As Jefferson County’s need for all types of housing persists, Whitewater continues to be a shining example of the benefits of net-new construction. On top of new commercial developments as well, City of Whitewater Community Development Director Mason Becker has been busy these past several months.

Steven Girard, a chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, took home Project Pitch It’s $10,000 prize for his bioactive glass coating used to mitigate infection and loosening in titanium implants in the body.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Enactus chapter continued to show the nation the strength of its purpose of using business for good, earning its second straight national championship on April 18 at the Enactus United States 2026 National Exposition in Denver, Colorado. The Warhawks will represent the U.S. at the Enactus World Cup, set for Nov. 16-19 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Pier, dock and boat lift maker Summerset Marine Construction is planning to build a new manufacturing facility southwest of Innovation Drive and Howard Road in Whitewater. The company received unanimous approval Tuesday from Whitewater’s Common Council to purchase two parcels of land, totaling 33 acres, in the Whitewater University Technology Park campus.

From advertising agencies to commercial cleaning services, UW-Whitewater students are launching their own businesses while still studying. The Launch Pad program is a startup accelerator designed to help both undergraduate and graduate students start new businesses or grow existing ones. Through mentorship, training and business development support, the program helps students refine their ideas while connecting them with experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (CoBE) is celebrating a milestone achievement as alumnus Joe Scanlin (2012), founder and CEO of Scanalytics, announces his company’s acquisition by East West Manufacturing, a global technology manufacturing leader backed by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation with over 25 years of operations spanning seven countries.

In our very first episode of Innovation Exchange, Elizabeth Thelen sits down with UW-Whitewater junior Adam Heikkinen to explore innovation beyond the buzzword. From balancing accounting, IT, and the Honors program to recognizing innovation in everyday problem-solving, Adam shares how curiosity—not flashiness—drives meaningful change.

Advasaf supports critical portions of a product lifecycle, including medical device sterilization, testing coordination, assembly, packaging, labeling, and distribution support.

As a startup, there were many operational and regulatory unknowns. Ron Chisholm, a consultant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Whitewater, provided guidance on business planning, funding pathways, supplier diversity programs, and minority-owned business registration.

Madison-based Scanalytics, a maker of smart flooring and building intelligence solutions, has been acquired by Atlanta-based East West Manufacturing for an undisclosed price.The acquisition expands East West’s product portfolio and end markets across smart buildings, energy management, and connected infrastructure, the company said in a news release.

nCiTE, an academic venture studio founded by neuropsychologist and Milwaukee-based innovation leader Dr. John DenBoer, is transforming how university research evolves into scalable, real-world ventures. This initiative marks a major advancement in Wisconsin’s innovation ecosystem by combining higher education, clinical research, and entrepreneurship into one cohesive model focused on measurable impact. nCiTE is built on strong partnerships with leading institutions, including:University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Foundation, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Innovation Center, and Concordia University’s healthcare and business programs.

Seven winners were honored from a field of 27 finalists and more than 300 nominees at the 2025 Wisconsin Innovation Awards at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. The event celebrated standout products and services across industry categories. Congratulations to SafePro Technologies, winner of the Innovation Award in Manufacturing and Energy!

Congratulations Safepro Technologies who won the Wisconsin Innovation Award in Manufacturing & Energy!

First Citizens State Bank has demonstrated extraordinary generosity through philanthropic investments that have transformed UW-Whitewater. Their support spans across every Foundation campaign with seven-figure contributions, startup funding of nearly 20 Innovation Center businesses, and the donation of over 20 fully developed lots to the UW-Whitewater Foundation’s real estate subsidiary.

First Citizens State Bank has demonstrated extraordinary generosity through philanthropic investments that have transformed UW-Whitewater. Their support spans across every Foundation campaign with seven-figure contributions, startup funding of nearly 20 Innovation Center businesses, and the donation of over 20 fully developed lots to the UW-Whitewater Foundation’s real estate subsidiary.

Sixty-one companies will pitch to potential investors and others during the in-person Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, set for Nov. 5-6 in Madison. Sea Change Silicides was selected for the Tech Council Investor Network track.

Three students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will compete among some of the nation’s premiere schools this September in the finals of Texas A&M University’s “Building a Better Future Through Business and AI” National Undergraduate Pitch Competition.

RenewTowns is a social impact business born from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Whitewater Enactus team. Their mission is simple:to breathe new life into downtowns of

The Wisconsin Technology Council is proud to unveil the 27 finalists for the 2025 Wisconsin Innovation Awards, honoring some of the state’s groundbreaking companies. Safpro Technologies and Sea Change Silicides are both finalists!

The City of Whitewater is pleased to announce the hiring of Mason Becker, as the new Economic Development Director, who brings extensive municipal leadership and development experience to his new role.

Becker’s professional background includes substantial expertise in owner-occupied housing development projects, subdivision planning, Tax Increment District (TID) management, and downtown redevelopment. Notably, he led negotiations and finalized a development agreement for the Rock River Ridge subdivision, adding nearly 200 new housing units in the City of Watertown.

In the latest episode of “WisBusiness: the Show,” Sea Change Silicides founder Steven Girard discusses the path ahead for the biomedical technology business. 

Safepro Technologies, a Whitewater-based safety technology company, has secured a second loan from the Whitewater Community Development Authority (CDA), positioning the startup to bring its flagship safety product to market.

Safepro Technologies was recently featured on Episode 24 of Code & Concrete hosted by Matthew A. Schneider with BuildingProptech. Watch now to learn more about their mission and how the Soteria System works!

As one of the Diligent Dozen Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest finalists, Steven Girard pitched Sea Change Silicides.Sea Change Silicides was the winner for the “Bright New Idea” award.

Two affiliates of the Innovation Center advance in the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest. Safepro Technologies is an affiliate of the Innovation Center. Sea-Change’ Silicides was founded by Steven Girard, an associate professor of chemistry at UW-Whitewater

Mass shootings have become a tragic reality in the United States. Law enforcement veterans Paul Eckert and Robert Austin have spent decades working in law enforcement and training people for these emergencies. But they found that training alone wasn’t enough to protect their community.

Congratulations Safepro Technologies! Safepro Technologies is one of fifty-two entries to advance to the semi-final round of the annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

In early January, Steven Girard, an associate professor of chemistry, was announced as one of three recipients of the 2024 Universities of Wisconsin Innovation Grant for his proposal, “’Sea-Change’ Silicides: Superalloy and Biomedical Coatings from Sustainable and Recycled Feedstocks.” 

Ideawake, a Milwaukee-based leader in idea management software, has launched a series of new platform features aimed at transforming how organizations collect, evaluate, and implement ideas. These enhancements are designed to help businesses turn insights from employees, customers, and partners into actionable strategies that drive measurable success.

With this in mind, B2B marketplace DesignRush has carefully selected the most creative design agencies that can craft innovative branding materials, leveraging color techniques, typography strategies, and distinct visual approaches. Iron Forge ranks as on of the top design agencies.