Inside Wisconsin

Wes Schroll holds no grudges against all the potential investors who said “no” to putting money into Fetch Rewards.

Is there anyone in Wisconsin who didn’t visit a Kwik Trip convenience store sometime during the COVID-19 year? Judging by the numbers, probably not.

From a better way to integrate pockets in women’s sportswear to more effective heart monitoring during surgery, and from one-stop power conversion software to a pickup compost service, the top 12 in the 2021 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest represent a deep well of innovation.

A longtime advocate for economic development in Wisconsin calls the problem “competing with the couch.”

First released in 2017, one of the enduringly popular versions of the online video game Fortnite is called “Battle Royale.” That’s also a fitting name for the high-stakes federal court trial pitting Fortnite developer Epic Games against Apple, an icon of the mobile economy.

For all the excitement about Madison-based Fetch Rewards achieving “unicorn” status, meaning it is one of about 250 U.S. startups valued at $1 billion or more, this fairy tale almost never happened.

At the latest First Look Forum produced by three of Milwaukee’s leading research universities, three of the six presenting research teams offered solutions to cleaning water — from drinking water at home and abroad to untreated sewage discharges often triggered by storms.

Cultured Decadence may sound like a societal dilemma, but it’s precisely the opposite. It’s a young company offering a timely solution, all the while demonstrating how emerging companies in Wisconsin can attract investors from elsewhere.

More than a year after the pandemic hit, some basic trends have emerged in the economy.

In April 2023, Wisconsin will host a national gathering of about 4,000 collegiate researchers who will descend on Eau Claire to present their ideas, to network with peers and mentors, and to meet with corporate and graduate school recruiters.