Stories of Innovation

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDERSBOOST TORONTO

FOUNDERSBOOST TORONTO -PROVES THAT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS CAN DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT FOUNDERS NEED TO SUCCEED.

PROVES THAT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS CAN DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT FOUNDERS NEED TO SUCCEED

FoundersBoost Toronto is the city’s only 100% free, not-for-profit preaccelerator program for early-stage founders. We are a volunteer-only organization that runs six-week boot camps that prepare founders for accelerators, investment, and revenue. We take no equity and charge no fees from any of our startups. FoundersBoost Toronto is led by...

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....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNIVERSITY STARTUPS

Empowering Tomorrow

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

KARTRIJ

KARTRIJ-TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

Kartrij is a free platform that helps gamers discover brands through cash back offers. Gamers earn cash back automatically by securely linking their credit card to the platform and shopping at the stores they already do. Kartrij enables gaming brands to effectively advertise through real-time customer insights and custom offers....

INNOVATE® South Florida

LAS OLAS VENTURE CAPITAL

DRIVING INNOVATION & COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA VENTURE ECOSYSTEM

Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC) stands out in the venture capital ecosystem as an early-stage firm dedicated to transforming the B2B software sector. Founded in 2015 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, LOVC has quickly distinguished itself by leading investment rounds with an initial check size typically ranging from $1...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRAVITAL AGENCY

GRAVITAL AGENCY-Gravital is a B2B performance-driven digital marketing agency and consulting firm specializing in growth strategies

Gravital is a B2B performance-driven digital marketing agency and consulting firm specializing in growth strategies, marketing solutions and sales enablement.

Enhancing Sustainable Business Growth Via Digital MarketingGROW BY CREATING VALUE IS OUR MOTTO.We believe in producing meaningful outcomes that impact our customers’ bottom line, not in winning awards for flashy campaigns.   OUR STORY The Digital ConnectionWe recognized the awesome reach and power of digital marketing and what it could...

INNOVATE® South Florida

eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas - The premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center

The premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center

eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with corporate business executives, government leaders, and entrepreneurs, eMerge Americas is transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAME QUITTERS

GAME QUITTERS-Supporting The Mental Health Of Gamers And Their Families Through Content

Supporting The Mental Health Of Gamers And Their Families Through Content, Community And Coaching

Game Quitters provides the best tools, resources, and support for gamers of all ages to keep gaming under control and maintain their health and wellbeing. We believe there are benefits and risks associated with playing video games and individuals should be equipped to navigate that experience. We do this by...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Innovating Charleston: 30 Years of Bold Ideas and Big Wins

The Charleston region is one that’s on the move. For the past 30 years, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has worked with its partners in government, academia and business to improve the three-county Charleston region’s economy now and into the future. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance serves as a...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCOMPAGNE LES ORGANISATIONS IMPLIQUÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA SANTÉ, EN ADAPTATION, EN RÉADAPTATION

ACCOMPAGNE LES ORGANISATIONS IMPLIQUÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA SANTÉ, EN ADAPTATION, EN RÉADAPTATION ET EN MOBILITÉ PAR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT, LA PERSONNALISATION, L’OPTIMISATION ET LA VALIDATION D’APPAREILLAGES, D’ÉQUIPEMENTS ET DE TECHNOLOGIES POUR LES POPULATIONS VULNÉRABLES ET SPORTIVES. TOPMED élabore et réalise des projets de recherche appliquée axés sur l’innovation et...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING-A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. – Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling. In a country with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LEARN2ESPORT'S

LEARN2ESPORT'S MISSION IS TO HELP YOUTH LEARN VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ESPORTS

MISSION IS TO HELP YOUTH LEARN VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ESPORTS

Their core product, Gameplan, helps players of all ages acquire real-world skills that aid professional development, cognitive abilities, promote healthy habits, and more.   Rasmus Sandstöm and Dan Andreasson started Learn2Esport in 2016 with the vision of engaging students through esports, and teaching them valuable life skills to prepare them...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

AISTRA

DEVELOPING AI SKILLS AND DECENTRALIZED AI READINESS ACROSS SECTORS

AISTRA: Building AI Literacy and Decentralized AI Readiness Across Sectors In Estonia’s fast-moving digital ecosystem — where nearly every public service is online and global corporations test future-ready solutions — one consultancy has quietly shaped the national conversation on how artificial intelligence should work: technologically, ethically, and organizationally, while advancing...

