The UWM Research Foundation has awarded $250,000 in Catalyst Grant funding to five UWM research teams advancing innovations in AI, energy systems, cybersecurity, imaging, and sustainable battery materials. Supported this year by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Invenergy, the Catalyst Grant program has helped move promising technologies toward commercialization since 2007, supporting 125 projects that have generated startups, patents, and more than $49 million in follow-on investment.

The 2026 recipients are developing solutions with the potential to address critical challenges while strengthening Wisconsin's innovation economy.

Founder Factory has announced its inaugural cohort of five high-growth Wisconsin startups selected for the program’s first Stage 1 Pre-Accelerator, including three ventures with UW-Milwaukee connections.

Through the 10-week program, founders will strengthen their commercialization strategies through customer discovery, market validation, and business model development. Representing innovations in healthcare, scientific research, and AI-enabled technologies, these startups showcase the impact of UWM research and entrepreneurship as they prepare for future investment and growth opportunities.

Nursing programs across the country face growing demand while many qualified applicants never make it into the classroom. This UWM Innovation Spotlight video highlights a technology designed to streamline background check reviews, creating a more efficient pathway for nursing students and the institutions that serve them.

Entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and technology professionals from across Wisconsin will gather at Marquette University on October 6 for the Launch Wisconsin Conference, a statewide event focused on emerging companies, frontier technologies, and Wisconsin's innovation economy. The program includes startup pitch presentations, investor networking opportunities, discussions on technologies such as AI and advanced manufacturing, and sessions designed to support Wisconsin's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founders and entrepreneurs may attend at no cost.

Register today and learn more about the conference and Investor Intros opportunities.