Madison Reporter

AI startup Strudel has been named the winner of the 12th annual Pressure Chamber pitch competition, an event organized by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Strudel earning the opportunity to participate in meetings with leading Silicon Valley investment firms this October as part of their prize.

Strudel's technology leverages artificial intelligence to automate complex technical support processes by analyzing production data and code. According to the company, this approach reduces resolution time by 65% and allows engineering teams to dedicate more resources to product development. The startup targets a significant challenge faced by B2B SaaS companies, whose engineers often spend between 30-50% of their time on customer support rather than product innovation.

The winner was selected through a combination of votes from national investor judges and input from a live audience at The Sylvee. Other finalists participated in the competition, but Strudel emerged as the top choice.

“Strudel represents exactly what Pressure Chamber has always been about — showcasing cutting edge technology and innovative solutions to solve global problems,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “We congratulate all of this year’s finalists, who represent the full diversity of innovation that exists in Greater Madison. We are proud to offer these companies a platform to tell their stories here and in Silicon Valley.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized among so many incredible companies as this year’s Pressure Chamber champion,” said Strudel co-founder Kristin Isaac. “We’re excited to leverage this momentum to grow our business and support Greater Madison’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re looking forward to connecting with more investors in the Bay Area this fall.”

Pressure Chamber is presented by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Michael Best, with additional backing from organizations such as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement, Fetch, TruStage, Associated Bank, Madison College, JP Cullen, The Gialamas Company, 4490 Ventures, Baird Capital, Idea Fund, Mastercraft Ventures, Rock River Capital Partners and FPC Live.

The Forward Festival is also highlighted as a five-day annual event focused on technology and entrepreneurship in Wisconsin. It features over 40 events designed to connect participants and encourage innovation.

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,200 businesses across various sectors in the region.