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Our Midwest Startup Founders Stories reveal 5 core themes over the year: why build here, capital as tool, real-world work ethic, community, learning velocity.

Demystify the Cap Table: Founders' essential guide to equity, control, dilution, and fundraising. Read this before signing a term sheet.

When a founder is accused of misconduct, HR and boards must act. Learn about duties, independent investigations, and what accountability looks like.

OYE Therapeutics raises $5.475M to test IV caffeine as an opioid overdose adjunct and anesthesia recovery aid.

Ohio biotech startup DNA Nanobots raises $3.5M for non-viral gene therapy to advance preclinical studies & Seed round.

Midwest Nice is a VC strength, not a weakness. Should we be using hospitality & ambition to differentiate ourselves to founders & VCs?

John Deere's new electric ZTrak mower uses removable EGO batteries, reducing emissions & downtime.

Wisconsin legal tech under the spotlight in the Startup Wisconsin podcast with Jacob Miller: Obviate.ai’s autonomous contract analysis with no prompts, edits & risk flags in minutes.

Lilly invests $40M in IU for clinical trial expansion in Indiana, focusing on Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer to boost the state's life sciences industry.

Intero Biosystems founders Charlie & Madeline share their journey from UM lab to $2M funding, and the hard decision to move their Michigan biotech startup to Denver.

Nebraska startup CompanyCam is the state's first unicorn. A $415M round led by B Capital marks a major Nebraska startup funding milestone.

Applications open for Village Capital & Standard Chartered Foundation's 2026 US Women in Tech Accelerator, empowering women-led startups nationwide.

Kernel’s dual HQ in Cincinnati and San Francisco shows how Cincinnati startups can scale breakout AI platforms with cloud browsers for next-gen agents.

Wisconsin startup investment reimagined: Valency Fund offers non-dilutive, evergreen capital to help deliver profitable, long-lasting businesses.

Discover Omaxn: The Midwest AI Forum helping drive Midwest Innovation in healthcare, manufacturing, finance & robotics by uniting leaders in AI

How Twin Cities students are fueling the next wave of Minnesota entrepreneurship, from BizPitch to student-run VC firms like Atland Ventures.

Minnesota startup Carba raises $6M to scale landfill carbon removal technology (biocarbon) and plans Asia expansion, securing a Microsoft deal.

Reema Health raised $19M Series B led by LRVHealth & Optum Ventures to expand high-touch Medicaid outreach, cutting costs & boosting engagement.

Detroit's $1M Entertainment Innovation Incubator, funded by Usher & Big Sean, offers youth a virtual production studio, AI, and creative startup mentorship.

Secchi bridges the gap between leaders & non-desk workers with real-time tools for recognition, coaching, and clear communication on the front line.

Iowa founders Scott & Bryce built Map Dot Media (Midwest vs The Rest) into a viral media empire celebrating Midwest culture. Read their story!

Why consider working with a Midwest Corporate Venture Firm as a founder? Get a partner focused on operational integration and real-world scale, not just financial returns.

EMU launches Empowerment Program for low-income entrepreneurs in SE Michigan, offering coaching, $6K funding, and skills training for small businesses.

Rockwell Automation plans a new 1M sq ft Wisconsin factory as part of a $2B U.S. expansion, emphasizing smart manufacturing and robotics.

Stop the burnout! The Secret VC argues that hustle culture is toxic, driven by privilege & survivorship bias. Real success requires balance and grit, not exhaustion.

Athian closes $4M Series A, pays farmers $18M for verified emissions cuts. Connects food companies to on-farm insets for Scope 3 targets.

Sortera secures $45M for AI-powered aluminum recycling expansion to Tennessee, boosting domestic supply & cutting emissions for auto & aerospace.

A video from Chris Nolte of Bloom about reviving abandoned US factories into micro-factories. Access heavy power, cranes, and industrial zoning for fast-track domestic manufacturing & innovation.

Elanco, Purdue & Alloy Partners launch the OneHealth Innovation District in Indianapolis, focusing on startups at the convergence of human, animal, & plant health.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem: does this buzzword still make sense. Sebastian Penix shares the essential players & how interdependence fuels startup growth.

Purdue & Google expand AI research, education, and workforce initiatives in Indiana. All students face a new AI competency requirement.

