2022-2023
Impact Report
Notes from The Director
We look forward to the community’s continued support as we embark on a new and exciting year of entrepreneurial programming at UW Oshkosh!
Sincerely,
Learn more about uwo cei
Event Highlights
By the numbers
combined investment and revenue generated
program funds invested into student businesses
%
Active funded companies
Student consultations
Jobs created
Student businesses funded
Students received the family business and entrepreneurship concentration
Students earned their entrepreneurship certificate in 2021-2022
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
A hub of rapid, engaging, impactful innovation on the UW Oshkosh campus, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation empowers students and community members to find their own places and spaces in the startup world. These signature programs continue to encourage students on their path to becoming world-class innovators and entrepreneurs. Here are a few updates from the 2022-2023 academic year. The Center focuses on three main areas during the academic year.
Learn about Entrepreneurship
Today every business needs to be innovative to compete in the marketplace and they seek employees with an entrepreneurial mindset. UWO provides students with experiential opportunities to build knowledge in the development of new business ventures, as well as support innovation and growth in existing businesses.
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Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation compliments any major program at the university by providing a pathway to pursue the study of entrepreneurship and innovation in a cross-disciplinary approach – empowering students to use innovative thinking, in their pursuit of knowledge.
6 students earned their entrepreneurship certificate in 2021-2022
Entrepreneurship Internships
The Entrepreneurship Internship provides College of Business students the opportunity to focus on their business ventures while earning internship credit to graduate.
This is an alternative option for students who envision starting or growing their own business as opposed to seeking traditional employment upon graduation. The business endeavor may come in the form of researching a nascent (idea stage) venture, assisting/launching an early-stage venture, or working on an existing venture project.
2022-2023 STATS:
- 4 students completed an internship in the Fall of 2020.
- 3 students completed an internship in the Spring of 2021.
Family Business/Entrepreneurship Concentration
A Family Business/Entrepreneurship Concentration provides management majors with the training and knowledge they need to launch new businesses, develop new entrepreneurial ventures within existing firms, or manage family businesses.
Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO)
The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) at UW Oshkosh informs, supports, and inspires students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation. In addition to providing a peer support system for students interested in entrepreneurship, CEO provides opportunities in networking, leadership development, and hands-on experience.
Speaker Series
In collaboration with Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, speakers are invited monthly to share their entrepreneurial experiences with students. The speaker series gives students a glimpse into the life of successful entrepreneurs and fosters beneficial connections within the Wisconsin startup ecosystem.
- September 2022 – Tyrone Powell, Founder & CEO of Unext
- October 2022 – Joe & Tammy Lefeber, Owners of Cruisin’ Tikis OSH
- December 2022 – Kimberly Stoeger, Owner of Nutritional Healing
- February 2023 – Jason Salisbury, Cornerstone Business Services
- March 2023 – Tamara Mugerauer, Tamara’s the Cake Guru
- April 2023 – Alex Belville, Founder of Mirrorless Productions
- May 2023 – Sean Lynch, Owner of Winnebago Bicycle
Starting A Business
Education and training are critical components to success in business. However, working within the business provides an experience that is often unmatched by formal education. We offer two cohort-based programs that are designed to test early-stage concepts, validate key areas of the business model, and accelerate the growth of a venture to the next level.
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Titan Accelerator Program
The Titan Accelerator Program is a 10-week cohort-based program that assists student participants with the development of their ventures through a hands-on lean-startup curriculum focused on business model validation and product-market fit. Students are provided with funding, mentors, and other essential resources to gain skills to advance their entrepreneurial knowledge.
2022-2023 STATS:
- In the tenth year of operation
- 20 applications with five teams accepted into the program
- *iSense Data| Jessica Solano; Human Services Leadership
- *Luster Technology | Cole Saathoff; Business
- *Life Map | Maggie Baiyewu; Leadership and Development
- Shadowbox Studios | Jana Simmerman; Business Management
- Rzad Softworks (Rzervit) | Adrian Girone; Information Systems
*These three teams were invited to participate in the Summer Incubator Program.
Summer Incubator Program
The Summer Incubator Program is an extension of the Titan Accelerator Program that provides participants with additional funding and resources. In 2021, four teams were selected to participate. The companies have an exclusive opportunity to focus 100% on the growth of their businesses. Teams receive office space and additional funding of $5,000, which allows them to work on their businesses full-time throughout the summer. Students receive 1-on-1 consulting with the Center and are connected to mentors during weekly lunches. To date, 18 companies have participated in this program with over $160,000 of capital infused into student businesses.
- iSense Data, Jessica Solano
At iSense Data, we use IoT technology to help people with sensory disorders. We make sensory products that are personalized to each individual, so they can have better sensory experiences and receive more effective treatment. Our devices collect data about how users respond to different sensory inputs, which gives caregivers, professionals, and families valuable insights to provide personalized support.
