
The Innovate 608 podcast is for professionals on the go. It’s about entrepreneurship — the journey, the community and a place to hear about bold new things happening in Madison and Wisconsin.
Hosted by Nora Roughen-Schmidt and produced by StartingBlock, Madison’s local hub for creative startups, the Innovate 608 podcast will tell the stories of incredible Wisconsin innovators. Listeners will hear from startup CEOs about their successes and failures, plus experts in every facet of creating a successful business, from turning an idea into an effective investor pitch to launching and running a thriving operation.
Upcoming Events
Ladies of StartingBlock Lunch
StartingBlock
821 E Washington Ave Suite 200 Madison, WI 53703
Quick Takes
Accountability for All
Every January you get a new beginning. A new opportunity to reset and try again. We see this through setting goals, resolutions, or new intentions…Whatever method works best for you the most important thing is that you do it.
Don’t delay, this Q4 season ends soon
The majority of business sectors bring in their highest sales during Q4 annually and are all working overtime to fill end-of-year budget gaps and lure in customers and clients for the next year.
Where do I Fit into My Entrepreneurial Community?
Lately, I’ve been having many conversations with entrepreneurs who are feeling more and more isolated and not part of a greater community. While there are always many layers to the feeling of isolation, I do believe isolation is always part of the entrepreneurial journey.
Our Mission & Core Values
StartingBlock is Wisconsin’s largest community of entrepreneurs, startups, investors, accelerators, and entrepreneur support organizations.
Our MISSION is to create the meaningful intersections that cultivate entrepreneurs, accelerate startup growth, drive innovation and build a startup community that gives back.
Our VISION is to galvanize Madison into a nationally recognized leader in entrepreneurship.
Our CORE VALUES
Think Big. Success requires thinking big, even when the company is still small. StartingBlock helps entrepreneurs find and actualize big ideas into successful companies by connecting, pushing and challenging them (and us) constantly.
Fear Less. Turning dreams into reality demands tackling obstacles fearlessly. StartingBlock empowers entrepreneurs to fear less by creating meaningful support networks, connecting entrepreneurs to resources, and understanding that failures are temporary.
Listen Deeply. Making a difference means listening deeply—to yourself and to others. StartingBlock creates inclusive conversations and opportunities for like and unlike-minds to collaborate and support each other.

Entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur is hard. Surround yourself with peers facing the same challenges.

Space
Inspiring, flexible work space with startup friendly pricing and terms.

Support
Find the mentors, investors, resources and support you need to succeed.
Join Our Community
StartingBlock is Wisconsin’s largest community of entrepreneurs, startups, investors, accelerators, and support organizations. At StartingBlock, we create the meaningful intersections that cultivate entrepreneurs, accelerate startup growth, drive innovation and build a startup community that gives back.
Stay Connected
Sign up for StartingBlock’s community newsletter. Published 2 times a month, this is Madison’s most comprehensive, curated source of entrepreneur focused programs, announcements and startup news. We make staying connected easy.
Contact Us
Got a question? Want to host an event here? Need more information?
How To Find Us
StartingBlock Madison
821 E Washington Ave
Second Floor
Madison, WI 53703