Midwest Meets Europe connects US/EU institutions and Series A startups during Global Entrepreneurship Week for transatlantic market access and co-investment.

U.S. manufacturing fights the skills gap with tech & training. Caterpillar & GE invest millions in workforce development for future viability.

Midwest vs. US SaaS benchmarks (2025): When analyzing growth, Rule of 40, AI adoption, and scaling speed the Midwest's top firms compete, but the median lags.

Chicago's ElectronX secures $30M Series A funding to launch the first U.S.-regulated power derivatives market, enhancing grid risk management.

Ryan Rybolt, CEO of Payload, shares lessons from farm work to IPO, building bootstrapped fintech in Cincinnati and disrupting payments with embedded bank rails.

Scorbit, an Ann Arbor-based connected arcade platform co-founded by former Digg CEO Jay Adelson, raises $5M in seed funding.

Are our ecosystems helping the one commodity we can't do without: founders? Scarcity and misaligned incentives may be impacting even the most resilient entrepreneurs.

OpenAI's Stargate data center in Michigan, a $450B+ investment with Oracle/Related Digital, may be state's largest economic project and create 2,500+ jobs.

To grow its startup ecosystem, Cincinnati must retain top university talent. Programs like co-ops and internships are key to future economic growth.

Wisconsin’s Dairy Innovation Hub highlights initiatives and plans for its 2025 Dairy Summit at UW–River Falls.

Support for the deep-tech cohort of quantum startups comes from research, resources, and commercialization.

Fostering innovation, connecting founders, and building a thriving tech ecosystem across Wisconsin.

$1.4B collaboration advances domestic sourcing, recycling, and defense-aligned manufacturing.

Funding will support tech development, manufacturing, and grid-ready deployment.

Raising a kid & a company share tough, yet rewarding, parallels. Michelle Erikson os Straylight Capital makes the parallel of growth, love, and resilience.

Twin Cities Startup Week 2025: Founders, investors & operators connect, scale & innovate in Minnesota's thriving ecosystem.

Company announces it has raised funds and launched Spektrum Fusion platform for verifiable evidence of cybersecurity measures.

Luster AI raises $3M to help improve sales. Predictive enablement for customer-facing teams, higher conversions, faster ramp times.

Detroit Chamber backs Michigan tax credit (HB 4816) for startup investment, aiming to boost local businesses and job growth.

Is Wisconsin leading Midwest beverage innovation? A surprising startup hub is emerging with zero-sugar cocktails, THC seltzers, kombucha & more.

Cylerity raises $4M seed, $24M debt to speed healthcare payments. AI/ML platform helps providers get paid faster, improving cash flow & operations.

Jake Westreich from Gener8tor asks: who should be getting into the ‘game’ of angel investing?

Voltaic Marine secures $3M to scale electric boat and USV production, led by Antler. Pioneering efficient, high-performance maritime electrification.

Samaritas' Detroit House of Innovation fosters social sector startups with AI tech for care, drawing attention to a $1.4T underserved market.

Aerial Loop's drones: revolutionizing logistics, inspections, & public safety with BVLOS. Real-world proof, future-ready operations.

Chicago's tech evolution fuels the Midwest. Discover how AI, quantum, and collaboration are shaping the Heartland's future.

Indiana boosts bioscience with IU LAB & Plug and Play. Accelerating life science startups, transforming ideas into global health solutions.

NxLite raises $9.2M Series A to scale energy-efficient window coatings. Reduce heat loss & gain by 30% with innovative low-e technology.

Honest, stage-specific, long-term partnerships to win venture capital investment.

Stellantis invests $13B in Midwest manufacturing; Niron Magnetics builds rare-earth-free magnet plant to supply critical EV components.

Uzbekistan and the US Midwest: building innovation economies through aligned efforts, talent, and shared missions.

Indiana entrepreneurs return home, investing in their communities & building the next generation of businesses. Discover their stories.

Kerry Duggan, founder of Energy Security Partners, champions Midwest climate resilience, translating policy expertise into action for clean tech and sustainable solutions.

Midwest House: uniting founders & creators across the Midwest. From SXSW to homecoming, building regional connections & sparking innovation.

Ohio's O.H.I.O. Fund, inspired by Singapore's Temasek, aims to revitalize the state's economy by investing and reinvesting in local businesses.

