Join a community of entrepreneurs and startups at StartingBlock, where you'll have access to resources, mentorship, and a collaborative workspace. With 50,000 sq ft of space in Madison's Capitol East neighborhood, StartingBlock is the perfect place to launch your business.
Meet the Team
Meet the Board
Jenny Lisak
Board Member
Principal
Key Commercial Real Estate
John Pattison
Board Member
Entrepreneur in Residence
Title Town Tech
Marc Miele
Board Member
Head of Fund Operations
American Family Ventures
Emily Buchholz
Board Member
Director
UW-Madison, Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic
Our Founding Partners
In late 2012, a group of Madison’s young entrepreneurs, including Troy Vosseller (gener8tor), Forrest Woolworth (Capital Entrepreneurs), and Scott Resnick (Capital Entrepreneurs) joined forces with other entrepreneurial, tech and civic leaders, including Madison Gas and Electric and the UW’s Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic. The idea was to 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.
In June 2013, the group retained George Austin to guide the development process. Mr. Austin is an experienced project manager for community-based projects, including the Monona Terrace, the Overture Center and the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. In late 2013, the group officially formed StartingBlock Madison, Inc. as a Wisconsin non-stock corporation. In May 2014, StartingBlock received federal nonprofit status.
After successfully completing our $10M capital campaign for the StartingBlock hub and partnering with American Family Insurance and the City of Madison, American Family Insurance broke ground on the “Spark Building” in January 2017. StartingBlock’s 50,000 square foot entrepreneurial hub occupies the second, third and fourth floor on the Spark providing a collaborative community for Madison area startup and entrepreneurs.
