Thank you for a great inaugural +Venture North in Milwaukee. Interested in learning more about what was covered? The 2023 agenda and speaker information is located on this page.
View the 2023 Program
Venture Partner at Rally Ventures; Former Chief Information Officer at Google
Managing Director at Rally Ventures
President & CEO at Rite-Hite
President at Baird Capital
Discover the evolution of older industries into modern powerhouses through innovation. This session will delve into the realm of flexible manufacturing, smart factories, and the swift digital-industrial transformation that companies are embracing.
Partner at Riot Ventures
CEO at Husco
CEO at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
Co-Founder & General Partner at Ironspring Ventures
Gain insights into the entrepreneurial fabric of the Midwest as we examine the positioning of Milwaukee and broader Wisconsin in relation to leading hubs like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Columbus. You will hear from venture capitalists as they unravel the evolutionary journey of these established ecosystems and discover how strategic planning and investments shaped their growth over time.
General Partner at Matchstick Ventures
GP & Co-Founder at Character
Partner at Narya Capital
Founder & General Partner at Sandalphon Capital
Explore Impact Investing with Social Impact Capital, followed by a fireside chat featuring the Founder of a desalination startup and the EVP at A. O. Smith along with being the Chair at The Water Council. They will discuss trends in the water-tech space, how startups are leveraging research to solve global problems, and how Milwaukee is working towards the title of an ‘NSF Resiliency Innovation Engine.’
Founder & Managing Partner at Social Impact Capital
EVP at A. O. Smith Corporation; Chair at The Water Council
Founder at Trident Desalination
Participate in a fireside chat with Kathy Henrich and Ian Hathaway as they delve into the dynamics of a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Following this, hear directly from the players; the State’s economic development agency, a regional economic development organization, and a real life corporate example of what a startup can become over time corporation, as they share their perspectives and responses to the conversation, offering valuable insights into fostering successful entrepreneurial environments.
CEO at MKE Tech Hub Coalition
Founding Partner at Far Out VC; Author of The Startup Community Way
President at MadREP
Sr. Director of Corporate Impact and Community Relations at Exact Sciences
Deputy Secretary & COO at Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
In this session, Midwest founders who have secured venture capital, scaled their enterprises, and cultivated relationships with corporate clients and partners will share their experiences. Gain insights into the unique challenges and triumphs they encountered while building their businesses here, as compared to the coastal regions. Discover how the Midwest’s entrepreneurial ecosystem influences their journey towards growth and innovation.
Managing Partner at M25
Co-Founder & CEO at Elate
Founder & CEO at Rheaply
Co-Founder & CEO at Workshop
Explore the Midwest’s transition from offline to online in this discussion that will address a critical question: does the Midwest’s conservative nature hinder innovation? Join us as we hear from emerging and established venture capitalists who will shed light on the local funding landscape and why this asset class requires a higher risk tolerance should be at the forefront of corporate thinking. Gain insights into why the next wave of innovation should target our own backyard, as we uncover the region’s potential for growth.
Strategy at Baird
Co-Founder at Classet
Partner at Baird Capital
Founding Partner at The 81 Collection
Grab lunch and then take a seat for this fireside chat with Ben Fried, Former Chief Information Officer at Google and currently a Venture Partner at Rally Ventures.
Venture Partner at Rally Ventures; Former Chief Information Officer at Google
Managing Director at Rally Ventures
Discover the intricacies of supply chain management amidst labor shortages and shifting consumer preferences. The speakers will delve into pioneering software and payment solutions that bolster efficiency and performance within the supply chain landscape.
Managing Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners
VP Strategy, Planning, Architecture at Schneider National
Managing Partner at Dynamo Ventures
Chief Product Officer at FourKites
Join a discussion that will explore the complex task of extracting innovation and intellectual property from universities and corporate settings. What are the intellectual and human capital requirements to do so and who at the organization can take the lead? Participating in the discussion are two venture firms with long experience commercializing campus technologies, Anzu Industrial Partners and Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP).
Managing Partner at Anzu Partners
Director, Technology Entrepreneurship Office at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Associate VP of Research & Innovation at Concordia University & CU Ventures
Partner at PVP Seed Fund (Convergent Ventures)
Delve into a dynamic conversation about innovation with Moderne Ventures, a firm investing in technology companies in and around the multi-trillion-dollar industries of real estate, finance, insurance, and home services. In this session, gain invaluable insights from corporate entities and early-stage companies as they explore the driving forces behind innovation and the transformative impact of technology within these industries.
