Startup Wisconsin is organized by Headway, a digital product studio in Green Bay, WI.
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Upcoming Events

​Generative Horizons: Unveiling AI's Impact Across Industries in Wisconsin | Webinar
​Friday January 5th, 12 PM [Virtual]
Hosted by WIT Wisconsin, expert panelists will unravel the human complexities of Generative AI, exploring its dynamic influence on education, cybersecurity, and private industry.

​Stop-and-go trends in electric vehicle world
​Thursday, January 11, 11:30 AM [Wauwatosa]
Producers are grappling with supply chain issues and competition within their own ranks, while some consumers are flinching at price, eyeing tumbling gasoline prices and pushing back at the perception they are being forced to buy electric vehicles by federal and state fiat. Are those signs of trouble for the EV industry – or just growing pains?

​Enabling Small & Mid Size Companies on their AI journey​
Thursday January 11, 1:30 PM [Virtual]
The NEW Manufacturing Alliance is hosting a special meeting with NEW Digital Alliance investor Microsoft.

​AI in MKE Happy Hour​
Wednesday, January 17, [Milwaukee]
In a casual environment, learn about what's new in the AI world and how to make the most of it within your organization. We're creating a group right here in MKE that can work together and learn together on all things AI-related.

​Adding Customer Journey Maps to your Product Innovation Toolkit​
Thursday, January 18, 7 AM [Madison]
The session will include a mini-workshop and benefit anyone who develops products or services - whether you’re part of a start-up building an MVP or a 50-year-old company looking to stay ahead of the competition.

​Corporate innovators will talk about their work at Whitewater University Innovation Center​
Thursday, January 18, 11:30 AM [Whitewater]
Several of southern Wisconsin's prominent companies will discuss research, innovation, and workforce needs.

​How to NOT Suck at Pitching your Startup with Startup Hypeman​
Tuesday, January 23, 12 PM [Virtual]
Join MKE Founders Community with Startup Hypeman for an informative session about crafting an elevator pitch that makes heads turn your way.

​Data Meetup - Data Tool Trends: Current and Future State​
Thursday, January 25, 9 AM [Milwaukee]
The Data Meetups are back! Join us and data peers to discuss how to encourage a data driven culture among teams and with decision-makers.

​​Lunch with a Founder - featuring Nick Lombardino at StartingBlock
​Tuesday, January 30, 12 PM [Madison]
This month, Nick Lombardino, Co-founder of CultureCon and faculty at Edgewood College, will speak on Discovering Social Entrepreneurship.

​FOUNDER/FEST XI​
Thursday, February 15, 6 PM [Milwaukee]
Join the Milwaukee Founders Community (MFC) for our first FOUNDER/FEST of 2024 at Northern Ground! An experience that brings Milwaukee area startup founders together to build a community of support and celebration. Founders come to network and hear stories from those who have actually built, scaled, and lost businesses in an informal, party-like setting.

​How to Run your Business with an Exit in Mind with TKO Miller​
Tuesday, March 5, 8:30 AM [Virtual]
Join MKE Founders Community with TKO Miller for an informative session about preparing your business for an eventual exit.

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Startup Programs

​U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator 2024​
Application Deadline: January 12, 2024
Just as U.S. Venture’s mission is to find a better way by being the very best provider of transportation products, sustainability solutions, and insights driving the world forward, the U.S. Venture Accelerator mirrors these promises by investing $100K into five sustainability- and mobility-related startups to provide the mentorship-based, concierge-service programming needed for them to experience growth and acquisition.

​Madworks by StartingBlock Winter 2023/24​
Application Deadline: January 19, 2024
10-week accelerator program. From mentorship and resources to networking and funding opportunities, we provide everything you need to succeed at every stage of your journey. Each startup accepted into the program will receive a grant for operations and a 1-year membership at StartingBlock.

​Level Set by StartingBlock Feb 2024​
Application Deadline: January 19, 2024
StartingBlock's Level Set program is an intense 6-week program designed to help you build and validate a business model. Offered 5x per year, we help you explore the pros and cons of different business models, model revenue, and get real-world feedback on your ideas.

​2024 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest​
Application Deadline: January 31, 2024
The Wisconsin Technology Council produces the contest to encourage entrepreneurs statewide in the startup stages of tech-based businesses. It links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice and mentoring, management talent, and possible sources of capital.

​Build Up Tech Accelerator [Northeast Wisconsin]
Application Deadline: February 14, 2024
Build Up is a tech accelerator program that supports ideas and new businesses in their earliest phases. We welcome a diverse range of businesses from Northeast Wisconsin, including small businesses leveraging technology. Up to five companies from a competitive pool will be chosen to engage in this 10-week program.

​gBETA Milwaukee Spring 2024
​Application Deadline: March 11, 2024
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.

​Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator Spring 2024​
Application Deadline: March 27, 2024
The Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator, powered by gener8tor, invests in high-growth startups founded by Black entrepreneurs that are building products for consumers’ changing financial preferences, reimagining the client experience, advancing the digital health revolution, or creating transformational analytics and technologies.

​gener8tor Milwaukee Accelerator 2024​
Application Deadline: June 14, 2024
gener8tor invests in five high-growth startups per cohort. This is an industry-agnostic and business model-agnostic program. We accept ALL types of startups across ALL industries and business models. Accepted startups receive $100K and 12 weeks of mentorship-driven programming.

​gBETA Madison Fall 2024​
Application Deadline: August 19, 2024
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.

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Wisconsin Tech News

​Wisconsin’s gener8tor offers AI advantage to area project managers​
Joe Kirgues, co-founder of gener8tor, said the free program is designed to support job seekers with the project management skills needed and tactical knowledge on how to understand and use generative AI in the workplace.

​gBETA Kenosha hires Larsen as Program Manager​
gBETA Kenosha announces the addition of Bethany Larsen as its Program Manager for the City of Kenosha’s early-stage startup accelerator made possible through a partnership between gener8tor and the City of Kenosha.

​Milwaukee startup Frontdesk lays off dozens, eyes receivership filing after failed capital raise​
Milwaukee-based short-term rental startup Frontdesk Inc. laid off most of its workforce Tuesday, impacting dozens of employees, after failing to raise additional capital to keep the business afloat. It plans to seek state receivership, a bankruptcy alternative, according to multiple people familiar with the situation.

​Milwaukee MLS among targets of Zillow lawsuit over real estate technology​
Real estate tech company Zillow Group Inc. is suing the Milwaukee-area Metro MLS and another regional multiple listing service, along with a listing service consortium, claiming they are violating antitrust law.

​Milwaukee-area startups win state grants to bring innovations to market
​A Milwaukee startup developing technology to quickly treat wastewater is among nine Wisconsin businesses to receive the latest round of state grants to commercialize their innovations.
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Have questions?
​We've got you. Ask away!
brehanna@startupwi.org

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