About the Milwaukee
Founders Community

A city's infrastructure for startup founders is crucial.

It's not just about funding, but also about having multiple layers of support to help founders navigate early uncertainties quickly and confidently. Yet, in most cities, founders are left to fend for themselves.

They spend as much time building a network of resources as they do on the idea itself, which can be wasteful. Startup founders and the new jobs they create play a foundational role in the economy of cities, but founders must ask themselves whether they can make it there or somewhere else.

Instead of investing in state-of-the-art locations and long-term pipelines, we could invest in building upon the intellectual infrastructure that already exists. A network focused on growth can foster similar growth outside of that community as it flourishes.

Startups need relationships to succeed. Milwaukee Founders Community (MFC) is a community of founders looking to challenge the status quo and build the future. MFC is here to support all startups and help them succeed, regardless of where they're from or what organization they represent.

Our focus & structure

Milwaukee Founders Community prioritizes customers, capital, celebration, and connections to support a community of change-makers.

We believe that wasting time organizing and managing structure can hinder serendipitous moments while recurring events that distract from meaningful connections are equally unhelpful. Our approach is to fully immerse founders in a passionate community that can support them throughout their journey.

Our community is governed through democratic voting with no boards, committees, or consultants involved.

⚒️ Be constructive.

All founders have a vision. Even more people have ideas and feedback. How can you help founders progress? Know the boundary between being helpful and harmful.

💯 Keep it real.

We're built on relationships. Acknowledge that each person is unique and brings something valuable to the table, even if they don't know it just yet.

🧠 Think inclusively.

Founders are problem-solvers. Let's build accessible solutions to the greatest problems of our time that also address the needs of the most marginalized among us.

🤝 Bring others in.

The collective gets better with each new person that's added. Maintaining a warm and open atmosphere takes effort; do your part to bring people into the fold.