BizStarts

09/02/2026

Is Someone in your circle is building something worth celebrating? Time to say so.

Nominations are open for the Inspirational Entrepreneur Awards. Three ways to recognize a BizStarts graduate who's doing the work:

Emerging Builder: for the entrepreneur who's just getting started and already building something real.

Built to Last: for the entrepreneur who's navigated challenges and built something that lasted.

Community Cornerstone: for the entrepreneur who builds up the people around them.

Anyone can nominate. Staff, mentors, coaches, sponsors, fellow entrepreneurs, even the graduate themselves. It takes less than 3 minutes.

Nominate by September 21. Honorees will be recognized live at our annual fundraiser, Built Here: The Future Starts in Wisconsin, on November 19th

Nominate here: https://forms.gle/a7FNTVWVfMAf8GVp7

08/21/2026

Another room full of nonprofit leaders leaving with real tools, not just good intentions.

Dr. Kasey Hammock walked entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders through designing programs that meet real community needs, measuring impact with ease, and building the diverse funding streams that keep a mission alive. This is what building sustainable organizations looks like, right here in Milwaukee.

Grateful for Sherman Phoenix for hosting and Partner for Better for sharing your knowledge.

Missed this one? More workshops are coming. Keep an eye on the Good Newsletter so you don't miss the next.

08/20/2026

Where are you in your entrepreneurial journey?
Join us for FEET PLANTED: Understanding the Awesome Women Incubator Model and explore the different stages of business ownership.

✨ Learn from Sheila Long, founder of MalamaDoe and the Head of the Table podcast, as she shares powerful stories and lessons from her journey supporting women’s career and business growth.

Thursday, September 24
5:00–7:00 PM
📍 MalamaDoe
4465 N Oakland Ave, #201
Shorewood, WI 53211

Whether you're just getting started or growing an established business, this is an opportunity to reflect on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s next. 💪🏽

Women entrepreneurs, register today at the link down below.

Link: https://events.humanitix.com/feet-planted-understanding-the-awesome-women-incubator-model/tickets

08/10/2026

Six Sundays. Real skills. A room full of people building something real.

That's the BizStarts Institute, and these are the faces of it. Every graduate put in the work: designing a business model, learning the numbers behind their business, building a marketing plan, and figuring out how to grow with the resources they actually have (not the resources they wish they had).

The next cohort starts August 23 and runs through September 27 at The Amani Place. Six weeks. Real mentors. A network that doesn't end when the program does.

Spots are limited, apply today.

See someone you know in this reel? Shout them out in the comments. 👇

Scholarships available. Apply now, https://lnkd.in/ejyC6zU

08/07/2026

Join us for our upcoming workshop: Building Support for Your Nonprofit and learn practical strategies to help your organization grow and thrive!
🗓️ Friday, August 21
🕑 2:00 PM - 5 :00 PM
📍 Sherman Phoenix
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
Design programs that meet real community needs
Track and share your impact with confidence
Raise funds from multiple sources
Manage your finances for long-term sustainability
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to grow your nonprofit, this workshop will equip you with tools to build a stronger organization and expand your impact.
-Link in Bio to Register

07/28/2026

Through the BizStarts Institute, we're helping local entrepreneurs access training, mentorship and resources to grow their businesses and strengthen our community.

BizStarts is proud to be part of the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative network supporting entrepreneurs and expanding economic opportunity.

As a member of the UPBI network, BizStarts helps entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and contribute to a stronger local economy.

59 cities. One common purpose. Expanding economic opportunity through entrepreneurship.

59 cities. 8 countries. One common purpose.

The Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) is built on a simple but powerful belief: entrepreneurship can create lasting pathways out of poverty.

Through a proven model, universities partner with local communities to equip low-income entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, consulting, and resources they need to launch and grow sustainable businesses. While every program is tailored to the unique needs of its community, each is united by the same mission of creating long-term economic opportunity.

Today, UPBI has grown to 59 partner sites across the United States and around the world, demonstrating how collaboration between universities and communities can create meaningful, lasting impact.

Together, we are helping entrepreneurs build businesses, transform lives, and strengthen communities.

Featured partners:
Kern Inclusive Entrepreneurship Hub
Silulo Foundation
Northwest Indiana Business Community
Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanísticas-ESPOL
Impact Hub Houston
Saint Bakhita's Vocational Training Center
Carthage College
MTCC Small Business Center
BizStarts

07/22/2026

Unexpected financial emergencies can happen to any business.
Join us at Tropic for an informative workshop with Denisse Pachuca, Sr. Regional Manager of Zero Barriers to Business at BMO Bank, and learn how to prepare your business before the challenges arise.

🗓️Thursday, July 30
🕔5:00 - 7:00 PM
📍Tropic
-Link in bio to signup!

07/13/2026

Every successful business starts with a vision, but growth happens through ex*****on.

Join us for our next Cocktails & Connections event featuring Jaabecca Jones, who will share practical strategies for turning your ideas into action.

Thursday, July 16 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tropic 518 N Water St. Milwaukee, WI 53202

Network with fellow entrepreneurs, gain actionable insights, and leave inspired to take your next step.

🎟 Register today : https://events.humanitix.com/vision-vs-ex*****on

07/10/2026

Visionaries Academy (formerly First Launch, same great program, new name!) is a FREE summer business camp for Milwaukee students ages 11-14, running August 11-13. Campers will visit three incredible spaces where entrepreneurship is happening right here in our city: Jay Academy, Edessa School of Fashion, and Diverse Dining Market.
Along the way, kids will dive into the ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset curriculum, hands-on learning that helps them think like founders, build confidence, and discover what it takes to bring an idea to life. Campers who complete the program walk away with a certificate and a whole new way of seeing what's possible.
Don't wait, apply today! https://bizstarts.com/visionaries-academy/

Big ideas start young. Let's launch them. 💡

06/26/2026

Last night, five entrepreneurs stood up and bet on themselves. They pitched their vision, their work, their future — and Milwaukee showed up.

$20K awarded. Every pitcher funded. No one left empty-handed.
That's not an accident. That's what happens when you build the right ecosystem,
one where entrepreneurs are prepared, connected, and surrounded by people who want to see them win.

Congratulations to everyone who took the stage at Capital Catalyst. This is what opportunity looks like when it's real.

Tag someone who needs to know about BizStarts. 👇