Midwest House: 10 years of community at SXSW. Connecting founders, investors & artists and the next edition is right around the corner.

Ben Kvalo's journey from Wisconsin to global gaming, building Midwest Games to transform publishing & empower developers outside traditional hubs.

Homecoming: a Midwest tradition turned economic driver. From campus to the inner city, discover how belonging fuels investment & regional growth.

Michigan state agencies launch drone challenges for data, safety & public service.

Midwest Q3 2025 startup fundraising: $1.21B raised across six states, contrasting national investment trends.

Wisconsin's "Coolest Thing Made" contest highlights top 16 products, showcasing manufacturing innovation and economic growth

Minnesota startups raised $287M in Q3 2025, buoyed by a $250M mega-round. Discover the real story behind the numbers.

Illinois Q3 2025 startup funding hits $358.2M, led by FinTech. Despite a regional cool-down, the state shows resilience & sustained deal flow.

US energy storage hit 5.6 GW in Q2 2025, driven by utility projects and Illinois growth. Residential storage surged 132%.

Wisconsin startup funding for the third quarter of 2025 hit a decade low, but context and a Midwest startup slowdown reveal a more nuanced story.

Indiana startup fundraising hits a 5-year low in Q3 2025, contrasting with national surges. Learn why and what it means for the Midwest.

Inside the O.H.I.O Fund: how founders raised $230M and invested in Ohio’s future with bold vision, capital, and statewide collaboration.

Aaron Slodov of Atomic Industries talks to Jeffrey Stern of the Lay of the Land podcast about his vision for reindustrializing America with AI-driven toolmaking and techno-industrial innovation.

Andy Tran of Arthur Street Ventures shares his journey with Jeffrey Stern, host of the Lay of the Land podcast: riven by curiosity, risk-taking, and Cleveland’s venture scene.

Ohio startups raised $340M in Q3 2025, led by Splash Financial, Neuros Medical, and Rodatherm—showing sector diversity and steady Midwest momentum.

Is Chicago the perfect place for a Future of Food Summit? The Venture Summit 2025 showcases 100+ startups & fosters circular economy.

Michigan startup funding drops to $141M in Q3 2025, defying national trends. What is behind the decline and what' next for Q4?

Midwestern grit meets change! Learn how patience, perspective, and a strong vision can help founders and teams navigate change and thrive.

Caton Vance interviewed Pete Martin about the PitchMI competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan on behalf of Midwest House and StartMidwest

Mary Grove's journey from Silicon Valley to Minnesota, building Bread & Butter Ventures and democratizing access to capital in the Midwest.

At A2Tech360’s Invest360 panel, three Midwest VCs laid it out straight: rounds are slower, valuations are lower, and the path to profitability matters more than ever.

Wisconsin startup Lotza, is a "Functional Party Punch" for fun without the hangover. Founder Laura Markewicz's journey took her from advertising to podcaster and now CPG.

Zerohash raises $104M Series D-2 led by Interactive Brokers, with Morgan Stanley, SoFi. Building AWS for on-chain finance.

Learn how Coterie's founder David McFarland's built a successful insurtech company in the Midwest.

Grounded, a Detroit-based startup, redefines sustainable mobility with customizable electric vans for industries like healthcare and food service, aiming for global impact.

Indiana approves spinoff to power data centers, shielding existing customers from cost hikes. How will this impact energy costs.?

PitchMI's $1.25M competition aims to boost Michigan's startups, but how will it impact the future of its ecosystem?

gener8tor's accelerator gBETA has been finding & fueling Midwest startup founders for 10 years.

Microsoft invests $7B in Wisconsin for the world's largest AI data center, Fairwater, boosting AI breakthroughs and local economy with 800 new jobs.

Our anonymous venture capital investor shares the red flags VCs look for when evaluating startups. Read more and de-risk your next pitch.

Splash Financial raises $70M Series C, launches HELOC. Expands lending for student, personal, and home equity loans with automated tech.

Can startups thrive in the Midwest by partnering with our globally recognized corporate titans?

TruStage Ventures expands its Discovery Fund to intentionally invest in veteran-owned fintech startups

Detroit Mobility Week: Connecting startups, automakers, investors, and policymakers for transportation tech & localized manufacturing.