“Every entrepreneur in Wisconsin has a place in this community.”

In this episode, I chat with Angela Damiani, CEO and Co-founder of NEWaukee, a brand engagement agency that has been making waves with its innovative activations, events, and community-building efforts. Angela shares the story of how NEWaukee, initially a social club for entrepreneurs, evolved into a thriving agency and a leader in fostering Wisconsin’s startup culture. She discusses the creation of the Midwest Founders Community (MFC), a decentralized network connecting founders across the region, and the inspiring work of elevating the Wisconsin tech scene through collaboration and mutual support.

From building a brand experience agency to leading an influential community of founders, Angela reflects on the importance of connection, mentorship, and a culture of belonging. She also shares the challenges of balancing multiple businesses and how she's helping others navigate the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey.

Tune in to learn

• How the Midwest Founders Community connects founders to capital, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs
• The role of brand activations in building meaningful relationships within a community
• Insights into the challenges of Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem and why it's crucial to foster risk-taking and innovation through community support

Jump into the conversation

(00:00) Introduction
(03:50) NEWaukee’s social club origins
(04:49) Discovering revenue models
(07:22) Night market's staying power
(13:15) Proudest project expansions
(15:28) The social architecture concept
(20:21) Belonging through warm invitations
(25:17) Midwest founders community building
(26:17) Finding the right founder crowd
(28:22) Growing beyond NEWaukee’s boundaries
(29:55) Real-time founder support calls
(31:07) Funding and sponsorship challenges
(33:54) Safe spaces for founders' doubts
(42:14) Milwaukee's startup ecosystem pulse
(44:30) Risk, capital, and customer sandboxes
(47:30) Vision for a founder fund

Connect with Angela Damiani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeladamiani/
Check out NEWaukee: https://www.newaukee.com/

Podcast Sponsor

Valency Fund

Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies.

Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/

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Connect with Jacob Miller:

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Interested in being a guest? Reach out!

jacob@startupwi.org

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.

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Building Belonging in Startup Communities with Angela Damiani