Archive for category: BrightStar News

MILWAUKEE, October 2, 2019 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Inc. launched the Hatch entrepreneurial pitch program in 2017 in the central part of the state. That successful launch allowed BrightStar to expand the program in 2018 and 2019. Hatch is a rotating, high-energy idea pitch program designed to facilitate connections between prospective entrepreneurs and those within a community who support them such as industry experts, professional service firms, banks, non-profits, business leaders and investors. BrightStar funds these events with the help of a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the support of local donations and sponsorships.

This year BrightStar is having three regional Hatch finales and multiple local sub-regional Hatch events. The entrepreneurs that move on to the Hatch regional finales will have five minutes to pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience for the chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. The events are free and open to the public, but you are requested to register to attend.
The Chippewa Valley Hatch Regional Finale is October 17th at Cowboy Jack’s Saloon, 1432 Front Porch Place in Altoona. The program starts at 6:00pm and will last about two hours. It is still not too late to apply to pitch, but time is running out. For more information contact the Chippewa County EDC at      715-723-7150 or via email at info@chippewa-wi.com.

The Central Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale is November 13th at the Noel Car Barn, 1995 River Bend Road in Plover. The program starts at 6:00pm and will end around 8:30pm. This event is also still accepting pitch applications. Please go to www.Tinyurl.com/hatch2019 to find the application form and the judging criteria. To register to attend, go to www.portagecountybiz.com; then click on the “Events” link.

The New North Hatch program will feature four sub-regional qualifying events and a regional finale. In preparation of the regional event, New North is working with its local partners to host various qualifying local events. The deadline to upload your pitch idea is November 1st so go to www.thestartuphub.org/pitch and select the one registration link that is closest to you. Below are the details for these events:

The Greater Green Bay Chamber Hatch event, The Audible, will be November 12th from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Urban Hub, 340 N. Broadway Street in Green Bay. There will be a special event to announce the winners on November 14that The Shindig. For additional information please contact Ron Franklin at rfranklin@greatergbc.org.

The Appleton Hatch event, Fast Pitch, will be November 12th from 5:00 to 8pm at the Fox Club Room at Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 N. Casaloma Drive in Appleton. For additional information please contact Amy Pietsch at pietsch@fvtc.edu.

The Sheboygan County Hatch event will be November 14th from 4:30 to 6:30pm at Mily Barn at Nourish, 100 Alfred Miley Avenue in Sheboygan Falls. For additional information please contact Ray York at york@sheboygancountyedc.com.

The Marinette Hatch event, Invent Your North, is a collaboration with Florence, Marinette and Oconto Counties. It will be held on November 14th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Wisconsin Maritime Center of Excellence, 1320 Main Street in Marinette. For additional information please contact Robert Pontius at operations@inventurenorth.com.

The top two finishers at the four New North sub-regional events will pitch at the New North Hatch Regional Finale on December 5th in Green Bay at a part of the New North Summit. For more information on the Summit go tohttps://newnorthsummit.com/.

In addition to these New North Hatch events, UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh have been active in the planning of these New North events and separately will be hosting pitch contests for their students’ participation.

For questions regarding BrightStar Wisconsin, contact Fred Raasch at fraasch@brightstarwi.org.

MILWAUKEE, July 9, 2019 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. today announced that it has completed investments in three Wisconsin early-stage companies. They bring to 52 the number of BrightStar investments in Wisconsin companies since its founding.

Arbré Technologies, Inc. ($100,000) provides horticulture-based businesses with innovative software and radio-frequency identification (RFID) solutions that solve inventory efficiency, visibility, and traceability challenges. The company’s products seamlessly connect the vertical supply chain by integrating software, hardware and other best-of-breed systems. These systems harvest precise data that help businesses become more predictive and make better decisions. Arbre’s research and development efforts continue to be focused on developing technologies that help horticulture-based businesses serve their customers and grow as efficiently as possible.

“I am excited to have partnered with the Winnebago Seed Fund and Brightstar Wisconsin on this round,” said Benjamin Meyers, vice president of Arbre Tech. “Because Arbre Tech was a winner in a BrightStar Hatch pitch event, it felt natural for us to work with Wisconsin-backed funds whose goal is to help Wisconsin companies like Arbre Tech to grow and succeed.”

AssuredLeads, Inc. ($100,000) increases sales for commercial insurance agents, brokers and carriers. Its SaaS platform provides sales leads, training resources, communication tools, data analytics and an intuitive CRM. These products are sold through their proprietary software marketplace.

