#StartupMKE

[lomonpla]

LoMonPla: Lola Montalbán en acción is out! https://t.co/gtwnFdpIb8 Stories via @StartupMKE @abhisheknayar1 @vanwinklecm #marketing #startup

LoMonPla: Lola Montalbán en acción is out! https://t.co/gtwnFdpIb8 Stories via @StartupMKE @abhisheknayar1 @vanwinklecm #marketing #startup

— Lola Montalban (@Lomonpla) January 5, 2017

via Twitter https://twitter.com/Lomonpla January 05, 2017 at 04:37PM

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Startup Milwaukee Stories: Digital Measures

by Karen Oliva

  Join us Thursday, October 3 from 6-8:00 p.m. for an event you won't want to miss. 

Startup Milwaukee is excited to highlight Digital Measures, a Milwaukee tech startup success story. Digital Measures was founded in 1999 by Matt Bartel while he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Digital Measures faculty activity reporting software is now used by 60% of the 500 largest universities in the United States.

Digital Measures is bootstrapped and believes that not having outside investors enables them to solely focus on their clients' needs. They are able to translate everyone's data management needs into customized system requirements that fits their needs.

Startup Milwaukee is excited to have Matt Bartel share his startup story at Digital Measures’ hip office in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward.

RSVP via Facebook or Meetup.

Digital Measures is located at 301 N Broadway, Floor Four, Milwaukee, WI 53202. (The entrance is on Buffalo, behind Anthropologie. Look for the silver overhang and then take the elevator to the fourth floor.)

View Larger Map

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Startup of the Week: Pointfall

Pointfall was merely a joke in its infancy. In fact, the idea was a joke in the first place. The group deal/daily deal market has been duplicated many times over. Unfortunately, this market has been causing problems for businesses that use this specific type of marketing platform. The term "loss leader" has been thrown around, but those who have used the platform would actually be happy if a "loss lead" were even achieved. Through a downfall of sub par valuations, major players in the market continue to squirm and squeal with only the option to either invest more resources or chop heads. In many cases, both end points were reached.

After humoring themselves with the faults in the group deal industry, Pointfall Founder & CEO, Sean Tepper, suggested that the market should simply provide 100% revenue to businesses while charging a flat monthly fee for usage. The concept would have remained a joke, but Founder & COO, Nic DiStasio, commented on its brilliance and decided to do his homework on the industry. To their surprise, he found over 30 entities with the same profit sharing model which generated the same lackluster results for businesses.

At this time, Pointfall implemented a survey to the local market asking how much businesses would pay per month if they could keep 100% of the revenue from all group deal sales. The masses voted on a number, and Pointfall used that number to define their pricing structure.

In April of 2013, Pointfall became a legitimate business. They then made the decision to close down their existing marketing and advertising businesses in order to drive forward 100% with Pointfall.  

“There is no better time to act then right now.”

Consumers: Save More by Using Points!

Businesses: Keep 100% of the Profits

Sales Representatives: Earn High Commissions

Key Facts:

Founders: Sean Tepper (CEO) Nic DiStasio (COO)


Founded: April 2013


Employees: Less than 10


Funding: Self funded by the revenues generated through our marketing and advertising service based businesses. No investors and no loans required.


HQ Location: Hudson Business Lounge, 310 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Website: pointfall.com

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Startup of the Week: Pairdd

Pairdd partners with local gluten free bloggers and chefs for recipes. They then package all the fresh, measured ingredients needed and send them ready to cook straight to your door. Deliveries are weekly, and a new recipe is featured every week.

Founders Casey and Michelle started their journey reaching out to the gluten free communities in the Milwaukee and Madison areas to learn about the pain points of living gluten free. After speaking with over 40 people they identified a few key pain points, helping them find a solution with Pairdd.

It is Casey and Michelle's hope that Pairdd will work to connect those living gluten free with local bloggers, chefs, and restaurants.  They also hope to raise awareness of gluten free options, as well as provide great meals, education, and convenience to those living a gluten free lifestyle. 

Quick Facts:

Founders: Casey Lanto and Michelle Kelly

Employees: 4

Funding: Yes

HQ Location: Space in building at 501 West Michigan, Milwaukee WI 53203

Website: www.pairdd.com

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Startup of the Week: Goodnight Car

GoodnightCar is the best way to register your car with Milwaukee’s night parking permission website. It is built specifically for today’s mobile devices. Simply tap on the map and GoodnightCar will tell you the address where you parked. No need to manually look up the address--just click the register button to confirm your location. Your car will automatically be recognized with the night parking permission website.

GoodnightCar currently works solely in Milwaukee, but Josh Holtz, Founder of GoodnightCar, is in the process of adding more cities. For any questions or requests to integrate the app for other cities, email: josh (at) goodnightcar (dot) com.

Find more information and screenshots at goodnightcar.com or download the iOS app.

