gener8tor

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Patrick O’Rahilly, FactoryFix. This week we’re highlighting Patrick O'Rahilly Jr, Founder & CEO of @factoryfix , an AI recruiting platform helping manufacturers and industrial companies find skilled trades talent. Patrick started his career building robotic automation systems for manufacturers before launching FactoryFix as a side project to solve workforce challenges in the industrial sector. Today, the company has grown into a profitable business serving more than 700 customers across the manufacturing industry. A graduate of the gener8tor Milwaukee Accelerator 2017 cohort, Patrick credits the program with helping him refine FactoryFix’s positioning, sharpen his storytelling, and learn the fundamentals of venture fundraising. Through gener8tor, he built relationships with investors, gained exposure to the startup ecosystem, and connected with mentors who helped shape the company’s growth journey. FactoryFix has since surpassed $10M ARR and continues to grow while staying grounded in the company’s Midwest roots and long-term approach to building a sustainable business. 💡 Patrick’s biggest lesson for founders: “You have to be comfortable with who you are as a company and not chase every trend.” 📣 Patrick’s ask: “If you know a manufacturer, industrial company, or staffing firm in the industrial world, send them FactoryFix’s way.” 🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/9U7Wy5y35kI

Congratulations to the 8th cohort of gBETA Alaska Winter 2026 on a successful Showcase on April 21. 🚀 Over the past seven weeks, five Alaska-based startups worked alongside mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders through gBETA Alaska, building momentum as they prepare to scale and pursue new opportunities. The showcase at the UAF Center for Innovation brought together founders, community partners, and supporters from across the state to hear these companies share what they’re building and where they’re headed next. Congratulations to Erik Williams and Jason Warta of beadedcloud, Michael Kerr and Jason Child of Bind Verify, Carl Rosen of MyEyesAI, Aaron Cox of @suprsketch , and to Richard Rogers of Tundra Electronics for the progress they’ve made throughout the program. Thank you to Peter Webley and the UAF Center for Innovation for helping make this program possible and for continuing to invest in Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Programs like gBETA Alaska help create stronger pathways for founders to grow innovative companies while building long-term impact across the region. Looking forward to seeing what comes next for this cohort! #Alaska #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Innovation #AlaskaStartups

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Jahn Khan, @4earthinc . This week we’re highlighting Jahn Khan, Founder & CEO of 4Earth, an Atlanta-based environmental technology company building solutions to address inefficiencies in industrial water systems and factory operations. 4Earth develops plug-and-play systems that treat and recycle wastewater on-site, while using AI to deliver real-time factory intelligence and improve operational performance. A member of the inaugural Cox Cleantech Accelerator powered by gener8tor cohort in Atlanta, Jahn credits the program with strengthening relationships within the local ecosystem and accelerating key customer connections. Through the experience, 4Earth deepened partnerships with companies like Cox and Siemens, helping the company move from development into a scaling phase. Today, 4Earth works with major enterprises including @mercedesbenzusa , @coxenterprises , @siemenssudamerica , and @centraltoag , with deployments across multiple states and increasing production capacity as demand grows. 💡 Jahn Insight: “Know what you want out of an accelerator and make the most of it. What you put in is what you get out.” Jahn is looking for introductions to industrial companies or factories that use large volumes of water, or that are seeking AI-driven predictive maintenance and operational support.

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗔! 🚀 gener8tor, in collaboration with @univofalabama and supported by the @nsfgov , is launching gBETA Innovate UA, a new startup accelerator designed to transform university research into scalable companies. Hosted in Tuscaloosa, AL, the gBETA Innovate UA Program is a free, seven-week accelerator designed to support faculty, students, alumni, and early-stage founders from The University of Alabama as they explore commercialization and startup creation. This program is a key component of the overarching NSF Innovate UA Program strategy. This program focuses on helping early-stage teams emerging from university labs, research centers, and innovation programs build the foundational infrastructure needed to launch. Participants will work closely with experienced mentors, operators, and investors to: → Validate real-world market opportunities → Translate research into viable business models → Build early traction and customer discovery pipelines → Prepare for future funding and growth The program is part of gener8tor’s national gBETA network and is tailored to The University of Alabama ecosystem through collaboration with Innovate UA and research leadership.

