November 2024: 57 Events, 4 Accelerators, 15 News Articles


Startup Wisconsin is organized by Headway, a digital product agency based in Green Bay, WI.

Powered by our state sponsors, Nicolet National Bank and gener8tor.


Discover 35+ local and virtual events happening!
Startup Wisconsin Week Calendar

All Upcoming Events

November

Bridging the Gap Between Data and Action
November 6, 1 PM [Virtual]
Hear from Dr. Victor Amaya, president and executive director of Data You Can Use (DYCU), and his team on how organizations like DYCU bridge the gap between data science and community planning, improving community conditions in Milwaukee neighborhoods and beyond.

100-Hour Challenge for UW-Madison Students
November 7, 9 AM [Madison]
Put your creativity to the test in this accessible innovation contest open to all UW-Madison students for a chance to win $1,200 in cash prizes in one weekend.

MDEV 2024 Pre-Event Social
November 7, 5 PM [Madison]
Join Wisconsin Gaming Alliance and Wolfjaw Studios at the Alliant Energy Center for a pre-MDEV 2024 social to connect with developers and industry professionals from the Midwest and beyond.

UW Student Entrepreneur Meetup #4
November 7, 7 PM [Madison]
A must-attend for students looking to meet ambitious entrepreneurs at UW-Madison. This meetup is where new startups are formed, and big ideas take shape. All ages and experience levels welcome.

The Midwest Game Industry Conference (MDEV)
November 8, 8 AM [Madison]
MDEV is a cornerstone event for the Midwest game industry, catering to both seasoned professionals and aspiring creators eager to enter the industry. Meet developers and professionals from Wisconsin and beyond.

Coffee Social w/OPEN
November 9, 10 AM [Madison]
Meet other tech professionals and members of the LGBTQIA2+ community over coffee at Lakeside Street Coffee. Open to all genders.

100-Hour Challenge for UW-Madison Students (Last Day)
November 11, 7 AM [Madison]
The final day of this innovation contest. Students can compete for a chance to win cash prizes.

Unlocking the Power of Relationships for Entrepreneurial Growth
November 11, 12 PM [Milwaukee]
Learn to build and leverage a personal board to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Lunch & Learn: PR for Startups
November 11, 12 PM [Virtual]
Get insights on running a budget-friendly PR campaign to gain press coverage for your startup.

Tech Bash: Building Community Through Innovation
November 11, 4 PM [Green Bay]
Connect with tech professionals at TitletownTech for a night of networking and innovation.

Founder Finder
November 11, 5 PM [Milwaukee]
Find your ideal co-founder or professional in fields like marketing, finance, and sales. Engage in one-on-one meetings tailored to your goals.

MadJS Monthly Meetup: Roundtable Discussion
November 11, 6:15 PM [Madison]
A casual meetup for JavaScript developers to discuss projects and share thoughts on frameworks and tools.

App Mapping for Product Owners and Designers
November 12, 10:30 AM [Virtual]
Learn to map out your app at an essential level to iterate faster and make better decisions in the design and development process.

Lunch & Learn: Investor Series w/ Carrie Thome
November 12, 12 PM [Madison]
StartingBlock’s Investor Series features Carrie Thome discussing startup investments, investor criteria, and how to prepare for meetings.

Pathways to Progress: Strategy Think Tank
November 12, 12 PM [Beloit]
Openly discuss challenges in your business with constructive feedback from experienced business coaches and founders.

How to Onboard and Keep Your Customers for Life
November 12, 1 PM [Virtual]
Learn practical strategies to eliminate onboarding friction and keep customers engaged with speaker Ramli John.

B2B SaaS Club
November 12, 3 PM [Milwaukee]
The Midwest Founders Community's program facilitates partnerships between B2B SaaS startups and tech leaders from mid-to-large corporations.

Fall 2024 Showcase - Doyenne's Triple Threat Venture Training Cohort
November 12, 4:30 PM [Madison]
Celebrate Doyenne's Triple Threat Venture Training cohort. Hear pitches, share feedback, and network with other attendees.

Accelerate Sheboygan County 2024 Pitch Competition
November 12, 4:30 PM [Sheboygan]
Local entrepreneurs present business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance at cash prizes to propel their vision forward.

Audible - Greater Green Bay Startup Pitch Contest
November 12, 5:00 PM [Green Bay]
A pitch event for startups in Northeast Wisconsin to present ideas to judges and a live audience.

Demo Day for Marquette University ENTP 4020 Consulting to Entrepreneurs Class
November 12, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
Marquette students showcase innovative consulting solutions to real entrepreneurs.

2024 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium - Day 1
November 13, 7:30 AM [Madison]
This year’s conference theme is "Piecing Together Success Through Investment." Over 20 companies from the Midwest will present, representing industries like biotechnology, healthcare, IT, AI, and mobile applications.

