An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation

Innovation

Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...

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History

Innovators or pioneers innovate in a particular field, i.e. "Mr. Smith is a pioneer in the teaching profession...", first recorded in 1780s.

For example, some people that are often called innovators include:

• Isaac Newton
  Isaac Newton
  Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
  
   - pioneered classical mechanics
  Classical mechanics
  In physics, classical mechanics is one of the two major sub-fields of mechanics, which is concerned with the set of physical laws describing the motion of bodies under the action of a system of forces...
  
  
• Albert Einstein
  Albert Einstein
  Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
  
   - pioneered Relativity
  Theory of relativity
  The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
  
  
• Sir Richard Arkwright - credited for inventing spinning frame
  Spinning frame
  The spinning frame is an Industrial Revolution invention for spinning thread or yarn from fibers such as wool or cotton in a mechanized way. It was developed in 18th century Britain by Richard Arkwright and John Kay.-Historical context:...
  
  
• Wright Brothers
  Wright brothers
  The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
  
   - pioneered controlled flight
• Thomas Edison
  Thomas Edison
  Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
  
   - developed the first economically feasible light bulb
• Dennis Ritchie
  Dennis Ritchie
  Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie , was an American computer scientist who "helped shape the digital era." He created the C programming language and, with long-time colleague Ken Thompson, the UNIX operating system...
  
   - co-developer of the Unix
  Unix
  Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
  
   operating system
• Karl Benz
  Karl Benz
  Karl Friedrich Benz, was a German engine designer and car engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered car, and together with Bertha Benz pioneering founder of the automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz...
  
   - developed first automobile
  Automobile
  An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
  
   with internal combustion.
• Henry Ford
  Henry Ford
  Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
  
   - pioneered mass produced motor cars
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel
  Isambard Kingdom Brunel
  Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
  
   - revolutionised public transport and engineering
• Nikola Tesla
  Nikola Tesla
  Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
  
   - pioneered the induction motor
  Induction motor
  An induction or asynchronous motor is a type of AC motor where power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction. These motors are widely used in industrial drives, particularly polyphase induction motors, because they are robust and have no brushes...
  
  
• Robert H. Goddard
  Robert H. Goddard
  Robert Hutchings Goddard was an American professor, physicist and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which he successfully launched on March 16, 1926...
  
   - pioneered the liquid rocket engine
• Steve Jobs
  Steve Jobs
  Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
  
   - pioneered the Apple graphical user interface on consumer electronic products.
• Tim Berners Lee - invented the World Wide Web

Benjamin Graham-economist and professional investor.