Wisconsin startup accelerator gener8tor and American Family Insurance are expanding on a set of social impact programs the duo first launched two years ago.
Gener8tor announced that it's growing its social impact-focused programming in 2020 alongside its sponsor, the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. Its expanded programming includes six gALPHA Social Impact programs, three of which will focus on criminal justice reform and three will focus on equity in learning and academic achievement. Two gBETA Social Impact programs will also take place in the fall.
“Our mission is to close equity gaps in America, and we believe that social innovation and entrepreneurship can play a major role in that,” Shayna Hetzel, AmFam's Institute director for learning and academic achievement, said in a statement. “By partnering with gener8tor on these programs, we can build a community of changemakers in pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable tomorrow.”
Gener8tor first launched its Social Impact program in Madison in 2018. Since then, it has run two cohorts of its gBETA Social Impact accelerator, a free seven-week intensive program that helps social entrepreneurs refine their business model. It has also held several gALPHA Social Impact programs, which are shorter four-week programs designed for earlier-stage ventures.
Last year, gener8tor and AmFam launched a program in Milwaukee that focused on reducing incarceration. Its goal was to help organizations to develop new ideas to address recidivism and ultimately help people launch sustainable companies.
This year's Social Impact programs will be held virtually, gener8tor said.
