Our first Venture Build Pitch Night showcased 15 Wisconsin School of Business MBA-led teams presenting venture concepts developed in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Madison technical student teams in the Lab. Industry judges and ecosystem partners joined us for an evening of business insight for early-stage tech ideas.
Top 5 Things Our Judges Loved (and What They Want to See More Of)
Across all 15 pitches, our judges consistently highlighted five elements that set strong founders apart:
- Lead with a compelling, human problem
Start with something relatable. Emotional connection and specificity help the audience care right away. - Keep the story visually simple
Clear, uncluttered slides and quick demos went a long way. Photos, diagrams, and prototypes helped teams communicate their ideas effectively. - Show real customer validation
The best pitches tied user insights directly into product decisions — and several teams demonstrated early traction or willingness-to-pay signals. - Define your wedge and go-to-market
Judges wanted to see where teams get early traction, how they differentiate, and the first paths to adoption. - Make the business case
Strong teams articulated value, scale, sustainability, and why someone would pay for the solution.
These insights will continue shaping how we coach student founders — and they reflect what truly resonated with our industry partners.
Congratulations to Our Winning Teams
The judges had tough decisions, but three teams rose to the top with standout clarity, creativity, and potential:
Best Overall
proTecht
An AI-powered compliance automation platform for federal cloud service providers reducing FedRAMP audit costs by up to 40% and accelerating security authorization. A polished concept with real market urgency.
Most Innovative Go-to-Market Approach
EverOS
A real-time AI orchestration platform for venue operators and security teams. Their approach to pilots, including a UWPD “living lab,” showed a strong path to early traction.
Best Pitch
ARHat+
A LiDAR/AR smartphone tool that identifies home safety risks and ADA compliance gaps in minutes, streamlining documentation and improving care coordination across health and housing systems.
Acknowledgments
We were honored to kick off the evening with opening remarks from Shayna Hetzel (WEDC), who highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary teams and the state’s support for venture-scale innovation.
A heartfelt thank-you to our judges for their thoughtful engagement and tough deliberations:
- Garrett Lauderdale – Idea Fund of La Crosse
- Brad Bodden – Wisconsin Investment Partners (WIP)
- Mason Cook – MasterCraft Ventures
Looking Ahead
This first Venture Build cohort set a new bar. We’re energized by their momentum, inspired by their creativity, and excited to continue building a program where technical founders gain the business insight, customer understanding, and early traction needed to launch what’s next.