Startup Wisconsin Podcast
Startup Wisconsin Podcast
Podcast Description
Discover the untold stories of innovation across Wisconsin's growing tech startup ecosystem. From Madison to Milwaukee and everywhere in between, we go behind the scenes with the founders, investors, and community builders shaping Wisconsin's entrepreneurial future.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs who are leveraging Wisconsin's unique advantages to build sustainable, impactful companies across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. You'll hear from ecosystem builders creating opportunities statewide, investors backing the next generation of Wisconsin companies, and community leaders connecting talent, resources, and ideas.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned founder, or simply curious about Wisconsin's startup scene, this podcast showcases the real stories of innovation happening right in our backyard.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various topics surrounding entrepreneurship and innovation, including episodes that explore new approaches to sales training, thought leadership strategies, community building in startups, and educational programs enhancing entrepreneurial practice. For instance, one episode discusses the innovative AI-powered sales training provided by Syrenn, while another features insights from Dan Fogarty on authentic thought leadership.
Discover the untold stories of innovation across Wisconsin’s growing tech startup ecosystem. From Madison to Milwaukee and everywhere in between, we go behind the scenes with the founders, investors, and community builders shaping Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial future.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs who are leveraging Wisconsin’s unique advantages to build sustainable, impactful companies across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. You’ll hear from ecosystem builders creating opportunities statewide, investors backing the next generation of Wisconsin companies, and community leaders connecting talent, resources, and ideas.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned founder, or simply curious about Wisconsin’s startup scene, this podcast showcases the real stories of innovation happening right in our backyard.
In this episode, we explore:
→ How evolution guides modern drug discovery
→ Why ground squirrels are going to space with NASA
→ The surprising advantages of doing biotech in Wisconsin
→ Building academic-industry partnerships outside major hubs
→ Creating scientific community in the Fox Valley
What is Fauna Bio?
Fauna Bio leverages millions of years of evolution by studying animals that naturally avoid diseases humans struggle with—from cancer-resistant elephants to hibernating ground squirrels that survive without eating for six months.
Connect with Ben
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sajdak/
Fauna Bio
https://www.faunabio.com/
Fox Valley Science Society
https://www.tardigradesbookshelf.com/fv-science-society
Segments
00:00 – Intro
00:40 – What Fauna Bio Does: Using Evolution to Fight Disease
02:03 – Ben’s Journey from Construction Worker to Biotech
03:08 – Why Study Disease-Resistant Animals vs Disease Models
04:16 – The Ground Squirrel Colony at UW-Oshkosh
05:35 – Hibernation Biology: From 300 to 3 Heartbeats Per Minute
07:02 – Academic-Industry Partnership Model
08:23 – NASA Space Mission: Sending Squirrels to Space
10:07 – Machine Learning and the “Convergence” Platform
13:04 – Sponsor Break (Headway)
14:10 – Spiny Mouse Research: Regeneration and Scar Prevention
16:44 – Wisconsin’s Underrated Biotech Potential
18:11 – Breaking Down University Research Silos
19:57 – Community Building and Networking Challenges
23:14 – Showcasing Hidden University Research
🔻 Connect With Us 🔻
Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter
Upcoming Events (400+ every year)
https://www.startupwi.org/events
Follow us on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/
Interested in being a guest? Reach out!
Startup Wisconsin’s mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem thrive.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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