Nominations are now open for the annual Wisconsin Inno Under 25 awards for 2022.
We're looking to highlight some of the state's youngest entrepreneurs and innovators. Whether they're making a difference at local startups or innovative companies, budding founders working to get their own companies off the ground, student entrepreneurs or individuals supporting the innovation community, help us tell the stories of young people contributing to the local tech and startup industry in impactful ways.
Submit nominations here by Aug. 7. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominees should be 25 years old or under the age of 25 at the time of nomination. We plan to highlight five individuals in 2022.
This year marks the fifth year of Inno Under 25, which has recognized a total of 60 individuals since 2018. Many of the past honorees are still very much involved in the state's startup and innovation scene.
For instance, Agricycle Global founder and CEO Josh Shefner was honored in 2019, when the startup was known as Blue Mangoes. The food upcycling startup that began as a school project has raised $4.3 million, according to Crunchbase. Phil Fonfara, a 2018 honoree, is now president of Blue Line Battery Inc. and earlier this year said the company is on track for a billion-dollar valuation.
See below for a full list of the past winners.
2021 Wisconsin Inno Under 25
- Kristen Holtan of Blue Line Battery
- Jalen Greenlee of Flora Fruit Co.
- Kylee Marks of Estrigenix Therapeutics Inc.
- Harsimran Kalsi of Otto Sciences
- Christopher Kardatzke of Quiver Quantitative
- Umer Sohail of Abloh
- Paul Rinaldi of the Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Caleb Dykema of of Vault Sports LLC
- Robinson Cook of Birdwell Solutions LLC
- Ariel Pershman of Mira Eyewear
2020 Wisconsin Inno Under 25
- Max Fergus of LÜM
- Shawn Michels of SteadyShot
- Claire Friona of Agricycle
- Ruhongeka Ntabala of Okayge
- Aditya Parihar and Kit Chow of BoostedChews
- Jack Ryan of LastLock
- Patty Newby and Ellie Pearl of gener8tor
- Ian Buchanan of Helium Books
- Loren Nelson of Lëvor
- Alycia Doxon of Frontdesk
- James Kardatzke of Quiver Quantitative
2019 Wisconsin Inno Under 25
- Ben Breitenbucher of Blue Line Battery
- Alycia Doxon of Frontdesk
- Nathan Eggenberger of StartingBlock
- Brandon Fong of SuperHuman Academy
- Isabella Hutson of EatStreet
- Endre Krumholz of LÜM
- Israel Lugo of Urban Misfit Ventures
- Sam Lister of BLNK Slate Media
- Erin Magennis of CalmLet
- Anna Mathieu of Propeller Health
- Olivia Menzia of Liv a Little Ice Cream
- Jack Pawlik of Drip
- Josh Shefner of Blue Mangoes (now Agricycle Global)
- Gabriella Suliga of Marquette Blockchain Lab
2018 Wisconsin Inno Under 25
- Davis Marklin and Alec Shaw of Marquette Blockchain Lab
- Derek Urben of Coinigy
- Max Fergus of LÜM
- Danny Supernaw of gener8tor
- Alex Hart-Upendo of Build-A-Bow
- Walker Lillard of Voys Applications
- Sam Lepak and Evan Laird of Pintful Peanut Butter
- Gabrielle Hood of GH Energy Management
- Rosalind Stengle of Badger Blockchain, Ripple
- Brema Brema of Urban Misfit Ventures
- Dayne Rusch of Pyxsee
- QuHarrison Terry of VNM USA
- Eric Schirtzinger and Jacob Holiday of Bascom Brothers
- Miona Short of Shukrah
- Jordan Mather of Health Snaps
- Tara Rahmani of the Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Claudia Seidenberg of 100State
- Sam Aten of Deeplight Systems
- Nabeel Quryshi of the University School of Milwaukee
- Phil Fonfara of gBETA Beloit
- Quentin Allums of Urban Misfit Ventures
- Teresa Dorlack of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