Global Innovation Spotlight

PINKTUM

PINKTUM-Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital

Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital

A new form of human resources development is needed to successfully master global challenges. As one of the leading providers of E-learning and web-based trainings for effective and sustainable personnel development in companies, PINKTUM breaks new ground in Madrid’s start-up scene. PINKTUM offers scientifically based personnel development in the digital...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PILOTO 151

PILOTO 151-PUERTO RICO’S LAUNCHPAD FOR INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

PUERTO RICO’S LAUNCHPAD FOR INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

The year was 2012. Stolberg siblings, Sofia and Juan Carlos, had just moved back to their native Puerto Rico, ran their own businesses, and were searching for a coworking space to network with like-minded individuals. Noticing that coworking was not a thing on the Island, they took it upon themselves...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MAVERIX PRIVATE EQUITY

MAVERIX PRIVATE EQUITY- Closing The Canadian Investment Gap

Closing The Canadian Investment Gap

Currently amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we are witnessing unprecedented technological change triggered by a multitude of disruptive forces. These changes have shaken Canada’s business ecosystem, causing new players to rise and existing leaders to fall.   Consequently, incumbents are faced with a harsh reality where constant innovation and technological...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

TROY JESSEE CONSTRUCTION

CARE BY DESIGN

“An emphasis on long-term relationships, coupled with an ethic that treats everyone with the highest degree of respect, has created beautiful construction and bonds that enrich the community.” How much architecture can you fit in a building? That’s a line as old as the construction industry itself – and one...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Phase Eight Theater Company

Phase Eight Theater Company - Pushing The Boundaries Of Performance

Pushing The Boundaries Of Performance

WHO WE ARE Phase Eight Theater Company is the latest arts organization to be formed in Jacksonville, Florida. It is recognized as a boundary-pushing and socially progressive theater group. They’ve presented fourteen productions in its first two and a half years of existence having performed for hundreds of audience members....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Furman University

Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership: Shaping Leaders, Sparking Innovation.

Furman University, consistently recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities, made a decisive move in 2023 by launching the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). Building on Furman’s mission to build lifelong learners who lead lives of meaning and consequence, its reputation for producing high-potential leaders and the Hill Institute for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GATIK

GATIK -DEPLOYS CANADA’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY FLEET

DEPLOYS CANADA’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY FLEET

Gatik, the market leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, focuses on B2B short-haul delivery, moving goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of medium duty trucks. Gatik’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) are commercially deployed in multiple markets including Ontario, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Founded in 2017 by veterans of the autonomous...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

PCG SOFTWARE

PCG SOFTWARE- THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award-winning, youth-led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices. From left to right: Michael Mavuso –...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)

A Vision Realized

The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

FOUNDERSBOOST TORONTO

FOUNDERSBOOST TORONTO -PROVES THAT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS CAN DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT FOUNDERS NEED TO SUCCEED.

PROVES THAT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS CAN DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT FOUNDERS NEED TO SUCCEED

FoundersBoost Toronto is the city’s only 100% free, not-for-profit preaccelerator program for early-stage founders. We are a volunteer-only organization that runs six-week boot camps that prepare founders for accelerators, investment, and revenue. We take no equity and charge no fees from any of our startups. FoundersBoost Toronto is led by...

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....

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

UNIVERSITY STARTUPS

Empowering Tomorrow

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, two Georgetown University McDonough School of Business professors found themselves contemplating a way to bring more purpose to their work and students’ lives. Marc Steren and John Jabara, both seasoned academics and entrepreneurs, decided to channel their expertise into something transformative. What...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

KARTRIJ

KARTRIJ-TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

TO UNITE GAMERS THROUGH THE DISCOVERY OF AMAZING BRANDS THAT CELEBRATE THEIR LIFESTYLE

Kartrij is a free platform that helps gamers discover brands through cash back offers. Gamers earn cash back automatically by securely linking their credit card to the platform and shopping at the stores they already do. Kartrij enables gaming brands to effectively advertise through real-time customer insights and custom offers....

INNOVATE® South Florida

LAS OLAS VENTURE CAPITAL

DRIVING INNOVATION & COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA VENTURE ECOSYSTEM

Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC) stands out in the venture capital ecosystem as an early-stage firm dedicated to transforming the B2B software sector. Founded in 2015 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, LOVC has quickly distinguished itself by leading investment rounds with an initial check size typically ranging from $1...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GRAVITAL AGENCY

GRAVITAL AGENCY-Gravital is a B2B performance-driven digital marketing agency and consulting firm specializing in growth strategies

Gravital is a B2B performance-driven digital marketing agency and consulting firm specializing in growth strategies, marketing solutions and sales enablement.

Enhancing Sustainable Business Growth Via Digital MarketingGROW BY CREATING VALUE IS OUR MOTTO.We believe in producing meaningful outcomes that impact our customers’ bottom line, not in winning awards for flashy campaigns.   OUR STORY The Digital ConnectionWe recognized the awesome reach and power of digital marketing and what it could...

INNOVATE® South Florida

eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas - The premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center

The premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center

eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with corporate business executives, government leaders, and entrepreneurs, eMerge Americas is transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

GAME QUITTERS

GAME QUITTERS-Supporting The Mental Health Of Gamers And Their Families Through Content

Supporting The Mental Health Of Gamers And Their Families Through Content, Community And Coaching

Game Quitters provides the best tools, resources, and support for gamers of all ages to keep gaming under control and maintain their health and wellbeing. We believe there are benefits and risks associated with playing video games and individuals should be equipped to navigate that experience. We do this by...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Quang Pham

“People have asked me why i started Espero Biopharma in jacksonville when there is no industry and few talent locally”   Here are the reasons. Few American cities of any size are home to so many facilities, among them Ackerman Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Hospital,...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Innovating Charleston: 30 Years of Bold Ideas and Big Wins

The Charleston region is one that’s on the move. For the past 30 years, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has worked with its partners in government, academia and business to improve the three-county Charleston region’s economy now and into the future. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance serves as a...

