Apply to the Startup Challenge

Startup Challenge Applications Open!

The UWM Startup Challenge is a co-curricular program that fosters an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at UWM by encouraging students to research and develop their ideas, prototype products, services, or social ventures, launch new businesses, and gain the skills that come from entrepreneurial experience.

Learn how to turn your ideas into reality. Students and teams come to us at different stages of their idea and move at different speeds. Throughout our yearlong program, we propel your venture forward, whether that’s through design thinking, customer discovery, prototype development, or launching your business out into its day-to-day activities.

Grow professional skills that benefit your career, whether you become an entrepreneur, and/or an “intrapreneur” at a large company. We want to see our students succeed wherever their next step may be. The Startup Challenge has you learn by doing, practice techniques, skills, and strategies that don’t typically come up in the classroom.

Broaden your network. Our entrepreneurs have opportunities to interact with esteemed UWM professors and staff, as well as work with Milwaukee business professionals.

Commitment and timeline: Our community is the most important part of our program and we can’t wait to grow the network. You are expected to attend “Booster” sessions, where you will learn entrepreneurial skills and progress your idea, one Saturday morning a month November – May. You will also want to participate in the community and get the other resources provided by our program, including office hours and topical “Pop Ups” (workshops) hosted at noon on Wednesdays, and LEC talks that will leave you inspired.

You are welcome to join Startup Challenge solo or with a team!