Center for Entrepreneurship
We are here for you.
Our staff is available via email and video conferencing for questions and initial consultations. Our team will also available to meet in person by appointment if necessary and/or warranted following initial virtual consultations. Please email us to set up an appointment.
We guarantee kindness and safety in mind as we navigate the new normal. Learn more about our health and safety plans.
The mission of the Madison College Center for Entrepreneurship is to strengthen communities through education, innovation and collaboration. We strive to plant the seeds of entrepreneurial thinking and to foster a culture of entrepreneurial action across all of Madison College. Our goals are to:
- Assist in the creation of new businesses within our district.
- Assist in the retention of businesses within our district.
- Provide tools for startups to launch and for early stage businesses to improve planning and to achieve growth.
- Focus on providing resources to underserved populations within our district such as women and minority entrepreneurs.
Our Center seeks to leverage the talents of our distinguished faculty and our world class campus infrastructure to add value to our regional entrepreneurship ecosystem while collaborating with existing organizations and promoting what others do best.
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- WorkshopsResident Entrepreneurs
Workshops
The Center for Entrepreneurship provides a variety of workshops and events designed to provide hands-on information and planning tools for both novice and experienced entrepreneurs. This ongoing series covers topics from the exploratory stage of learning what entrepreneurship is, through the fundamental elements of putting together a business plan.
Entrepreneurs from communities surrounding Madison, Wisconsin are encouraged to attend.
Madison College Challenge Info Session Webinar
Presenter: Scott Kohl
Two virtual sessions are available.Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 11 a.m. – noonTuesday, February 2021, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.Join Entrepreneur in Resident, Scott Kohl, to learn more about how you can take part in the Madison College Challenge. ALL Madison College students are welcome to participate in the Madison College Challenge, you do not have to be a business student!One of our many goals is to draw Madison College entrepreneurs who are at all stages of their journey to share their business idea, take part in the Madison College Challenge and possibly WIN FREE MONEY.We encourage but no limited to business opportunities from sectors such as traditional Main Street, to Digital Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Culinary, Agriculture and Social Good.2/3 Registration 2/23 Registration
Understanding the Convenience Buzz Webinar
Presenter: KT Olds
This is a virtual event.Monday, February 15, 2021, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.Convenience, convenience, convenience. This concept has gained attention as retailers of all kinds attempt to capitalize on this growing consumer demand. In recent years, we have seen major disruptions in the convenience retail market by large brands like Amazon Go, Grubhub, and BlueApron, while others try to grab a piece of the pie through mobile app ordering, mobile payment, delivery services, drive-thru services, and ready-made meal packages. Businesses that had not yet embraced such methods prior to 2020, were recently faced with the challenge of doing so at an accelerated rate. However, many businesses are struggling with providing value during such rapid change, while consumers are reevaluating their priorities and buying process. This workshop provides an in-depth discussion of how the changes in the consumers’ lifestyles and daily challenges are affecting consumer behavior. It also explores technology tools that allow businesses to meet the growing demand for convenience.CEO Mindset: Success on Your Terms
Presenter: Laura Gmeinder
This is a virtual event.Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 5:30 – 7 p.m.You’re killing it – but self-doubt is killing your dream. How do the driven, ambitious, have-it-all achievers become seemingly invincible and unaffected by discouraging outcomes?Join award winning entrepreneur Laura Gmeinder to learn how to tame your mindset, stop second guessing yourself, step into your power and embrace a CEO mindset. You are running the show: you make the rules and you set the pace. Stop minimizing your business and show up as the leader you needed - whether you are flying solo or inspiring a team. Discover how to make decisions aligned with what matters most- and the one question to ask yourself to gain clarity and inspired action.Steer, Then Gear Webinar
Presenter: KT Olds
This is a virtual event.Tuesday, March 23, 2021, noon – 1 p.m.Change can be difficult at any time. Now consider speeding through the process of flipping a business 360 degrees in 3 to 6 months – exactly the process many business leaders were faced with in the past year – in order to survive. As time passes, the need for continuous improvement, will not. Like a captain cruising the waters of our vast oceans and lakes, business owners and leaders will be faced with moments of smooth sailing and other moments that require precise action to navigate the swells. If the reaction is more important than the situation at hand, then it only makes sense to learn methods that help make the ride more enjoyable and less stressful. This workshop will identify signs and symptoms that require decisive attention by a business while exploring the importance of pausing before steering.Ready or Not: The Time is Now (and You’re Ready)
Presenter: Laura Gmeinder
This is a virtual event.Thursday, April 1, 2021, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Do you dream of starting your own business, but every time you think you might be brave enough to take that small first step that voice starts in on you: “It’s too hard.” “Who do you think you are?” “You should just be grateful for what you have.” “You can’t afford to leave your steady paycheck.” “What if you fail?” The excuses are endless- and relentless. And lets face it, some of those concerns are legit. It is HARD to leave the “safe” 9 to 5 and chase your potential. But you know what is really hard? Staying somewhere you don’t belong. Lingering in that feeling of wanting something different, something more but not feeling like you are ready for it. I see what you are capable of, the impact you are longing to make and I am here to tell you, you are as ready as you are going to be. It’s time to shift into action. It’s time to take the leap into the unknown. I promise you will never look back.ResourcesResident Entrepreneurs
Meet with the experienced and knowledgeable Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) and learn about our workshops and events that will prepare you for success as an entrepreneur in a rapidly evolving business world, or schedule a one-on-one consultation to talk about your business idea.
