The startup picture in Milwaukee

Venture capital exists, but Milwaukee trails nearby peers: 284 tracked companies have ever raised outside money, versus 781 in Minneapolis and 530 in Indianapolis. Gateway Capital Partners’ recent first close is the clearest sign of local fund-building.

Startups in Milwaukee - Funding, Founders & Investors

Everything startup in one place: who's building, how the landscape clusters, the people and investors behind it, and whether the capital is real.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls Corporate Training Agency

est. 1885 · 100,000 staff · raised outside money

George Oliver — CEO · BSc Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Youssef Mawad — Managing Director & Vice President

Rockwell Automation

Industrial IoT platforms for modern workforce

est. 1903 · 29,000 staff · raised outside money

Blake Moret — CEO

ManpowerGroup

Global Staffing Solutions

est. 1948 · 25,000 staff · raised outside money

Jonas Prising — CEO

Kim Hoy —

U-Line

Modular Under Counter Refrigeration Units

est. 1962 · 9,000 staff · raised outside money

Henry Uihlein — Founder

REV Group

Custom Specialty Vehicle Solutions for Fire, Emergency, and Commercial Markets

est. 2010 · 6,873 staff · raised outside money

Tim Sullivan — CEO & President

Mark Skonieczny — Chief Executive Officer

Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual Insurance & Investment Services

est. 1857 · 6,661 staff · raised outside money

Fred Chang — CFO

Matt Gruber — Director

Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson Electric Motorcycle Expansion

est. 1903 · 6,419 staff · raised outside money

Jochen Zeitz — CEO

Manitowoc

Thai Obayashi Construction: Tower Crane Specialization

est. 1902 · 4,800 staff · raised outside money

Barry Pennypacker — CEO & President

Sensient

Innovative sensory technology for various industries

est. 1882 · 4,094 staff · raised outside money

Paul Manning — CEO & President

Kenneth P Manning — CEO

Rexnord

Rexnord Power Transmission: Innovative Mechanical Components

est. 1891 · 3,737 staff · raised outside money

Kevin Zaba — Group Executive & President

Right Management

Right Management: Talent & Career Management Consulting

est. 1980 · 2,717 staff · raised outside money

Juan Carlos Cubeiro Villar — CEO

Badger Meter

Advanced Flow Measurement & Water Quality Monitoring Solutions

est. 1905 · 2,140 staff · raised outside money

Kenneth C Bockhorst — CEO

John Leach — Founder

Marcus Theatres

Chain of movie theatres

est. 2009 · 1,945 staff · raised outside money

Rolando Rodriguez — CEO

Alverno

Alverno College: A traditional Catholic liberal arts college

est. 1996 · 1,799 staff · raised outside money

Gina Spang — Founder & President

Samantha Maldonado — CEO/Founder

BRADY

Provider of safety and identification products

est. 1914 · 1,618 staff · raised outside money

Michael Nauman — CEO

Jefferson Wells

Provider of recruitment services

est. 2000 · 1,600 staff · raised outside money

Don Bobo — CEO

Versiti

Versiti: Precision Transfusion Medicine and Diagnostic Innovation

est. 2012 · 933 staff · raised outside money

Chris Miskel — President and CEO · Mba Harvard Business School

TeraMedica

Enterprise imaging solutions for healthcare providers, specializing in vendor-neutral archive

est. 2001 · 932 staff · raised outside money

Jim Prekop — Ex-President & CEO

VasoGnosis

Provider of cloud-based diagnostic and surgical planning software

est. 2019 · 700 staff · raised outside money

Ali Bakhshinejad — CEO & President

MGIC

Hispanic marketing resources provider offering webinars, workshops, and strategic partnerships.

est. 1957 · 683 staff · raised outside money

Patrick Sinks — CEO and President

Zywave

Solutions for Today’s P&C Broker

est. 1995 · 679 staff · raised outside money

Jason Liu — CEO

Franklin Energy

Energy Efficiency Program Services for Commercial & Industrial Markets

est. 1994 · 641 staff · raised outside money

Paul Schueller — Founder, Retired CEO and Board Member · Bs Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan

Roundy's Supermarkets

Digital Grocery Expansion Initiative

est. 1872 · 617 staff · raised outside money

Gary Millerchip — CEO

Astronautics

Advanced Avionics Systems for Commercial and Military Aerospace

est. 1959 · 607 staff · raised outside money

Nate Zelazo — Co-Founder

Norma Paige — Co-Founder

cluster · 603 companies

Business Services

32 founded since 2018 · 18 funded

Sub-themes

marketing services · 151legal services · 78hr services · 63it services · 50event management services · 48services for nonprofits · 42

e.g. ManpowerGroup, EmPower HR, Experis IT

cluster · 314 companies

Real Estate And Construction

18 founded since 2018 · 15 funded

Sub-themes

real estate & infrastructure developers · 47real estate brokers · 42architects · 39property management services · 32interior designers · 28building materials · 27

