Pitch Contest
WiSys VentureHome Pitches at Forward Fest
The WiSys VentureHome network is a statewide initiative supported by the Universities of Wisconsin to foster local entrepreneurship. By connecting regional startup hubs with university resources and community partners, VentureHome helps early-stage companies grow from concept to commercialization.
With locations in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Platteville, Stout, and Superior, these hubs serve as central points where entrepreneurs can access mentorship, talent, and collaboration opportunities. Each hub is tailored to meet the needs of its community while being part of a larger, connected ecosystem that drives innovation and economic growth across the state.
To date, the network has already supported more than 80 startups, facilitated over 1,000 referrals to resources, and generated a $3 million impact through revenue, investments, and grants in the past year.
On August 18, six VentureHome founders gathered at the WEDC headquarters to pitch their emerging companies to a room full of startup ecosystems founders, funders and supporters.
Featured VentureHome companies
Spatium
Founded by Mahmood Lahroodi, Eau Claire-based Spatium transforms traditional 2-D video surveillance into a 3-D physical metaverse. The company leverages AI and machine-to-machine communication to detect objects, wet floors, raised hands, and more, turning passive video into actionable data that improves safety, security, and operational efficiency.
Military 2 Civilian Mastery
Created by Dawnell Kelly, this Eau Claire-based venture addresses the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life. The membership-based program combines neuroscience-based rehabilitation with weekly live sessions, peer support, and a structured Self-Leadership Operating System (SLOS) to help veterans rebuild identity, purpose, and connection after military service.
EQRx AI
Arul Jayapal leads Green Bay-based EQRx AI, a startup revolutionizing manufacturing operations through AI-driven analytics. Their platform unifies enterprise systems with shop floor operations, providing predictive maintenance, real-time insights, and recommendations to improve factory efficiency by combining a physical data-collecting device, cloud integration, and a human-centric AI assistant.
Green Fleet
Founded by Bill Lobner in Eau Claire, Green Fleet is a sustainable transport company offering luxury shuttles and eco-friendly options to customers in the Chippewa Valley traveling to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Launched in 2020, this revenue-generating company plans to expand its cost-effective, sustainable transit options to new communities.
Scentinel
Isaac Lange developed Eau Claire-based Scentinel to address the common issue of odor and bacteria in footwear. The company is developing a product that uses UV light and heat to sterilize shoes and includes a scent cartridge to deodorize them. The initial go-to-market strategy will focus on athletes.
Sunnyday Technologies
Nick Sonntag’s Oshkosh-based Sunnyday Technologies focuses on optimizing concrete design for 3D construction. Their CEMFORGE software platform combines physics-based modeling and neural networks to create cement formulations that reduce waste and boost performance.
