Gener8tor launches programming that connects startups with global accelerators and investors

Nationally ranked and Wisconsin-based startup accelerator and venture fund gener8tor is launching a new series that will connect startup companies with other accelerators and investors both domestic and abroad.

Through its Lighting Rounds program, gener8tor will facilitate quarterly quick-pitch meetings, alternating each quarter between pitches to investors and accelerators. Lightning Rounds, which is free to startups, accelerators and investors, is an expansion of an event gener8tor held earlier this year called Master Pitch Week, where more than 800 pitches were facilitated between startups and investors.

The program starts this month with more than 700 startups pitching to accelerators in a virtual setting between Dec. 7-11. Applications for the accelerator pitches are closed, but gener8tor is accepting applications for the spring 2021 pitch series with investors.

Some of the accelerators participating include AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear, accelerator programs under Innovation Works dedicated to software and hardware companies, Chinaccelerator, which was designed to help internet startups enter China and help Chinese startups expand to global markets, the UnitedHealthcare Accelerator powered by Techstars in Minneapolis, and Food Foundry, a Chicago-based accelerator for food startups.

Lightning Rounds will also feature a networking event and daily speaker series that is open to the public.

Of the startups selected for the accelerator pitches, most are from the Midwest, namely Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. Some of the startups selected for the accelerator pitches from Wisconsin include:

Ali Bakhshinejad of VasoGnosis

Troye Fox

“2020 has been an especially difficult year for startups and small businesses, and seeing so many accelerators come together to provide better access to startups has been a bright spot this year,” said Chelsea Linder, managing director of gBeta at gener8tor.