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Applications for gBETA Inland Empire Spring 2026 are closing soon 🚀 gBETA Inland Empire is a 7-week intensive program for early-stage startups ready to grow fast and get investor-ready. No equity, personalized mentorship, and direct access to investors. It’s where ideas turn into real opportunities. This is more than just a program. It’s a chance to build real momentum. In just a few weeks, founders gain the guidance, connections, and visibility needed to move their businesses forward with confidence. You’ll be part of a community of driven founders, mentors, and investors who are all focused on one thing: helping you grow. From refining your pitch to expanding your network, every part of the experience is designed to move your startup forward faster. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dDSwJbQw

We’re proud to celebrate the latest CS NEST Cohort Showcase in Madison. 🚀 On Wednesday, April 22, founders, technologists, mentors, and community members came together to mark the culmination of ten weeks of venture creation through CS NEST, gener8tor’s workshop for University of Wisconsin-Madison students and builders. The showcase reflected what’s possible when early-stage founders are given space to test ideas, build MVPs, and learn by doing. Congratulations to Joshika Nachiappan and Trinity Krohn for earning 1st place at the showcase. This recognition marks a meaningful step forward as they continue building and refining their venture. We also want to recognize the full group of founders who stepped up to build and share their ideas: Aj Ketarkus, Charles Laning, Abdullah Khan, and Bryson Turner. Thank you to UW-Madison CDIS, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, Justin Hines, and Lewis Sheats for supporting CS NEST and helping make this program possible. Grateful for our judges Michael Szewczyk, Sarah J. Buszka, MPA, and Lewis Sheats, whose time and insight helped shape this experience for our founders. Programs like CS NEST play an important role in strengthening regional ecosystems by equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools, network, and confidence to move forward. This is just the beginning. Looking forward to what these founders build next! #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Innovation #MadisonWI

🚀 gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight: Mike Pravica, X-Regen. Michael Pravica, Founder of X-Regen and Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, is developing a breakthrough method to extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries using X-ray technology. Through X-Regen, he is addressing a critical challenge in energy and sustainability by making it possible to regenerate EV batteries, reducing waste and extending the life of these expensive assets. As part of the Electrify Nevada Accelerator Powered by gener8tor in 2025, Mike gained firsthand exposure to how ideas translate into real-world businesses. Through site visits, expert conversations, and hands-on support, he developed a clear understanding of business fundamentals and built a structured, compelling pitch for the company. Today, X-Regen is in the early stages of formation, backed by years of Department of Energy-supported research. The team is working to validate the technology further and unlock larger funding opportunities, with the goal of extending battery life and reducing the amount of EV batteries that need to be recycled. 💡 Mike Insight: “In Academia we have the opportunity to explore theories, In business, you have to make something practical. You have to make it work for the customer.” 📣 Mike’s Ask: Mike is looking to connect with electric vehicle manufacturers and battery companies to collaborate with their electrochemistry teams and explore real-world applications of X-ray battery regeneration. Special thanks to the partners supporting this journey and helping founders like Mike build and scale, including Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), University of Nevada-Las Vegas, U.S. Economic Development Administration, University of Nevada, Reno, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), Nevada Battery Coalition, NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest and Recharge Nevada. 🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dSMqfyP9

The future of bio-based production is being built right now in California's Central Valley, and you can see it live on May 21st at BioCatalyst 2026 in Lodi! 🌱 Watch five groundbreaking companies from the BEAM Circular Accelerator pitch their innovations that transform agricultural waste into high-value products. This is your chance to see what's next in the circular bioeconomy. Meet the companies pitching: 🔬Fermeate: Light-controlled gene circuits that program microbial metabolism like software. Delivering up to 3x higher fermentation productivity without new tanks or major retrofits. 📦Tastee Tape: Biodegradable, food-safe flexible packaging at 4x lower cost than alternative bioplastics. So safe you can eat it. Already featured on The Tonight Show, CNN, and TIME's Best Inventions. 🧵Supercarb: Performance fibers from upcycled biomass that are inherently flame-retardant and anti-odor. No PFAS, no silver, no toxic finishing chemicals needed. 🌸 Krokos Bio: Growing high-value botanicals like saffron from plant cells in bioreactors. Year-round production, climate-independent, zero geopolitical risk. ⚗️Ruby Bio: Converting low-cost sugars and waste feedstocks into biodegradable ingredients. Surfactants, food emulsifiers, oleochemicals. Cost-competitive with synthetic alternatives and compatible with agricultural residues and dairy waste. These founders are building solutions that matter. Come see their pitches, connect with industry leaders, and explore what's possible when innovation meets agriculture. 👉 👉 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gg6-6gSF #BioCatalyst #CircularBioeconomy #BEAMCircular #Biomanufacturing #Sustainability #Innovation #CentralValley