Feeling stuck in your career often has less to do with your experience and more to do with how you see it. In this episode of our gener8tor Skills Impact Series, Anne Nadel speaks with Nura Said, a Regulatory Specialist at @uwmadison with a background in biology, legal studies, and clinical research, about how she reframed her career path. At a point where she felt boxed in by niche roles, Nura joined the gener8tor Skills Accelerator seeking structure, coaching, and clarity. Through exercises like a skills inventory and one-on-one coaching, she shifted her mindset from chasing titles to understanding her transferable skills. That shift helped her connect strengths like communication, problem-solving, and project management to a new role navigating complex research compliance, while also gaining clarity about what truly matters in her life and career. A few highlights from the conversation: 👉 Coaching helped her reframe her experience and identify transferable skills 👉 Structured, self-paced learning made it manageable during a life transition 👉 Skills like communication and problem-solving translated across industries Nura’s message: “Focus on what you can control, and find meaning beyond your job.” 🎥 Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/CiWp74cdCgQ

We’re proud to celebrate the latest CS NEST Cohort Showcase in Madison 🚀 On Wednesday, April 22, founders, technologists, mentors, and community members came together to mark the culmination of ten weeks of venture creation through CS NEST, gener8tor’s workshop for @uwmadison . The showcase reflected what’s possible when early-stage founders are given space to test ideas, build MVPs, and learn by doing. Congratulations to Joshika Nachiappan and @trinitykrohn for earning 1st place at the showcase. This recognition marks a meaningful step forward as they continue building and refining their venture. We also want to recognize the full group of founders who stepped up to build and share their ideas: AJ Ketarkus, Charles Laning, Abdullah Khan, and Bryson Turner. Thank you to @uwcdis , @warf_news , Remzi Arpaci Dusseau, Justin Hines, and Lewis Sheats for supporting CS NEST and helping make this program possible. Grateful for our judges Michael Szewczyk, Sarah J. Buszka, MPA, and Lewis Sheats, whose time and insight helped shape this experience for our founders. Programs like CS NEST play an important role in strengthening regional ecosystems by equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools, network, and confidence to move forward. This is just the beginning. Looking forward to what these founders build next! #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Innovation #MadisonWI

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Mike Pravica, X-Regen. Mike Pravica, Founder of X-Regen and Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, is developing a breakthrough method to extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries using X-ray technology. Through X-Regen, he is addressing a critical challenge in energy and sustainability by making it possible to regenerate EV batteries, reducing waste and extending the life of these expensive assets. As part of the Electrify Nevada Accelerator Powered by gener8tor in 2025, Mike gained firsthand exposure to how ideas translate into real-world businesses. Through site visits, expert conversations, and hands-on support, he developed a clear understanding of business fundamentals and built a structured, compelling pitch for the company. Today, X-Regen is in the early stages of formation, backed by years of Department of Energy-supported research. The team is working to validate the technology further and unlock larger funding opportunities, with the goal of extending battery life and reducing the amount of EV batteries that need to be recycled. 💡 Mike Insight: “In Academia we have the opportunity to explore theories, In business, you have to make something practical. You have to make it work for the customer.” 📣 Mike’s Ask: Mike is looking to connect with electric vehicle manufacturers and battery companies to collaborate with their electrochemistry teams and explore real-world applications of X-ray battery regeneration. Special thanks to the partners supporting this journey and helping founders like Mike build and scale, including @diversifynevada , @unlv , @edagov , @unevadareno , @edawnnevada , Nevada Battery Coalition, NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest and Recharge Nevada.

Fermeate just closed a $2M seed round led by Newfund Capital. 🚀 Fermeate is a portfolio company in the BEAM Circular Accelerator 2026 Powered by gener8tor, and they are rewriting the unit economics of precision fermentation. Their optogenetics platform uses light to control gene expression inside the fermenter, boosting output by 60 to 300% in existing industrial systems. No new bioreactors, no new facilities, payback in under 11 months. The kind of horizontal infrastructure layer the bioeconomy has been waiting for. We’re proud to support Fermeate through the BEAM Circular Accelerator 2026 and excited to see strong investor backing accelerate their growth and real-world deployment. ⚡ Alongside Newfund Capital, the round includes: @sosvvc , Ajinomoto Group Ventures, Ki Tua Fund, Heuristic Capital, Momentum Capital, @plugandplaytc , @tesseractventures , and Ag Startup Engine. Shoutout to Co- Founders Ke Xu, Saurabh Malani and the entire Fermeate team. This is exactly the kind of breakthrough science meeting real-world deployment that the BEAM cohort was built to back.