Office hours: Walk-ins available, however appointments are encouraged. Please email us at EntrepreneurCenter@MadisonCollege.edu or contact on of the EIR's directly to set up an appointment
2019-20 EIR's
Genia Stevens
Genia Stevens is the owner of Belwah Media, an integrated marketing communications agency and founder of Belwah Strategy, a strategic planning agency. Genia’s also a design thinking practitioner who helps organizations develop strategies that focus on success through collaborative problem-solving. Her agency Belwah Media has been awarded the LGBT Business of the Year Award and is also part of the Forbes Agency Council, an invite-only organization for successful and diverse executives in marketing, PR, media, and advertising. Genia’s areas of expertise are strategic planning, marketing strategy development, social media marketing, marketing analytics, business plan development, and community outreach and engagement.
Genia is a Forbes columnist and you’ll also find her writing on Business.com, Social Media Today, and Business 2 Community. Currently, Genia is serving as a board member of Collaboration for Good and the Foundation for Madison Public Schools. She volunteers 10 hours each month coaching and training nonprofits and social enterprises on marketing, volunteer recruitment and retention, and improving their fundraising strategies. She’s also currently volunteering as a coach for the Social Good Accelerator, a collaborative initiative with the purpose of building ways and means for individuals and organizations that intentionally operate to address inequalities and expand prosperity.
Genia received her Bachelor’s degree from Beloit College (Beloit, WI) and her MBA from Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee, WI).
Please contact Genia at rkstevens@madisoncollege.edu or Click here to schedule an appointment with Genia.
Scott Kohl
Scott Kohl is a serial entrepreneur, public speaker and product designer who has 20+ years’ experience advising fellow startups and consulting with F500 enterprises on innovation, engagement, business model creation, and organizational development. He believes in the power of failure, discomfort and small data as means to develop trust, empathy, relationships and innovative cultures.
Scott is a UW Alumni with MBA from UW Madison and bachelors in Economics. He’s certified in project management and has trained in lean startup from Intuit Alumni of the 100 startups in 100 days initiative. Recently his company, ThirdSpace, was a finalist for the most innovative company in Madison.
When he’s “not riding the white lightning” of startup life, he enjoys landscaping, outdoor hikes, building Legos and playing Minecraft with his 5-year-old son.
Please contact Scott at sekohl@madisoncollege.edu.
Brian Lee
Brian Lee, APR, is the president of Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media, an integrated communications agency he founded in January 2011.
In addition to serving as an entrepreneur-in-resident at Madison College, Brian is a part-time lecturer on social media in the School of Continuing Education. He also is an instructor in the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s UpStart program for female and minority entrepreneurs.
Brian earned his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2011 and a certificate in reputation management in 2017. In 2015, he was selected for the State of Wisconsin’s Business Intelligence Team (a part of the National Center for Economic Gardening) as a digital marketing specialist who works with second-stage companies throughout the state.
A serial entrepreneur, Brian is the editor-in-chief of Madison Startups, an online publication that covers startup news in town. He also runs EatDrinkMadison.com, a restaurant and bar guide that is searchable by amenities, as well as Revelation Events, a corporate events planning business.
Brian graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in journalism and major in strategic communications.
Office hours for Brian are: 9 – 11 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Truax and 9 – 11 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at West campus. Please contact Brian directly to schedule one-on-one meetings outside of these hours.
Please contact Brian at blee1@madisoncollege.edu.
Jeff Noble
Jeffrey Noble is a full-time faculty member in the Small Business Entrepreneurship program at Madison College, with expertise in small business marketing, day-to-day business operations, and customer service. Prior to teaching, his primary career was in insurance and financial services. Jeff was a district sales manager before starting his own small business (insurance/financial services agency) in 1994 and has been fully licensed as an insurance and real estate broker, and was previously registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to market investment products. In 2008, Jeff became a co-author for a Business Math textbook published by Pearson Education.As a life-long resident of Columbia County, Jeff has been very active in the community as a member of groups such as Optimist International, and is currently a committee member for the Innovation Champions Group serving Sauk/Columbia/Marquette Counties, and is a member of the Poynette School Board. When not working with students, he thoroughly enjoys being outdoors, and does some hobby farming on his rural property near Poynette.
Jeff received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Graceland College (Lamoni, IA) and his MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Office hours for Jeff are: Every Tuesday at the Portage campus from 10 a.m. – noon and Reedsburg campus from 1 – 3 p.m.
Please contact Jeffrey at JNoble@madisoncollege.edu.
Resources
Madison College Libraries
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Creator Studio The Madison College Libraries Creator Studio is a place that encourages innovative thinking and creative exploration for group and individual learners. It is designed to build community and self-discovery by providing tools that offer hands-on experiences and learning.
WiSys Technology Foundation
Madison College has a formal technology transfer agreement with the WiSys Technology Foundation. If you are a Madison College student, faculty or staff with an idea or product in development WiSys may be able to help you protect your intellectual property and/or commercialize your product. WiSys works with innovators with discoveries from all disciplines and stages of development.
For more information on how to access WiSys resources contact entrepreneurcenter@madisoncollege.edu
American Family Dream Bank
The American Family Dream bank offers valuable talks and events for entrepreneurs. View their current offerings.
FACES OF FOUNDERS
#Faces of Founders: A discussion of entrepreneurship, race, place and gender.
American Bar Association
ABA guide to starting a new business. This resources explains the fundamentals of funding a small business, typical laws and regulations that impact small businesses and issues that are unique to home-based businesses.