Innovation Trends: StartingBlock Madison aims to foster collaboration

StartingBlock Madison opened last year at 821 E. Washington Ave., near the state Capitol. The three-floor entrepreneurial hub, six years and $10 million in the making, is part of American Family Insurance’s Spark Building.

Six months in, about 37 early-stage companies with 159 total full-time and 79 part-time employees are now working out of the StartingBlock space. Community partners, including venture funds, also have offices in StartingBlock.

From breakout spaces for after-5 meetups to huddle rooms to phone booths, StartingBlock aims to foster collaboration among its users. Chandra Miller Fienen is the executive director.

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One area includes pods of cubes for month-to-month renters, while offices around the edges of the space are for more established startups. There are also a number of open tables and huddle spots around the space.

“One of the pieces we focus on, certain centers will cluster around a certain type of technology. Madison, just given its size and density, we don’t have that competitive advantage, but we try to build a more holistic place around entrepreneurship where any company regardless of their business model or discipline can find this as a home,” said Scott Resnick, entrepreneur-in-residence at StartingBlock.

StartingBlock companies

  • Arch Virtual
  • bluDiagnostics
  • Blueprint for Education
  • BRIO
  • Bump Studios
  • Carepool Inc.
  • Changing the Face of Politics
  • Chefs for Seniors
  • Coach Catalyst
  • Co-D Therapeutics Inc.
  • Digsite
  • ESM
  • FactoryFix
  • Feelings at Work
  • GrocerKey
  • Hankr
  • Highly
  • Holos
  • Hemp for the Future
  • LUM
  • Murfie Inc.
  • OmniValley
  • PayCove
  • Polco
  • Politiscope
  • Rebate Bus
  • RehabPath
  • Soha Diamonds
  • Stratus Silver Lining
  • XSELL Health

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