Southeast Wisconsin 262 Founder Pitch Competition to Spotlight Region’s Top Startups

Name: Southeast Wisconsin 262 Founder Pitch Competition to Spotlight Region’s Top Startups
Start: 2026-11-10
Location: Kenosha Innovation Center

2026-11-10 · Kenosha

Kenosha Innovation Center

The Southeast Wisconsin 262 Founder Pitch Competition takes place November 10, 2026, at the Kenosha Innovation Center, spotlighting the region's top early-stage startups.

The 262 Founder Pitch Competition, held at the Kenosha Innovation Center on November 10, 2026, showcases top startups from Southeast Wisconsin. Early-stage companies can apply by September 1, 2026, across three categories: Build Smarter (Intelligent Manufacturing), Heal Better (Biohealth), and Strengthen Community (Local Impact). The event is a collaborative effort by economic development organizations to foster innovation in the region.

Founder brief

Who should attend

Pre-seed and seed-stage founders eligible to apply must be U.S. citizens aged 18 or older who live or work in Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, or Waukesha counties. Startups must fit one of the three event tracks: Intelligent Manufacturing, Biohealth, or Local Impact.

What happens

The pitch competition organizes participants across three defined tracks: Build Smarter for intelligent manufacturing, Heal Better for biohealth, and Strengthen Community for local impact ventures. Selected founders showcase their companies live to regional stakeholders and audience members at the Kenosha Innovation Center.

Who's in the room

Attendees include regional startup founders, local economic development leaders, and featured speakers Derek D'Auria from the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Kelly Armstrong from Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, and Laura Million from the Racine County Economic Development Corporation. Sponsors include Chase, KABA, Tech-Prize, UW Parkside, and Gateway Technical College.

How to prepare

Submit your application by the September 1, 2026 deadline. Tailor your pitch deck to clearly align with either intelligent manufacturing, biohealth, or community impact metrics. Prepare a concise presentation that explains your product, business model, and regional footprint to economic development leaders and potential partners.

Organizer: Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood

At a glance

Format: Pitch competition featuring three categories: 'Build Smarter' (Intelligent Manufacturing), 'Heal Better' (Biohealth), and 'Strengthen Community' (Local Impact).
Who can apply: Participants must be a resident or work within the following counties: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha. Participants must be 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen.
Stage: Pre seed, Seed
Sectors: Agnostic

Speakers, judges and hosts

Derek D’Auria — Executive Director, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA) (Speaker)
Kelly Armstrong — Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (Speaker)
Laura Million — Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) (Speaker)