Wisconsin-based startup accelerator Gener8tor has kicked off its Winter 2014 Program with five companies planning to advance their businesses.
The group of five includes a first for Gener8tor – a company from outside the U.S. – in Monterrey, Mexico-based Driblet, a smart water management company.
Companies from Massachusetts, Iowa, Illinois, and Milwaukee will also be a part of the 12-week program, which began on Jan. 3, and culminates with a “Launch Day” event on April 3, where each entrepreneur will pitch his or her company to a crowd of community members and potential investors.
The Winter 2014 Program, which received more than 380 applications, is based in Madison, while summer programs are based in Milwaukee.
“The Winter 2014 Program consists of some of the most innovative startups from around the world,” said Troy Vosseller, co-founder of Gener8tor. “We’re really looking forward to helping these companies grow and achieve their full potential.”
For the program, Gener8tor makes an initial $20,000 cash investment, and each company is guaranteed $50,000 of additional follow-on investment from Gener8tor and its investment partner, Angels on the Water.
This is the fourth Gener8tor program since its inception. Since June 2012, the 18 startup graduates from Gener8tor’s previous three accelerator programs have gone on to raise more than $10 million in financing and create close to 100 jobs.
The five companies participating in the Winter 2014 Program are:
Milwaukee-based Edison DC Systems, Cambridge, Mass.-based Liv Blends, Des Moines, Iowa-based Men’s Style Lab, Driblet, and Chicago-based Review Trackers.
Gener8tor’s premier program sponsor is American Family Insurance.
