Meet Bryce Nelson of UWM’s Ignite Startup Accelerator

The Ignite Startup Accelerator at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is welcoming a new leader this fall: Bryce Nelson, a chemist, entrepreneur, and corporate executive with deep ties to Wisconsin’s innovation ecosystem. With experience ranging from founding a biotech company to leading material science at Sigma-Aldrich, Nelson brings a blend of academic rigor, startup savvy, and corporate strategy to his new role.

“We’re gearing up for the fall cohort now, and I think we’ve got a strong group coming in,” Nelson said.

MKEStartup.News (MSUN) sat down with Nelson (BN) to learn about his background and his vision for Ignite, a program designed to help startups reach their next stage of growth.

MSUN: Tell us a little about your background. What led you to this role with Ignite?
BN: I was an entrepreneur in Madison for about 10 years. My Ph.D. thesis in chemistry turned into a startup, and I helped run Gentel Biosciences for nearly a decade. We raised over $10 million in equity and millions more in SBIR and other non-dilutive funding.

Eventually, I moved to Milwaukee to work for Sigma-Aldrich, thinking I’d be there for a year or so. I ended up staying 13 years, ultimately leading their material science and chemistry businesses. But I always wanted to return to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and teaching. When the opportunity with Ignite came up, it felt like a perfect fit.

MSUN: Who is eligible to apply to Ignite?
BN: The program is open to all UW-Milwaukee students, as well as faculty, staff, and members of the community. You don’t have to be a UWM alum to participate.

MSUN: What kind of startups are best suited for Ignite?
BN: We’re looking for companies that have taken the first few steps—startups that understand their customer through customer discovery and have received early feedback. That could be through interviews, pilot tests, or even initial revenue. We want to work with founders who are ready to scale, seek funding, or refine their business model.

MSUN: What can participants expect from the program?
BN: Ignite runs in two semesters. The first semester focuses on laying the groundwork: clarifying business models, setting goals, and testing assumptions. The second semester emphasizes mentoring and measurable progress. Depending on their needs, participants might work on scaling revenue, applying for non-dilutive funding like SBIR or WEDC grants, or preparing for investment. We help them shape their story, understand their numbers, and communicate effectively with funders and partners.

MSUN: How does your background in science and corporate innovation shape your approach to Ignite?
BN: My experience is in deep tech: commercializing scientific discoveries. Whether I was working with startups as a mentor or managing tech transfer projects at Sigma-Aldrich, I’ve been at the intersection of science and business for a long time. At Gentel, we tried every type of funding and business model we could. That hands-on experience helps me guide founders through the messy early stages and give them practical strategies that work.

MSUN: How does the new Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab fit into the Ignite program?
BN: We’re excited about the opportunity to align with the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab, which is based at UWM’s Connected Systems Institute. The lab focuses on accelerating manufacturing innovation through AI and advanced data technologies. We’ve already seen applicants interested in that space, and we want to help build a critical mass of startups that can benefit from those resources. Milwaukee has the potential to develop a real niche in that space and Ignite can play a role in making that happen.

MSUN: What makes Ignite stand out in Milwaukee’s startup landscape?
BN: I’ve been really impressed by the diversity of ideas and backgrounds among the applicants. That’s one of the great strengths of UWM, it’s a university deeply embedded in its city, and you see that reflected in the kinds of entrepreneurs who apply. Ignite is designed to be inclusive and practical. We’re not just chasing unicorns—we’re helping a broad range of ventures move forward in tangible ways.