Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

ALICIA ROISMAN ISMACH

HEAD OF FINTECH, ATLANTIC FINTECH

Looking back on Atlantic Canada’s fintech sector, I remember being impressed by the stark resilience of the entrepreneurs in the region. Incredible innovation was happening across the four provinces to revolutionize and digitalize under-developed technologies, particularly in back-end solutions of all industries—from banking and aviation to communications and human resources....

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

JOE VOLPE

CO-FOUNDER, CESCAPHE

As the co-founder of Cescaphe, I never set out to disrupt the hospitality and events industry, I set out to create an experience I couldn’t find elsewhere. When we launched Cescaphe, the traditional wedding and event model was fragmented, making for an unpleasant client experience, when it should be a...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DR. HANK CAPPS

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF INFORMATION AND DIGITAL OFFICER AT WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM, PRESIDENT AT CATALYST BY WELLSTAR

Healthcare is personal. We are all one diagnosis away from being a patient. To a doctor, the relationship with a patient is one of the most sacred connections. To the patient, it is almost always a moment of anxiety and fear. As a family doctor, I’ve seen this moment of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

PATRIK STRÖMBERG

PHD MBA, CEO AT ANACARDIO

I have spent my entire career in Stockholm’s vibrant Life Science innovation space, with renowned universities, great scientists, and companies. After attaining a PhD in Biochemistry from Karolinska Institutet, I have held various positions within R&D and corporate development at Astra Zeneca and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), such as Vice...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

OWEN SAGNESS

CEO, DIGITAL NOVA SCOTIA (DNS)

Introduction The digital sector is experiencing an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals, creating a significant talent gap. Traditional education pathways alone are no longer sufficient to meet this demand. In early2024, Digital Nova Scotia surveyed our members and produced the2024 Digital Nova Scotia Workforce Survey. This survey highlights a promising...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

BRADLEY COWARD, CORPORATE ADVISOR & CO FOUNDER TRADEACE INC.

BRADLEY COWARD, CORPORATE ADVISOR & CO FOUNDER TRADEACE INC.

IT’S HUMAN NATURE TO RESIST CHANGEAccelerated change is the clarion cry of entrepreneurs and the Achilles heel of large organizations and industries. Many entrepreneurs today use the mantra: “Go big or go home,” and so it is with innovation. Innovation by its very nature needs to sit, enabled by technology,...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

ABDULLAH SNOBAR

ABDULLAH SNOBAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DMZ AND CEO OF DMZ VENTURES

Let’s be real: Toronto tech has been hitting it out of the park lately. The ecosystem has soared to new highs. Venture funding deals are crushing new records. The GTA is rich with leading innovation hubs. Merger and acquisition activity is revving up. We’re now rated as North America’s fastest-growing...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

INNOVATE® Phoenix

Thiru Thangarthinam

Thiru Thangarthinam: CEO and Founder - MST Solutions

CEO and Founder - MST Solutions

Introduction MST Solutions launched in October 2012. Our headquarters are in Chandler, Ariz., and we have two additional offices in India (Chennai and Trichy). We have 275 employees (75 in Chandler, and 200 in India).  We’re the largest Salesforce partner in Arizona. From 2017 to 2018, we achieved 286% growth...

INNOVATE® Gainesville

Eric Godet, SR

Eric Godet

President/CEO - Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce

It has been about a year since I joined the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce as President/CEO. Having served both business and the Chamber in various capacities over the years, I have the professional experience for this job, but what I really bring to the table is passion—we can be...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

STEFAN MORITZ

HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR

Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DIRAJ PERKASH GOEL

FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, GETFRESH VENTURES

“To create a successful business, it’s crucial to understand the human condition in the buying process.” As an investor and operator, I’ve discovered a pivotal truth: any business holds the potential to generate $10M in revenue. Yet, a significant portion of enterprises stumble before reaching this milestone. The common pitfall?...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

Sven Boermeester

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

JEFF WHITE

PRESIDENT & CEO, NEW BRUNSWICK INNOVATION FOUNDATION

The business day begins in New Brunswick an hour before our colleagues in Montreal and Toronto get started. I think that’s appropriate, because from the age of sail to today’s AI revolution, our entrepreneurs have been working at the forefront of innovation, international trade and technological change. New Brunswick has...

VOICES of the Future

DR. V. FRANCIS JOHN

THE STARTUP SUPREMO

From the moment I sat down with Dr. V. Francis John, my neighbor and the luminary behind Ztartup.com and Kube VC, it was clear that I was in the presence of a true visionary. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology and innovation. Chief Enablement Officer...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

The Hon Peter Malinauskas

Premier of South Australia

They’re all inventions which changed the face of the world. They’re all examples of original and innovative thinking. And they all began as sparks of brilliance in the minds of South Australians. From Sir Howard Florey’s insights into the properties of penicillin and Lancelot de Mole’s development of caterpillar tracks,...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

SAVERA FARIDOON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PLUTOVETS.

