Gener8tor

Last updated
gener8tor
Industry Venture Capital
FoundedJune 2012;13 years ago (2012-06) [1]
Headquarters
Madison   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of locations
3 (2017) 46 cities (2021)
Key people
Troy Vosseller, Joe Kirgues, Maggie Brickerman, Abby Kursel
BrandsgBETA

NMotion Motown Accelerator

OnRamp Conference Series
Number of employees
90+
Website gener8tor.com

gener8tor is an American startup accelerator that operates in several US cities, including Madison, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. [2]

Contents

Since its inception, gener8tor has invested in 180 companies, which have gone on to raise more than $1 billion in total follow-on financing. [3] [4]

Program

gener8tor offers $20,000 in exchange for 6-7% of equity and another $80,000 in the form of an uncapped convertible note. gener8tor takes no board seats, no preferred shares, and no liquidation preferences. [5] [6]

Each class happens in a different city, with Madison in the Spring, Minneapolis in the Summer, and Milwaukee during the Fall. Each class lasts about 3 months. [7]

gener8tor invests in high-growth startups, including software, IT, web, SaaS, e-commerce and hardware. [5]

Acceptance

In its Madison 2017 class, gener8tor accepted 5 out of 691 companies. [8] [9]

History

gener8tor's first fund was backed by Dan Armbrust, founder of Granite Microsystems, a Mequon, Wisconsin equipment manufacturer, and Dan Bader, president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies. gener8tor is a sponsor for Front Row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland in the NASCAR Cup Series. [10] In 2024, gener8tor partnered with several municipalities and universities to expand its accelerator programs across additional U.S. regions. For example, the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, launched new gALPHA and gBETA accelerator programs in collaboration with gener8tor to support local entrepreneurs and early-stage startups. [11]

Gener8tor Fund II

CSA Partners Venture Management, a venture capital fund backed by Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive, and former president and CEO of the Argosy Foundation, Wisconsin Investment Partners, and other individual investors contributed 2.1 million dollars to "Gener8tor Fund II". The funds are for operations and investments of the gener8tor companies. [12]

References

  1. Newman, Judy (2012-06-16). "Tech and Biotech: gener8tor looks to grow new Wisconsin tech firms". Wisconsin State Journal .
  2. "Gener8tor's Minneapolis accelerator gets new leader". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  3. "Statistics". gener8tor. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  4. Journal, Judy Newman | Wisconsin State. "Gener8tor unleashes its latest class of startups". madison.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  5. 1 2 "Apply". gener8tor. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  6. "Badger Business Generators: Joe Kirgues & Troy Vosseller". Wisconsin Alumni Association. 2015-03-08. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  7. "Gener8tor named one of the country's top 16 accelerators" . Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  8. Moe, Alex (15 May 2017). "Premiere Night showcases gener8tor's latest group". WisBusiness.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  9. "Errund joins top startup accelerator - The Errund Blog". The Errund Blog. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  10. "gener8tor, Ruedebusch Development to Continue Sponsorship of Todd..." Racing America. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  11. "City Launches gALPHA and gBETA Charlotte Accelerators". City of Charlotte. City of Charlotte Government. May 10, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  12. Lee, Troy (December 1, 2014). "Gener8tor's New Fund Worth $2.1M". madisonstartups.com. Eat Drink Madison, LLC. Retrieved June 23, 2015.