Breakfast Club for Founders and Innovators
November 13, 7:30 AM [Green Bay]
Connect with fellow founders over coffee and breakfast in a relaxed setting. Whether launching a new venture or scaling up, you’ll find valuable connections here.

1 Million Cups Madison at StartingBlock
November 13, 8:45 AM [Madison]
A weekly event to educate, engage, and accelerate early-stage startups, sponsored by StartingBlock, Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, and gener8tor.

Free Work Day at StartingBlock
November 13, 9-5 PM [Madison]
Celebrate Startup Wisconsin Week with a free work day at StartingBlock. Day passes are waived for November 13th.

Building an AI-Powered iOS App with LiveView Native
November 13, 10:30 AM [Virtual]
Learn to build a functional iOS app using LiveView Native and Livebook, featuring AI-powered capabilities like text classification and sentiment analysis.

Tax Talk: Simplifying Strategies for Startups and Small Businesses
November 13, 12 PM [Beloit]
A workshop providing practical insights on optimizing tax strategies for startups and small business owners.

Demo Day for Marquette University ENTP New Venture Acceleration Class
November 13, 2 PM [Milwaukee]
Marquette students showcase innovative business ideas as part of their New Venture Acceleration class.

Fast Pitch Business Competition 2024
November 13, 5 PM [Appleton]
Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas for a chance to advance to the NEW Launch Alliance Regional Pitch event at Titletown Tech.

Production in Games: From Development to Publishing
November 13, 5 PM [Virtual]
Learn the skills necessary for producers in the games industry with Matt Charles in this third “For the Love of Games” event.

HATCH 2024 Pitch Competition
November 13, 6 PM [Chippewa Valley]
Join the excitement at this pitch event showcasing Chippewa Valley's entrepreneurial talent and business growth.

2024 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium - Day 2
November 14, 7:30 AM [Madison]
Day two of the symposium, featuring Midwest companies across biotechnology, AI, and mobile applications sectors.

You Have an Idea, Now What? Business and Product Development 101
November 14, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
Learn from experts on transforming a physical product idea into reality, covering prototypes, development, and manufacturing.

Innovating Like a Startup: Strategic Decision-Making for Software Development
November 14, 10:30 PM [Virtual]
Andrew Verboncouer shares insights on adopting startup strategies for established businesses to drive innovation and create a competitive edge.

StartingBlock's Lunch with a Founder - Featuring Nicholas Curran
November 14, 12 PM [Madison]
An educational networking event where founders meet to learn from others’ entrepreneurial journeys within Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem.

PechaKucha x Emerging Tech
November 14, 5 PM [Madison]
A round of engaging presentations at the Monona Terrace, hosted by Yahara Software, Women in Biohealth, and High Tech Happy Hour.

LEVEL UP Pitch Contest 2024
November 14, 5 PM [Manitowoc]
Early-stage entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a panel for a chance to win a cash prize and move on to the New North-New Launch Alliance Pitch Event.

Careers & Beers: Science and Consulting
November 14, 5 PM [Madison]
Networking for UW-Madison grad students and postdocs with experts in science, consulting, and entrepreneurship.

Pitch Battle Hot Seat
November 14, 5 PM [Beloit]
Startup founders pitch their business ideas in just 60 seconds, followed by a Q&A and feedback. The audience and panel choose the best pitch for a prize.

AI Showcase & Happy Hour
November 14, 5 PM [Green Bay]
A showcase of AI innovation from companies in Northeast Wisconsin, highlighting applications in logistics, manufacturing, and compliance.

Marquette Invitational Business Model Pitch Competition for Collegiate Student Entrepreneurs
November 14, 6 PM [Milwaukee]
An in-person event where aspiring student entrepreneurs pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges.

Demo Day for Marquette University ENTP 3001
November 15, 9 AM [Milwaukee]
Witness the creativity and innovation of Marquette students as they present entrepreneurial ideas and projects.

Founder Fuel Friday: Learn, Watch, Grow
November 15, 10 AM [Beloit]
A day of inspiration and learning with curated videos focused on leadership, innovation, overcoming challenges, and scaling businesses.

Envision THIS! Pitch Event 2024
November 18, 5 PM [Fond du Lac]
Local entrepreneurs present their ideas and business solutions in this pitch event, attracting investors, business professionals, and the curious.

FOR-M Founder Showcase - Fall 2024
November 18, 7 PM [Milwaukee]
Join us for this free event to meet Milwaukee's newest batch of startup founders. You'll hear inspiring pitches and enjoy quality networking. Snacks and beverages provided.

Games Can Come From Anywhere with Ben Kvalo of Midwest Games
November 19, 11:30 AM [Green Bay]
Join AAF Fox River for their first lunch & learn of the season with Midwest Games founder Ben Kvalo, who will share how he is changing the perspective on where games are made.

