PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The state is investing in Northeast Wisconsin entrepreneurs.
Ignite Wisconsin, a new initiative announced in Gov. Evers’ State of the State address, will provide more than $3.5 million in grants from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to four consortiums aimed at supporting and strengthening some of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing startup sectors.
About $1 million of that will stay in Northeast Wisconsin.
The Cheese Wedge Consortium, led by New North, Inc., will draw on its longstanding role in Northeast Wisconsin and the Phoenix Innovation Park’s integration with UW-Green Bay to connect universities, corporations, investors, and service providers into a single, cohesive platform for entrepreneurship. The consortium will deliver accelerator programming, pre-seed bootcamps, and corporate engagement. Core components include equity investments, legal and housing stipends for relocating founders, co-working space, and community outreach to raise Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial brand.
The consortium expects to support 21 startups and 42 participants in one year, provide direct funding to 18 businesses, create 46 new jobs, and generate $3.4 million in revenue.
“This collaboration is not just about connecting organizations; it is about creating a thriving region where ideas flourish, and solutions to the world’s challenges are born,” said Patti Habeck, president and CEO of New North, Inc. “Together, we are driving innovation and ingenuity.”
Initiatives funded through the grants will last between one and two years.
The other consortiums around the state are:
- The Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium, led by the Wisconsin Technology Council
- The Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition, led by the 5 Lakes Institute, Inc.
- The Center for Technology Commercialization’s Foundry Factory
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