MKE TECH News
Issue 23 - September 11, 2020
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Now is the time to continue to grow Milwaukee as a Tech Hub!
Our regional organizations are also accelerating that growth by the individual investments and their commitment to the mission. We’re excited to announce another three organizations are joining us in that commitment to the region:
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TekSystems as a bronze member
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·Silver Lining and New Horizons as community members
And now is the time to join us!
At our Silver, Bronze and Community levels, we need less than four additional members to elect a member to the Board.
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Community members can join for a minimum commitment of only $500 per year for 2 years. Simply complete the application, which includes payment instructions. As a community member you will have access to a members-only portal where you can post your events on mketech.org. Additional member only features are slated to roll out later in the year.
- ·Bronze members make a two-year, $10K/year. Bronze members can participate in all of the committees (Bold Image, Startup, Tech Job Growth, K-20, Re-skill, Attract & Retain) to help shape and prioritize our efforts. Collectively, we achieve more than our individual organizations while also providing member-only access to talent, marketing opportunities, etc.
- Silver members have made a two-year, $100K/yr commitment. Additional benefits include participation in the Advisory Team with decision making authority.
Reach out to me at kathy@mketech.org if you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Bronze or Silver member.
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COALITION UPDATES
Progress and Calls to Action Aligned to Key Strategies
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Bold Vision Showcasing Milwaukee as a Tech Hub
The MKE Tech Hub Coalition turns 1 in October! We are very excited to be coming up on the one-year anniversary of the formation of the MKE Tech Hub Coalition. Since then we’ve seen significant growth in membership and early success on programs. In the next couple of weeks, keep an eye out for a special email inviting you to our anniversary celebration. As a part of this event, we will be looking for organizations who would like to use this as an opportunity to share how they are working to expand MKE’s capabilities as a Tech Hub. We look forward to celebrating with all of you! Please send a note to contact@mketech.org if you’re interested in a 5-min slot to highlight news on your efforts.
Summerfest Panel on Reskilling available on replay!
At Summerfest Tech, four of our members (Northwestern Mutual, Mars Solutions Group, GalaxE.Solutions, and West Bend Mutual) discussed the benefits they’ve received from hiring tech talent from non-traditional routes including innovation, positive cultural impacts, etc. . A common theme of “doing well by doing good” emerged. Be inspired by hearing their stories! A replay is available at https://www.summerfest.com/tech/ until the end of September.
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K-20 Developing and retaining the next generation of tech talent
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The MKE Hour of Code experience is sponsored by the Coalition and powered by NEWaukee to demonstrate a regional commitment to local tech talent development. Our goal for 2020 is to sustain a minimum of 5000 Hours of Code for MKE students with the active support of Coalition members and the greater MKE community. Join the list of participating organizations and sign up via THIS FORM. Are you already signed up, but want to know:
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Who’s coordinating volunteers for your organization and how to get involved? Email HoC@mketech.org and we’ll get you connected.
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Impact of COVID-19 on in-person activities? No worries! Here are guidelines on how to run activities virtually.
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What to do next? If you haven’t already received a communication from HoC@mketech.org, check your spam folder for it. This is the time to start assembling your team of volunteers, so you know how much help you have and how many students you can support.
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Still have questions? Contact HoC@mketech.org.
Come Celebrate!
MKE Tech Hub Coalition and The Commons were recently recognized as a “Mother/Father of Invention” in their Focus on the Future Awards for our Virtual Summer Internship program. Watch for articles in the upcoming BizTimes magazine or join the celebration on September 18. Registration for the event is here.
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Re/Upskilling Developing new sources of talent that match our employers needs and demonstrate a value for diversity
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Opportunities to Re/Upskill Your Incumbent Workforce
Forward Careers is now accepting applications for Incumbent Worker Training grants. The program is designed to address the skills gap in your existing workforce and help boost your productivity and/or avert layoffs.
- Open to any industry sector.
- Amount is based on available funds with a maximum award amount not to exceed $10,000 per business per program year.
- Deadline is 12 pm on Friday, September 18, 2020.
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Startup Leveraging cross-industry partnerships to accelerate local start up growth and drive innovation
FOR-M fall cycle launches the week of Sept. 14. There is still time to join us.
