Connect with us

Technology

Procure Impact Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025

Published

on

The B2B social impact marketplace joins the ranks of Waymo, Nvidia, Duolingo, and more

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Procure Impact is proud to have been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions. Procure Impact ranked 5th in the Social Good category—highlighting the company’s role as a leader in social change, connecting businesses with high-quality, American-made products manufactured by suppliers that employ underestimated populations across the U.S.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Fast Company,” said Lauren McCann, Co-Founder & CEO of Procure Impact. “This reinforces our belief that social impact is more than a moral imperative—it’s a strategic driver of business success. Every purchase through our platform creates jobs and builds a more inclusive economy.”

Procure Impact’s marketplace offers a wide range of products across high-demand categories such as food and beverage, bath and body, retail, furniture, art, and corporate gifts. These products are sourced exclusively from suppliers who provide employment opportunities for individuals with barriers to work, including people with disabilities, refugees, veterans, survivors of trafficking, and those affected by homelessness, trauma, or incarceration.  Every purchase on their platform creates meaningful jobs and supportive services that help vulnerable populations build a brighter future.

Procure Impact measures the impact of every transaction by calculating the work hours created. This gives businesses clear, measurable data to align their procurement strategies with social impact goals.

This recognition from Fast Company comes on the heels of a major milestone achieved through Procure Impact’s Dignity of Work Pledge, a campaign in partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).  Twenty-four companies have committed to making over $7.5 million in purchases to reach the campaign goal of 100,000 hours of paid employment for individuals facing barriers to work. Through this campaign, participating companies have pledged to source responsibly through Procure Impact’s platform, directly contributing millions in revenue to businesses employing vulnerable populations in the USA.

“The momentum from the Dignity of Work Pledge is incredible,” said Jen Collins, Co-Founder & President of Procure Impact. “Being named to Fast Company’s list reflects the collective impact of our partners and companies involved. Through responsible sourcing, the hospitality sector and other industries catalyze local economic growth and impact communities at scale.”

The Dignity of Work Pledge, which has already garnered participation from major hotel brands and hospitality companies, is now expanding its reach with a new goal of creating 1,000,000 hours of work across all industries by 2030.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as Fast Company’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.”

The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25. To learn more about Procure Impact and explore its marketplace, visit procureimpact.us.

Fast Company will host the Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala for honorees on June 5. The summit features a day of inspiring content, followed by a creative black-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation.

ABOUT PROCURE IMPACT
Procure Impact is a B2B marketplace that helps businesses achieve their social impact goals through everyday purchases. The platform connects companies with a curated selection of high-quality, American-made products produced by vendors who employ individuals from underestimated communities. With a focus on creating meaningful employment opportunities, Procure Impact is redefining how businesses approach procurement and social responsibility. Connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram, or visit procureimpact.us for more information.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Carolyn Snell, Marketing Director, Procure Impact
Email: contact@procureimpact.us

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/procure-impact-named-to-fast-companys-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-of-2025-302404499.html

SOURCE Procure Impact

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

TELUS announces election of directors

Published

on

By

VANCOUVER, BC, May 8, 2026 /CNW/ – TELUS Corporation (TELUS) (TSX: T) (NYSE: TU) announced today that the nominees listed in TELUS’ 2026 information circular were elected as directors of TELUS. The detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at TELUS’ annual meeting on May 8, 2026 (the Meeting) are set out below.

Each of the following 14 nominees proposed by management was elected as a director of TELUS:

Nominee

Votes For  

% Votes For  

Votes Withheld  

% Votes Withheld 

Raymond T. Chan

592,322,965

97.91

12,667,245

2.09

Hazel Claxton

599,400,953

99.08

5,589,256

0.92

Lisa De Wilde

583,361,107

96.42

21,629,103

3.58

Victor Dodig

593,352,117

98.08

11,638,092

1.92

Darren Entwistle

586,791,970

96.99

18,198,239

3.01

Thomas Flynn

596,684,564

98.63

8,305,646

1.37

Mary Jo Haddad

577,841,419

95.51

27,148,791

4.49

Martha Hall Findlay     

595,075,545

98.36

9,914,665

1.64

Christine Magee

597,282,615

98.73

7,707,595

1.27

John Manley

579,845,538

95.84

25,144,672

4.16

David Mowat

592,867,380

98.00

12,122,830

2.00

Marc Parent

577,961,748

95.53

27,028,461

4.47

Denise Pickett

596,211,746

98.55

8,778,464

1.45

W. Sean Willy

595,898,668

98.50

9,091,541

1.50

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be published shortly on telus.com/agm, and filed with the Canadian and U.S. securities regulators.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company operating in more than 45 countries and generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 21 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. TELUS Health is enhancing approximately 170 million lives across 200 countries and territories through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. TELUS Digital specializes in digital customer experiences and future-focused digital transformations that deliver value for their global clients. Guided by our enduring ‘give where we live’ philosophy, TELUS continues to invest in initiatives that support education, health and community well-being. In 2023, we launched the TELUS Student Bursary, which strives to ensure that every young person in Canada who wants a postsecondary education has the opportunity to pursue one. To date, the program has distributed over $6 million in bursaries to 2,000 students and counting. Since 2000, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.85 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs, including 2.5 million days of service–earning TELUS the distinction of the world’s most giving company.

