This story is part of our Inno on the Road series. You can learn more about Milwaukee startups here.
Milwaukee has a rich history of entrepreneurship, with corporations like Harley Davidson, Kohl's and Miller all carrying a founder's name who turned a business from a paper napkin idea into a massive multi-national company.
But in 2016, as the tech boom is taking place all across the country, Milwaukee's nascent startup scene has largely flown under the radar. However, that's not to say there aren't fast-growing, disruptive tech companies working to put Milwaukee's startup ecosystem on the map. Here are nine to watch:
1. Wantable
Founded by serial Milwaukee entrepreneur Jalem Getz, who previously founded BuySeasons, the largest online costume retailer in the US, Wantable is a subscription box startup for women, delivering an assortment of makeup, fashion accessories and apparel. The startup has raised more than $4 million since it launched in 2012, and now employs more than 70 people.
Bright Cellars, a startup founded in Boston by two MIT grads, moved to Milwaukee last year after being accepted into the Gener8tor accelerator program. Bright Cellars is a subscription wine delivery startup that uses a quiz to understand a user's wine preferences, and ships four bottles of wine to them a month. Users then rate each wine they receive, and Bright Cellars' algorithm gets smarter over time to send brands users are most likely to enjoy. After launching in 2014 the company now has over 15,000 members and has raised$2 million.
3. Scanalytics
Scanalytics creates floor sensors that help retail stores and event spaces analyze foot traffic to help measure performance at brick-and-mortar locations. The startup helps brands measure their conversion rates and how many window shoppers it turns into actual customers. The startup, which built its prototype using a Dance Dance Revolution mat, has been used at events like Mobile World Congress, the National Retail Federation and Madison's Bratwurst Festival. The four-year-old startup has raised $2 million.
4. Lumanu
Born in San Fransisco, influencer marketing startup Lumanu recently announced it would be relocating permanently to Milwaukee after finishing Gener8tor's 2016 accelerator program. Lumanu helps businesses automatically identify and engage with influencers, like bloggers, who are paid to promote content. The startup was founded by former Googler Tony Tran in January 2016.
5. Exit 7C
Like Lumanu, Exit 7C was a member of the latest Gener8tor Milwaukee class and decided to relocate at the end of the 3-month accelerator. Founded in Washington DC, Exit 7C is an app that functions as a "digital fuel card," allowing you to purchase gas at participating fuel stations across the US. The company provides a price tracking system for consumers to see how gas costs compare at different stations, and also acts as a payment processor to help gas stations cut down on credit card skimming fraud. The startup has raised $340,000 since launching in November 2015.
Smart Choice MRI is a healthcare startup that wants to help people find affordable MRIs. The company's MRIs cost $600 or less, significantly less than the average MRI. The startup is opening clinics across the Midwest, and earlier this year received a $7 million investment from Edward-Elmhurst Health. The company has raised a total of $14.5 million.
7. Intellivisit
Intellivisit provides on-demand virtual doctor's visits through an app that assesses your symptoms and connects you to a healthcare professional within an hour. The company was founded by serial entrepreneur Jay Mason, the founder of appointment-scheduling company My Health Direct. Intellivisit raised $1.6 million last year and is backed by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.
Rent College Pads helps students find off-campus housing near their school. The apps helps students search for off-campus apartments and houses for rent, and lets them post a sublease or find a roommate. The company raised $1 million in September and plans to be in more than 100 campuses by the end of 2017.
9. MobCraft
MobCraft is a brewery and taproom that recently relocated from Madison to Milwaukee. The startup purchased a 14,000-square-foot space to make its beer, and takes a crowdsourced approach to what it brews. On the startup's website, people can submit an idea for a beer they've always wanted to try, and every month recipe ideas go online for a vote. The one with the most pre-orders gets made by MobCraft. The company appeared on Shark Tank earlier this year, but failed to land an investment from the celebrity investors.
Image via Wantable Instagram
