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Unlocking Early Innovation: Invenergy’s Investment in the Catalyst Grant

by Jane L.
Catalyst Grant Program, Engineering, For Industry, For Researchers, For Startups, Funding, Innovations, Partners Spotlight, Social Innovation, Startups
04/13/2026

For over three years, Invenergy has supported the UWM Research Foundation’s Catalyst Grant program, which provides critical seed funding to advance early stage UWM research toward commercialization and real-world impact. In this Q&A, Cooper Johnson shares how the Catalyst Grant aligns with Invenergy’s mission and...

Two UWM Startups Receive Bridge Grants to Fuel Next Phase of Growth

by Jane L.
Bridge Grant Program, Chemistry, Engineering, For Industry, For Researchers, For Startups, Funding, Healthcare, Innovations, Startups
04/07/2026

Since 2021, the UWMRF Bridge Grant program has helped high-potential startups at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) overcome early funding gaps and accelerate toward growth. With the support of generous community partners, the program has awarded $600,000 to 14 UWM-affiliated startups over the past five...

Panther Partner Spotlight: How Kyle Jansson & the UWM Prototyping Center Turn Ideas Into Impact

by Jane L.
ENGAGE Mentor Program, Engineering, For Researchers, For Startups, Innovations, Partners Spotlight, Social Innovation, Startups
01/20/2026

Discover how Kyle Jansson and the UWM Prototyping Center help founders, clinicians, and researchers turn early‑stage ideas into real‑world solutions. From customer discovery to manufacturable prototypes, the Center accelerates innovation across Milwaukee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem....

Mentor Spotlight: Jude Anders – Developing Products & People

by Jane L.
ENGAGE Mentor Program, Engineering, For Industry, For Researchers, For Startups, Innovations, News, Startups
09/25/2025

In this Q&A, we highlight Jude Anders, a longtime ENGAGE mentor whose career spans engineering, product innovation, and sustainable building practices. Jude brings decades of experience—from leading technical teams at Johnson Controls to mentoring early-stage startups at UWM. His thoughtful approach to mentorship reflects a...

Seeding Innovation: Over $250K in Catalyst Grants Power UWM Research

by Jane L.
Catalyst Grant Program, Engineering, For Researchers, For Startups, Funding, Healthcare, Innovations, Startups
08/01/2025

The Catalyst Grant program continues to spark innovation across campus by supporting research with strong commercial promise and real-world impact. Thanks to generous support from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Invenergy, more than $250,000 was awarded this year to six UWM research teams....

Four UWM Startups Earn Strategic Funding to Advance Technologies

by Jane L.
Bridge Grant Program, Engineering, For Industry, For Researchers, For Startups, Funding, Healthcare, Innovations, Startups
07/22/2025

Since 2021, the UWMRF Bridge Grant Program has helped high-potential startups overcome early funding gaps—and accelerate toward growth. Thanks to community partners, we've awarded $550,000 across 14 startups, fueling innovation across sectors. The results speak for themselves: Our first 10 grantees have already secured $18M...