StartingBlock Madison
StartingBlock catalyze start-ups by providing a collaborative environment of learning, mentorship and resources through flexible leases, professional advisors, investment opportunities, and community programming.
Located in the Capitol East Gateway, StartingBlock fosters economic development through partnerships among existing industry players and regional startups and links Madison to other communities throughout the Midwest.
We provide educational opportunities to students of all ages through hands-on experiences, meetups, lectures, and workshops. Students explore next generation technologies including software, hardware, electronics, art, sewing, metalwork, apps, and gaming.
In late 2012, a group of Madison’s young entrepreneurs joined forces with other entrepreneurial, tech and civic leaders. Their idea: bring together in a single location the critical components that local entrepreneurs need to start and grow businesses, create jobs and stimulate the regional economy.
StartingBlock Madison will be a 50,000 square-foot entrepreneurial hub where entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and community members can connect, share innovative ideas, and create next-generation businesses. The space will integrate Gener8tor—a top 15 accelerator within the U.S., Capital Entrepreneurs, a 350+ member networking group, and a prototyping center—under one roof. Through the leadership of these core partners, StartingBlock will provide affordable and flexible workspace, access to investors, a centralized network of existing and emerging industry players, professional advisors/mentors, accelerator programs, and education and community programming.
StartingBlock Madison will be located on the south side of the 800 block of East Washington Avenue. StartingBlock will be an anchor tenant of a larger, two-building, mixed-use development by Gebhardt Development, which will include a music venue, and American Family Insurance’s “The Spark.”
StartingBlock Madison will be anchoring a major 200,000 square foot mixed-use project proposed by Gebhardt Development and American Family Insurance. This fall, the City of Madison will discuss the land usage for our proposed parcel. At this time, we are scheduled to start accepting leases for the center in late 2016 and occupancy during the winter of 2017.
