It’s time to catch up on some recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation clusters: —Venture Investors and American Family Ventures are making progress on raising new venture funds. Madison-based Venture Investors has closed on $73.1 million for its latest fund, and it could grow the fund to $100 million, according to an SEC filing. Meanwhile, American … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: AmFam, Venture Investors, Understory, Gener8tor & More”
Tag: Gener8tor
Gener8tor to Make Startups From Scratch in Revamped Milwaukee Program
[Updated 6/14/19, 10:25 am CT. See below.] Gener8tor, a Wisconsin-based organization with a growing network of startup accelerators across the Midwest, is shaking up the format of its flagship Milwaukee program in a bid to catalyze entrepreneurship among locals. Instead of seeking applications from existing startups located around the world, this fall’s Gener8tor program in … Continue reading “Gener8tor to Make Startups From Scratch in Revamped Milwaukee Program”
Gener8tor, Motown Team to Launch Summer Music Accelerators in Detroit
Name a genre of music and there’s probably a Detroiter who innovated it. Punk rock? Death, Iggy Pop, and the MC5. Hip-hop? J Dilla. Techno? The Belleville Three. Blues? John Lee Hooker. Rock? The White Stripes. Gospel? Aretha Franklin. And, of course, where would modern R&B and pop be without Motown? Detroit has always been … Continue reading “Gener8tor, Motown Team to Launch Summer Music Accelerators in Detroit”
Bright Cellars Uncorks $8.5M Round for Wine Subscription Service
A few years ago, the frothiest market in tech was arguably startups selling subscriptions to boxes of curated goods, such as clothing, beauty products, and food, which would arrive on customers’ doorsteps each month. The buzz around this area of e-commerce may have subsided a bit, but there are still a ton of box subscription … Continue reading “Bright Cellars Uncorks $8.5M Round for Wine Subscription Service”
WI Watchlist: Kauffman Ranking, Driverless Shuttles, Space Research
Here are some of the latest headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Well, it’s not last place, but it’s still not a great showing for Wisconsin in the latest assessment of entrepreneurial activity in each state by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Wisconsin ranked 45th in the foundation’s “early-stage entrepreneurship index” released in February, which examined … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Kauffman Ranking, Driverless Shuttles, Space Research”
WI Watchlist: FluGen, Propeller Health, Gener8tor, EnSync
Here are some of the latest headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —FluGen, a Madison-based company trying to develop a universal influenza vaccine, announced topline, preliminary data from a Phase 2 study that demonstrated its M2SR vaccine proved effective in countering a “mismatched” flu virus. The flu virus that makes its rounds each year doesn’t always … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: FluGen, Propeller Health, Gener8tor, EnSync”
After 33 Exits in 5 Years, WI Seeks “More and Bigger” Startup Deals
[Updated 1/22/19, 3:10 pm CT. See below.] When Propeller Health’s founders initially tried to raise funding for their new healthcare technology venture, many of the investors they spoke with were hesitant to take the risk. It was the early part of this decade, and Propeller was navigating the FDA’s regulatory process for medical devices. The … Continue reading “After 33 Exits in 5 Years, WI Seeks “More and Bigger” Startup Deals”
Gener8tor’s Fellowship.art Brings Startup Accelerator Model to Art
You could make the case that the lines that separate an artist from an entrepreneur are virtually nonexistent. Just like startup founders or other business owners, artists are passion-driven individuals. They are making a product and seeking to sell it in a marketplace. They’re creating something tangible, pushing the boundaries, and often assuming great risks … Continue reading “Gener8tor’s Fellowship.art Brings Startup Accelerator Model to Art”
Wisconsin Watchlist: Gravy, Semba, Steamchain, OnCourse, GenoPalate
[Updated 12/7/18, 3:42 pm. See below.] Time to catch up on recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Madison-based Gravy snagged the first investment from Rock River Capital Partners, which recently closed its debut fund. Rock River partner Andy Walker told Xconomy the venture funding round for Gravy totaled about $2 million. Other investors in the … Continue reading “Wisconsin Watchlist: Gravy, Semba, Steamchain, OnCourse, GenoPalate”
Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Raises $1.5M, Relocates to WI
This year, the state of Wisconsin rolled out a marketing campaign aimed at wooing young professionals from Chicago, claiming the Badger State tends to offer cheaper rents, shorter commutes, and easier access to outdoor activities than the Windy City. But for FactoryFix CEO and founder Patrick O’Rahilly, whose manufacturing staffing software startup recently relocated its … Continue reading “Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Raises $1.5M, Relocates to WI”
