2025 highlights from the startup ecosystem

2025 was marked by steady, strategic progress for the Milwaukee 7 startup community as institutions, founders and industry partners worked together to expand opportunity and capitalize on regional innovations.

In June, the region made a bold leap forward with the unveiling of the Microsoft Corporation AI Co-Innovation Lab on the campus of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and TitletownTech. This marks Microsoft’s first AI lab focused exclusively on manufacturing innovation.

The facility allows Wisconsin-based manufacturers, startups and university teams to collaborate with top-tier AI engineers, prototype real-world solutions, from real-time fault detection to multilingual logistics assistants, without leaving the city. The lab exemplifies how the Milwaukee 7 region is shifting from planning for innovation to hosting the kind of foundational infrastructure that attracts and sustains it.

In October, the region celebrated the grand opening of the Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC). The 64,000-square-foot, $23.5 million facility sits on a 3.5-acre portion of the former Chrysler Corporation engine plant site in the heart of Kenosha and marks a new anchor for the larger Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood redevelopment.

The facility is focused on economic development, offering support to entrepreneurs, startups and established companies. At the ribbon-cutting, Tony Evers praised the project as a “game-changer” for southeast Wisconsin and underscored that the state’s Neighborhood Investment Fund helped catalyze the community-led vision.

Wisconsin-based startup powerhouse gener8tor was awarded $13.4 million by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to launch the Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator. Over the next four years, the program is slated to support around 60 startups with non-dilutive funding, intensive mentorship and access to regional testing facilities and industrial partnerships focused on water technology, manufacturing supply chain and coastal resilience across the Great Lakes region.

This grant connects high-tech startup activity with the region’s expertise in manufacturing, freshwater systems and the Great Lakes economy.

Startup Standout

One of the region’s standout startup success stories this year was Atomix Logistics, which earned national recognition after ranking No. 9 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. With a remarkable three-year growth rate of 11,687%, Atomix claimed the title of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing company. Founded in 2020 by Austin Kreinz, Atomix provides customized fulfillment solutions for e-commerce brands, a sector that continues to expand as online retail evolves.

The bootstrapped company’s rapid growth continues. Atomix recently announced it is moving to a 150,000-square-foot facility in Oak Creek, with an additional location near Salt Lake City, and plans to expand into new markets.

Tech Transfer Momentum

A key component of Milwaukee’s innovation surge is the collaborative technology transfer teams from institutions like Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Marquette University (MU), Versiti, and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).

The network showcases the most promising innovations at the annual First Look Forum, an event that brings together investors, industry leaders and budding entrepreneurs to showcase breakthroughs poised for real-world impact. The 2025 forum featured emerging technologies from robotics to RNA therapies to data science tools for hunger relief, underscoring the importance of universities in launching innovations into scalable ventures.

Startup Visibility

Emerging companies in the Milwaukee 7 region had multiple opportunities this year to step into the spotlight and connect with customers, investors and peers. The Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition continued to grow, while the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest and the Early Stage Symposium, hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council, provided structured pathways for founders to refine their pitches and gain exposure. Locally, the MKE Tech Hub Coalition’s FOR-M program offered early-stage support and community, and the Midwest Founders Community hosted regular Founders Forums that brought entrepreneurs together to share insights and build relationships. Together, these platforms help ensure that ideas developed here are seen, supported and given room to grow.

The progress made this year reflects a region investing in the future. As partnerships strengthen and new technologies develop, Milwaukee is well-positioned to launch the next generation of innovative startups.