“Welcome to our women’s protection home.” Not a sentence a child should ever hear, but one I heard more than once growing up. As the eldest of three siblings in a destructive home, I was forced to grow up fast, becoming both caretaker and mediator between my siblings and our...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

JESSICA MEDEIROS & SUZANNE DUNCAN

FEMME GAMING

As women representing a mosaic of cultural diversity in the esports and the traditional sport industry, both Jessica Medeiros & Suzanne Duncan are no strangers to the heavy lifts asked of female leadership at executive tables in the gaming space. As the founders of Femme Gaming, we are both passionate...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Chris Carrillo

CEO of MetroMLS

Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...

INNOVATE® Phoenix

Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan

Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan

Executive VP and Chief Research and Innovation Officer - ASU

Introduction Perspective on InnovationInnovation is not limited to creating new products or starting new companies. It is a spirit and a mindset that permeates everything that we do. The most intractable challenges we face are not going to be solved by doing what we’ve always done. It is important to...

INNOVATE® Nashville

SILAS DEANE

VICE PRESIDENT, COURTS AND JUSTICE, TYLER TECHNOLOGIES

I started my company, VendEngine, with zero outside investment, credit, or employees – nothing but an idea. Ten tough years later, managing the business on cash flow management, I sold it to an S&P 500 business for $89 million. It was an atypical entrepreneur’s journey. I’d do it all again....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

GUSTAV BUDER

FINTECH FOUNDER, BOARD-LEVEL ADVISOR AND ACTIVE INVESTOR - REGION PARTNER, BYBIT NORDIC

Most people don’t reject new ideas because they’re irrational. They reject them because they’re using the wrong frame. I learned this the hard way. Coming from the payment’s world, I initially looked at Bitcoin like a payment network and asked, “Why is it so slow?” That’s the classic mistake: judging...

INNOVATE® St. Louis

Jennah Purk

Jennah Purk

Founder & CEO - Purk Associates

Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

CARIN ERIKSON

FOUNDER OF CUREVO HEALTH

In an age where it’s never been easier to build something flashy, the real challenge is building something useful. Purpose is the anchor in that process. It keeps you honest, focused, and resilient. And surprisingly often, it becomes your unfair advantage. I’ve seen this firsthand at Curevo Health, the company...

ALICIA ROISMAN ISMACH

HEAD OF FINTECH, ATLANTIC FINTECH

Looking back on Atlantic Canada’s fintech sector, I remember being impressed by the stark resilience of the entrepreneurs in the region. Incredible innovation was happening across the four provinces to revolutionize and digitalize under-developed technologies, particularly in back-end solutions of all industries—from banking and aviation to communications and human resources....

JOE VOLPE

CO-FOUNDER, CESCAPHE

As the co-founder of Cescaphe, I never set out to disrupt the hospitality and events industry, I set out to create an experience I couldn’t find elsewhere. When we launched Cescaphe, the traditional wedding and event model was fragmented, making for an unpleasant client experience, when it should be a...

DR. HANK CAPPS

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF INFORMATION AND DIGITAL OFFICER AT WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM, PRESIDENT AT CATALYST BY WELLSTAR

Healthcare is personal. We are all one diagnosis away from being a patient. To a doctor, the relationship with a patient is one of the most sacred connections. To the patient, it is almost always a moment of anxiety and fear. As a family doctor, I’ve seen this moment of...

PATRIK STRÖMBERG

PHD MBA, CEO AT ANACARDIO

I have spent my entire career in Stockholm’s vibrant Life Science innovation space, with renowned universities, great scientists, and companies. After attaining a PhD in Biochemistry from Karolinska Institutet, I have held various positions within R&D and corporate development at Astra Zeneca and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), such as Vice...

OWEN SAGNESS

CEO, DIGITAL NOVA SCOTIA (DNS)

Introduction The digital sector is experiencing an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals, creating a significant talent gap. Traditional education pathways alone are no longer sufficient to meet this demand. In early2024, Digital Nova Scotia surveyed our members and produced the2024 Digital Nova Scotia Workforce Survey. This survey highlights a promising...

BRADLEY COWARD, CORPORATE ADVISOR & CO FOUNDER TRADEACE INC.

BRADLEY COWARD, CORPORATE ADVISOR & CO FOUNDER TRADEACE INC.

IT’S HUMAN NATURE TO RESIST CHANGEAccelerated change is the clarion cry of entrepreneurs and the Achilles heel of large organizations and industries. Many entrepreneurs today use the mantra: “Go big or go home,” and so it is with innovation. Innovation by its very nature needs to sit, enabled by technology,...

