In the Madison Region, we celebrate entrepreneurs and work to support the efforts of those who want to transform an idea into a thriving business.
There are a number of resources available to those starting a business in the area, and we encourage you to take advantage of the tools, expertise, and networks that our region offers. MadREP staff can help you navigate these resources as well as connect you with local, community-specific resources in the Madison Region. County level resources are also provided on respective community pages.
Check out this comprehensive list of resources within the region, state, and nation to help you start and grow your idea or business.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATIONS
- 100state
- Bioforward
- Capital Entrepreneurs
- Center for Technology Commercialization
- Discovery to Product (D2P)
- Doyenne Group
- entrepreneurship.org (Kauffman Foundation)
- FastTrac
- gener8tor
- Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
- MERLIN Mentors
- UW Office of Business Engagement
- One Million Cups: Madison
- SCORE—Senior Corp of Retired Executives
- UW Center for Dairy Research TURBO Program
- UW Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic (free legal assistance)
- Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
- WEDC Entrepreneur Programs
- Wisconsin Innovation Network
- Wisconsin Technology Council
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
- WEDC Investments in Innovation
BUSINESS PRACTICES & TECHNICAL TRAINING
- Business Resources for Entrepreneurs with a Disability
- Entrepreneur’s Toolkit
- Legal Zoom
- Office of Industrial Partnerships
- Madison SCORE
- Marketing Profs
- Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
- Angel Capital Association (ACA)
- Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF)
- Forward Community Investments
- Investor Tax Credits
- Madison Development Corporation
- National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)
- SBA Office of Investment and Innovation
- Tech Development Loans
- Qualified New Business Venture (WEDC)
- Start. Seed. Scale. (WEDC’s S3 Funding Initiative)
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
- Wisconsin Angel Network (WAN)
- Wisconsin Business Development
- Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
EVENTS
- BarCamp Madison
- BioTech Happy Hour
- Build Madison
- Forward Festival
- High Tech Happy Hour
- Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp
- WARF’S Entrepreneurons Series
- Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest
ONLINE EDUCATION
- Kauffman Foundation
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) List—Entrepreneurship
- NovoEd Entrepreneurship Courses
INNOVATIVE SPACES
Innovation occurs in all corners of the eight-county Madison Region. The map below depicts the physical spaces where much of this innovation occurs, including makerspaces, incubators, accelerators, and more.
- @1403
- 100state
- Bendyworks
- Brix & Mortar Co-Working
- Bubbler at Madison Public Library
- Bushel and Peck’s
- CELEB (Center for Entrepreneurship in Liberal Education in Beloit)
- Cresa
- DreamBank
- FabLab Stoughton
- Farley Center Farm Incubator
- FEED Kitchens
- Garage Physics Lab
- Gener8tor
- Horizon Coworking
- Industrious Madison
- Innovators Coalition
- Irontek
- Janesville Innovation Center (JIC)
- Jefferson Area Business Center
- Madcelerator
- Madison Enterprise Center
- Madworks Coworking
- Main Street Industries
- Portage Enterprise Center
- Sector67
- Serendipity Labs
- Synergy Coworking
- University Research Park
- URP MG&E Innovation Center
- UW Whitewater Innovation Center
- Watertown Farm Market Kitchen
- Wisconsin Information Security Center
- Whitewater Makerspace
- WI Innovation Kitchen (Hodan Center)
