Meet the 7 startups from Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Gener8tor accelerator

Anyone who reads my work knows that I have a penchant for accelerators, so it’s with great pleasure to day that I get to tell you about the graduating class and some news from another one – Gener8tor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. First, let’s start with the news.

Gener8tor is today announcing that it has joined the Global Accelerator Network, a group of independently-owned, seed-level accelerators that have proven themselves to hold to a specific, high standard. As part of the GAN, Gener8tor will have access to its network of training, consulting, support and more. GAN was created in 2010, along with Washington’s Startup America initiative.

The next piece of news from the accelerator is that it has partnered with American Family Insurance. While an insurance company helping to fund and underwrite an accelerator might seem strange, AFI’s Chief Investment Officer Pete Gunder says that it falls in line with the company’s greater goals of helping address unmet economic needs.

“We support the infrastructure that’s emerged to help startup businesses grow, and we believe that our association with Gener8tor is both a good investment and a wise move for the local economy.”

Gener8tor is somewhat unique in its operation. It runs a successful, 12-week summer accelerator program, but a quick look at the accelerator’s site reveals something different — the accelerator is split into two distinct functions. In fact, you could call the 12-week program an incubator, and then the accelerator function starts when part one ends. The approach has earned the group accolades, so let’s take a look at the latest class.

MobileIgniter

Think of it as a WordPress for mobile apps. Web developers can create fully custom applications and even put together modules that fit the specific needs for the companies. But what’s more is that those modules can then go into a marketplace where they can be sold to other MobileIgniter customers who might have similar needs. Make sure to check out our full coverage of the company and its story from last week.

The Good Jobs

It’s somewhat obvious that you’ll want to draw in and hire new people to your company based off of the culture that you’ve created within it. Unfortunately there isn’t really a good way to do that because the public-facing hiring sites of the world aren’t set up to accomodate such a process. The Good Jobs works with those existing channels, focusing on hiring the right people for the right job with culture at the center of it all.

Subsidence

While the technology that drives weather data changes pretty frequently, the information that it provides hasn’t really evolved much at all. Subsidence aims to deploy hyper-local weather networks that can meet any need, no matter how niche. As a result insurance claims for storm damage, better storm predictions and more accurate forecasts all become possible.

Swapferit

You have stuff, but you need other stuff. But maybe the trade needs to happen between a few different people, none of whom knows what the other has. Swapferit simplifies an otherwise-complex process, allowing you to get what you need by trading what you already have.

SpanDeX 

If you’ve ever written a scientific paper then you know that it often takes more time to properly format the formulas and notes than it does to write the paper itself. SpanDeX fixes the problem by automating the process. The company says that its tools can help regain the half a billion dollars annually that are spent on what amounts to not much more than wasted time.

Date Check Pro

One interesting twist about inventory management in grocery stores is that it is, at its heart, a big data problem. So Date Check Pro uses technology to keep track of expiration dates on a per-item scale, meaning that grocers won’t have to order new stock before the time is right, but they’ll also be on top of what’s needed next. The end result is less time spent, more money saved and happier customers with fresher food.

UConnect

Here’s a two-fold problem — Customers want to order food via apps, restaurants want to be listed in as many places as possible. But if the listing problem gets solved, customers end up having to use any number of systems to get the ordering completed. UConnect is the bridge-style answer to both sides of the equation.

So there you have it. Those are the 7 companies that will be demoing this evening from the Milwaukee branch of Gener8tor. Now, dear TNW friends, it’s up to you. Which companies do you want to know more about? We have carte blanche access to information about all of them so we’re leaving it up to you to decide. Just drop a note in the comments.