The Founders Night Out – Start-up Night – Incubators, Accelerators and Making Your Business Go

Founders Night Out is hosting an exciting evening for entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners, and startup enthusiasts. This event is dedicated to answering key questions like “How do I start a business?” or “What resources are available to help my startup grow?” Attendees will learn about local incubators, accelerators, and support programs designed to help technical and non-technical startups thrive.

Representatives from these organizations will share insights, opportunities, and resources available to help you start or scale your business:

• Tech-Prize (https://www.tech-prize.org): Tech-Prize is an innovation competition and entrepreneurial hub in Racine, WI, offering support to startups and innovators through a variety of competitions, mentoring programs, and networking opportunities. Tech-Prize fosters creativity, collaboration, and economic growth by connecting entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
• Founder Institute (https://www.fi.co/program): The Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed accelerator, focused on helping aspiring entrepreneurs build enduring tech companies. Their structured programs guide founders through the startup process, providing expert mentorship, training, and a global network of like-minded entrepreneurs.
• Gener8tor gBETA Kenosha (https://www.gener8tor.com/gbeta/kenosha): Gener8tor’s gBETA program is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage startups. This highly competitive program provides individualized coaching, networking opportunities, and access to investors, with a focus on driving tangible growth. gBETA Kenosha is open to startups from all industries and is an invaluable resource for scaling your business.
• RCEDC’s BizStarts Program (https://rcedc.org/bre/bizstarts/): BizStarts, through the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), provides comprehensive business support, including free coaching, funding opportunities, and connections to local resources. BizStarts focuses on helping entrepreneurs at all stages bring their business ideas to life.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Parkside (https://www.uwp.edu/connect/businessandcommunity/sbdc.cfm): The SBDC at UW-Parkside helps entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve their goals through business consulting, training, and access to resources. Whether you’re starting out or looking to grow, the SBDC offers personalized guidance to ensure your business thrives.

Come and hang out on Wednesday, February 19th to hear about these resources and the specific programs each organization is offering from March to May. There will be great opportunities to network and ask all the questions you have to start or scale your business effectively.

Date:               Wednesday, February 19th

Time:               6:00-8:00

Location:        Uncorkt – 240 Main Street, Racine WI

Parking:           Available on street, or in the parking garage at the corner of State & Main

Thank you to Uncorkt for hosting this event!

Here’s to Innovation and helping local people that are starting and scaling businesses.

• Tech-Prize: We are about helping ideas find fulfillment and we’re all about moving futures forward. We seek out great ideas in our various Competitions, and Founders Night Out events where we bring opportunities to learn more about the entrepreneurial process, access to resources available to help you through integrate them into your business and a place where you can network with like-minded individuals already on the path. Whether just thinking about starting the entrepreneurial journey or looking for funding, Tech-Prize is here to help you get there.  We’re more than an incubator and idea aggregator. We involve all participants in our mentorship and success process, meeting them wherever they’re at in their professional journey. We work on providing the secret sauce to success – the things they don’t teach you in the classroom. In our last competition series we awarded over $80,000 in scholarships and cash to local and global participants. Learn more: www.tech-prize.org.

• The RCEDC BizStarts program is a transformative initiative designed to help aspiring and new business owners successfully launch or scale their ventures. Through six expert-led classroom sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and consulting support from Carthage College students, participants gain hands-on experience and practical insights into strategic thinking, financial management, marketing, operations, and leveraging resources. Following the coursework, participants receive a full year of mentorship to guide their entrepreneurial journey. The program, which has proven successful in Milwaukee, is now available in Racine at Gateway Technical College. Enrollment costs $500, with scholarships available based on need.

  Learn more and apply at RCEDC.org/BizStarts.

• Founder Institute: The Founder Institute (FI) is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders build impactful and enduring technology companies. Through a structured, part-time program led by experienced mentors and industry experts, participants receive hands-on guidance, a global network of support, and resources to transform their ideas into successful businesses. FI operates across six continents, supporting innovation in over 200 cities worldwide. Learn more about how the Founder Institute empowers entrepreneurs to turn their vision into reality by visiting Founder Institute.

• gBeta (part of Gener8tor): gBETA runs multiple times every year in cities across the United States. Up to five companies from a range of verticals are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in the free seven-week program. Participating companies receive coaching, mentorship, access to investor and help with pitch development. Ongoing post-program support and gener8tor community involvement and offerings. gBETA’s goal is that graduates will go on to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round. You can see gBETA’s progress against these goals here. Learn more about the local Kenosha branch at: gBeta Kenosha