$3B. 🎉 That's the total cumulative funding our portfolio companies have raised across gener8tor's programs. Since 2012, we've supported over 2,200 companies across 452 cohorts, and today those founders employ more than 15,000 people. We started with a simple belief: that the best and brightest founders exist everywhere, not just in a few zip codes. $3B later, that belief looks less like a hunch and more like a thesis, proven by founders building in communities around the world. We're grateful to drive this kind of impact alongside every founder, mentor, and partner who has been part of the journey. Let’s keep building toward the next milestone. 🚀

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Rick Whittaker, AirShare. Rick Whittaker is Co-Founder and CEO of AirShare, a defense technology company developing non-lethal, 3D-printed missile systems designed to safely and cost-effectively mitigate hostile and wayward drones. With operations across Canada, Boston, and Saudi Arabia, AirShare is addressing a rapidly growing need in modern conflict environments. A graduate of the gener8tor Milwaukee program through the gener8tor Wisconsin Accelerator in 2018, Rick credits the experience with helping AirShare gain early traction. Through hands-on coaching, mentor engagement, and consistent pressure to refine their narrative, the team sharpened its messaging and learned how to communicate effectively with investors and customers. Today, AirShare is in active production and sales with a fifth-generation system, working with allied forces globally as the company continues to develop future iterations of the technology. 💡 Rick Insight: “Deciding what to focus on cannot be done in a bubble. It has to be done with the customer.” 📣 Rick’s Ask: Support the founders around you. Help the person next to you when you can. These relationships compound over time and often come back in meaningful ways. #founder #gener8tor #podcast #foundersstory #advice #startup

gener8tor Investment Accelerator alumni have officially surpassed $2B in cumulative funding 🚀 What started with our first investment accelerator in Milwaukee in 2012 has grown into a nationwide network of founders building meaningful companies across industries and communities. We’re proud of the impact these founders have made, and grateful to support them through our investment accelerator programs as they move from early traction to raising capital and scaling their businesses. gener8tor Investment Accelerator by the numbers: • 679 companies supported • 149 cohorts • 8,493 jobs created • $2B+ in cumulative funding Thank you to every founder, mentor, partner, and team member who helped make this possible. We can't wait to see what the next $2B looks like.

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Rich Sloan, WAVR Rich Sloan is Co-Founder and CEO of WAVR Technologies, a Las Vegas-based water technology company developing atmospheric water harvesting systems that generate water from air. Inspired by natural processes observed in Australian tree frogs, WAVR is tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing water-stressed regions and industries. A portfolio company of the gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator, Rich credits the program with sharpening how he communicates WAVR’s value and accelerating early customer conversations. Through hands-on sessions and mentor engagements, he refined his pitch and gained access to a network that helped open critical doors for the business. Today, WAVR is generating early commercial traction, approaching $1M in first-year booked revenue and deploying pilot units with industrial applications in data centers, chip manufacturing, and beyond. As the company scales its technology, it aims to provide a resilient and decentralized water source for industries facing increasing water constraints. 💡 Founder Insight: “Customer discovery is critical early on. Sometimes that’s a slow process, though, and can delay crucial clarity about your go-to-market. Do everything you can to get dialogue with prospective customers as quickly as you can. The insights mean everything to your strategy.” 📣 Founder’s Ask: Rich is looking to connect with companies in the data center and semiconductor manufacturing industries that are exploring new ways to address their water needs and would benefit from pilot deployments. Special thanks to the partners supporting this journey including @noaa , @michigantech , @cleh2oalliance , @nmc_tc and the @greatlakesobservingsystem in helping founders like Rich build and scale. We also want to thank our Las Vegas partners, @unlv , Black Fire Innovation, and @diversifynevada , for their continued support. #founder #gener8tor #podcast #foundersstory #advice #startup