Key Facts:

Founder: Josh Holtz

HQ Location: RokkinCat Offices (229 E. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 1102, Milwaukee, WI 53202)

Funding sources: Bootstrapped

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Startup of the Week: Penrod Software

Penrod Software is a consulting firm that provides expertise in business analysis and software development for companies implementing CRM and Big Data. Penrod specializes in working with health insurance carriers and agents to develop and create software to help provide customers with better prices and services.

Located in the Historic Third Ward, Penrod recently added an office addition to reach 2500 square feet in office space. Milwaukee's tech scene and local university talent has allowed the company to grow 400% year-over-year. Working with the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Penrod provides students with opportunities to learn and grow with their company.

Joe Taylor, one of Penrod's co-founders, says the company "couldn't be happier with the direction the city is headed in." We couldn't agree more.

Key Facts:

Founders: Joseph Taylor and Chris Widmayer

Founded: 2011

Employees: 9

Funding: Self-funded

HQ Location: Third Ward - 219 N. Milwaukee St. Suite 3E, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

For more information about this startup, visit PenrodCRM.com.

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Announcing our Mentorship Program!

We are excited to announce the launch of the Startup Milwaukee Mentorship program!

The program is designed to support entrepreneurs who are starting technology and technology-enabled service businesses in Southeastern Wiscosnin by connecting entrepreneurs to mentors from the entrepreneurial, corporate, investment and academic communities.

If you are an entrepreneur or mentor who would like to participate in the program, click here!

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Thank you, and let's keep the conversation rolling!

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and came to our meetup last night with PKWARE. We had a blast, and we hope you all did too! 

The conversation is rolling on meetup.com, and we love it. If you came to the meetup last night and want to talk about it, join in on the conversation. We would love to hear from you!

Our next meetup is Tuesday, March 19 @ 6pm. We'll be meeting at Translator. Details will be announced next week, so stay tuned!

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Startup Milwaukee February Meetup - PKWARE & Viivo

When: Thursday, February 21, 2013 (6-8pm) Where: Mo's Irish Pub (142 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI) View Map 

PKWARE is a Milwaukee-based company that has gone from startup to successful software company. Pioneers of data compression software (their founder invented the .zip file), PKWARE continues to think and act like a startup today. In 2012, the team at PKWARE launched Viivo. We'll learn more about PKWARE and Viivo on the 21st. Heavy appetizers, beer and soda will be provided, all compliments of PKWARE!

AGENDA: 6pm - Networking, Food, Beer & Soda 6:45pm - Welcome & Introductions 7pm - Viivo panel discussion 7:45pm - More Networking

About the Panel Discussion: The panel will cover the history of PKWARE & discuss launching vZIP & Viivo. Panelists will include Tim Kohler, CFO; Joe Sturonas, CTO; Matt Little, Director of IT & New Products; and John Eyring, Viivo Project Leader.

RSVP on Facebook or Meetup.com.

[startupmke-blog-blog]

Thanks to all who attended last night's meetup

Thanks for everyone who came to our meetup last night! We had a great time, and we hope you did too. A special thanks goes out to the Yappem team + startup lawyer, Nathan Hammons, for presenting. As always, big thanks to our partners at Translator for hosting, and Milwaukee Brewing Co. for the delicious beer.

Learn more about, or contact our presenters:

Yappem Dave Sachse & Justin Webb Web: yappem.com Twitter: @Yappem Justin Webb: @phoenixwebb Dave Sachse: @DSox

Nathan Hammons Attorney serving startups, small business & non-profits in Wisconsin, Illinois & New York. Web: www.hammonslaw.net Twitter: @hammonslaw Email: Nathan (at) HammonsLaw.net Phone: 414.215.9797 Office: Law Office of Nathaniel S. Hammons, 310 E. Buffalo St., Suite 112, Milwaukee, WI 53202

About Translator Translator is an experience design agency located in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. They work with a variety of local and national clients who come to them with business and marketing problems both large and small. They offer three unique services: Agency: their brand platform solutions, Lab: for exploratory ideation and consulting, and Studio: for new product and platform development. Translator also sponsors weekly Open Lab and a quarterly series called Experience Series Milwaukee, with the goal of bringing a new way of thinking and interaction to the community. Learn more at www.translatormke.com.

[startupmke-blog-blog]

February Meetup follow-up!

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it to our February meetup last night!

Here are links to the startups that presented:

Codiqa | Website | Twitter Max Lynch, co-founder: @MaxLynch | Ben Sperry, co-founder @HelloImBen

AcceleratorLi.st | Website | Twitter Nick Wichert, co-founder: @NWichert | Craig Aucutt @CAidentity

TweetCampaign | Website | Twitter Josh Holtz, founder: @JoshDHoltz

CodeAcademy | Website | Twitter Mike McGee, co-founder: @MichaelMcGee | Arvin Dang, @ArvinDang

SplitGear | Website | Twitter Paul Kauders, co-founder: @PKauders

[startupmke-blog-blog]

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