e.g. Manitowoc, Arbon Equipment, marking services, inc

cluster · 265 companies

Healthcare

16 founded since 2018 · 25 funded

Sub-themes

rehabilitation and long-term care · 49clinic chains · 47services for healthcare providers · 39home healthcare · 25fitness and wellness centers · 12hospital chains · 11

e.g. Aurora Health Care, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Nshorehc

cluster · 238 companies

Consumer

30 founded since 2018 · 19 funded

Sub-themes

b2c e-commerce · 69professional consumer services · 25temples and religious trusts · 21fashion tech · 18music tech · 17logistics tech · 15

e.g. pick 'n save, asq (american society for quality), archdiocese of milwaukee

cluster · 209 companies

Enterprise Applications

41 founded since 2018 · 34 funded

Sub-themes

enterprise software · 58saas · 55hrtech · 42marketingtech · 40b2c e-commerce · 13sales force automation · 13

e.g. metavante technologies, inc, world marketing, market probe

cluster · 171 companies

Financial Services

8 founded since 2018 · 10 funded

Sub-themes

asset management · 44finance & accounting services · 40services for investment industry · 19insurance carriers · 14insurance distribution · 13banks · 12

e.g. Northwestern Mutual, UMB Fund Services, MGIC

cluster · 155 companies

Consumer Goods

6 founded since 2018 · 19 funded

Sub-themes

food & beverage products · 36alcoholic beverage products · 17internet first brands · 14home furnishing products · 14household durables · 12pet care products · 12

e.g. U-Line, Rexnord, palermo villa

cluster · 138 companies

Retail

24 founded since 2018 · 14 funded

Sub-themes

b2c e-commerce · 27internet first brands · 22fashion tech · 18home improvements · 11beauty tech · 10wholesalers · 9

e.g. BRADY, metavante technologies, inc, Younkers

cluster · 128 companies

Food And Agriculture

9 founded since 2018 · 15 funded

Sub-themes

food service chains · 32alcoholic beverage products · 26restaurants · 10food packaging · 9food retailers · 9food & beverage products · 7

e.g. Sendiks, Sendik's Food Market, Roundy's Supermarkets

cluster · 127 companies

Media & Entertainment

16 founded since 2018 · 9 funded

Sub-themes

internet first media · 36film & tv studios · 24internet first news publishers · 22radio tech · 16online event ticketing · 15b2c e-commerce · 14

e.g. journal media group, Marcus Theatres, asq (american society for quality)

Founder & Background	Role	Company
George Oliver CEO Johnson Controls, ex-CEO Tyco International. WPI BSc 1982	CEO	Johnson Controls
Tim Sullivan Ex - CEO Gardner Denver & Bucyrus International. Carroll University BS, Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Internati	CEO & President	REV Group
Mark Skonieczny Rev, ex-Adient, ex-Johnson Controls, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, 1991	Chief Executive Officer	REV Group
Juan Carlos Cubeiro Villar Aecop Madrid, ManpowerGroup, ex-University of Deusto, IDEO Business. Autonomous University of Madrid 1987, Saint Louis University	CEO	Right Management
Kenneth C Bockhorst CEO Badger Meter, ex-Actuant, IDEX, Eaton. Marian University of Fond du Lac, University of Wisconsin-Madison EMBA 2005	CEO	Badger Meter
Rolando Rodriguez Influx Worldwide, ex-National Association Of Theatre Owners, ex-Marcus Theatres, Rockhurst University, 2003	CEO	Marcus Theatres
Chris Miskel Ex-Baxalta, Eli Lilly and Company. VP Baxter International. Lacy School Of Business BS 1996, Harvard Business School MBA 2000	President and CEO	Versiti
Jim Prekop Ex - PeopleSoft	Ex-President & CEO	TeraMedica
Ali Bakhshinejad University of Iceland 2013, University of Wisconsin PhD 2018	CEO & President	VasoGnosis
Jason Liu Ex-CEO SAVO Group, UC4 Software, Univa UD, Intrinsic Technologies, Callisto Software. Washington University St. Louis BSBA 1992, T	CEO	Zywave
Paul Schueller University of Wisconsin-Madison	Founder, Retired CEO and Board Member	Franklin Energy
Faruk Capan Ex-Intouch Group. University of Central Missouri MBA 1992	Co-CEO	EVERSANA
Jim Lang Eversana, ex-Safeguard Scientifics, ex-Decision Resources, Dartmouth College - The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, 1989	CEO	EVERSANA
Rich Springer Tri Imaging Solutions, ex-Alpha Source, ex-Crothall Healthcare, University of Wisconsin, Executive Education Program, 2007	CEO	AlphaSource Group
Justin Mortara UC Berkeley Ph.D 1998	CEO & President	Mortara
David Mortara Mortara Instrument	Founder	Mortara
Glenn Aldinger Infinity Healthcare, University of Chicago, 1976	Chairman & CEO	Infinity HealthCare
Jalem Getz Wantable, ex-Celebrate Express, ex-Buyseasons	Founder & CEO	Wantable
Marie Moody Virtual Enterprises International, University of Wisconsin-Madison	Founder & President	Stella & Chewy's
Brett Miller Fiduciary Real Estate Development, ex-Davis And Kuelthau, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989	President & CEO	Fiduciary Real Estate Development

backgrounds shown where available

137 investors are on record backing Milwaukee companies. The most committed:

Most active — backed 2+ companies

Jindal ventures

OnRamp Insurance Conference

HHS

National Science Foundation

Baird Capital

NewStar Financial

Northwestern Mutual

Convergent Capital

Salesforce Ventures

Marc Lasry

Arenberg Holdings

Institutional

Arenberg Holdings · VC fundHealth Wildcatters · accelerator / incubatorGbeta · accelerator / incubatorDoornink Investments · VC fundTVC Capital · VC fundCEP · VC fundJetBlue Technology Ventures · VC fundMotivate Venture Capital · VC fundStormbreaker · VC fundNama Ventures · VC fundMassey Burch Capital · VC fundGranite Ventures · VC fundTrinity Ventures · VC fundFloodgate · VC fund+ 22 more

Private & corporate backers

Jindal venturesOnRamp Insurance ConferenceHHSNational Science FoundationBaird CapitalNewStar FinancialNorthwestern MutualConvergent CapitalSalesforce VenturesMarc Lasry+ 91 more

hover a name to see who they backed

Funded startups — peer cities

Minneapolis

781

Indianapolis

530

Cincinnati

460

327Detroit

284Milwaukee

Companies that have raised

Company	Industry	Rounds	Latest Round	Founded
Merge Healthcare	hospital & health care	4	2011-06	1987
Smart Choice MRI	hospital & health care	2	2016-05	2006
Penrod	information technology and services	1	2021-06	2012
VRC	financial services	13	2024-04	1975
Aurora Spectral Technologies	research	5	2013-06	2010
SafedoorPM	facilities services	2	2017-06	2012
HealthLX	information technology and services	1	2016-04	2014
Innovation Park Development Partners	commercial real estate	1	2022-03	2018
Caring With Honor	hospital & health care	1	2017-08	2017
Top Note Tonic Store	beverages	1	2021-06	2014
Zero Locus	computer software	1	2013-01	2013
Zizzl	human resources	2	2023-03	2016
Zizzl Health	human capital services	2	2025-05	2016
Zurnwatersolutions	consumer goods	0	—	1900
ZyStor Therapeutics	biotechnology	1	2004-12	2004
Zywave	computer software	2	2013-01	1995
BiaCure	medical devices	0	2025-04	2023
1492 Capital Management	investment management	0	2008-01	2008
3Dmoleculardesigns	education management	0	2024-08	2012
3LP Crystal Lake MM	real estate	0	2025-10	2025
7Summits	information technology and services	1	2017-05	2009
Access HealthNet	hospital & health care	5	2019-01	2014
Action Heating & Cooling	construction	0	2022-04	2006
Adam Aerospace	defense & space	0	—	2019
Adava Care	hospital & health care	1	2024-09	2022

round amounts sparse for tier-3 cities — counts shown, dollar totals withheld

Company	Industry	Founded	Employees
Three As Q	internet	2026	—
3LP Crystal Lake MM	real estate	2025	—
Equinox Health Navigation	hospital & health care	2025	—
Ermindia	marketing and advertising	2025	—
Grantfield Advisors	non-profit organization management	2025	—
MUIBA	investment banking	2025	—
YouBots	computer software	2025	—
Zentrix	financial services	2024	—
Law LM	legal services	2024	—
Ambition Center	events services	2024	—
Clinical Connections	hospital & health care	2024	—
Company Genomics	computer software	2024	—
BATCH	personal products	2024	—
Honey Bee IPTV	broadcast media	2024	—
Honey Creek Manor	real estate	2024	—
IIY Consulting	financial services	2024	—
Insuraviews	insurance	2024	—
Keyboard Kraze	music	2024	—
NCTS Ride Share	transportation/trucking/railroad	2024	—
Tenant to Buyer	real estate	2024	—

The startup picture in Milwaukee

Johnson Controls

Rockwell Automation

ManpowerGroup

U-Line

REV Group

Northwestern Mutual

Harley Davidson

Manitowoc

Sensient

Rexnord

Right Management

Badger Meter

Marcus Theatres

Alverno

BRADY

Jefferson Wells

Versiti

TeraMedica

VasoGnosis

MGIC

Zywave

Franklin Energy

Roundy's Supermarkets

Astronautics

Business Services

Real Estate And Construction

Healthcare

Consumer

Enterprise Applications

Financial Services

Consumer Goods

Retail

Food And Agriculture

Media & Entertainment

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