If you’re thinking about starting a tech business and you also happen to live in Madison, Wisconsin—you’re in luck, my friend.
Among its many accolades, Madison is a city that regularly stars on various “best places” lists. It boasts a high intellectual capital (thanks to the UW and powerhouse companies like Epic), a network of trustworthy, fiscally conservative Midwesterners with high work ethic, and a collective appreciation for quality of life.
I’m guessing you already knew all that. But did you know this?
Recently, Forbes magazine recognized Madison as the 7th most innovative city in the nation, and the Brookings Institution crowned it the 5th Best City for High-Tech Jobs, placing it a step ahead of Boston and only four behind Silicon Valley itself.
Combine innovation with a tech-friendly culture, and you’ve got an environment ripe for start-ups. Throw in a supportive government (with the legislation to prove it), a community that’s steeped in local pride, and a population size that’s not too big nor too small, and you’ve got all the ingredients of a vibrant, globally-recognized tech start-up hub.
Now, the question is: how can you, a modest tech business hopeful, tap into this energy and use it to help launch your idea to greatness?
First, you need to get to know your resources. Start with the people in your immediate circle—family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. Who has skills or experience that could potentially be of value to you?
Do you know a graphic designer who might be willing to whip up a logo for you? A friend in marketing who could help with brochures or posters, or a web designer willing to donate some time toward your website? How about radio/TV/newspaper connections to help with publicity?
I know: assuming you can find these people, you likely have nothing to offer them in exchange for their services, other than sincere gratitude and possibly a six-pack. But you might be surprised what you can get by asking, especially if you can rally these people believe in you and your idea.
Once you’ve vetted your immediate connections, it’s time to familiarize yourself with your local resources, including city- and state-wide organizations and services. And believe me: there are a lot. Way more than you thought, I’d be willing to bet.
The List
Accelerate Madison hosts webcasts and events designed to bring together entrepreneurs, corporate executives and managers, leaders of professional organizations, academics, and technology professionals for “mutual benefit and cross-pollination.”
Madison Magnet is a networking group for young professionals that’s committed to connecting people and ideas.
Gener8tor is a startup accelerator with offices in both Milwaukee and Madison, offering support, services, and capital to tech business hopefuls with bright ideas. Their goal is to take the idea you’ve scribbled on a napkin and help you turn it into an empire.
Merlin Mentors offers free small business mentoring services by pairing potential entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors, including UW faculty and alumni.
Capital Entrepreneurs is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Madison by bringing entrepreneurs together and helping to connect startup hopefuls with Wisconsin capital.
Madison startups keeps entrepreneurs in the know about relevant startup news. Every startup’s name should appear in their database.
The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is an economic development corporation providing quality business education, technical assistance, and access to capital for entrepreneurs.
Madisonium is devoted to improving the overall Madison tech ecosystem, with an emphasis on the local web industry. It’s also the home of the Getting Started Guide, which offers a thorough intro to the Madison-area tech scene.
In Wisconsin provides resources, technical support, and financial assistance to nurture business growth and job creation in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network provides access to a statewide network of resources and expertise.
Design Madison serves to amplify the impact that design plays in the structure of society and business.
Hybrid Zone X is a nondisciplinary entrepreneurial center out of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery at the UW. The Zone is designed to promote interactions among the university’s researchers and the public to seed new ideas, entrepreneurial teams and ventures
Madison Fund is a nonprofit community-based micro-lending organization for low-income borrowers. These guys don’t just help people get loans, they build relationships with borrowers and remain hands-on throughout the entire loan process.
The Wisconsin Business Alliance connects business people, hosts events, and serves as a voice in the media for community-minded independent professionals.
The American Family Insurance Dream Bank is a sort of business salon, where the individual ideas of dreamers go to be transformed into something bigger.
The Wisconsin Innovation Network is a community-based economic development organization dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Wisconsin. Its members receive special networking opportunities and connections, among other perks.
Forward Wisconsin specializes in proving that Wisconsin is an ideal spot to start a business. Their business toolkit is chock full of useful links and tools.
The UW’s Startup Business Solutions Program offers affordable evening classes at UW on a variety of early-stage business planning and execution topics.
The Wisconsin Entrepreneur’s Toolkit, produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, is a hub of resource gold for entrepreneur hopefuls, and includes paths to solutions both inside and outside of the state.
Madison Startup Weekend is an event that allows startup owner wannabes to voice their ideas and get feedback from peers. Then, teams form around the top ideas and descend into a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation
Once you’ve thoroughly familiarized yourself with the resources at your disposal, it’s time to use them.
Connect. Go to events. Get to know everyone. Bring your business card. Tell people what you’re all about, and make sure they remember you.
No meeting, chance encounter, or conversation is a waste of time. The more you put yourself out there, the more you open yourself up to fortuitous, serendipitous encounters that might end up making all the difference in your business.