Join us in advancing groundbreaking research during the sixth annual 414 for UWM Giving Day!

As an R1 research institution, UWM drives discoveries that change lives. The UWM Research Foundation ensures those ideas don’t stop at discovery, providing the expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to move innovations toward real-world impact.

16 donors have already stepped forward—will you join them? Every gift strengthens UWM's capacity to support researchers, develop new technologies, and fuel the next wave of innovations shaping the future.

For Invenergy, supporting the UWMRF Catalyst Grant is about accelerating early-stage ideas with commercial potential. As Cooper Johnson, Director of Development, puts it, “Programs like the Catalyst Grant demonstrate that relatively small, strategic investments can unlock significant follow-on funding, drive entrepreneurship, and create meaningful community benefits.”

Aligned with the company's long‑standing commitment to innovation and community, especially in Wisconsin, the Catalyst Grant is delivering results through student engagement, follow‑on funding, and market-ready research.

Two high-potential UWM startups have been selected to receive 2026 Bridge Grant funding, helping them advance promising research into meaningful solutions. Since its launch, the UWMRF Bridge Grant program has awarded $600,000 to 14 startups, catalyzing $18M+ in follow-on funding and the creation of 33 new jobs.

This year’s awardees, RoboHeal Innovations and SynXT Therapeutics, each received $25,000 to support the next phase of growth in assistive robotics and cancer therapeutics. From restoring independence for powered wheelchair users to advancing targeted treatments for aggressive cancers, these teams are building momentum toward commercialization.

We’re pleased to welcome new members to the UWM Research Foundation Board of Directors, including three UWM alumni (denoted with an asterisk). Their diverse expertise strengthens UWMRF’s efforts to advance research and innovation across UWM and Southeast Wisconsin.