Milwaukee Pitches in Madison

Three Milwaukee startups were among the 24 companies that pitched for the Tech Council Investors Network at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council on Nov. 8. The Network is a public-private effort to “develop a broad state infrastructure of angel and other investment groups.” There are more than 40 active investor groups in the growing network.

Matthew Pearlson, founder of intrnls (formerly Print Foam) presented his first-of-its-kind carbon-capture filters to investors. The Qualified New Business Venture certified business plans to manufacture its filters in Wisconsin. The company is in the midst of a $5 million seed funding round and has already secured $2.5 million of capital at the time of this writing.

Soul Mobility co-founder Troy Tesmer introduced the company’s Power-Flex, a device that converts manual wheelchairs into joystick-operated power chairs easily.  The company won the Life Science category in the 2023 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. The device, which has an anticipated retail price of $8,000, will begin certification testing in the first half of 2024. The company is seeking $560,000 of investment funding to move the mobility innovation closer to a release date.

Arek Schmocker, co-founder of Chocolate Rescue for Dogs introduced the company’s antidote to chocolate poisoning in dogs. The Germantown-based company won the Bright New Idea Award in the 2023 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. The small, bone-shaped doses look like dog treats, have a two-year shelf life and retail for $19.99. The company is raising a $2.75 million seed round.