— The Milwaukee chapter of the gener8tor accelerator network has announced its latest cohort of startups, each of which will receive a $100,000 investment.
Along with those funds, each selected startup will join a 12-week business development program, which includes one-on-one coaching and mentorship along with various other perks. In a release, gener8tor also highlights its network of investors as a valuable asset for participants.
The five startups were chosen from more than 420 applicants around the world, the release shows. Molly Dill, gener8tor Milwaukee’s managing director, stresses the competitive nature of this process.
“These startups impressed us with their well-rounded teams, revenue traction, market opportunity and scalability,” she said in a statement. “This program not only supports these five companies, but also brings opportunity and economic development to the entire Milwaukee business community.”
Cohort members include:
*A company called eCourtReporters, based in Burlington. It provides an online scheduling service for law firms, government entities and court-reporting agencies, and currently has users in all 50 states. The startup says it brings in about $10,000 in revenue each month.
*Optikal, which has a contact lens subscription service and employee benefit program that reduces the cost of vision care through payroll deductions. With about 130 active customers, the startup currently generates $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue. It’s based in Georgia, according to Pitchbook.
*Traduality, a Delaware company with a freelance translator marketplace that says it offers services in any language. The business has helped 163 customers connect with 116 translators, and reports about $9,000 in average monthly revenue.
*Tutorly.ai, which has an artificial intelligence program to help students with their homework. The California business currently has 30,000 users, 1,500 paid subscribers and reports $9,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
*UPI Study, which provides online college courses to international students at a discounted price, as well as mentorship services. With more than 86,000 registered users, the Canadian startup reports $450,000 in total revenue.
The founders of these companies in September will pitch to an audience of their peers, members of the public and potential investors at an event in Milwaukee.
— Port Milwaukee’s $40 million Agricultural Maritime Export Facility opened this week, marking the largest investment in the port in more than 60 years.
Officials with the port and The DeLong Co. alongside representatives of the local, state and federal government this week held a grand opening ceremony for the new facility, located on Jones Island. In a statement, Gov. Tony Evers said it will have “a tremendous impact” in the state by helping to expand agricultural exports from Wisconsin farmers.
“Port Milwaukee is a vital point of connection in our state and nation’s supply chain, and this project paints a clear picture as to why we must continue to invest in the success of our transportation systems and cornerstone Wisconsin industries, especially in Milwaukee,” Evers said.
According to a release from the port, the new facility will “open Wisconsin’s maritime and agricultural economies” to new international markets for various products, such as animal feed supplements. The state Department of Transportation estimates it will boost exports through the port by up to 400,000 tons per year, generating $63 million in annual economic impacts for the state.
DOT Secretary Craig Thompson said the facility is among the first on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway that can ship a variety of ag commodities by truck, rail and international vessels.
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/port-milwaukee-the-delong-co-inc-celebrate-grand-opening-of-agricultural-maritime-export-facility/
Port Milwaukee Director Jackie Carter discussed the facility in a recent episode of Talking Trade. Watch the interview here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/talking-trade-with-jackie-carter-port-of-milwaukee/
— Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined a partnership launched through the USDA aimed at boosting competition in agricultural markets, the state Department of Justice announced.
The Agricultural Competition Partnership, which includes a number of other state AGs, is creating a framework to support these officials in “tackling anticompetitive market structures in agriculture and related industries,” the release shows.
In a statement on the new effort, Kaul says these structures are “artificially” raising prices for both consumers and producers.
“Through the work of this partnership, we’ll be seeking to increase competition and reduce costs,” he said.
The partnership’s focus areas also include price gouging, other “anti-consumer practices” across ag industries, conflicts of interest, misuse of intellectual property and more.
See more details in the release: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/wisconsin-joins-launch-usda-historic-partnership-bipartisan-state-attorneys-general
— Racine has hired veteran economic developer Walter Williams as its new development director.
The Racine Common Council yesterday approved Williams’ appointment, the city announced. According to the release, he has previously helped other communities attract investments by major companies including Amazon, American Family Insurance, Tesla, Unilever, Sam’s Club and others.
In a statement on the hire, Racine Mayor Cory Mason said Williams’ “vast experience will be an incredible asset” to the city’s economic development efforts.
“His proven leadership and impressive accomplishments in attracting significant investment and creating thousands of jobs demonstrates his previous success in similar roles,” Mason said.
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/city-of-racine-welcomes-walter-williams-as-new-development-director/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Children’s Wisconsin has raised $1.7 million to expand its dental care facilities in Milwaukee.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# New businesses emerge with a novel answer for depressed Madisonians: ketamine
# Fewer Wisconsin businesses predict recession, WMC survey finds
# Dairy farms struggle to recruit and retain workers
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=695&yr=2023
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Port Milwaukee and DeLong Company open new Agriculture Export Facility
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=692&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Miron Construction takes on $58.5 million Fox Point-Bayside school projects
– Keller Inc. remodels bank for Paper City Savings Association
# ECONOMY
– State board wary of lending to northern Wisconsin town affected by tribal tax ruling
– Pushing for city expansion, Mayor says Milwaukee is ripe for construction
# EDUCATION
– Milwaukee Area Technical College president gets $40,000 bonus, shorter contract
# ENVIRONMENT
– Wisconsin solar projects face delays from federal review to ensure no panels used Chinese forced labor
– El Niño will likely change Wisconsin’s weather. Here’s how.
– Appleton Conservancy will add 33 acres of woodlands, wetlands to city’s park system
# HEALTH CARE
– New West Allis program will allow first responders to initiate long-term opioid treatment
– Evers’ Year of Mental Health initiated important conversations. Investing in strategies could take years.
# LABOR
– Outagamie County uses $1M in ARPA funds to create a Workforce Development Grant
# MANAGEMENT
– La Crosse Police hope building new branch will improve community relations, recruitment
# MANUFACTURING
– What’s behind Lakefront Brewery’s upgraded patio, Sahale’s dog day: Beer Biz MKE
# POLITICS
– Wisconsin GOP lawmakers’ bill would eliminate nearly all state income taxes for retirees
– Sen. Johnson might continue to repay personal campaign loans with cash from donors
# REAL ESTATE
– Developer purchases 28 acres along I-94 in Oak Creek
# SPORTS
– Milwaukee aldermen believe city should not cover American Family Field upgrades
# TOURISM
– Country superstar is main attraction at this year’s Northwestern Mutual annual meeting
– Harley says its anniversary celebration drew ‘record attendance’
# TRANSPORTATION
– Money from Milwaukee’s dockless scooters program continues to grow
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
