Start Your Business

In the Madison Region, we celebrate entrepreneurs who are transforming ideas into thriving businesses. In an effort to support that entrepreneurial spirit, we offer assistance to start-up and growing businesses.

Key to the success of our region’s innovation is the collaborative community that exists between education and industry to help translate ideas into solutions viable for business. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) helps commercialize scientific research for the benefit of the university and the private sector, while the WiSys Technology Foundation connects UW System innovators with industry leaders and improves technology transfer through patent and licensing activities. Discovery 2 Product (D2P) is a new partnership between UW-Madison and WARF that is focused on moving university technology and innovation to market.

Cooperation between entrepreneurs and firms is fostered through organizations like the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, Wisconsin Innovation Network, and Wisconsin Angel Network.

Many of the industry advancements the Madison Region is making are due to our globally recognized research and development community. The University of Wisconsin – Madison, the flagship campus of Wisconsin’s state university system, leads the charge with more than $1 billion per year in academic research and development, consistently ranking among the nation’s top ten in both research expenditures and patent generation.

Innovative Spaces

Beyond the university, innovation is alive throughout the region, as demonstrated by an increasing number of incubators, accelerators, and maker spaces, such as the Whitewater Innovation Center, Sector67, Portage Business Enterprise Center, gener8tor, 100state, and the Janesville Innovation Center. The entrepreneurial hub known as StartingBlock Madison catalyzes start-ups by providing a collaborative environment of learning, mentorship, and resources. The program also offers assistance to start-up businesses through flexible leases, professional advisors, investment opportunities, and community programming in Madison’s Capitol East District. 
Legend
Co-Working Space
Prototyping/Technology Center
Hacker/Makerspace
Commercial Kitchen
Incubator
Accelerator
Other

Entrepreneurial Resources

We encourage entrepreneurs and business owners to take advantage of the tools, expertise, and networks that our region offers. MadREP staff can help you navigate resources to understand Madison demographics, talent, and connect you with local, community-specific resources. County level resources are also provided on respective community pages.