WI Syndication Group Seeks More Investor Team-ups to Spur Big Exits
Many startup investments involve multiple investors these days, but it’s not always easy to assemble a group of backers necessary to close the deal. Wisconsin—which has a small local pool of venture capital and aspirations to churn out more high-growth startups—is one of the places experimenting with tactics to nurture relationships and collaboration between investors … Continue reading “WI Syndication Group Seeks More Investor Team-ups to Spur Big Exits”
WI Watchlist: Amazon, JCI, Understory, Titan Spine, Eurofins
[Updated 11/28/18, 10:08 am. See below.] Time to catch up on recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Understory, a Madison-based startup that tracks weather via networks of solar-powered sensors, said it reeled in a $7.5 million investment led by local venture firm 4490 Ventures. Other investors in the deal included the Rise of the Rest … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Amazon, JCI, Understory, Titan Spine, Eurofins”
With $23M in Hand, Rock River Shifts from Fundraising to Investing
A young Wisconsin venture capital firm has raised more than $23 million for its first fund, and plans to soon begin drawing on the pool of money to back startups based in the state. Rock River Capital Partners said in a document filed with federal securities regulators last week that the size of its first … Continue reading “With $23M in Hand, Rock River Shifts from Fundraising to Investing”
WI Watchlist: Gener8tor, FluGen, Sift Healthcare, Titan Spine
Before everyone tucks into turkey later this week, let’s catch up on some recent headlines from Wisconsin’s high-tech sectors: —Wisconsin-based Gener8tor, which runs a network of programs that train and invest in startups, continues to expand. Its latest offering is the OnRamp Insurance Accelerator, an insurance technology-focused program that will be located in the Minneapolis … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Gener8tor, FluGen, Sift Healthcare, Titan Spine”
WI Watchlist: Froedtert, Gener8tor, Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Exact
It’s been a busy week for Wisconsin’s innovation community, with entrepreneurship events taking place statewide for Startup Wisconsin Week (check out highlights on Twitter). Here are some of the other headlines from the past week: —Wauwatosa-based Froedtert Health, which runs a network of hospitals and clinics and is affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin, … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Froedtert, Gener8tor, Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Exact”
Eyeing Foxconn, Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Expands in WI
Foxconn’s planned $10 billion electronic display factory in southeastern Wisconsin could be a boon for local workers vying for the potential 13,000 jobs. The facility could also be a headache for other area manufacturers, possibly sparking a heated competition for engineers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled laborers. The talent war could also spell opportunity for … Continue reading “Eyeing Foxconn, Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Expands in WI”
After $950K Investment, Codelicious Grows Collaborative Teaching Model
Codelicious, the Indianapolis-based educational tech startup, is on a mission to create access and remove barriers to teaching and learning computer science, says CEO Christine McDonnell. Over the summer, the organization raised nearly $1 million from Collina Ventures, GRE Capital, Elevate Ventures and others to advance its software platform that enables instructors to build their … Continue reading “After $950K Investment, Codelicious Grows Collaborative Teaching Model”
Startups, Eh? Latest Gener8tor Class Includes 2 Canadian Companies
Gener8tor went north of the border to find some of the participants in its latest Wisconsin startup accelerator program. The organization, which trains entrepreneurs and invests in some of the companies they run, appears to have picked two startups headquartered in Canada for Gener8tor’s current accelerator session in Milwaukee. The latest group of participants haven’t … Continue reading “Startups, Eh? Latest Gener8tor Class Includes 2 Canadian Companies”
Zendesk Opens New Madison Office With Room for 400+ Employees
Zendesk is ramping up its investments in Madison, WI, which is home to the customer-service software company’s second-largest U.S. office. On Friday, San Francisco-based Zendesk (NYSE: [[ticker:ZEN]]) said it’s celebrating the opening of its new office on Madison’s Capitol Square, in the heart of the city’s downtown, with a tailgate-themed party. (Brats and beer, anyone?) … Continue reading “Zendesk Opens New Madison Office With Room for 400+ Employees”