ABDULLAH SNOBAR

ABDULLAH SNOBAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DMZ AND CEO OF DMZ VENTURES

Let’s be real: Toronto tech has been hitting it out of the park lately. The ecosystem has soared to new highs. Venture funding deals are crushing new records. The GTA is rich with leading innovation hubs. Merger and acquisition activity is revving up. We’re now rated as North America’s fastest-growing...

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

Thiru Thangarthinam

Thiru Thangarthinam: CEO and Founder - MST Solutions

CEO and Founder - MST Solutions

Introduction MST Solutions launched in October 2012. Our headquarters are in Chandler, Ariz., and we have two additional offices in India (Chennai and Trichy). We have 275 employees (75 in Chandler, and 200 in India).  We’re the largest Salesforce partner in Arizona. From 2017 to 2018, we achieved 286% growth...

Eric Godet, SR

Eric Godet

President/CEO - Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce

It has been about a year since I joined the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce as President/CEO. Having served both business and the Chamber in various capacities over the years, I have the professional experience for this job, but what I really bring to the table is passion—we can be...

STEFAN MORITZ

HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR

Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...

DIRAJ PERKASH GOEL

FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, GETFRESH VENTURES

“To create a successful business, it’s crucial to understand the human condition in the buying process.” As an investor and operator, I’ve discovered a pivotal truth: any business holds the potential to generate $10M in revenue. Yet, a significant portion of enterprises stumble before reaching this milestone. The common pitfall?...

Sven Boermeester

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...

JEFF WHITE

PRESIDENT & CEO, NEW BRUNSWICK INNOVATION FOUNDATION

The business day begins in New Brunswick an hour before our colleagues in Montreal and Toronto get started. I think that’s appropriate, because from the age of sail to today’s AI revolution, our entrepreneurs have been working at the forefront of innovation, international trade and technological change. New Brunswick has...

DR. V. FRANCIS JOHN

THE STARTUP SUPREMO

From the moment I sat down with Dr. V. Francis John, my neighbor and the luminary behind Ztartup.com and Kube VC, it was clear that I was in the presence of a true visionary. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology and innovation. Chief Enablement Officer...

The Hon Peter Malinauskas

Premier of South Australia

They’re all inventions which changed the face of the world. They’re all examples of original and innovative thinking. And they all began as sparks of brilliance in the minds of South Australians. From Sir Howard Florey’s insights into the properties of penicillin and Lancelot de Mole’s development of caterpillar tracks,...

SAVERA FARIDOON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PLUTOVETS.

“Welcome to our women’s protection home.” Not a sentence a child should ever hear, but one I heard more than once growing up. As the eldest of three siblings in a destructive home, I was forced to grow up fast, becoming both caretaker and mediator between my siblings and our...

JESSICA MEDEIROS & SUZANNE DUNCAN

FEMME GAMING

As women representing a mosaic of cultural diversity in the esports and the traditional sport industry, both Jessica Medeiros & Suzanne Duncan are no strangers to the heavy lifts asked of female leadership at executive tables in the gaming space. As the founders of Femme Gaming, we are both passionate...

Chris Carrillo

CEO of MetroMLS

Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...

Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan

Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan

Executive VP and Chief Research and Innovation Officer - ASU

Introduction Perspective on InnovationInnovation is not limited to creating new products or starting new companies. It is a spirit and a mindset that permeates everything that we do. The most intractable challenges we face are not going to be solved by doing what we’ve always done. It is important to...

SILAS DEANE

VICE PRESIDENT, COURTS AND JUSTICE, TYLER TECHNOLOGIES

I started my company, VendEngine, with zero outside investment, credit, or employees – nothing but an idea. Ten tough years later, managing the business on cash flow management, I sold it to an S&P 500 business for $89 million. It was an atypical entrepreneur’s journey. I’d do it all again....

GUSTAV BUDER

FINTECH FOUNDER, BOARD-LEVEL ADVISOR AND ACTIVE INVESTOR - REGION PARTNER, BYBIT NORDIC

Most people don’t reject new ideas because they’re irrational. They reject them because they’re using the wrong frame. I learned this the hard way. Coming from the payment’s world, I initially looked at Bitcoin like a payment network and asked, “Why is it so slow?” That’s the classic mistake: judging...

Jennah Purk

Jennah Purk

Founder & CEO - Purk Associates

Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...

CARIN ERIKSON

FOUNDER OF CUREVO HEALTH

In an age where it’s never been easier to build something flashy, the real challenge is building something useful. Purpose is the anchor in that process. It keeps you honest, focused, and resilient. And surprisingly often, it becomes your unfair advantage. I’ve seen this firsthand at Curevo Health, the company...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems