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February 3, 2026
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Madison, Wisconsin offers several outstanding non-dilutive funding opportunities that can jumpstart your business while keeping your cap table intact. Here are some of my favorite resources I point entrepreneurs toward:
🏆Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest—Beyond the big prizes, the contest links entrepreneurs with a statewide network of resources, mentors, and possible sources of capital. Last year, I got the opportunity to see Ashwinraj Karthikeyan of Phoenix-Aid take home the top prize. Application deadline: Spring 2026!
đź”—Contest link: https://lnkd.in/gJZUx-Fs
💰SBIR/STTR Program—Not only are SBIR grants a tremendous source of funding, but the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation boosts the award with the SBIR Advance Matching Program. The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) offers terrific free consulting to help you navigate the application process.
đź”—CTC link: https://lnkd.in/ghdHiJgS
🎤Local Pitch Competitions—Madison hosts several incredible opportunities: At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Grant Watkins and gener8tor host the CS Nest showcase at the end of each semester, and Transcend UW hosts a spring semester pitch competition. During the summer, my favorite is the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce's Pressure Chamber Pitch Competition.
đź”—CS Nest link: https://lnkd.in/gT7UbzfE
đź”—Transcend link: https://lnkd.in/gYPxv3cS
đź”—Pressure Chamber link: https://lnkd.in/ghCuKnrV
đź’ˇ Also, check out StartingBlock Madison, Inc.'s various accelerator programs that include not only grants but also tremendous support and coaching.
đź”—StartingBlock link: https://lnkd.in/g7BqQ7si
đź’¬ Did I miss any of your favorites? What other non-dilutive funding programs do you recommend? Email me at carter.chojnacki@michaelbest.com for a discussion on your favorite non-dilutive funding opportunities.
