Hey there tech friend! Did you know Wisconsin has emerged as an unlikely yet flourishing heartland tech center? Sure, Wisconsin is famed for its dairy farms and diehard Packers fans. But beyond the cheddar and cheeseheads lies a burgeoning start up community Forging a New Silicon Heartland.
Surprised? So was I – until a deeper look revealed Wisconsin as a rising tech leader and an ideal destination for savvy companies seeking skilled workers, business friendly policies and unmatched quality of life. Overtaking its agricultural roots, Wisconsin‘s tech sector accelerates each year, cultivating groundbreaking innovations and attracting interest nationwide.
Ready to glimpse the future? Let‘s explore how Wisconsin‘s tech boom snuck up on Silicon Valley, spotlight breakout companies "Made in Wisconsin", see what investments tech titans have made and ponder what comes next for America‘s unlikely new tech hotbed!
The Tech Surge Catching Silicon Valley Off Guard
So how exactly did dairy-centric Wisconsin bloom into a magnet for tech ventures large and small? Several key strengths make Wisconsin alluring:
- Prime Location and Infrastructure: A robust transport network providing easy access to Midwest and national markets.
- Highly Educated Workforce: Graduates from globally renowned institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Marquette University.
- Competitive Business Climate: Wisconsin provides targeted tax credits and incentives along with lower corporate taxes than neighboring states. Its effective rate typically hovers around 7.9% compared to 9.8% in Minnesota and 11.0% in Illinois.
Simply put, Wisconsin delivers what tech employers demand – talent, connectivity and operating economics that stack up. Let‘s peek at locally rooted tech champions before eyeing outside interests.
"Made In Wisconsin" Tech Trailblazers
Wisconsin cultivates tech ventures spanning health IT, fintech, biosciences, education, manufacturing systems and beyond. Meet some remarkable homegrown companies forging global success stories:
Epic Systems
This leading medical records software developer headquarters amidst pastoral farmland in Verona, Wisconsin. Since its 1979 founding, visionary leader Judith Faulkner grew Epic into America‘s dominant electronic health records platform serving over 250 million patient records. Epic‘s $3.3 billion in 2020 revenue and roughly 10,000 employees cement its status as Wisconsin‘s largest private employer. Its creatively designed campus reflects its motto to "Do Good, Have Fun, Make Money!"
Renaissance Learning
In 1986, Wisconsin Rapids teacher Judi Paul pioneered adaptive learning software from her family‘s home to empower personalized education. Today Renaissance Learning‘s solutions serve over 20% of U.S. schools and 30+ countries globally! After its $1.1 billion acquisition by Francisco Partners in 2018, Renaissance employs 700 developers crafting acclaimed reading assessments and teaching tools for over 8 million pre-K-12 students worldwide.
Fiserv
Brookfield‘s Fiserv blossomed from a 1984 startup into a fintech juggernaut driving innovation in banking, payments, lending, wealth management and more. Supporting over 40,000 clients with 44,000 worldwide employees, Fiserv technology moves over $5 trillion in payments annually. Ranking among Fortune‘s Global 500, Fiserv reported
$15.2 billion in 2021 revenue cementing its status as one of Wisconsin‘s preeminent technology success stories.
Alongside these heavy hitters, Wisconsin encourages startups through accelerators like Ward 4 and Gener8tor. High-potential emerging ventures include:
| Company | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blok Bio | Milwaukee | Uses AI and genome mapping to enable drug discovery |
| ImageMoverMD | Madison | Enables instant medical image sharing between providers |
| Penrod | Madison | Develops software solutions for law firms |
Beyond homegrown ventures, major outside tech titans are doubling down on Wisconsin through investments and facilities – riding its talent pipeline and business climate to new horizons!
Big Tech Bets Billions on the Badger State‘s Future
Global innovation leaders like Google, Microsoft and Foxconn recognize Wisconsin‘s formidable talent pool and prosperity potential. Tech trailblazers worldwide are steering capital into the Badger State through partnerships, projects and research hubs. Let‘s analyze tech titan investments elevating Wisconsin‘s status:
Internet royalty Google maintains a sizable Madison campus while harnessing Wisconsin‘s vibrant skill base. The tech leader actively supports nonprofits and deploys security systems protecting local election infrastructure. Moreover Google‘s 2021 Wisconsin partnerships alone contributed an estimated $8.6 billion in economic activity!
Foxconn
The Taiwanese electronics manufacturing titan turned heads announcing an intended $10 billion factory investment in Mount Pleasant in 2017. While plans were later revised downwards, Foxconn still intends to funnel $672 million developing a Wisconsin plant concentrating on high-performance computing hardware – generating 1,454 jobs.
Microsoft
Through Milwaukee and Madison facilities plus wide-ranging partnerships, Microsoft steadily grows its Wisconsin presence. The tech kingpin connects industry volunteers with computer science educators via its TEALS program while modernizing ties with agriculture and mining. Microsoft also joins with healthcare networks and provides technologies improving farming efficiency.
Wisconsin‘s Bright Tech Horizon
While no fledgling "Silicon Valley North", Wisconsin‘s technology ascendance is undeniable. This unlikely region promotes innovation through first-rate education, appealing incentives, abundant talent and superb infrastructure.
Homegrown stars like Epic Systems and Fiserv validate Wisconsin‘s flair cultivating global tech champions. Meanwhile titans like Google and Microsoft harness the state‘s formidable skill base for cloud engineering, AI research and more.
As Wisconsin continues elevating its universities, public services and startup motivation programs, I foresee the Badger State solidifying itself as a Midwest technology leader for years to come!
So next time you think of Wisconsin, sure – envision cheddar cheese and the Packers. But also glimpse the technology goldmine flourishing across this extraordinary heartland!