FOR-M incubator is intended to help founders continue to refine their concepts and make critical connections to take their companies to the next level. With programming that is 50% mentor based, join over 35 other founders in developing your concept while expanding your network. Apply here.
Recent FOR-M graduate Talimer launches talent marketplace focused on tech freelance workers
After participating in the inaugural FOR-M cohort, Talimer recently launched their business offering tech freelancers connections to jobs, benefits and more, supporting the new world of work. “It’s time for businesses to be able to consider freelance as a competitive weapon and more easily connect with difficult-to-access, highly skilled and in-demand professionals,” said Erica Conway, Co-Founder of Talimer. “Just as important, Talimer’s platform reduces hiring bias and intentionally increases inclusivity, diversity and access to underrepresented freelancers. These drivers, in addition to our focus on job security and benefits, propels our ‘Freelancer First’ mentality.” Visit them on social media or Talimer.com to learn more.
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COALITION MEMBERS IN ACTION |
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Kohl’s Strengthens Commitment to Milwaukee Community with $1 Million Donation to Local Nonprofits
Kohl’s is strengthening its commitment to the Milwaukee community with a $1 million donation to five nonprofit organizations that serve diverse communities. The five benefiting nonprofits include The Milwaukee Urban League, Employ Milwaukee, Acts Housing, Safe & Sound and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. The partnerships reflect a joint commitment between Kohl's and area nonprofits to improve equity and economic empowerment for Black and Hispanic residents in under-served communities in the Milwaukee area. In addition to financial contributions, Kohl's will support the nonprofit organizations through associate volunteerism, leadership engagement and creating opportunities for a talent pipeline to Kohl's. Read more.
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Concurrency, Inc. Draws National Attention for Zero Trust Security Engagement at Global Marine Manufacturer Brunswick Corporation
Concurrency leveraged this security model to design, support and secure Brunswick’s modern work environment. The resulting work is proving to be particularly important as the manufacturer looks to support a scalable, secure remote work environment. You can learn more about Brunswick Corporation’s security journey here.
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TEKsystems Sponsors Free Personal Branding Workshop
Please join our free Personal Branding workshop for Brew City HDI sponsored by TEKsystems. Our personal brand is how we articulate and market the UNIQUE VALUE that we bring to a professional situation. Building your brand is essential for success in any environment. The Webex workshop on September 15 will be 90 minutes followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. Advanced registration is required for our “Discovering Your Personal Brand” Workshop. Learn more and register here.
Inspire the Next Generation of Computer Scientists
The 2020-2021 school year is underway and Microsoft TEALS is supporting 25 classrooms both virtually and in person throughout the Milwaukee area to teach computer science next year! We still have openings for volunteers to team-teach Java, Python or CS skills. For more information on how you can get involved to inspire the next generation of computer scientists, contact Marlena Eanes or check out the TEALS website.
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HR Roundtable on Strategies for Inclusion Hosted by i.c.stars |* Milwaukee
How have your organization's BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) employees been doing this year? If you started some diversity initiatives, yet have trouble attracting or retaining BIPOC talent, you may have more work to do around inclusion and equity-building. Join HR executive panelists from Northwestern Mutual, Baird, Colectivo Coffee Roasters and Milwaukee Center for Independence on September 30 for this conversation about strategies for inclusion, starting with employee resource groups. Register online for $20.
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Let's Talk About Equity in STEM; a Local Perspective
Read the latest blog from STEM Forward to gain a local perspective on this crucial issue and find out what prominent STEM leaders in Milwaukee had to say on this topic. Help us get the conversation started before our annual sySTEMnow Conference, which will be held virtually on October 29 with the same theme, "Equity in STEM." The conference brings together business leaders, community members, educators and government officials to share best practices and lessons learned and has become the cornerstone of STEM-related awareness in our region. Learn more and register today.
NCWIT WI Seeks Higher Education Alliance Partners
Do you know a higher education institution in Wisconsin committed to providing an inclusive campus environment for computing and related disciplines? Encourage it to join the National Center for Women in Information Technology "Academic Alliance" sponsored in part by Microsoft and the National Science Foundation! Please contact Laura Schmidt at LauraS@mketech.org with questions or check out the website.
