Wisconsin Inno's 2021 Fire Award winners are here.
In our annual recognition program, we sought nominations of companies and organizations that are heating up Wisconsin's technology ecosystem. Our editorial team narrowed that list to 25 finalists across five categories.
Today, we're introducing this year's "Blazers" — the winners from each category that a group of outside judges agreed are setting Wisconsin's innovation economy ablaze.
The judges were Tina Chang, CEO of Brookfield's SysLogic Inc.; Andy Nunemaker, CEO of Milwaukee's Groupware Technologies Inc.; Ranell Washington, partnership development advisor for American Family Insurance; and Mark Grosskopf, president and CEO of Milwaukee's New Resources Consulting.
Investors and funders: Gateway Capital Partners
Milwaukee
Gateway Capital Partners is a new Milwaukee-based early-stage venture capital firm led by Dana Guthrie. Judges were impressed with Guthrie's ability as a first-time fund manager to raise an oversubscribed $13.5 million fund, which closed this summer.
"I’ve seen her grind to get this," Washington said.
The firm invests in pre-revenue Milwaukee-area startups that positively impact low- and moderate-income communities. It has already invested in two companies to date: out-of-pocket medication cost payment platform Tip a ScRxipt and health data startup Geno.Me.
"I think she’s kind of the talk of the town," Nunemaker said.
» See the other finalists in the investors and funders category
Nonprofit: Bridge to Cures
Wauwatosa
Bridge to Cures is a social impact nonprofit focused on turning health care innovations into needed products and services. It's partnered with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and six southeast Wisconsin research institutions, leveraging more than $150 million in annual health care research.
The volunteer-run group led by Concordia University's Daniel Sem has flown somewhat under the radar, but the judges felt its focus is paramount.
"If there’s one thing this country needs, it’s more innovation in health care," Grosskopf said.
This fall, Bridge to Cures held a series of entrepreneurship boot camps for more than 70 local health care and health tech entrepreneurs. The program culminated in a health care innovation pitch competition in which startup founder finalists pitched their early companies to investors.
» See the other finalists in the nonprofit category
Health technology: EnsoData
Madison
EnsoData develops artificial intelligence-powered (AI) software that leverages health care data in order to help providers be more accurate, efficient and cost-effective.
This year, the company hit a major milestone when it received FDA 510(k) clearance for new enhancements for its flagship product, EnsoSleep, an AI-powered sleep scoring and analysis solution designed to improve sleep apnea diagnoses.
“Getting a 510(k) clearance is a really, really big deal," Chang said. "That really legitimized to me how long they’ve been at this and how serious they are about this."
EnsoData recently partnered with Kennewick, Washington-based global neurodiagnostic and neuromonitoring solutions firm Cadwell Industries Inc. to integrate EnsoSleep into Cadwell's software platform.
» See the other finalists in the health technology category
Software: OpenGov
Milwaukee / San Jose, California
While OpenGov isn't officially headquartered in Milwaukee, the Silicon Valley company opened an office here during the pandemic led by OpenGov president and Milwaukee native David Reeves. It has hired nearly 40 employees — including many Marquette University graduates — in its local office since June 2020 and this spring said it plans to have 100 Milwaukee-based employees within three years.
OpenGov makes cloud-based software for local and state governments and is used by more than 1,000 government agencies. It has 10 customers in Wisconsin, the company said, including the city of Milwaukee. Since opening its Milwaukee office, OpenGov has added the city of West Allis as a customer and expanded relationships with other local agencies.
The judges were impressed with OpenGov's product and the enthusiasm Reeves has for building Milwaukee's tech ecosystem.
» See the other finalists in the software category
Talent: Talimer
Milwaukee
Talimer is a diverse technology freelance talent marketplace designed to put independent contractors first. It supports freelancers with time tracking, invoicing, collections and rate-setting, and offers health insurance to freelancers that work at least 30 hours per week through the marketplace.
The judges resonated with Talimer's mission of helping freelance workers thrive.
"I think that’s the future of work," Washington said. "Now exacerbated with work-from-home, (Talimer is) definitely going to excel."
Since Talimer launched in early 2020, it has recruited and screened more than 1,200 potential technology and creative freelancers and responded to more than 140 clients with roles to fill, the company said.
