santé-Health Foods Niche of Excellence-Le Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé is a group of food manufacturers and industry stakeholders who work closely together to foster innovation. Their goal is to develop and market healthy, innovative, and value added food products

Aliments Santé is supported by the ACCORD arm of Québec’s Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie and by the City of Québec. The organization helps food processors implement collaborative knowledge building projects and facilitates networking activities to create business opportunities and promote industry expertise. In June 2021, through...

INNOVATE® Detroit

StockX

Leading Next Gen Retail

The Birth of a Marketplace Revolution. In 2016, in downtown Detroit, a disruptive idea took shape—one that would forever change the way people buy and sell limited-edition sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles. StockX, the brainchild of Greg Schwartz, Josh Luber, Dan Gilbert, and Chris Kaufman, was built on a simple yet...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

EWAVE

PIONEERING ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY GROUP MAKING WAVES IN BRAZIL

For over two decades, Ewave, an Israeli technology powerhouse, has been at the forefront of innovation, leveraging the dynamic tech ecosystem that Israel has become synonymous with. Established in the heart of one of the world’s largest technology hubs, Ewave has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions, contributing significantly to the global...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Armanino

Armanino: The Innovative Accounting And Consulting Firm That Has A Global Reach And A Local Touch

The Innovative Accounting And Consulting Firm That Has A Global Reach And A Local Touch

Founded in 1969, Armanino is one of the top 20 public accounting and business consulting firms in the US, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and has served the Austin and greater Texas markets for years. The firm has robust and expansive traditional tax and audit capabilities, whether it’s...

INNOVATE® Detroit

THE SALVATION ARMY

MOBILIZING FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS IN METRO DETROIT THE SALVATION ARMY GREAT LAKES DIVISION

One Night in January 1988…One night in January 1988, a Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services truck loaded up with 75 sandwiches, soup and hot chocolate to serve Detroit’s homeless. After driving around the city’s east side, the crew couldn’t find anyone to serve. When the truck pulled into an alley...

INNOVATION Quebec

CEIMIA

DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT APPLIED PROJECTS IN RESPONSIBLE AI

A key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI)CEIMIA is a key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence, based on the principles of ethics, human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth. Our role is to develop and implement high-impact applied projects in responsible artificial intelligence....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Iridia Medical

Whom do first responders call for medical emergencies? Iridia Medical is a physician-founded company that exists to Enable Peace of Mind for people called upon to respond to medical emergencies

Within a span of five months in 1997, a local pulp and papermill experienced the collapse and death of two employees on-site. It was determined that both employees suffered from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The prospect of future deaths at the site was palpable, and preventative solutions were non-existent. This...

INNOVATE® Nashville

EVIDENCECARE

EVIDENCECARE

INEFFICIENT WORKFLOWS PLAGUE CLINICIANS. EVIDENCECARE HAS A CURE

The genesis of EvidenceCare came one night while Dr. Brian Fengler was working in the emergency room of Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, and a young woman presented with extreme shortness of breath and fast heart rate. She had a massive blood clot between her heart and lungs. She...

INNOVATE® Detroit

MiSide Community Impact Network

Bringing A Theory To Life

East Chadsey-Condon is a multi-cultural community that faces a unique set of challenges – high instances of crime among youth, a large percentage of residents without insurance, limited access to transportation, and low homeownership rates, among others. And yet hope remains as residents report having pride in their community, a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Crea7ive

Crea7ive - Using Data To Predict User Behavior And Optimize Creativity

Using Data To Predict User Behavior And Optimize Creativity

We are a data-driven creative agency focused on helping brands succeed across multi-cultural markets. From branding and web development to predictive marketing and digital strategy, our portfolio includes global brands such as Wendy’s, Zumba, Kraft, Armani Casa, and Disney. Shortly after arriving in Miami from Argentina in 2005 and while...

INNOVATE® Maryland

ION

Powering the Next Generation of Batteries

Every year, the devices people rely on ask more from the batteries inside them. Smartphones have become more powerful, electric vehicles continue to push for greater range, and defense systems must operate in increasingly demanding environments. Meeting those expectations has forced researchers and manufacturers to rethink technologies many assumed had...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

eliteBco

Helping Organizations Automate their Business Processes

Founded in 2009, eliteBco provides technologically advanced consulting for state-of-the-art Business Process Automation (BPA) and Financial Management Systems. Many products claim to be flexible and quick to customize, but can these products truly make your process come to life faster? Most cannot… Traditional systems take months or even years to...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

AQUATIK ESPORTS

AQUATIK ESPORTS

CREATING AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER!

