Category Archives: The Startup Economy

State leaders weak on growth initiatives

If you have been in business for a while, you will have learned that you can’t cut your way to success. Layoffs, cutbacks in new equipment, deferring maintenance, shelving R&D, may be necessary to get through some tough patches, but … Read the rest

Evers has Chance to Stimulate Startups

The Evers administration is in a position to provide massive help to the businesses in Wisconsin that have been set back by the COVID epidemic. The governor will have $3.2 billion in new dollars from the American Rescue Plan passed … Read the rest

Range of badly needed, proven changes go begging

The outlaw protesters, whose aim is chaos, destruction and fear, are hurting the cause of the non-violent legitimate protesters who universally want “change.” Beyond the imperative to completely shut down the perpetrators of violence, my quandary with legitimate marchers and … Read the rest

Exits tell story on effective job creation strategy

When entrepreneurs make a big exit, as the Wendorff family did recently, it should be front-page news and cause for celebration. As high-growth entrepreneurs take their often-difficult, lengthy adventures to a big pay-day, lots of good things happen: • Jobs … Read the rest

UWM goes entrepreneurship-heavy

Not many universities in the Untied States squarely identify themselves with entrepreneurship. Most are entrepreneurship-light with a few courses and programs mixed into standard curriculum. Last week, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee stamped itself as entrepreneurship-heavy with a grand … Read the rest

Many players made for successful M7 venture exit

Can anyone explain to me why the Wisconsin business media doesn’t get the profound impact of successful exits on the state’s startup economy? I tried peddling a nice story on the successful exit of a Milwaukee advanced manufacturing startup, Mikkelsen … Read the rest

Half billion in early state investing in last two years!

The Summiteers of almost two decades ago who sounded the clarion call for a major strategy to establish Wisconsin as a player in the startup world must be pleased with remarkable progress reported in 2018 Portfolio analysis put out by … Read the rest

Corporate giants enter Milwaukee startup game

Building block by building block, many players are creating a dynamic startup ecosystem in the Milwaukee region and Wisconsin as a whole. The latest entrants to this vital endeavor are Northwestern Mutual Life and Aurora Health. NML and Aurora have … Read the rest

Could Wisconsin boom like Seattle? One vote for ‘Yes’

Erik Iverson sees Wisconsin poised for the same kind of boom that Seattle experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is the new managing director of the WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation), a position he took over about … Read the rest

Startup economy accelerates with Lubar Center

The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is putting on a new face. It stamped itself as an “E University” (Entrepreneurship U) with an inaugural ceremony Thursday for the soon-to-be-built Lubar Entrepreneurship Center. The 24,000 square foot center will be on … Read the rest