The Midwest Founders community vision
The Midwest Founders Community (MFC) charts a course where values aren't just spoken but lived — where community, capital, and customers converge to create a tapestry of unparalleled entrepreneurial vitality and vibrancy for our city, but also for our collective future.
For too long, we have been waiting for our legacy companies and institutions to innovate and transform the region into our post-industrial next chapter. But we know, it is the founders that see an opportunity and pursue it mercilessly; who chart a new course despite the unknown and the uncertainty; who strive for excellence and elevate our culture out of a state of complacency and into a dawn of a new era. And now we believe it is time to pour back into our founder class so that they can help to transform our region.
What began as a passion project to connect founders to one another has grown throughout 2023 into a full blown initiative and our sights for 2024 are higher than ever. Here’s what we’ve achieved and where we are headed as a decentralized, asynchronous group of (volunteer!) founders –
1. Community: Weaving Bonds, Strengthening Dreams
MFC thrives on the vibrant threads of connection, where individuals converge, not just around ideas, but shared interests and ambitions. In 2023, we gathered over 2,000 people together for our large scale and micro event series. In 2024, we deepen our commitment to fostering a community where every founder finds resonance, a space to share, learn, and grow. Stronger bonds make for stronger communities, and MFC is the forge where lasting connections are forged.
To get there – we are launching a formalized free Founder Membership. If you are an aspiring or established founder – apply today so we can continue to tailor our community offerings to meet your unique needs.
2. Capital: Empowering Dreams, Bridging Gaps
Entrepreneurship knows no boundaries, and neither should access to capital. MFC is a beacon for entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, dismantling barriers and providing the necessary financial and human capital for dreams to take flight. In 2023, we gave away $10,000 in non-equity based grants to brand new founders and we launched the Founder Funder Forum to connect high growth founders to traditional capital from outside of the region. In the coming year, our mission intensifies: to make entrepreneurship accessible to all, ensuring that the innovators of today and tomorrow have the resources they need to thrive.
To get there – we are actively raising $100,000 for grants to be given away to aspiring founders. If you believe that Milwaukee needs to sow more seeds in its earliest stage companies – we welcome an opportunity to chat about sponsorship of this important initiative.
We also plan to take high growth Midwest Founders who are actively raising their next round on the road next year to meet with investors in Chicago. If you’re a high growth founder, join our Founder Membership & we’ll get you on the invite list. If you’re a Chicago investor - we want to chat with you about being featured during this roadshow.
3. Customers: Nurturing Innovation, Growing Revenue
In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, customers are the compass guiding the way. MFC is the compass needle, offering resources that go beyond the conventional. In 2023, we launched the B2B SaaS Club to intentionally connect SaaS founders with area corporations for new pilots and early trials of their products as paying customers. In 2024, we empower founders to not just connect with potential customers but to engage with them, present their products or services, and receive invaluable feedback. Early adopters become allies, and through this collective dialogue, we refine our offerings, ensuring they resonate with the pulse of the market.
To get there – our goal is for 50 corporations to pledge to become early customers of our local startups. We encourage both founders & corporate CIOs to join the club.
The Tapestry Unfolds:
As we navigate the uncharted territories of 2024, MFC emerges as more than a community — it's a movement. A movement that values every founder, every idea, and every aspiration. Together, we are architects of a future where community, capital, and customers harmonize, creating a symphony of innovation that resonates far beyond the borders of Milwaukee.
In unity, we find strength. In diversity, we find resilience. In collaboration, we find boundless possibilities. For a Midwest where dreams know no limits. For a Midwest Founders Community where every entrepreneur finds a home.