Madison's Geek Lunch hosted by MADdotNET
November 19, 11:45 AM [Madison]
An engaging, informal lunch gathering with tech enthusiasts where conversations cover various topics contributed by attendees. All are welcome, no matter your "geek" level.

How to: Leverage the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
November 19, 11:45 AM [Virtual]
Gain insights into the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and its support network for startups and growing businesses across the state.

AI Ethics Symposium: From Policy to Practice
November 21, 8 AM [Milwaukee]
Hosted by the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute and the Center for Data, Ethics, and Society at Marquette University, this symposium addresses ethical concerns in AI with policy and practical insights.

UW Student Entrepreneur Meetup #5
November 21, 7 PM [Madison]
A vital meetup for students interested in entrepreneurship at UW-Madison. Ideal for networking, idea-sharing, and connecting with other ambitious students.

Momentum through Collaboration: MKE Tech Celebrates 5 Years
November 22, 9 AM [Milwaukee]
Celebrating five years of MKE Tech Hub Coalition fostering Milwaukee's tech community. Events include talks on tech ecosystems, updates on MKE Tech growth, and networking opportunities.


Startup Pitch Opportunities

Kimberly-Clark Demo Day
Application Deadline: Early November 2024
Kimberly-Clark is actively seeking innovative startups across more than 35 critical focus areas such as Digital Health, Sustainable Packaging, and Smart Hygiene Solutions. Selected startups will have the unique opportunity to pitch their solutions at a Demo Day to Kimberly-Clark executives, with the goal of initiating pilot projects or forming strategic partnerships.


Startup Accelerator Programs

gBETA Kenosha Winter 2024
Application Deadline: November 15th, 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.

gener8tor Milwaukee Accelerator 2025
Application Deadline: December 4th, 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.

Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator Spring and Fall 2025
Application Deadline: February 10th, 2025
The Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator, powered by gener8tor, invests in high-growth startups that are building products for consumers’ changing financial preferences, reimagining the client experience, advancing the digital health revolution, or creating transformational analytics and technologies.

gBETA Milwaukee 2025
Application Deadline: TBD (Rolling Applications)
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.


Wisconsin Tech News

Five Justice Tech-based Startups Selected for Accelerator
The selected companies FiftyOne AI, Driven, Untapped Solutions, CivicSync, and Layman will participate in the gBETA Social Impact Justice Tech program through national venture capital firm gener8tor.

The Water Council’s transformative impact
Milwaukee’s position as a leader in water technology has been significantly influenced by The Water Council, a nonprofit organization launched in 2009 that is dedicated to fostering innovation and partnerships within the global water sector.

Early-stage startup Zentrix masters the market with AI
The early-stage company has recently completed the g-ALPHA program. Zentrix plans to launch its stock trading tool before the close of 2024.

A second look at Q3 funding
According to PitchBook data, five Wisconsin-based startup companies raised at least $5 million in venture capital in the third quarter of 2024.

Bridging the Tech Gap: Sandhya Padala and Rex Academy
In 2015, entrepreneur Sandhya Padala unexpectedly found herself addressing the national technology education crisis.

Vulture Systems reels in anglers with Revo
Revo is a sensor designed for ice fishers to monitor their lines. The sensor uses radio frequencies to send two-way communication about the status of lines to the fisher’s smartphone.

CTC introduces SBIR Labs
A unique new program, SBIR Labs, focused on streamlining Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programming in Wisconsin has received a competitive federal grant.

‘Broadband access is the great equalizer’
Efforts to improve broadband infrastructure in Door County focus on unserved or underserved areas.

A review and response of Wisconsin’s AI Task Forces
Here’s a review of the progress made, the challenges faced, and the vision these task forces have laid out for the future of AI in Wisconsin.

InsideWis: In a state known for manufacturing ‘firsts,’ AI adoption may be next big thing
So, what’s to stop Wisconsin from becoming the leader in a new wave of manufacturing productivity prompted by artificial intelligence?

Biohealth Tech Hub project aims to connect underrepresented groups with high-demand jobs
This effort falls under the states’ tech hub effort, which has a focus on precision medicine and related industries such as biotechnology manufacturing.

Biohealth industry had $22B impact in Wisconsin last year, report shows
The Madison-based group recently published its “Wisconsin Biohealth Industry Landscape and Economic Impact Report,” detailing job growth in the sector and its contribution to the state economy.

WARF Launches Startup Advantage
A new program aimed at providing a faster and more user-friendly licensing experience for startups founded by University of Wisconsin entrepreneurs.

UW Announces Plan to Boost Entrepreneurship
The University of Wisconsin announced recently a new strategic vision to foster entrepreneurship across campus titled, “Empowering the Wisconsin Idea: The Future of Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”

WIA Announces 2024 Winners
The Wisconsin Innovation Awards, an annual event that celebrates Wisconsin’s most innovative products and services, revealed its eight winners at an event held at the UW Memorial Union.

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Startup Wisconsin Newsletter

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