“We’re excited to bring on BrightStar as an investor and partner of AssuredLeads,” said Travis Batiza, AssuredLeads’ CEO. “BrightStar’s investment will enable us to execute a hiring plan that will further accelerate our growth. We look forward to working with such a dynamic organization, which shares our commitment to creating jobs in Wisconsin.” AssuredLeads cloud-based platform offers a customizable dashboard that provides easy-to-view snapshots of new leads, CRM tools and reports. It allows users to streamline the sales and underwriting process and gather data insights into marketing effectiveness, and agent performance and engagement.

Curate Solutions, Inc. ($50,000) provides a vital resource to businesses and associations that are affected by the decisions of municipal governments like cities, towns, villages and school districts. There are approximately 89,000 of these and other municipalities in the United States that exercise their decision-making authority, implement decisions and announce opportunities for bids and requests for proposals daily.

Curate’s document-reading technology scan through hundreds of thousands of agendas and minutes from local meetings like plan commission meetings each week and sends its customers only the relevant snippets of discussion — like proposed or approved ordinances, policies or rezoning applications — straight to their inbox.

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 12, 2018 – Area entrepreneur Pete Jungwirth of Wisconsin Rapids took home the top prize at the Central Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale Wednesday night held at the Noel Car Barn, earning $5,000 for his company, Amira Learning. The company uses artificial intelligence technology to help teachers assess students’ reading levels and improve their skills individually, based on specific areas where they need help.

The HATCH Finale was attended by a crowd of nearly 250 people who watched six area entrepreneurs pitch their business to judges and vote for their favorite. During the award presentations at the end of the evening,  Fred Raasch of BrightStar incorrectly announced that Siren Shrub was the winner of the People’s Choice Award, determined by a popular vote of those attending.  The correct recipient of the People’s Choice Award and $500 cash prize was Michael More and his product, The Scape, while Siren Shrub earned the BrightStar Entrepreneur Award and a $500 cash prize.

The Scape is a unique product that synchronizes aspects of mobiles, light projectors and sound machines to help babies and adults sleep.  More and The Scape product won the local Hatch event in Stevens Point to qualify for the finale.

Siren Shrub, a company run by Layne Cozzolino and Mindy McCord from Stevens Point, produce a line of concentrated sipping vinegars made from locally grown fruits and herbs. Siren Shrub presented in June at the Wisconsin Rapids Hatch event and were selected as one of the “Wild Card” presenters at the regional finale.

Area entrepreneur and philanthropist John Noel kicked off the event with some words of encouragement for the six finalists. “Regardless of what happens tonight, pursue your dreams with every ounce of your passion,” he said.  “And as your dreams become successful businesses, I encourage you to do what you can to give back and make the world better.”

HATCH is funded by BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation with the help of a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and support from local sponsors for the finale that included the Judd S. Alexander Foundation, Compass Properties, Ruder Ware Law Firm, BMO Harris Bank and North Wind Renewable Energy.

The Central Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale was hosted by Compass Properties and organized by BrightStar and the four organizations that hosted the preliminary local events; Portage County Business Council, Marshfield Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneur and Education Center in Wausau and Mid-States Technical College – Wisconsin Rapids campus.

“Now in its second year, Hatch has become a good platform to connect early stage companies with a network of supporters,” said Thomas Shannon, BrightStar’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The success of Wisconsin start-up companies helps drive the state economy and create quality, sustainable jobs for the 21st Century.”

The other entrepreneurs who pitched their business ideas included:

• Harald Tomesch from QikVin —  a reusable wine bottle that preserves wine and keeps it fresh, as well providing a stylish container for serving the wine.
• Nick Coglianese from Key Collector Comics Mobile App — world’s first and only database and price guide that focuses exclusively on valuable, collector comic books.
• Evan Schuelke from Flip’n Easy–a plastic measuring scoop and funnel that lets you use only one hand to scoop and pour powered mix into any bottle.

BrightStar also held Hatch Regional Finales in Eau Claire for the Chippewa Valley Hatch program and in Racine for the Racine & Kenosha County Hatch program.

MILWAUKEE, WI (October 18, 2018) – Bright Star Wisconsin Foundation, Inc., a non-profit angel investment group that helps entrepreneurs grow their early stage ideas into businesses, announced that its Central Wisconsin HATCH Regional Finale will be held on November 7th at the Noel Car Barn located at 1995 River Bend Road in Plover, WI 54467.

“We’re thrilled that Compass Properties and the Noel family are hosting this event in the newly completed Noel Car Barn,” said Tom Shannon, President & CEO of BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation.  “It really is an incredible and unique venue. What’s more, John Noel is an inspiring example for our contestants, starting a business from the basement of his home and building it into a global travel and assistance organization that provided jobs for thousands of families.”

HATCH is a high-energy idea pitch program that offers entrepreneurs the chance to present their business ideas to supportive community members and businesses in a fun and highly social event format.  At the finale, regional semi-finalists will have five minutes to pitch in front of judges and a live audience for the chance to win the grand prize of $5,000.