Epic, Kiio, HealthMyne & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Epic Systems, a Verona-based developer of record-keeping tools for the healthcare industry, said virtual assistant software it created in tandem with Nuance Communications is now commercially available. The tools allow doctors and other care providers at hospitals and clinics that use Epic’s software … Continue reading “Epic, Kiio, HealthMyne & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Gener8tor Picks Four Artists for First Class of Music Accelerator
In the five-plus weeks since a new music “accelerator” program for Milwaukee-area artists kicked off, the four participating artists have been traveling to places like London and Los Angeles to visit recording studios and meet with industry leaders, according to the program’s organizers. The program, called Backline, is a joint venture between 88Nine Radio Milwaukee … Continue reading “Gener8tor Picks Four Artists for First Class of Music Accelerator”
Harley, Gener8tor, Allergy Amulet & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Harley-Davidson, the iconic Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer, said Wednesday that it plans to open a new research and development center in Silicon Valley. Harley (NYSE: [[ticker:HOG]]) said the facility will house about two dozen of its workers—most of whom the company intends to hire … Continue reading “Harley, Gener8tor, Allergy Amulet & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Ideawake’s Collaboration Tools Help Companies Identify, Solve Issues
In 1974, Arthur Fry, then a scientist at 3M, heard about a new type of glue his colleague Spencer Silver was developing. The adhesive was strong enough to make two things stick together, but weak enough for them to be easily pulled apart. As the story goes, Fry had been using small paper scraps to … Continue reading “Ideawake’s Collaboration Tools Help Companies Identify, Solve Issues”
BrightStar, Gener8tor Nix Deal Promising Funds for Accelerator Grads
[Updated 7/11/18 11:02 a.m. See below.] Two Wisconsin-based organizations that invest in startups have done away with an arrangement they made four years ago that was aimed at getting early-stage companies to move to—or stay in—the state, and create jobs there. Since 2014, the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation has guaranteed a $50,000 investment in each graduate … Continue reading “BrightStar, Gener8tor Nix Deal Promising Funds for Accelerator Grads”
Student-Entrepreneur from Wisconsin Named 2018 Thiel Fellow
A student-entrepreneur from Oregon, WI, who runs a medical supplies company based in the Twin Cities, where she’s attended college the past two years, will receive $100,000 to take a leave from her studies and continue building the business following her selection as a 2018 Thiel Fellow. The Thiel Fellowship program, named for PayPal co-founder … Continue reading “Student-Entrepreneur from Wisconsin Named 2018 Thiel Fellow”
Tcare’s Software Aids People Who Live with, and Care for, Loved Ones
Retiring baby boomers are expected to more than double Medicare and Medicaid costs from 2017 to 2020, according to industry data. That may just be the tip of the iceberg: by 2035, Medicare will account for 8 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, according to projections by the Congressional Budget Office. One major reason … Continue reading “Tcare’s Software Aids People Who Live with, and Care for, Loved Ones”
Ease Raises $500K to Connect Freelance Workers with Employers
Nate Harris had never worked at a tech startup prior to co-founding Ease, a Milwaukee-based technology and service provider that helps businesses find freelancers to help them in areas like website design and search engine optimization. Harris’s background is in digital marketing and restaurants; he’s a managing partner in Ugly’s, a tavern located in the … Continue reading “Ease Raises $500K to Connect Freelance Workers with Employers”
Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Verona-based Epic Systems and two other corporations in a case that examined whether it’s legal for organizations to require their employees to sign arbitration agreements that keep them from pursuing group claims in court. Groups of … Continue reading “Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More
Don Layden has lived and worked in greater Milwaukee long enough to feel like he’s got a pretty good grasp of the area’s strengths, weaknesses, and defining qualities. Layden graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1982, then worked his way up to partner at the law firm Quarles & Brady. He later served in … Continue reading “Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More”
LearnVest, SmartUQ, gBETA & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Northwestern Mutual said it has temporarily shut down LearnVest, a financial advisory service the Milwaukee-based life insurance giant acquired in 2015 for a reported $250 million-plus. Northwestern Mutual said LearnVest will cease providing financial planning services to consumers, and will also discontinue its … Continue reading “LearnVest, SmartUQ, gBETA & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
StartingBlock Madison Names New Tenants Ahead of June Opening
