Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, has announced the winners of the 2025 Chancellor’s Entrepreneurial Achievement Award. This year, the recipients are Marcus Carpenter, Heather Hasson, and Greg Piefer.

Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin remarked, “What unites this year’s outstanding honorees isn’t what they do — it’s why they do it. Each has taken a distinct path into entrepreneurship, yet all are driven by the same purpose: to improve lives and expand opportunity. That’s the Wisconsin Idea in action.”

Established in 2011, the award acknowledges UW–Madison innovators and alumni who contribute to economic and social progress and serve as role models for entrepreneurship in the university community.

Marcus Carpenter, a former UW-Madison Badger fullback, founded Route 1, a resource center in Minnesota aimed at supporting Black, Brown, and Indigenous farmers. Carpenter emphasized, “Route 1 is not just about food production. It’s about community healing, generational wealth, and equity in a system that hasn’t always welcomed folks who look like me.”

Heather Hasson, the CEO and co-founder of OOG.Health and co-founder and executive chair of FIGS, began her journey while chatting over coffee with a friend about the inadequacies of healthcare apparel. Hasson’s innovations at FIGS transformed healthcare apparel and the company rapidly grew to a valuation exceeding $5 billion by 2021. FIGS co-founder Trina Spear stated, “Her whole ethos is ‘create the world you want to live in. She has endless ideas to make change and make a difference, and it’s just so inspiring to be around that.”

Greg Piefer is the founder and CEO of SHINE Technologies in Janesville, Wisconsin. SHINE is known for pioneering nuclear fusion technologies for clean energy, healthcare, and national security applications. Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said, “He is motivated by making a difference. And because of him, Janesville is serving a greater purpose in that we’re solving a lot of society’s big problems.”

Piefer commented on his ambition, “I’ve always been a dreamer. I’ve always believed we can do really hard things. And I’ve always tended to see the path forward as opposed to the difficulties.”

These honorees embody the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing both economic growth and societal well-being. Their achievements are celebrated as part of the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurial Achievement Awards, which continue to spotlight alumni whose work benefits communities in Wisconsin and beyond.