What makes a brand feel innovative to young people—and can that magic be replicated? Innovation is a vital part of capturing young consumers’ attention, but it doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. What might feel groundbreaking for a young adult, might barely register with a teen. And while all the talk is about tech and AI in innovation, what makes retail, beauty, and food brands feel innovative to Gen Z and Millennials?
YPulse’s Innovative Brands special report explores how young people define innovation, the brands that are most innovative in their eyes (they’ll surprise you), and what brands need to know about being seen as an innovator by teens, young adults, young POC, and LGBTQ youth.
Report length: 33 pages, based on YPulse’s syndicated youth brand tracker data “Innovative” ratings collected daily from the YPulse Brand Tracker between 7/21/2025-7/19/2026 among a representative sample of 131,457 13-39-year-olds in the U.S. and Canada in North America. In Western Europe, among a representative sample of 107,590 13-39-year-olds in the U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
