Founder Factory Kickoff!
Most startup events celebrate ideas. This event hands you one.
Founder Factory is a new regional consortium designed to move founders from concept to investment readiness through structured programming, mentorship, and milestone-based funding. This Pitch Night, hosted at the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship opens the front door.
Leaders from Marquette University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Versiti, and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee will present proprietary intellectual property that is waiting for the right founder to bring it to life.
No napkin ideas required — these are real technologies, real research, and real opportunities to build a venture around.
You’ll meet:
aspiring founders looking for a starting point
operators ready to join a team
researchers ready to see their work impact the world
investors and mentors who support the path forward
Program managers who decide who gets in
This is the moment where a company can actually begin — possibly yours.
Come understand how Founder Factory works, how founders are selected, and how you can step into the pipeline — whether you bring an idea or adopt one ready to launch.
The Midwest doesn’t just talk about startups. We manufacture them.
Technologies up for grabs will be listed the week of March 9th.
Founder Factory is a collaboration between: Universities of Wisconsin‘s Center for Technology Commercialization and UWM Research Foundation, backed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and powered by a network of innovative partners.