Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has announced the creation of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, a new initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurial activity across campus. The formation of the Hub was approved by campus governance in May 2025, and a search is currently underway for its first executive director.

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin commissioned a report in October 2024 to outline a strategy for boosting entrepreneurship at UW–Madison. The report was developed with input from over 200 stakeholders inside and outside the university. It builds on UW–Madison’s history of innovation and seeks to help students, faculty, and staff turn their ideas into real-world impact. To move this initiative forward, Mnookin appointed Jon Eckhardt as special adviser for the “founder-first” approach.

“UW–Madison has a long legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship, from the discovery and patenting of the blood thinner warfarin to today’s spinoff companies pioneering modern solutions, such as fusion energy. We have an opportunity to make this legacy even stronger,” said Mnookin. “The university is a home for founders, the people who drive entrepreneurship, and by providing them with the right support and infrastructure, we can create even greater economic growth throughout the state.”

The Hub will coordinate resources and programs to support entrepreneurs on campus as part of UW–Madison’s broader goal to become a leading destination for entrepreneurship. This effort is grounded in the belief that entrepreneurship drives economic impact and reflects the Wisconsin Idea—a commitment to using university expertise for public benefit.

Jon Eckhardt emphasized that supporting founders is central to this approach: “By implementing a founder-focused approach, we can more fully embrace all forms of entrepreneurship that occur on our campus and in our economy and provide entrepreneurs with the support and infrastructure they need to strengthen the state’s economy and improve the world.”

Eckhardt co-chaired the working group that created the strategic report. He has collaborated with university leaders, faculty members, governance groups, as well as organizations like the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), to design an inclusive structure for the Hub.

The Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub will focus on three main objectives: recruiting entrepreneurial individuals; developing entrepreneurial talent; and launching impactful careers or enterprises.

“This is a pivotal moment for UW–Madison and the state of Wisconsin,” said Mnookin. “The Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub will serve as a catalyst, bringing together the university’s strengths in research, education, and community engagement to create a more impactful entrepreneurial future.”

A committee chaired by Eckhardt—including faculty members from various schools at UW–Madison along with representatives from WARF and WFAA—will oversee recruitment for an executive director tasked with building what they hope will be a premier ecosystem for entrepreneurship at UW–Madison.