UWM entrepreneurship center receives $1 million from Bud and Sue Selig

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced a $1 million gift Wednesday from former Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig and his wife, Sue, the latest of several high-profile investments by big names in UWM and the UW System. Selig, who is the commissioner emeritus of Major League Baseball, is credited with bringing MLB back to Milwaukee in 1970 when he […]

WEDC accelerator awards grant to support startup businesses in southeastern Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has awarded the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) an $80,000 grant to support its Growth Accelerator program, which will help 10 entrepreneurial teams start or grow their businesses. The grant will enable WWBIC to conduct two intensive, 10-week Growth Accelerator classes with five teams in each – one […]

WI gener8tor launches social impact program

Milwaukee- and Madison-based entrepreneurship organization gener8tor today announced it will launch another iteration of its gBETA program, this one focused on early-stage nonprofits and companies launching K-12 education-related products, services or content. Joe Kirgues of gener8tor welcomes attendees to Premiere Night. The new seven-week program, gBETA Social Impact, is being offered in partnership with Madison-based American Family Insurance, […]

Foxconn Creates $100M Venture Fund 

Foxconn Technology Group continues to make its presence felt in the Wisconsin business community. The latest move: The Taiwanese contract manufacturer is forming a $100 million early-stage venture capital fund with three of the Badger State’s leading companies and organizations. Advocate Aurora Health, Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls, and Foxconn will each contribute $25 million to the fund, […]

2 MSU POC programs get boost to continue in

LANSING, Mich (WLNS) – Two innovative projects at Michigan State University have a green light today to continue their groundbreaking work. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board today approved a two-year extension and refunding of $500,000 for the University Early State Proof of Concept Fund-ADVANCE program. That program supports the current gap in the pipeline of moving […]

Madison patient-data reporting company raises $15M 

A Madison company is planning to use $15 million in recently raised funds to expand commercialization of its tech-based medical management platform. Investors participating in the round of funding for HealthMyne included Madison’s Venture Investors, the largest venture capital fund in Wisconsin, 4490 Ventures, another Madison venture fund, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the patent and licensing organization […]

Intraband Licenses Key WARF Technology for Defense and Industrial Applications 

MADISON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intraband, a mid-infrared laser manufacturer, announces an exclusive licensing agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) covering high reliability and power per chip Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technologies. The WARF patents cover proven methods for consistently achieving industry leading optical-power emission at mid-infrared wavelengths from a single semiconductor chip using Metal-Organic Chemical […]

Idea Fund La Crosse WI makes first startup investment 

The Idea Fund of La Crosse has made its first investment, as the lead in a $450,000 seed round for Madison-based startup Curate Solutions Inc. Horne Curate is a Software-as-a-Service company that uses artificial intelligence to identify and flag early information about construction projects. It is marketed to business development professionals working at general contractor firms, said Taralinda […]

Ideadvance Seed Fund pursues past and present UW System colleagues

Innovators with current or past ties to the UW System are invited to apply to the Ideadvance Seed Fund with business ideas that could contribute to Wisconsin’s “knowledge economy.” The Ideadvance program provides business funding and mentoring toward a scalable, profitable business model. Grant dollars are earned by teams after they demonstrate key learnings toward […]

[COA Member] Marquette University official testifies in favor of Wisconsin Senate bill to create a state innovation fund

Marquette University’s vice president for research and innovation on Tuesday testified before a state Senate committee in favor of a Senate bill that would create a state innovation fund to advance economic development. Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp addressed the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government regarding Senate Bill 525, the Wisconsin Workforce and Innovation Network […]