The Central Wisconsin HATCH Regional Finale starts at 6 pm and is open to the public.  Space is limited so those interested are encouraged to register by going to the Hatch Central Wisconsin Regional Finale registration page and clicking the “register now” button.

BrightStar has produced ten HATCH preliminary competitions throughout the state this year, where more than 50 entrepreneurs had an opportunity to present their ideas. Ten of those participants each won $2,000 and qualified for an opportunity to “pitch” again in one of the three regional HATCH finales. In addition to the Central Wisconsin event, HATCH finales will be held in Racine on November 1, and Eau Claire on November 8.

The presenters and companies at the Central Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale are:

Evan Schuelke from Flip’n Easy
Harold Tomesch from QikVin Wine Preservation
Layne Cozzolino and Mindy McCord from Siren Shrub
Michael More from The Scape
Nick Coglianese from Key Collector Comics Mobile App
Peter Jungwirth of Amira Learning

The HATCH events are funded by BrightStar with the help of a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, along with local donations and sponsorships. The Central Wisconsin Hatch events were supported by the Judd S. Alexander Foundation, Ruder Ware Law Firm, BMO Harris Bank and North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative, and were hosted by Portage County Business Council, Wausau Entrepreneurial & Education Center, Marshfield Chamber of Commerce and Mid-State Technical College.  Greg Wright from Create Portage County has also been instrumental in sourcing and coaching entrepreneurs for all of the Central Wisconsin HATCH events.

MILWAUKEE, June 11, 2018 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation had a successful start to the 2018 HATCH entrepreneurial pitch program. HATCH is a rotating, high-energy idea pitch program designed to facilitate connections between prospective entrepreneurs and those within a community who support them such as industry experts, professional service firms, banks, non-profits, business leaders and investors. BrightStar funds these events with the help of a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the support of local donations and sponsorships.

The Stevens Point Hatch kicked off the year on May 16. The event was held at Eron’s Event Barn, a unique venue just west of the city. Over 120 were in attendance to hear five entrepreneurs present their business ideas. The winner was Michael More of Stevens Point, the inventor of The Scape, a product that combines aspects of mobiles, light projectors and sound machines to lull infants to sleep. Michael won $2,000 and will be back at the Central Wisconsin Regional Finale on November 7 to compete for a $5,000 prize.

The second program of the year was in Kenosha on May 24 and was held at the historic Southport Beach House on the shores of Lake Michigan. Over one hundred people listened to pitches from five entrepreneurs. The winner of the $2,000 prize was Toby Thomas from Pleasant Prairie. His idea, called FreshEx, is an FDA-approved food packing product that helps stop mold from forming on products such as fresh berries, cheese and bread. Toby will present again and compete for the $5,000 Southeastern Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale prize money on November 1.

New date announced for Eau Claire Hatch event

The date for first Chippewa Valley Hatch event in Eau Claire has been moved to July 21 and will held at the historic State Theater. The deadline for submitting an idea to present at this event is June 22. Go to www.hatchwi.com, scroll down to the “Submit an Idea” link, and fill out the application. You can also register to attend the event at this website by clicking on “Upcoming Events” and scrolling down to the “Register Now” button. This event and all of the other events are free and open to the public. They start at 6:00 pm and end at roughly 8:30 pm.

Remaining 2018 Hatch Schedule:
June 20 – Wisconsin Rapids at Mid-State Technical College Urban Forestry Lab, 500 32nd Street North, I Building, Room 142.
August 8 – Wausau (venue to be determined), hosted by the Entrepreneurial & Education Center
September 26 – Marshfield (venue TBD), hosted by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
November 7 – Regional finale in Stevens Point (venue TBD), hosted by Central Wisconsin HATCH

Northwest Wisconsin region schedule:
July 19 – Eau Claire at the State Theater, 316 Eau Claire Street, hosted by the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp.
August 9 – Menomonie (venue TBD), hosted by the Dunn County Economic Development Corp.
September 27 – Chippewa Falls (venue TBD), hosted by the Chippewa County Economic Development Corp.
November 8 – Regional finale in Eau Claire (venue TBD), hosted by Chippewa Valley HATCH

Southeastern Wisconsin region schedule:
July 25 – Racine at The Branch at 1501 Washington Avenue
September 20 – Kenosha (venue TBD)
November 1 – Regional finale in Racine (venue TBD), hosted by Southeastern Wisconsin HATCH

Brightstar is accepting applications from entrepreneurs who are interested in presenting their business ideas at all of the upcoming HATCH events. Go to http://newaukee.com/event/hatch/ and click on “Submit an Idea” link.

For questions about HATCH, contact Fred Raasch at fraasch@brightstarwi.org.