pioneer
verb [ T ]
uk/ˌpaɪəˈnɪər/ usto be the first person or organization to start work in a new area, introduce a new idea, etc.:
He is chief content officer of Netflix, the company that pioneered mailed rentals of DVDs.
Most major airlines have had to adopt many of the cost-saving innovations pioneered by their low-cost competitors.
pioneer
noun [ C ]
uk/ˌpaɪəˈnɪər/ usa person or organization that is the first to start work in a new area, introduce a new idea, etc.:
pioneer in/of sth She was a pioneer in the biotech industry's patent law.