The Alabama Forestry Accelerator Spring 2026 cohort just crossed the finish line. This week at the Wiregrass Innovation Center in Dothan, five founders pitched to industry leaders, community stakeholders, and partners who have been invested in this work from day one: Grow Southeast Alabama, HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, the City of Dothan, Alabama Farmers Federation, and Alabama Power Company. These companies spent seven weeks pressure-testing their businesses at the intersection of forestry, agriculture, and emerging technology. The range of what came out of this cohort is worth paying attention to. CHONEX (Michael Lynch) is converting agricultural and industrial byproducts into patented biofertilizers, with active partnership discussions underway to upcycle forestry wood waste at commercial scale. CONTRERAS FORESTRY LLC (Yazmin C.) is bringing 30+ years of operational expertise in reforestation and right-of-way management into the technology era, exploring new tools to optimize and scale field operations. Druid Ag (Julian Walker) built SERRA, a patented 24/7 smart camera system for crop health monitoring, and is now expanding into forestry applications including emergency alerts and predictive mapping. Shellulose (Symone Alexander, Ph.D.) is producing cellulose nanofibers from pecan shells through a proprietary Auburn University-developed process, with a roadmap that extends to pulpwood and other forestry byproducts. TreeTracker, LLC (George M. Banzhaf) has built a forest management platform live on iOS and Android, purpose-built for the connectivity challenges of real field work, replacing the 5-7 fragmented tools forestry professionals currently rely on. This is what it looks like when the right founders meet the right ecosystem.

Fermeate just closed a $2M seed round led by Newfund Capital. 🚀 Fermeate is a portfolio company in the BEAM Circular Accelerator 2026 Powered by gener8tor, and they are rewriting the unit economics of precision fermentation. Their optogenetics platform uses light to control gene expression inside the fermenter, boosting output by 60 to 300% in existing industrial systems. No new bioreactors, no new facilities, payback in under 11 months. The kind of horizontal infrastructure layer the bioeconomy has been waiting for. We’re proud to support Fermeate through the BEAM Circular Accelerator 2026 and excited to see strong investor backing accelerate their growth and real-world deployment. ⚡ Alongside Newfund, the round includes: SOSV, Ajinomoto Group Ventures, Ki Tua Fund, Heuristic Capital, Momentum Capital, Plug and Play Tech Center, Tesserakt Ventures, and Ag Startup Engine. Shoutout to Co- Founders Ke Xu, PhD, Saurabh Malani, PhD, and the entire Fermeate team. This is exactly the kind of breakthrough science meeting real-world deployment that the BEAM cohort was built to back. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gyi8Gs_P

What does it really take to build a thriving local economy? According to Robert Pieroni, gener8tor's Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, it starts with believing in the people already there. The founders, innovators, and risk-takers ready to build something meaningful in their own communities. In his latest piece, Robert reflects on more than a decade of work in economic development and venture capital, and why entrepreneurs are a powerful engine behind resilient, growing communities. From job creation and talent retention to tax revenue and long-term innovation, the ripple effect of a single startup can transform an entire city. Read Robert's full perspective on why investing in founders is one of the smartest strategies a community can embrace. 👇 https://lnkd.in/dZDGncgk

🚨 #Climate investors! 🚨 On May 13th, gener8tor is hosting our Sustainability Lightning Rounds, a curated event that gives investors direct access to our portfolio of actively fundraising startups (~50!) across energy, transportation, industry, food/ag/water, and industrial innovation. Pre-seed to Series A. You pick who you want to meet. We handle everything else. Can't make May 13th? Sign up anyway and we'll make email introductions to the founders you select. Sign up by May 3rd. Link to register in comments. #climatetech #sustainability #venturecapital #investing #cleantech

🚀 gener8tor Alum ZaiNar is a unicorn! We’re so proud to have supported ZaiNar early on through gBETA and to see the team reach this milestone through years of focused execution and bold innovation. ZaiNar is redefining Physical AI by turning existing 5G and WiFi networks into real-time sensing systems, no satellites, no cameras, no extra power. Just continuous, precise awareness of where everything is. The team has: Raised over $100M in investment Achieved a valuation exceeding $1B Built foundational infrastructure powering the future of Physical AI Shoutout to Daniel Jacker and the ZaiNar team for building something massive!

Excited to announce the gBETA Prosper Healthtech Spring 2026 Cohort 🚀 We didn’t bring these companies together just to go through a program. We brought them together because they’re building solutions that need to exist in healthcare. This group is tackling real problems across biotech, diagnostics, infrastructure, and clinical AI. Meet the companies: • Valor Scientific — improving the performance and reliability of biologics used in research and therapeutics. Andrew Kodani, PhD Bethany B. Matthew Knuesel • NANOXORT LLC — advancing safer, more effective medical imaging. Tareq Anani Allan David Barry Yeh • VivoSphere — transforming drug development with more predictive preclinical models. Yuan Tian Elizabeth Lipke • Celestia Diagnostics — bringing clarity to complex chronic conditions through diagnostics and data. Mendel Fishman • MAMU Digital Solutions — reducing the cost burden of medical imaging data for health systems. Stéphanie Marie Aguilera-Cueto Kelly Powell, MBA Rubin Pillay PhD,MD,MBA,MSc,BSc(Hon)Pharm • GuidelinesIQ — enabling faster, more consistent clinical decision-making at the point of care. Stevan Fairburn Abhiraj Pudhota Sandeep Bodduluri Over the next several weeks, we’re working closely with each of these founders to help them get real traction - whether that’s pilots, customers, or the right capital. Because early-stage companies don’t need more content. They need progress. The South is often overlooked, but the talent isn’t. With the right support, these founders can compete anywhere. If you want to see what early-stage health innovation in Alabama looks like right now, this is it. This program is only possible through Prosper and a network of mentors, operators, and investors who continue to show up for these founders. Proud of this group. Let’s build. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘉𝘌𝘛𝘈 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳8𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘭𝘧𝘢 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘢, 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯, 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘢-𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥.