Wisconsin Launches $100 Million Fund to Support Start-Up Companies and Entrepreneurs

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the state’s economic development agency have made a historic announcement with the launch of a new $100 million fund to support start-up companies and entrepreneurs. This fund, the largest of its kind in state history, is a public-private partnership with $50 million coming from federal funds and $50 million from private investors.

The Wisconsin Investment Fund aims to provide crucial support to entrepreneurs looking to start, grow, and stay in the state. Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Missy Hughes, emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses and fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Selected venture capital firms will be responsible for administering the fund, with a requirement to match each dollar of public money with at least one dollar of private investment. As the businesses supported by the fund grow, the value of the fund will also increase, creating a cycle of reinvestment and expansion.

The fund will be investing in a variety of industries including technology, health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and more. The first awardees include prominent firms such as HealthX Ventures, Venture Investors Health Fund, Serra Ventures, NVNG Investment Advisors, and Idea Fund of La Crosse.

This initiative is a significant step towards boosting Wisconsin’s economy and supporting the next generation of innovative businesses. With a strong focus on collaboration between public and private sectors, the Wisconsin Investment Fund is poised to make a lasting impact on the state’s entrepreneurial landscape.