Startup companies developing products that range from a saliva-based fertility test to a smartphone app that lets you securely send photos to your doctor are getting set to bid farewell to their current office buildings and move into a new hub for entrepreneurs in Madison, WI. On Monday, StartingBlock Madison, a 50,000-square-foot center for startups, … Continue reading “StartingBlock Madison Names New Tenants Ahead of June Opening”
Here Are the Companies in Gener8tor’s Madison 2018 Accelerator Class
Two companies headquartered in Florida and two others based in Gener8tor’s home state of Wisconsin are among the six startups participating in the organization’s latest for-equity accelerator program. Gener8tor, which invests in startups and coaches the entrepreneurs who run them, has graduated a dozen classes of early-stage companies from its core program since 2012. The … Continue reading “Here Are the Companies in Gener8tor’s Madison 2018 Accelerator Class”
Tax Credits, IVMD, BrightStar, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Whoever came up with the rhyme “April showers bring May flowers” probably wasn’t talking about snow showers. As people in Wisconsin hope for this week’s flurries to give way to a long-awaited thaw, consider taking a few minutes to catch up on recent fundings and other news from the state’s innovation community: —Integrated Vital Medical … Continue reading “Tax Credits, IVMD, BrightStar, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Nutrition-Focused GenoPalate Joins Crowd of DNA Test Kit Companies
Genetic testing services from companies such as Ancestry and 23andMe have risen in popularity in the past decade, attracting consumers who are eager to learn more about their lineage or risk of contracting certain types of disease. But there are plenty of smaller players trying to carve out a following in this industry. Milwaukee-based GenoPalate … Continue reading “Nutrition-Focused GenoPalate Joins Crowd of DNA Test Kit Companies”
Lumanu Raises $1M for Tools That Amplify Social Influencers’ Posts
As social networks like Facebook (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) and Instagram continue to add millions of new users each year, businesses are fighting to capture their attention by advertising across an array of digital platforms. One marketing technique that has become increasingly popular in the past decade involves paying social media “influencers”—users with lots of followers—to promote … Continue reading “Lumanu Raises $1M for Tools That Amplify Social Influencers’ Posts”
Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
[Updated 3/28/18 4:29 p.m. See below.] Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn Interconnect Technology said it agreed to pay $866 million in cash to acquire Belkin International, a California-based maker of phone chargers, audio cables, and other accessories. The buyer is a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision … Continue reading “Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Gener8tor Creates Program in Minnesota for Medical Device Startups
Since launching in 2012, Wisconsin-based Gener8tor has held training programs for entrepreneurs whose startups represent a wide range of industries—everything from online food ordering to weather technology to subscription services for wine and pet food. But as Gener8tor has expanded into new markets—the list of states where it’s held accelerator programs or plans to soon … Continue reading “Gener8tor Creates Program in Minnesota for Medical Device Startups”
U.K. Healthcare Entrepreneur Buys Radiology A.I. Startup Behold.AI
Behold.AI, a Madison, WI-based startup developing software that flags abnormalities in medical images to help radiologists make diagnostic decisions, said it was acquired by a London-based healthcare entrepreneur. The buyer was Simon Rasalingham. He founded Medica Group, a U.K. provider of tele-radiology services, in 2003 and sold it in 2013. Now, Rasalingham and others on … Continue reading “U.K. Healthcare Entrepreneur Buys Radiology A.I. Startup Behold.AI”
With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business
After political and business leaders announced last July that the Taiwanese giant Foxconn planned to construct an enormous display manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, people in the state were eager to learn the exact location where the plant would be built. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which agreed to provide Foxconn with up to $3 billion … Continue reading “With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business”
With Brandery Tie-Up, Gener8tor Continues Expansion Across Heartland
Gener8tor plans to hold its first entrepreneurial training programs in Ohio later this year, marking the latest step in the Wisconsin-based organization’s regional expansion. Launched in 2012, Gener8tor helps startup companies with things like pitching their products, adding users and customers, and raising money from investors. Gener8tor itself invests in and takes equity stakes in … Continue reading “With Brandery Tie-Up, Gener8tor Continues Expansion Across Heartland”
Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn purchased a seven-story office building in downtown Milwaukee that will serve as the Taiwanese multinational’s Wisconsin headquarters, according to a news release issued by Gov. Scott Walker. Foxconn, which is perhaps best known for assembling iPhones, iPads, and other gadgets … Continue reading “Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Electric Harley, Ab E, D2P, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
During a ceremony held at dawn on Friday in Sun Prairie, WI, Jimmy the Groundhog saw his shadow, which according to Groundhog Day lore means Wisconsin will not be having an early spring this year. Whether it’s frigid temperatures, flu season, or something else keeping you indoors, take a few minutes to stay current on … Continue reading “Electric Harley, Ab E, D2P, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Microsoft to Provide Backing for Gener8tor’s Detroit Programs
Microsoft has expanded its partnership with Gener8tor, an organization that holds training programs for entrepreneurs in several Midwestern states, to support startups with connections to the Detroit area. Wisconsin-based Gener8tor said that with support from Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]), it will enroll up to 15 companies in free, seed-stage accelerator programs each year. Startups selected to … Continue reading “Microsoft to Provide Backing for Gener8tor’s Detroit Programs”
EnsoData, Pyxsee, Epic, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
As you get set to head into the final week of 2017, take a few minutes to catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —EnsoData, a Madison-based startup developing software to help clinicians analyze sleep data and diagnose patients with sleep apnea and other disorders, raised nearly $1 million in … Continue reading “EnsoData, Pyxsee, Epic, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
After gBETA, UW Professor’s Latest Startup Aims to Ride Chatbot Wave
Virtual assistants have come a long way in the two decades since Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) introduced Clippit, an animated paper clip that suggested tips and shortcuts to users as they worked in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft Office applications. The bot, commonly known as “Clippy,” drew endless ire and mockery—even from Microsoft—before the company retired … Continue reading “After gBETA, UW Professor’s Latest Startup Aims to Ride Chatbot Wave”
Keyo’s Identity Verification Tools Highlight Latest Gener8tor Class
Smartphone makers like Apple, Google, and Samsung have in recent years introduced services allowing users to pay for coffee, food, and other items using their mobile devices. But several upstart companies, including Chicago-based Keyo, are betting that consumers will ultimately gravitate toward technologies that allow them to make purchases without having to take their wallets … Continue reading “Keyo’s Identity Verification Tools Highlight Latest Gener8tor Class”
Foxconn, Exact, Ludois, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
A major deal between Wisconsin legislators and a foreign electronics assembler, a biotech company’s expansion plans, and an award for electric motors research are among these recent headlines from the state’s innovation community: —The state of Wisconsin and Foxconn, an electronics assembler and technology development business based in Taiwan, signed off on a deal that … Continue reading “Foxconn, Exact, Ludois, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Microsoft Ups Its Wisconsin Investments, Backs New Gener8tor Program
Microsoft is deepening its efforts to help Wisconsin foster more high-growth startups. The Seattle-based tech giant’s latest move in the Badger State is a new partnership with Gener8tor, an organization based in the state that runs training programs for early-stage companies, and invests in them. Gener8tor said Wednesday that its collaboration with Microsoft is aimed … Continue reading “Microsoft Ups Its Wisconsin Investments, Backs New Gener8tor Program”
Rockwell, Sift, Fund of Funds, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation (NYSE: [[ticker:ROK]]) declined two takeover offers made by Emerson Electric (NYSE: [[ticker:EMR]]) in the past three months, including one in October that valued Rockwell at more than $27 billion, CNBC reported. Rockwell develops software and provides services for … Continue reading “Rockwell, Sift, Fund of Funds, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell & Other Milwaukee Firms Fund gBETA
Advocates of entrepreneurship in the Milwaukee area have long argued that forging more connections between startups and old-line businesses headquartered there could lead to more people starting and building companies in the city. Lately, business leaders in greater Milwaukee have been taking steps to help the city realize that vision. The latest example is an … Continue reading “Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell & Other Milwaukee Firms Fund gBETA”