TUE AM News: TitletownTech Startup Draft cohort developing products, services in key Wisconsin industries; Tech Council rolls out finalists for 2025 Gov’s Biz Plan Contest

April 1, 2025

— The seven companies participating in this week’s TitletownTech Startup Draft Combine are developing laser-based communications systems, battery manufacturing technologies and other innovations.

The venture capital firm TitletownTech yesterday announced details for the companies taking part in the national pitch competition, which coincides with the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. These early-stage businesses will compete for a $1 million prize Thursday and Friday, with the winner being selected April 24 on Startup Draft Day, when the NFL Draft kicks off.

Finalists were chosen out of hundreds of applicants from across the country and will get the chance to meet and connect with dozens of corporate partners while developing their pitches and filming content for the draft day broadcast.

Craig Dickman is the managing partner for TitletownTech, which was formed by Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers.

“This is a community that shows up for its team, its businesses, and now, for the next generation of innovators,” he said in a statement. “The Combine gives founders a chance to experience the strength of the TitletownTech ecosystem and the collaborative spirit that defines how we do business here.”

Participating startups include:

*Ateios Systems of Indiana, which has created a platform for producing battery electrodes without relying on toxic solvents or “forever chemicals,” a group of harmful synthetic compounds called PFAS. The startup’s RaiCure coating product is meant to support “faster, cleaner and more cost-effective production” of advanced batteries.

*Avant Genomics of Virginia, which has an automated platform to “streamline” biopsy sample preparation. It aims to make precision cancer diagnostics “more accessible and scalable” but cutting costs, waste and processing time.

*CubeNexus of Illinois, which has created a method for embedding time and location information directly into sensor and spatial data. This has applications in aviation, defense, energy and telecommunications industries, according to an overview from the VC firm.

*Devii, a North Dakota company with a platform for improving enterprise data integration.

*Shelfmark of Pennsylvania, which has an AI-based visual inspection system for “middle-market” manufacturers. The overview says it supports fast deployment with minimal data needed for training, and aims to reduce defects while reducing labor costs and waste.

*SpaceRake, a Massachusetts business that makes miniaturized laser communications systems for use in satellites, drones and other “critical” small systems.

*Ubicept, a company with a presence in both Madison and Massachusetts that has a method for advanced image sensor data processing. It supports better camera performance “in all lighting conditions” for use in robotics, security and other applications.

See the release and listen to a recent podcast with Dickman on the competition.

— The Wisconsin Technology Council has chosen 25 finalists for this year’s Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

The group yesterday released a list of the finalists, which are grouped into key industry segments for the state including advanced manufacturing, business services, information technology and life sciences.

In the next phase of the competition, finalists will submit a 15-minute pitch deck to a panel of dozens of judges, covering their main product or service, possible customer base and market size, competitors and more information.

They were selected through two rounds of judging, and the final “Diligent Dozen” will be announced in late May before presenting June 4 at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference. Category winners and the grand prize winner will be announced at the end of the conference in Madison.

“Young companies such as those advancing in this year’s contest are examples of innovation that cuts across industry sector lines in Wisconsin,” said Gary Frings, chair of the Tech Council’s board.

See details on the finalists here.

— Exact Sciences has rolled out an updated version of its Cologuard cancer test, which boasts a 40% reduction in “unnecessary” follow-up colonoscopies.

The Madison-based diagnostics company yesterday announced the launch of Cologuard Plus, a noninvasive screening test that was created in partnership with Mayo Clinic. It includes new biomarkers for cancer, “improved” laboratory processes and greater stability for samples.

The new test has 95% sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer. That’s compared to 71% for a standard fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, which checks for traces of blood in stool.

Over the past decade, the original Cologuard test has been used for more than 19 million screenings, and the company says the newer version will result in fewer false positives. A negative result with the Cologuard Plus test means there’s a 99.98% chance the patient doesn’t have colorectal cancer, according to the announcement.