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Explore CAD, Engineering Design and Coding with Gearbox Labs
Gearbox Labs is providing two free workshops on digital prototyping, engineering and coding skills. Each workshop will be presented live in one-hour sessions over four dates. Both will use the Arduino® UNO simulator found in the free online application, Tinkercad. One workshop will be presented in English, which starts September 12. The second workshop starts September 19 and will be presented in Spanish. Each workshop will have a limited enrollment of 25. To register for the English workshop, click here, Spanish, click here.
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Acuity Donates $450,00 to UW-Whitewater Cyber Defense Program
Acuity Insurance will donate $450,000 to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. to support the university’s cutting-edge cyber defense program and create the Acuity Cyber Defense Range. The range will be available to organizations of all sizes, including local businesses, government agencies, regional Fortune 500 companies and more. Significant time also will be reserved for students. Most businesses are aware of the threat of cyberattacks, but first experience cybercrime when it actually happens. This immersive experience will help users learn how to identify, protect, detect, respond and recover from the latest attacks. More here.
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Startup Spotlight
MKE ranks #13 as a startup hub & #1 for employee loyalty
The annual Midwest+startups report compares 59 Midwest cities in terms of startup activity, access to resources and business climate. While Milwaukee ranked # 13 overall, the city was #1 for employee loyalty. Milwaukee also scored in the top 10 for strength in its angel network, available accelerators and incubators, government programs, small business loan access, growth domestic product per capita and number of large companies. Read more.
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WERCBench Labs Accelerator 2020-2021 Application Deadline Extended
The accelerator program is for start-up companies in Energy, Power and Controls with innovative products and services to advance cutting edge technologies and ideas. It utilizes the lean startup method helping businesses advance to a position to leverage investor relations and serve consumers in a competitive environment. Program structure has updated and will be taught VIRTUALLY for the first 8 weeks with classes moving to in-person for the last 8 weeks of the 16-week program. Application deadline is September 22. More details.
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gBETA Milwaukee is now accepting applications for the Fall 2020 cohort. A program of Wisconsin-based nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor, gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity. Apply here - deadline is October 2. For more information, please email Molly Dill at molly@gener8tor.com or sign up for her office hours.
Inntro: Launching Your Career Has Never Been Easier
The right connections can get you anywhere you want to go, especially if you’re launching your career or exploring a new path. Inntro quickly connects you to the people and companies that offer microlearning experiences to help you skill up and find your next gig. The app is a fast and easy way to create authentic business relationships to elevate your career. Learn more about this Milwaukee startup by signing up for the exclusive, free beta here.
West Allis Startup Helps Small Businesses Sell and Deliver Items during Pandemic
Dityer is helping businesses in Milwaukee adapt into the digital world. Stores and restaurants can both partner with Dityer to reach more customers, sell online and offer their customers same day delivery with no upfront costs. Partners can list their entire menu/inventory for sale on Dityer. When an item is purchased from the app, a driver picks up the item and delivers it to the customer. If you or someone you know is looking to take their business into the digital age, be sure to contact Dityer at 414-813-8012 or visit the website.
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Events
BraveIT
Join 500+ IT professionals, technology thought leaders, cloud and infrastructure solution providers on September 16-17 for a diverse array of IT workshops, panels, interviews and peer-to-peer sessions. This virtual event will feature a packed slate of sessions and speakers on the challenges presented by COVID-19, IT security, digital transformation and future technologies shaping IT infrastructure as well as dedicated space for interactive virtual networking. To mark IT Appreciation Day on the eve of the event, we’re giving away a Peloton bike! Register today. More info here.
Wisconsin Biohealth Summit
BioForward is planning a virtual Wisconsin Biohealth Summit with an exciting lineup that won’t have you sitting bored at your computer for a day-long conference. We’ll give you entertainment and education over three separate days (September 23, 30 and October 7) for shorter periods. BioForward’s annual Biohealth Summit serves as a platform for Wisconsin’s biohealth community to celebrate successes and collaborate on what’s next for our booming industry. Register here.
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Startup Week Milwaukee Returns
For the past four years Startup Milwaukee Week has provided active and aspiring startup founders with the connections, visibility and resources they need to grow and thrive in Southeast Wisconsin. We’ll celebrate our fifth year in 2020 virtually, November 11 - 18. Look for our calendar of events to be released October 1st. We’re also seeking community organizations to host events. If you would like to partner with us, please complete this form.
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