Partner at Moderne Ventures
CEO at EasyKnock
Chief Operating Officer at Aerwave
Founder & Corporate Startup Studio Advisor at Onward & Upward
Gain valuable insights into the corporate innovation landscape as Wisconsin’s leaders share their experiences and progress. Discover how these companies embarked on their innovation journeys, both internally and externally, and gain a deeper understanding of their current standing in this dynamic arena.
President & CEO at SixSibs Capital, Rite-Hite Family Office
COO & Managing Partner at Edge – Gundersen Health System
Sr. Manager – Innovation, Kitchen and Bath at Kohler Co.
CEO at M3 Insurance
Senior Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer at Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Wisconsin based companies, from across industries and development stages, will take the stage highlighting the diverse nature of Wisconsin’s ecosystem and walk us through their companies and how the local community can support their businesses.
Program Director & Co-Founder at The Commons & FOR-M
Founder & CEO at Fork Farms
Founder at Fiveable
Founder & CEO at Synthetaic
CEO & Co-Founder at Realta Fusion
Founder & CEO at Forj
Founder & CEO at Veda
Founder & CEO at Golgix
Co-Founder & COO at RoddyMedical
CEO at Greenlink Systems
Grab a refreshment in Rite-Hite’s beautiful hospitality space and join us as we hear from Robert Cordova, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at the Milwaukee Bucks. Robert will share how the Bucks were transformed from an ailing brand to one that is now recognized across the league.
Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Milwaukee Bucks Inc.
During happy hour, Rite-Hite will offer interested attendees a guided, 30 minute tour of their one-of a kind Customer Experience Center. Join them at either 4:30 & 5:00 PM to learn more about all they do. Tours will depart from the Café where happy hour will be held.
Founder & CEO at Fork Farms
Founder at Fiveable
CEO at Husco
Venture Partner at Rally Ventures; Former Chief Information Officer at Google
Director, Technology Entrepreneurship Office at University of Wisconsin-Madison
VP Strategy, Planning, Architecture at Schneider National
Co-Founder & CEO at Elate
Partner at Riot Ventures
Founder & CEO at Synthetaic
Strategy at Baird
Associate VP of Research & Innovation at Concordia University & CU Ventures
Managing Partner at Anzu Partners
GP & Co-Founder at Character
Partner at Narya Capital
Founder & CEO at Rheaply
Co-Founder at Classet
President at Baird Capital
COO & Managing Partner at Edge – Gundersen Health System
Managing Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners
Founding Partner at Far Out VC; Author of The Startup Community Way
President & CEO at SixSibs Capital, Rite-Hite Family Office
CEO at EasyKnock
President at MadREP
Chief Operating Officer at Aerwave
EVP at A. O. Smith Corporation; Chair at The Water Council
Partner at Baird Capital
Program Director & Co-Founder at The Commons & FOR-M
Managing Partner at Dynamo Ventures
Founder at Trident Desalination
Founder & General Partner at Sandalphon Capital
Partner at PVP Seed Fund (Convergent Ventures)
Managing Director at Rally Ventures
Sr. Manager – Innovation, Kitchen and Bath at Kohler Co.
CEO at MKE Tech Hub Coalition
Sr. Director of Corporate Impact and Community Relations at Exact Sciences
CEO & Co-Founder at Realta Fusion
Founder & CEO at Forj
Partner at Moderne Ventures
Founder & CEO at Veda
President & CEO at Rite-Hite
CEO at M3 Insurance
Founder & CEO at Golgix
Co-Founder & COO at RoddyMedical
Chief Product Officer at FourKites
Founder & Corporate Startup Studio Advisor at Onward & Upward
Co-Founder & CEO at Workshop
Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Milwaukee Bucks Inc.
CEO at Greenlink Systems
General Partner at Matchstick Ventures
CEO at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
Deputy Secretary & COO at Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
Founder & Managing Partner at Social Impact Capital
VP Digital Product Management at Milwaukee Tool
Co-Founder & General Partner at Ironspring Ventures
Managing Partner at M25
Founding Partner at The 81 Collection
Senior Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer at Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Powered by The Welch Group
