gener8tor is an American

startup accelerator Startup accelerators, also known as seed accelerators, are fixed-term, cohort-based programs, that include mentorship and educational components and culminate in a public pitch event or demo day. While traditional business incubators are often g ...

that operates in several US cities, including

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. As of March 2017, gener8tor was ranked as the top 11th startup accelerator out of more than 150 accelerator programs in the United States by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. Since its inception, gener8tor has invested in 180 companies, which have gone on to raise more than $1 billion in total follow-on financing.

Program

gener8tor runs 3 classes a year and accepts only 5 startups per class. The startups receive a hands-on mentorship, and up to $100,000 of investment. gener8tor offers $20,000 in exchange for 6-7% of equity and another $80,000 in the form of an uncapped

convertible note In finance, a convertible bond or convertible note or convertible debt (or a convertible debenture if it has a maturity of greater than 10 years) is a type of bond that the holder can convert into a specified number of shares of common stock i ...

. gener8tor takes no board seats, no preferred shares, and no liquidation preferences. Each class happens in a different city, with

in the

Spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...

, Minneapolis in the Summer, and Milwaukee during the Fall. Each class lasts about 3 months. gener8tor invests in high-growth startups, including software, IT, web, SaaS, e-commerce and hardware.

Acceptance

In its Madison 2017 class, gener8tor accepted 5 out of 691 companies. In its inaugural Minneapolis 2017 class, gener8tor accepted 5 out of 456 companies.

Past rankings

In March 2016, the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project ranked Gener8tor as the top 14th accelerator program in the United States out of 150 startup accelerators reviewed. In March 2015, the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project ranked Gener8tor as the top 13th accelerator program out of 150 startup accelerators in the United States. In March 2014, the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project placed Gener8tor in the top 20 of accelerator programs out of 150 participants whose programs were reviewed.

History

gener8tor's first fund was backed by Dan Armbrust, founder of Granite Microsystems, a Mequon, Wisconsin equipment manufacturer, and Dan Bader, president and CEO of

Bader Philanthropies Bader Philanthropies Inc. is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin based foundation that consists of funds from the Helen Daniels Bader Fund and the Isabel and Alfred Bader Fund. It pledges to give away $14 million annually. The organization centers on the health ...

Gener8tor Fund II

CSA Partners CSA Partners is a venture capital fund backed by Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive, and former president and CEO of the Argosy Foundation Abele invested 10 million dollars into the fund. The firm leases 35,000 square feet at remodelled spa ...

Venture Management, a venture capital fund backed by

Chris Abele Christopher Seton Abele (born January 28, 1967) is an American businessman and Democratic Party politician. He served as the 6th Milwaukee County Executive from 2011 to 2020. Abele is the son of American businessman John Abele, the co-founder of ...

, Milwaukee County Executive, and former president and CEO of the Argosy Foundation,

Wisconsin Investment Partners Wisconsin Investment Partners, founded in 1999, is a venture capital fund backed by a Madison, Wisconsin angel investor, angel investing group. The group has invested more than $20 million in more than 40 early-stage companies, and in 2014 was on ...

, and other individual investors contributed 2.1 million dollars to "Gener8tor Fund II". The funds are for operations and investments of the gener8tor companies.

References

External links

* http://www.gener8tor.com/ *https://www.gBETAstartups.com *https://www.onrampconference.com/ *https://www.NMotion.co/ * http://www.seed-db.com/accelerators/view?acceleratorid=263012 {{Venture capital firms Financial services companies established in 2012 Organizations based in Milwaukee Technology companies established in 2012 2012 establishments in Wisconsin Venture capital firms of the United States Organizations based in Madison, Wisconsin Startup accelerators