(n.) One who innovates.

agent alterant alterative alterer ancestor announcer antecedent architect author avant-garde bellwether buccinator bushwhacker catalyst catalytic agent creator developer explorer ferment forebear foregoer forerunner front runner frontiersman fugleman groundbreaker guide harbinger herald innovationist introducer inventor lead runner leader leaven maker messenger modificator modifier original originator pathfinder pioneer point precedent precursor predecessor producer scout stormy petrel trailblazer trailbreaker transformer transmogrifier vanguard vaunt-courier voortrekker yeast