For more information, visit telus.com or follow @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

For more information, please contact:

Jacinthe Beaulieu
TELUS Media Relations
Jacinthe.Beaulieu@telus.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telus-announces-election-of-directors-302767404.html

SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

CTK BIO SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN NGEN’S $62.7M ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INITIATIVE

Published

on

By

VANCOUVER, BC, May 8, 2026 /CNW/ – CTK Bio Canada today announced its selection as a participant in a Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)-supported advanced manufacturing project, part of a $62.7 million national initiative backing 14 high-impact projects across Canada.

The initiative, recently announced by NGen, represents one of Canada’s most significant investments in advanced manufacturing, supporting collaborations between leading industry and technology partners to accelerate commercialization and strengthen global competitiveness. NGen’s project selection process is highly competitive, prioritizing initiatives with strong technical innovation, commercialization potential, and industry impact.

CTK Bio will contribute to the project titled “Streamlining Cosmetics Packaging with AI Powered Materials Informatics,” which uses artificial intelligence to guide the formulation and validation of packaging materials, ensuring compatibility with cosmetic products while meeting performance and regulatory requirements.

ADVANCING AI-DRIVEN MATERIALS INNOVATION
Through this project, CTK Bio is advancing an AI-powered materials informatics approach that improves how packaging materials are formulated, validated, and scaled for cosmetic applications.

By shifting from traditional trial-and-error methods to predictive, data-driven formulation, CTK Bio aims to:

Increase the success rate of new material developmentReduce formulation and validation timelinesLower development costsAccelerate commercialization of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY
JK Park, CEO
“This project unlocks synergies between CTK Bio and CTK Clip, where we already have an established global presence in the cosmetics market. By combining advanced materials innovation with existing market access, we can accelerate the commercialization of next-generation packaging solutions.”

ABOUT CTK BIO
CTK Bio Canada is focused on advancing next-generation biomaterials and manufacturing technologies, developing innovative solutions that enable more efficient, sustainable, and scalable production across global industries.

ABOUT NGEN
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is the industry-led organization spearheading Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. NGen brings together industry, academia, and technology partners to drive innovation, accelerate commercialization, and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness.

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctkbiocanada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctkbiocanada
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ctk-bio-canada

For more information, visit www.ctkbio.com or call (604) 372-4200.

SOURCE CTK Bio

Continue Reading

Technology

During Small Business Month, Reform CIPA Coalition Says Best Way to Support Small Businesses Is to Reform CIPA

Published

on

By

Coalition now includes more than 30 small businesses and nearly 40 organizations representing small business interests statewide

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — One of the best ways to celebrate and support small businesses this May is to protect them from abusive litigation tied to outdated interpretations of a 1960s law. In recognition of Small Business Month, the Reform CIPA Coalition today called on California policymakers  to modernize the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), by passing SB 690. The Reform CIPA Coalition continues to grow. Among its 146 coalition members, more than 30 individual small businesses and over 40 organizations representing small business interests across California have joined the movement. Coalition members say momentum is building around the need to clarify that commonplace online tools already regulated under California’s consumer privacy laws should not trigger predatory lawsuits.

“An outdated 1960s law should not be weaponized against businesses using everyday technologies like chat features, appointment scheduling, or analytics tools. These lawsuits drive up costs, discourage investment, and make it harder for small businesses to grow. Senate Bill 690 offers a commonsense fix, and that’s why support for reform continues to expand,” said Michael Hedges, President of the California Small Business Association.

Coalition leaders said reform is not only about legal clarity, but affordability.

“This is an affordability issue caused by a legal issue. When small businesses, like many here in Los Angeles, are forced to spend money defending meritless lawsuits, those costs ripple through the economy. They affect jobs, prices, and local communities. A growing coalition of business leaders is coming together because California needs clear, modern rules that protect privacy without punishing responsible businesses,” said Mitchell Vieyra, Executive Vice President of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed).

A coalition small business member added:

“California’s small businesses are already navigating rising costs, labor pressures, and economic uncertainty. Being hit with lawsuits over routine website tools that help us communicate with customers and stay competitive is deeply unfair. Reforming CIPA is about protecting small businesses from abusive litigation while preserving strong privacy protections. That’s why more business owners are joining the Reform CIPA Coalition.” — Michelle Leopold, Owner/CMO, Stan’s Ace Hardware

Supporters say the best way to celebrate Small Business Month is to enact reforms that help small businesses survive and grow, not leave them vulnerable to costly lawsuits over routine technologies used every day to serve customers.

Senate Bill 690 would clarify that activities already governed under the California Consumer Privacy Act are not grounds for opportunistic CIPA claims, while maintaining strong privacy protections for consumers.

As Small Business Month continues, Reform CIPA Coalition members urged lawmakers to stand with local employers, entrepreneurs and job creators by advancing common sense reform.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/during-small-business-month-reform-cipa-coalition-says-best-way-to-support-small-businesses-is-to-reform-cipa-302766330.html

SOURCE Reform CIPA

Continue Reading

Trending