MILWAUKEE, May 7, 2020 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Inc is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Capital Catalyst Grant (CCG) from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The goal of the CCG program is to increase the availability of capital to startups and emerging growth companies to support their growth and attract additional private investment. […]
Dear Friends of BrightStar, We are pleased to announce that we have released our 2019 Annual Report. A digital version is attached below. It summarizes the organization’s investment and support activities for the year as well as highlighting our portfolio companies and Wisconsin job creation metrics. We enjoy pulling the positive actions and results of each year together […]
MILWAUKEE, March 4, 2020 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. today announced that it has invested in two more Wisconsin based companies: Stem Pharm, Inc. and AgriCycle Global, Inc. These investments bring to 54 the number of early-stage Wisconsin companies in which BrightStar has invested. Stem Pharm, Inc. is a Madison biotechnology company focused on creating adult stem cell derived neural […]
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 18, 2019 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation’s “Hatch” program was originally created to be a one-year event in order to reward some of its northern Wisconsin donors by helping them to increase entrepreneurism and deal flow in their locales. Though outside of its core mission to fund early stage companies, the program was designed […]
Mike Malatesta is the founder, author & host of “How’d it Happen,” a podcast that explores the stories of successful people from all walks of life. In one of his recent podcasts he follows Tom Shannon, the founder and CEO of BrightStar Wisconsin in an episode called “Tom Shannon, Mastermind Of Job Growth and Early Stage Companies – […]
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 […]
MILWAUKEE, August 7, 2019- Brightstar Wisconsin Foundation announced its recent investment in “Give Me Liberty”, a film that has now received acclaim from critics around the world. The freewheeling yet profound comedy was shot entirely in Milwaukee and was co-written, directed, and produced by individuals from the area. It is only the fourth film ever to be invited to both the […]
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, […]
MILWAUKEE, June 5, 2019 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. today announced that it has made an investment in two companies that are new to its portfolio: HDL Diagnostics, Inc. and FreshEx Corp., Pleasant Prairie. These investments bring to 48 the number of early-stage Wisconsin companies in which BrightStar has invested. HDL Diagnostics is a Milwaukee biotechnology […]
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 […]