INNOVATION Quebec

ACCOMPAGNE LES ORGANISATIONS IMPLIQUÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA SANTÉ, EN ADAPTATION, EN RÉADAPTATION

ACCOMPAGNE LES ORGANISATIONS IMPLIQUÉES DANS LE DOMAINE DE LA SANTÉ, EN ADAPTATION, EN RÉADAPTATION ET EN MOBILITÉ PAR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT, LA PERSONNALISATION, L’OPTIMISATION ET LA VALIDATION D’APPAREILLAGES, D’ÉQUIPEMENTS ET DE TECHNOLOGIES POUR LES POPULATIONS VULNÉRABLES ET SPORTIVES. TOPMED élabore et réalise des projets de recherche appliquée axés sur l’innovation et...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING-A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. – Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling. In a country with...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

LEARN2ESPORT'S

LEARN2ESPORT'S MISSION IS TO HELP YOUTH LEARN VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ESPORTS

MISSION IS TO HELP YOUTH LEARN VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ESPORTS

Their core product, Gameplan, helps players of all ages acquire real-world skills that aid professional development, cognitive abilities, promote healthy habits, and more.   Rasmus Sandstöm and Dan Andreasson started Learn2Esport in 2016 with the vision of engaging students through esports, and teaching them valuable life skills to prepare them...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

AISTRA

DEVELOPING AI SKILLS AND DECENTRALIZED AI READINESS ACROSS SECTORS

AISTRA: Building AI Literacy and Decentralized AI Readiness Across Sectors In Estonia’s fast-moving digital ecosystem — where nearly every public service is online and global corporations test future-ready solutions — one consultancy has quietly shaped the national conversation on how artificial intelligence should work: technologically, ethically, and organizationally, while advancing...

Global Innovation Spotlight

PINKTUM

PINKTUM-Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital

Personnel Development In Spain Goes Digital

A new form of human resources development is needed to successfully master global challenges. As one of the leading providers of E-learning and web-based trainings for effective and sustainable personnel development in companies, PINKTUM breaks new ground in Madrid’s start-up scene. PINKTUM offers scientifically based personnel development in the digital...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

PILOTO 151

PILOTO 151-PUERTO RICO’S LAUNCHPAD FOR INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

PUERTO RICO’S LAUNCHPAD FOR INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

The year was 2012. Stolberg siblings, Sofia and Juan Carlos, had just moved back to their native Puerto Rico, ran their own businesses, and were searching for a coworking space to network with like-minded individuals. Noticing that coworking was not a thing on the Island, they took it upon themselves...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

MAVERIX PRIVATE EQUITY

MAVERIX PRIVATE EQUITY- Closing The Canadian Investment Gap

Closing The Canadian Investment Gap

Currently amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we are witnessing unprecedented technological change triggered by a multitude of disruptive forces. These changes have shaken Canada’s business ecosystem, causing new players to rise and existing leaders to fall.   Consequently, incumbents are faced with a harsh reality where constant innovation and technological...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA

MAHLAKO A PHAHLA - AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED

AN ORGANISATION THAT IS AFRICAN WOMEN-OWNED, MANAGED AND INSPIRED, THAT PROMOTES AFRICAN AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Mahlako a Phahla, founded by sisters Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, is named after our mother Mahlako to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so.   Mahlako is an...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

TROY JESSEE CONSTRUCTION

CARE BY DESIGN

“An emphasis on long-term relationships, coupled with an ethic that treats everyone with the highest degree of respect, has created beautiful construction and bonds that enrich the community.” How much architecture can you fit in a building? That’s a line as old as the construction industry itself – and one...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Phase Eight Theater Company

Phase Eight Theater Company - Pushing The Boundaries Of Performance

Pushing The Boundaries Of Performance

WHO WE ARE Phase Eight Theater Company is the latest arts organization to be formed in Jacksonville, Florida. It is recognized as a boundary-pushing and socially progressive theater group. They’ve presented fourteen productions in its first two and a half years of existence having performed for hundreds of audience members....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Furman University

Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership: Shaping Leaders, Sparking Innovation.

Furman University, consistently recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities, made a decisive move in 2023 by launching the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). Building on Furman’s mission to build lifelong learners who lead lives of meaning and consequence, its reputation for producing high-potential leaders and the Hill Institute for...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

GATIK

GATIK -DEPLOYS CANADA’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY FLEET

DEPLOYS CANADA’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY FLEET

Gatik, the market leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, focuses on B2B short-haul delivery, moving goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of medium duty trucks. Gatik’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) are commercially deployed in multiple markets including Ontario, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Founded in 2017 by veterans of the autonomous...

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

PCG SOFTWARE

PCG SOFTWARE- THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award-winning, youth-led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices. From left to right: Michael Mavuso –...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)

A Vision Realized

The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...

Ecosystems