INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

INNOVATE® Milwaukee: Unveiling the Dynamic Epicenter of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Welcome to the heartbeat of innovation, the birthplace of visionary ideas, and the haven for entrepreneurial spirits—Milwaukee, America’s brewing city that’s fermenting a new concoction of innovation!

Nestled within the picturesque landscapes of Wisconsin, Milwaukee offers more than its famed breweries and stunning lakefront. This city boasts an undercurrent of innovation and entrepreneurial zeal that’s reshaping its business landscape.

Milwaukee is a treasure trove of diversity—a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and perspectives. The city’s unique blend of heritage, creativity, and industriousness fosters an ecosystem that nurtures groundbreaking ideas and groundbreaking leaders.

What makes Milwaukee shine on the innovation map is its rich history of resilience and reinvention. From its manufacturing roots to its current emergence as a technology and entrepreneurship hub, Milwaukee has evolved dynamically, blending tradition with modernity.

The city’s business landscape is a tapestry woven with pioneering startups, forward-thinking enterprises, and academic institutions fueling research and innovation. Collaborations between industries and academia are transforming ideas into impactful ventures that create ripples far beyond the city limits.

Milwaukee’s innovation scene is characterized by its inclusivity and collaborative spirit. The support systems, co-working spaces, and innovation hubs resonate with an energy that encourages collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas. It’s a place where innovative thinkers gather, exchange insights, and forge ahead together.

Key sectors like technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and sustainability are thriving here. Milwaukee’s entrepreneurs and businesses are redefining what it means to innovate, focusing not only on technological advancements but also on social impact and sustainability.

Moreover, Milwaukee’s educational institutions stand tall, nurturing the next generation of innovators. Their research prowess and dedication to fostering a culture of innovation play a pivotal role in shaping the city’s future.

As part of the INNOVATE® Series, we’re excited to unravel the myriad stories, success sagas, and groundbreaking initiatives that define Milwaukee’s innovation landscape. Through insightful articles, thought-provoking interviews, and captivating narratives, we aim to showcase the brilliance, resilience, and transformative potential that Milwaukee embodies.

Join us on this exhilarating expedition through Milwaukee’s innovation universe. Let’s celebrate the visionaries, trailblazers, and game-changers propelling this city towards a future bright with innovation, growth, and boundless possibilities.

Ecosystem Champions

Thank you to MKE Tech for making this book possible, they are the voice and champion of Innovate® Milwaukee that unifies the community!

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

zizzl health

Igniting a Revolution in the Traditional Benefits Landscape

A recent breakthrough is making it more affordable for employers to offer high quality group health insurance benefits. At the forefront of this benefits innovation stands zizzl health, a trailblazer in the field of Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs). When the Executive Order solidifying ICHRA as an ACA-compliant health...

NVNG

ELEVATING WISCONSIN’S VENTURE SCENE: THE POWER OF NETWORKS UNLEASHED

Wisconsin-based NVNG is a boutique investment advisory firm with a unique superpower: curating connections. Founded by Carrie Thome and Grady Buchanan in 2019, NVNG (Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained) is on a mission to make Wisconsin’s venture ecosystem globally competitive by leveraging the power of strategic networks. “We have the right...

DATA HOLDINGS

KEEPING BUSINESSES’ DATA SECURE AND AVAILABLE

Data Holdings is a premier Tier III+ commercial data center, centrally located in Milwaukee with a LEED gold design. Offering a full suite of solutions and services designed to meet any needs, Data Holdings is a highly secure facility with 24/7 staffing and monitoring. Commissioned in 2013 by Potawatomi Ventures,...

MSOE

INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) stands as a beacon of innovation, driving forward the boundaries of what’s possible in engineering, business, technology and nursing. With a legacy that intertwines with the heart of Milwaukee’s development, MSOE has become synonymous with excellence, opportunity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. At the...

THE WATER COUNCIL

INNOVATING THE FUTURE: THE WATER COUNCIL’S VISIONARY JOURNEY

In the heart of Milwaukee, where the vast expanse of Lake Michigan meets the city’s vibrant streets, a transformation in water technology and stewardship is underway. This isn’t just a story of a city that grew from the rich waters of the Great Lakes; it’s a narrative of revolution, where...

READY REBOUND

ELITE HEALTHCARE NAVIGATION FOR OUR HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Ready Rebound is a Health and Wellness Solution for first responders and their families. Through early injury detection and expedited, quality care, they significantly reduce time to recovery and decreases risk of injuries. The ProblemWhen it comes to first responders, local governments are facing unique challenges. Departments are chronically understaffed....

FORJ

REVOLUTIONIZES MEMBER EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE PLATFORM, JOURNEY BY FORJ

Forj has emerged as a trailblazer in the world of association and professional network technology with the launch of their groundbreaking platform, Journey by Forj. The company is redefining how organizations engage with their members, combining the power of community with cutting-edge learning experiences. Forj, a forward-thinking SaaS company, has...

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION

EXPANDING HUMAN POSSIBILITY

The Allen-Bradley® Clock Tower, part of the Rockwell Automation headquarters, is an iconic piece of the Milwaukee skyline and a symbol of the city’s rich industrial and technological heritage. For 120 years, Rockwell Automation has been innovating and engineering solutions that advance industrial automation – allowing manufacturers around the globe...

GENO.ME

A REAL-WORLD APPROACH TO BETTER CLINICAL RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Geno.Me is a biotechnology company that was born from the idea of empowering people to take greater ownership of their health data, because it is a valuable and necessary asset to advance medical research. With a focus on creating better ways to treat populations that have diseases with a genetic...

MARS SOLUTIONS GROUP

DISCOVERING DIVERSE TALENT THROUGH ALTERNATE PIPELINES

MARS Solutions Group is an award-winning talent solution supplier for information technology (IT), engineering, manufacturing, admin-clerical, healthcare, and professional roles located in Waukesha, WI. Founded by Rashi Arora-Khosla, an accomplished Enterprise Architect, and CEO of MARS Solutions Group, she launched MARS with boot strap capital and grew it organically into...

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

A BEACON OF INNOVATION

Just minutes from downtown Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is one of the top research universities in the nation, and one of only two top-rated research universities in the state. Serving as a bridge between academia and industry, UWM does more than just ensure that all students have equitable...

BADGER METER

A LEGACY OF SMART SOLUTIONS

Innovation at Badger Meter is about more than just technology—it is about empowering every stakeholder in the water ecosystem to acheive more sustainable, efficient, and effective outcomes. Badger Meter has stood as a beacon of innovation in the field of smart water solutions that aid in solving global water challenges....

RAPID RADICALS

UNLEASHING INNOVATION: RAPID RADICALS’ TORRENTIAL TRIUMPH

In July 2010, nine inches of rain fell in a very short amount of time, filling the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s (MMSD) service area pipes with some 64 billion gallons of water. A storm of this severity is only likely to occur once every 500 years, but the frequency is...

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS

INNOVATING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 165 YEARS Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual, a FORTUNE 500® financial services company, embodies a unique culture dedicated to helping people achieve financial security. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual answers to its policy owners — not Wall Street. Through a comprehensive planning...

SENTRY EQUIPMENT

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER, SAFER WORLD

Building the foundation for a better, safer world. For the general public, words such as “innovative” and “dynamic” aren’t commonly used to describe the manufacturing industry. But in an industry criticized for being slow to change, Sentry Equipment—a century-old, Oconomowoc-based manufacturing powerhouse—has solidified its position as a proud outlier driving...

SUMMERFEST TECH

UNVEILING INNOVATION, CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

Technology’s power to drive collaboration is transformative. Summerfest Tech was created in 2018 to showcase the impactful influence of technology in Milwaukee and the Midwest, and provide a platform to network, educate, and celebrate the evolution of technology. Today, Summerfest Tech continues to leverage the world-class music festival Summerfest, while...

WEAR-TECH

INNOVATING SAFETY

WEAR-TECH – DETECT – PREDICT – PROTECT™ “Our homegrown AI companion, MAHI™, is aware of its users’ environment and alerts the wearer and the caregivers if a vulnerable loved one inadvertently heads towards a hazard.” A profound loss propelled an innovator in Hartland, WI, to create predictive safety technologies for...

REX K-12-FROM VISION TO IMPACT

FROM VISION TO IMPACT

Rex K-12 is at the forefront of a transformative wave redefining the educational landscape in Milwaukee – and beyond. It is a company preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital world. This story isn’t just about innovation; it’s a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the...

CODEWORKS

PURPOSE. PASSION. PEOPLE.

Codeworks began in 1995 when Mark Theisen, a software developer, recognized the need for a software development consulting firm that provided high-level quality talent at reasonable rates. There was a lot of competition popping up in the IT consulting industry at the time, but he saw companies that were inefficient...

METRO MLS

A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION

“Innovation is a cumulation of creativity and ingenuity with a splash of chaos that produces something of great substance.” Metro MLS has been reshaping the landscape of real estate in Wisconsin since its establishment in 1962. This powerhouse serves over 10,000 real estate professionals across the state, constantly pushing the...

MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE DISTRICT

INNOVATION IN WATER MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

INNOVATION IN WATER MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Since 1994, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has captured and cleaned an impressive 98.6% of the water entering the regional sewers from its 423-square-mile service area. This is a significant achievement, considering that many metropolitan areas struggle to capture and clean the...

AUGUST BROWN

TRANSFORMING INNOVATION INTO MARKET SUCCESS

INSIGHT. INNOVATE. IMPROVE. August Brown has established itself as a trailblazer in Milwaukee’s innovation ecosystem, bridging the often-daunting gap between research and market execution. Founded by Dr. Gordon Nameni and Erik Vickstrom, this boutique agency has become synonymous with strategic excellence and groundbreaking impact. “It all really started in 2018,”...

BROOKSOURCE

A RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED APPROACH TO BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TECH & MILWAUKEE!

Since 2000, Brooksource has established and maintained lasting relationships with its clients, consultants, and the Milwaukee community to create unparalleled experiences. Brooksource is a trusted services provider that specializes in delivering Engineering and IT initiatives for Fortune 500 organizations and the public sector through Experience-Driven Staffing, Professional Services, as well...

ECOURT REPORTERS

TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE AND BOOK LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

eCourt Reporters is a court reporter/women-owned company. eCourt Reporters was created out of a need for locating qualified, experienced court reporters and legal videographers. eCourt Reporters’ app is a custom-built, high-tech, innovative technology to schedule court reporters and other legal services. Karen Renee, CEO; Judy Gerulat, COO; and Justin Furst,...

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The Publisher

Daniel Esterhuyse

Daniel is the Head of International Publishing Partnerships at Innovations of the World. Born and raised in South Africa, he currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife of 19 years, their 12-year-old daughter, and three cats—FluffPuff, Roxy, and Gizmo, all girls.  An entrepreneur since his school days, Daniel has co-founded various small and large businesses.... click to read more

Other Ecosystems