With a mantra of ‘Esports for Everyone,’ Aquatik Esports is truly unique and has propelled an abrupt tidal wave of followers, fans, and participants spread across multiple channels and touchpoints across the world. By providing approachable spaces, opportunities, and platforms for amateur competitive gamers, creators, and streamers to launch their...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

SHAREARIDE

SHAREARIDE -TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology. The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Botswana’s everyday activities, including...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

NERD STREET GAMERS

NERD STREET GAMERS-THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

THERE’S A NERD IN EVERYONE

Nerd Street Gamers is a national esports infrastructure that puts accessibility, integrity and opportunity at the forefront of everything they do. As gaming communities slowly began to gain traction on a small scale, the CEO of Nerd Street Gamers and Localhost, John Fazio, knew that individuals nationwide would soon realize...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

W3N

WHAT BEGAN AS AN EXPERIMENT QUICKLY GREW INTO ESTONIA’S LEADING EMERGING TECH FESTIVAL.

When Alexander Bitskov left Estonia at 12, he never imagined that nearly two decades later he would return to turn his hometown into a stage for global innovation. Narva, a city on the country’s eastern border long defined by smokestacks and heavy industry, was the last place most would associate...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

PLANET HATCH

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS Welcome to Planet Hatch, a vibrant entrepreneurial hub, incubator, and collaborative workplace. We empower startups across diverse sectors by providing the essential resources to turn bold ideas into successful ventures. In partnership with Ignite, Planet Hatch is dedicated to nurturing first-time entrepreneurs and newcomers, shaping the future...

INNOVATION Quebec

ERAC DU SAGUENAY-LAC ST-JEAN

The rootsFor nearly 20 years, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean – a region of more than 275,000 inhabitants located 500 km northeast of Montréal – concerted initiatives have been deployed to stimulate innovation among SMEs. Idéa innovation PME (2004-2010), then Innovation 02 (2011-2019) generated activities in turn to support innovation. It was when...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Cognisess

The complete predictive people analytics platform for hiring

Cognisess provides human resource and recruitment professionals with the data and insights they need to make better-informed decisions about their people. The journey to ethical AI begins with good data collection. Including more than 60 assessments measuring over 120 attributes, it helps you identify, retain, and maximise the performance, potential,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

OPERTO

A WORLD-LEADING PROPERTY AUTOMATION PLATFORM FOR THE SHORT-TERM, MULTIFAMILY AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES

By bringing together innovative software and best-in-class hardware solutions, Operto enables property owners/managers to efficiently run, scale and monetize their business, while eliminating common friction points associated with the guest journey. Operto has built a huge global footprint in the accommodation industry, with customers ranging from single Airbnb operators, up...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MONLLOR CAPITAL PARTNERS

MONLLOR CAPITAL PARTNERS-INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF PUERTO

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF PUERTO RICO

With over 27 years of global private equity and investment banking experience, Jose A. Torres returns to Puerto Rico to bring innovation to the alternative assets and private equity industry. INNOVATION IN ALTERNATIVE ASSETSMonllor Capital Partners LLC (“MCP”) was founded in 2018 by Jose A. Torres, as a minority-owned alternative...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Union Kitchen

HOW A FOOD BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IN WASHINGTON,DC IS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT BIG CPG BRANDS

Cullen Gilchrist founded Union Kitchen in 2012 to partner with food businesses of all sizes to grow and scale their success. Cullen got his start in the food industry with his sister and friends when they opened the Blind Dog Cafe. Faced with the challenge of increased demand and not...

INNOVATE® Maryland

TEDCO

LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET – A MISSION IN ACTION

As a state filled with brilliant minds, access to world-class laboratories and researchers, and high-ranking universities, it only makes sense for Maryland to lead efforts to support the innovation derived from these assets to the commercial market. At the center of this vision stands TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation); founded...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO

LEADING THE WAY IN SALES & MARKETING

The Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Puerto Rico (SME) is a non-profit organization that brings together a community of more than 500 professionals from diverse industries, major corporations, and local businesses, as well as college students on the island. For the past 72 years, the association has been advancing...