- Luster Technology, Cole SaathoffLuster Technology‘s initial product is rethinking the light switch as we know it. Our initial product is a smart light switch where we have completely removed all physical movement in favor of a minimalist, nearly flat design.
- Life Map, Maggie Baiyewu
- Life Map is a platform that organizes your personal and family information so that when you need it, it’s a secure login away. In addition to storing and organizing personal information, our app will provide support for our users when facing new situations like registering to vote, obtaining a driver’s license, applying for college, and learning about retirement plans.
Competing For Funding
The Center offers several on-campus and off-campus competitions for students to compete for seed funding and in-kind support resources. Participation in business pitch events provide many benefits and “unlock” further professional and startup development resources. We meet students where they are and offer tailored assistance to support their needs.
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Elevator Pitch Contest
Co-hosted with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) at UW Oshkosh, the 90 Second Elevator Pitch Contest is a low-barrier opportunity for students to pitch their business idea in a welcoming environment.
- First Place – Cole Saathoff – Luster Technology – $1,000 cash
- Second Place – Ari Malloy – Soulution – $350 cash
- Third Place – Matthew Hansen – Forest Fit Clothing – $150 cash
Read more on The Advance-Titan – UWO’s own ‘Shark Tank’ casts $1,500 to innovative students
Culver Business Model Competition
In its ninth year, the Culver’s Business Model Competition provides students with an opportunity to compete for seed funding, in-kind assistance, and access to other venture development resources.
- First Place – Colin Schuler – Spot2Hunt
Received: $15,000 in cash and in-kind prizes - Second Place – Baylee Cottrell – Blush House
Received: $9,000 in cash and in-kind prizes - Third Place – Cole Saathoff – Luster Technology
Received: $6,000 in cash and in-kind prizes
14 students applied to compete; 10 students pitched
Read more on The Advance-Titan – Students compete for $30,000
The Pitch (Northeast WI Regional Pitch Contest)
The Pitch is a startup business pitch competition among college student teams in Northeast Wisconsin. Competing teams have advanced from their campus competitions or at-large round and have the opportunity to win cash and in-kind services to further their entrepreneurial pursuits.
Two students represented UW Oshkosh at the 2023 event. Colin Schuler (Spot2Hunt) and Baylee Cottrell (Blush House) qualified from the Culver’s Business Model Competition.
WI Big Idea Tournament
The Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament is an entrepreneurship competition open to undergraduate and graduate students attending University of Wisconsin System school across the state (except UW-Madison). The competition teaches cutting-edge lean startup business development tools, provides business mentorship and allows participants to compete at a state level for a chance to win seed funding for their idea.
Jessica Solano – iSense Data – represented UW Oshkosh
2022-2023 Advisory Board
We acknowledge that a strong support team is imperative for our student’s success. Thank you to our 2021-2022 Advisory Board members for their commitment to the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation by providing top-quality mentorship to our students, as well as advisement support to our program staff.
John Beré
Alta Resources, Vice President – Care Operations
Dennis Bonn
Alta Resources, Vice President of Marketing
Chris Burns
Midwest Fleet and Safety, The Social Station, Co-Founder
Will Deppiesse
Nicolet National Bank, VP – Commercial Banking
Jon Dudzinski
Mersberger Financial Group, Inc. Portfolio Manager
Kevin Eismann
Davis & Kuelthau, s.c, Shareholder & Business Attorney
Arnie Enz
A.J. Enz & Company, Founder/Principal
Christine Gantner
UW Oshkosh, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
David Gerczak
WatchCo.com, Founder, President and CEO
Russ Katzman
Progeny, Founder/CEO
Jason Kreidler
J.J. Keller and Associates, Director of Innovation
Bob Larsen
J.J. Keller and Associates, VP of Research and Development
Marcos Mello
sBusiness Brazil, Founder
Colleen Merrill
Wisconsin SBDC, Associate State Director
John Muraski
UW Oshkosh, Assistant Professor
Tricia Rathermel
GO EDC, President and CEO
Lisa Schulze
Boldt, HR Business Partner Director
David Swintosky
Dunning Capital, Managing Director
Jason Tienor
Telkonet, Inc., CEO and President
Priscila Troian
Amcor, Sr R&D Director
David Trotter
Winnebago Seed Fund, Founder and Managing Director
THANK YOU ALTA RESOURCES!
Thank you, Alta Resources, for 8 years of the initiative, enthusiasm, and support in developing student entrepreneurs. Through Alta’s contributions, the Alta Resources Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has engaged thousands of students, assisted dozens of businesses, and created hundreds of new jobs in our communities. The legacy of Alta’s gift will live on in all the businesses you supported and will continue to have a lasting impact in the Fox Cities and across Wisconsin.