Neostella shines- and other great news from the ecosystem

Neostella shines

Startup standout Neostella has been named one of America’s Best Startup Employers for 2024. This is the company’s second year on the list which evaluates 2,600 startup candidates in their reputation as an employer, employee satisfaction, and growth and awards the 500 businesses that rank the highest.

“Being recognized as a Forbes Top Startup Employer for the second consecutive year is a tremendous honor that speaks volumes about the incredible team we’ve built,” said Neostella Founder and CEO Matt Lautz. “This achievement is a celebration of our shared commitment to pushing boundaries and nurturing a culture where everyone can excel.”

The company notes it “prioritizes a culture of growth and well-being. Equipping employees with training and mentoring that establish a strong infrastructure, the company also maintains “work hard, play hard” mentality – providing workplace flexibility and a comprehensive benefits package that promotes work-life balance.”

This year, the only other Wisconsin startup on the list is Madison-based bioscience company Elephas.

Carbliss soars

Plymouth-based canned cocktail company Carbliss has been named by Inc. Magazine as the fastest growing company in the Midwest.

The company tops the list with the report of an amazing 7, 127 percent growth. Launched in 2019, co-founders Adam and Amanda Kroener created a 100-calorie, ready-to-drink cocktail that is free of carbohydrates, sugar, and gluten.

The second fastest growing company in the Midwest is also a Wisconsin company. Vyper Industrial, headquartered in Green Bay reported a 2,613 percent growth rate.

The Midwest Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. According to Inc., “companies on the 2024 Inc. Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2020 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2022. The minimum revenue requirements are $100,000 for 2020 and $1 million for 2022. All honorees must pass Inc. editorial review.”

Valez struts

Milwaukee native Elena Velez, a fashion designer whose client list includes A list celebrities like Ariana Grande and Bad Bunny, has been named a semi-finalist for the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.

LVMH, the company that owns luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Tiffany & Co., has sponsored the competition since 2013. Velez is one of 20 designers vying for the career-changing award.

The designer’s venture capital backed brand was established in 2020 and retains its strong hometown connection.

America’s Seed Fund stops in

The America’s Seed Fund 2024 Road Tour is coming to Madison, WI on July 18 as part of a national tour that will connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding.

Also known as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund focuses on next-generation research and development through 11 participating federal agencies. Agency representatives will travel together to Madison to conduct one-on-one meetings with small businesses and startups, take part in panel discussions, present on SBIR/STTR technology areas and share insights into how agencies make funding decisions.

America’s Seed Fund provides over $4 billion in early-stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense. The program executes over 6,000 new funding awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs.

Registration is required and available online on the CTC event page where an agenda and other details about the event can also be found.