Top 10 Wisconsin Startups to Watch in 2026
Wisconsin's startup scene shows a strong mix of industries, from pet food to insurance technology. Companies like Stella & Chewy's have attracted significant funding, with one round reaching $150 million.
The state is also home to growing companies in the insurance and healthcare sectors, such as Coterie Insurance which has raised $97 million. The following companies represent the key players shaping the state's economic future.
Below is our list of 10 Wisconsin startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Coterie Insurance offers an API-driven platform that simplifies how agents and brokers quote and issue small business insurance. The technology is designed to streamline the underwriting process, enabling partners to bind policies in minutes.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | David McFarland, Kevin Mackey, Tim Metzner |
| Funding Amount | $97M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Allos Ventures, RPM Ventures, Weatherford Capital, Frontier Venture Capital, Sure Ventures |
Immuto Scientific provides contract research services to pharmaceutical companies, helping them accelerate the drug discovery process. Their team applies a proprietary plasma-based technology to deliver crucial insights on protein structure and interactions.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Daniel Benjamin, Faraz Choudhury, Mike Sussman |
| Funding Amount | $13M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | National Institutes of Health, NVNG Investment Advisors, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Golden Angels Investors, gbeta |
Stella & Chewy's produces a line of natural, raw food for dogs and cats. Their offerings center on freeze-dried and frozen raw dinners and treats, providing pets with minimally processed, high-protein nutrition.
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Marie Moody |
| Funding Amount | $150M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Stripes |
Understory deploys proprietary weather stations that create a ground-level view of weather events like hail and wind. This data powers an analytics and modeling platform for the insurance industry to improve underwriting and claims processing.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Alex Kubicek, Alexander Jacobs, Bryan Dow |
| Funding Amount | $57.8M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | True Ventures, gener8tor, Bolt, RRE Ventures, 4490 Ventures |
EnsoData develops AI-powered software that helps clinicians diagnose sleep disorders more efficiently. Their platform automates the analysis of sleep studies, reducing the time it takes to get results for conditions like sleep apnea.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Chris Fernandez, Nick Glattard, Sam Rusk |
| Funding Amount | $51.1M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Venture Investors, Zetta Venture Partners, Supermoon Capital, M25, Questa Capital Management |
Bend Health offers virtual mental health services for children, teens, and their families. Their care model combines coaching, therapy, and psychiatry to provide comprehensive support.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Kurt Roots, Monika Roots |
| Funding Amount | $32M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Maveron, SteelSky Ventures, WVV Capital |
GenoPalate analyzes a person's genetic makeup and lifestyle to deliver personalized insights for optimal eating. Their platform translates this data into a tailored nutrition plan designed to work with an individual's unique body.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Matt Edwards, Paul Auer, Yi Zhang |
| Funding Amount | $14.3M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Undisclosed |
| Top Investors | gener8tor, Target Takeoff, BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Neil Giugno |
Recovery.com runs an independent online resource that helps people find mental health and addiction treatment. Their platform simplifies the search for care by providing a comprehensive directory of verified treatment centers.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Benjamin Camp, Jeremiah Calvino |
| Funding Amount | $8.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | HealthX Ventures, Shree Kalluri |
Imbed Biosciences develops advanced antimicrobial dressings designed to manage complex wounds like burns and surgical sites. Their core technology is an ultrathin, flexible film that uses stabilized silver nanoparticles to control infection directly at the wound site.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Ankit Agarwal, Nicholas Abbott |
| Funding Amount | $22.9M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Convertible Note |
| Top Investors | National Science Foundation, MassChallenge, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Wisconsin Economic Development, WISC Partners |
Batteries Plus runs a nationwide network of retail stores that specialize in batteries, light bulbs, and professional device repair. They are known as the country's largest specialty franchise, offering a vast inventory of power and lighting products for both homes and businesses.
| Year Founded | 1988 |
| Founders | Bhushan Chouhan |
| Funding Amount | $7M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Grant |
| Top Investors | US Department of Energy |
