noun. One that is original or innovative.

noun. First person to do, make or fight for something. A pioneer; a seminal person.

noun. someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art

"But I have to say I feel like "groundbreaker" should be reserved for props that actually, you know, appear to break out of the ground."

conceiver  mastermind  originator  

ancestor  announcer  antecedent  avant-garde  bellwether