INNOVATION Quebec

Aliments Santé

Aliments Santé-Health Foods Niche of Excellence-Le Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé is a group of food manufacturers and industry stakeholders who work closely together to foster innovation. Their goal is to develop and market healthy, innovative, and value added food products

Aliments Santé is supported by the ACCORD arm of Québec’s Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie and by the City of Québec. The organization helps food processors implement collaborative knowledge building projects and facilitates networking activities to create business opportunities and promote industry expertise. In June 2021, through...

INNOVATE® Detroit

StockX

Leading Next Gen Retail

The Birth of a Marketplace Revolution. In 2016, in downtown Detroit, a disruptive idea took shape—one that would forever change the way people buy and sell limited-edition sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles. StockX, the brainchild of Greg Schwartz, Josh Luber, Dan Gilbert, and Chris Kaufman, was built on a simple yet...

INNOVATE™ Curitiba

EWAVE

PIONEERING ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY GROUP MAKING WAVES IN BRAZIL

For over two decades, Ewave, an Israeli technology powerhouse, has been at the forefront of innovation, leveraging the dynamic tech ecosystem that Israel has become synonymous with. Established in the heart of one of the world’s largest technology hubs, Ewave has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions, contributing significantly to the global...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Armanino

Armanino: The Innovative Accounting And Consulting Firm That Has A Global Reach And A Local Touch

The Innovative Accounting And Consulting Firm That Has A Global Reach And A Local Touch

Founded in 1969, Armanino is one of the top 20 public accounting and business consulting firms in the US, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and has served the Austin and greater Texas markets for years. The firm has robust and expansive traditional tax and audit capabilities, whether it’s...

INNOVATE® Detroit

THE SALVATION ARMY

MOBILIZING FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS IN METRO DETROIT THE SALVATION ARMY GREAT LAKES DIVISION

One Night in January 1988…One night in January 1988, a Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services truck loaded up with 75 sandwiches, soup and hot chocolate to serve Detroit’s homeless. After driving around the city’s east side, the crew couldn’t find anyone to serve. When the truck pulled into an alley...

INNOVATION Quebec

CEIMIA

DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT APPLIED PROJECTS IN RESPONSIBLE AI

A key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI)CEIMIA is a key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence, based on the principles of ethics, human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth. Our role is to develop and implement high-impact applied projects in responsible artificial intelligence....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Iridia Medical

Whom do first responders call for medical emergencies? Iridia Medical is a physician-founded company that exists to Enable Peace of Mind for people called upon to respond to medical emergencies

Within a span of five months in 1997, a local pulp and papermill experienced the collapse and death of two employees on-site. It was determined that both employees suffered from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The prospect of future deaths at the site was palpable, and preventative solutions were non-existent. This...

INNOVATE® Nashville

EVIDENCECARE

EVIDENCECARE

INEFFICIENT WORKFLOWS PLAGUE CLINICIANS. EVIDENCECARE HAS A CURE

The genesis of EvidenceCare came one night while Dr. Brian Fengler was working in the emergency room of Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, and a young woman presented with extreme shortness of breath and fast heart rate. She had a massive blood clot between her heart and lungs. She...

INNOVATE® Detroit

MiSide Community Impact Network

Bringing A Theory To Life

East Chadsey-Condon is a multi-cultural community that faces a unique set of challenges – high instances of crime among youth, a large percentage of residents without insurance, limited access to transportation, and low homeownership rates, among others. And yet hope remains as residents report having pride in their community, a...

INNOVATE® Miami

Crea7ive

Crea7ive - Using Data To Predict User Behavior And Optimize Creativity

Using Data To Predict User Behavior And Optimize Creativity

We are a data-driven creative agency focused on helping brands succeed across multi-cultural markets. From branding and web development to predictive marketing and digital strategy, our portfolio includes global brands such as Wendy’s, Zumba, Kraft, Armani Casa, and Disney. Shortly after arriving in Miami from Argentina in 2005 and while...

Ecosystems