Jake Orville, Exact Sciences’ executive vice president and general manager of screening, said Cologuard has driven an estimated 77% of the nationwide increase in colorectal cancer screening between 2018 and 2021.

“Cologuard Plus builds on the proven performance of Cologuard,” he said in a statement, adding the new test “delivers key enhancements to help improve patient care and streamline health care delivery, bringing us closer to eradicating this highly preventable and treatable disease.”

As with the first version of the test, it’s shipped directly to the patient’s home and integrates with an online platform called ExactNexus for ordering and getting results. The company says 79% of patients that have a positive result get a colonoscopy and 83% of patients complete repeat screening three years later — a key metric for cancer detection.

The announcement notes the original test will remain available as Exact Sciences “works to expand patient access” to the Plus version. The new test is approved by the FDA for average-risk patients aged 45 years and older and is covered by Medicare.

See the release.

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— WEDC is taking applications through May 2 for a program that certifies sites for industrial development to make them more appealing to developers and other businesses.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. yesterday said it’s now accepting applications for the Certified in Wisconsin Program, which partially subsidizes the cost of site certification for communities in the state.

Along with checking a site’s potential for business investment, the program also provides recommendations for local consideration and compiles detailed site information for marketing purposes.

Getting a location pre-qualified through the program helps site selectors know a location is zoned correctly and has access to certain utilities and other infrastructure like transportation, the agency says.

“Going through the process and completing key reviews, documents, and assessments offers certainty to developers, site selectors, expanding companies, and other attraction prospects,” WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said in a statement.

Eligible sites need to have at least 20 contiguous developable acres that can be sold or leased to buyers, and can be either privately or publicly owned.

See the release and get more information on the program.

— Gov. Tony Evers is touting Wisconsin’s 50-year sister-state relationship with Hessen, Germany as a WEDC-led trade mission to Europe gets underway this week.

The guv’s office yesterday said the mission to parts of Germany and France aims to boost international trade, promote Wisconsin exports and ensure the state’s economic success. Evers will meet with local business, community and government leaders while in Hessen, while also visiting schools and other educational institutions.

“During a time of global trade uncertainty and chaos and trade wars out of Washington, maintaining our strong relationships with our global partners has never been more important to ensure continuity and certainty for our local businesses, regional economies, and communities,” Evers said in a statement.

Hessen and Wisconsin have been sister states since 1976, marking the longest German-American sister-state relationship, according to the announcement. The trade mission — Evers’ third since 2019 — will include stops in Hessen, Hannover and Berlin, as well as France’s Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

The trade mission will also feature stops at the world’s largest industrial trade show, Hannover Messe, and DMEA, the world’s largest digital health trade show, the release shows. Evers will promote the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth technology sectors at the digital health show.

See more in the release.

— The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features a segment of a recent discussion held at Carroll University, which focused on the impact of the Trump administration’s tariff plans.

Talking Trade hosts Sandi Siegel and Ken Wasylik joined Carroll University Business School Dean Tim Sullivan and Prof. Alexandra Sielaff for the conversation at the university’s Shattuck Recital Hall.

Watch the video and see coverage from the event.

— The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously to name current UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson as the next chancellor of UW-Milwaukee.

Members of the Board of Regents and the chancellor search committee yesterday praised Gibson’s appointment in a release.

“Tom has impressed us with his leadership style and grace,” UW Board of Regents President Amy Bogost said. “He has handled every challenge facing him, from improving enrollment to resolving structural deficits to building external support. He was the right leader at the right time to move UW-Stevens Point forward, and I have the same expectations for him at UW-Milwaukee.”

Gibson has been the chancellor of UW-Stevens Point since 2021. Before that, Gibson was the vice president for student affairs and vice provost at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Other finalists for Milwaukee chancellor were Carol Kim, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Albany in New York, Allan Klotsche, director of master’s programs at UW-Milwaukee’s college of business, and Nicole Parsons-Pollard, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia State University.

Gibson is set to start in Milwaukee early July. The regents have not yet announced an interim chancellor for UW-Stevens Point.

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ENVIRONMENT