StartingBlock Madison

Our halls are littered with a variety of professionals and experts across many sectors!

Technology and software lead our member mix, with nearly 27% of classified companies in tech or SaaS, and that concentration is growing, with the 2024–2025 cohorts showing 33% tech representation.

Check out our 2026 Impact Report to see who else is building here in the StartingBlock community.

https://hubs.li/Q04yqqBs0

"We're the good guy hackers." Meet Sprocket Security.

From an 8-person team gearing up for Series A to a 50-employee company nationally recognized, Sprocket Security has grown alongside StartingBlock Madison.

Founder Casey Cammilleri started Sprocket in 2018 because he was tired of point-in-time pe*******on testing. His vision: continuous, always-on security testing, powered by real technology. Not just more testers.

Since joining StartingBlock in 2023, Sprocket has:
🏢 Grown from a 6-person cubical to provide office space
🎯 Crossed 100 customers and keep climbing
🏆 Earned SOC 2 Type II & CREST certification, Gartner and GigaOm recognition, and a Fortune Cybersecurity Award
🤖 Launched AI agents taking on work once done entirely by human testers

Whoa, September is almost over! What happened in August again??

One article sparked a new venture, but a new company was never in the plans.

Rukmini Banerjee knew the family caregiving world was unfair, but not for her parents–for her sister. Rukmini wanted to make it easier for everyone. Listen to Startup Wisconsin Podcast's latest episode about the inspiring journey that started CuroNow, a startup that creates a single space for medications, providers, appointments, documents, and the small daily observations that usually disappear in a family group chat when it comes to caring for aging parents.

https://hubs.li/Q04xBwr60

We're excited to be part of the UW Entrepreneurship Kickoff!

Join us and 30+ entrepreneurship orgs across campus at University of Wisconsin-Madison's Entrepreneurship Kickoff this Sunday, Sept 20, 5:00–8:00 PM at the Great Hall, Memorial Union.

Stop by our table to connect with our team and learn about the resources, and opportunities we offer students this academic year.

RSVP here: https://hubs.li/Q04xBz0H0

Transcend UW

Most of us wait to feel inspired before we start something. Meghann Rapp just liked dogs and wanted her kids to have something to do—that's the whole reason she started training service dogs.

Three years later, one of the dogs she trained, Frost, is now Madison Police Department's first-ever therapy dog, working alongside their peer support officer to help officers through some of the hardest moments of the job.

Meghann didn't set out to change how a police department handles trauma. She just showed up, put in the work, and handed the dog over when it was time because it was never hers to keep.

Along the way, that same work came back to her own family: a community of people she never expected, something her boys could build together, and a dog that helped her own son find his way back out into the world after COVID.

Come hear Meghann talk about what three years of quiet, unglamorous volunteering can turn into and the impact she created in our community. https://hubs.li/Q04xxkcj0

WAGS, Inc.

You'd assume the co-founder of a quantum AI drug discovery company has a lab coat and a PhD…Max Duckworth doesn't. 🥼🚫

He's a Fortune 500 commercial strategy and M&A veteran—not a scientist—who teamed up with a research scientist to turn dense, technical science into an actual company. That's FAR Biotech, and they just picked Madison as their new home.

Curious how a non-scientist builds a biotech startup from the ground up? Come ask him yourself.

📅 Wednesday, September 16, 12–1 PM
📍 2nd Floor Classroom
🥪 Lunch provided
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startingblock-presents-lunch-with-max-duckworth-co-founder-of-far-biotech-tickets-1999535141434

StartingBlock presents: Lunch with Max Duckworth, Co-Founder of FAR Biotech Max Duckworth, co-founder of FAR Biotech, on building a quantum AI drug discovery company — and why he chose Madison to do it.

The problem with growing a small team: your space can't keep up.
The fix: a private office at StartingBlock Madison, built for teams your size.

✅ Perfect for team up to 10 people
✅ 2 private offices
✅ 24/7 secure access
✅ Abundant natural lighting
✅ A coworking community that actually feels like one
✅ Access to additional meeting rooms, event space, podcast studio, and patio.

Under 1,000 sq ft, month-to-month. Your business, upgraded.

Tour Suite 225 before someone else snags it: https://hubs.li/Q04whctl0

Do numbers dancing around when you start to think about your startup's finances?

Alicia Greer will break down the key metrics and financial concepts every founder should track–from cash flow and burn rate to margins and unit economics–so you can make smarter decisions and tell a compelling story to investors.

📅 September 15
🕰️ 12-1PM
📍 2nd Floor Classroom
🥪 Lunch Provided

RSVP ➡️ https://hubs.li/Q04wgQ640

Berndt CPA LLC

EntreCon Midwest 2026 is coming to Beloit on September 15–16, and StartingBlock is proud to support this powerful regional event.

Hosted by Contour Consulting and the Beloit College School of Business, EntreCon Midwest will bring together national and regional speakers, business leaders and entrepreneurs for two days of connection, inspiration and real growth opportunities.

This is a can’t-miss experience for anyone committed to leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the Midwest.

Learn more and grab your tickets on the official EntreCon Midwest 2026 website at https://hubs.li/Q04vbHVY0

USE CODE "SBM26" to get a $100 discount on the 2 Day ticket price