Is Milwaukee’s Tech Ceiling Self-Imposed?
Capital isn’t the constraint. Cohesion is.
I wrote about my 2026 City Innovation Tour stop in Phoenix earlier this year to check out what they have going on in tech.
The Phoenix visit left me with ONE convincing conclusion: We need to get in sync with Milwaukee’s center of strength because of what it means for our economic growth.
A Phoenix conversation that inspired that conclusion.
While in Phoenix, I spent time with Daniela Santangelo, a founder who raised $33M, hit a $100M valuation, got pushed out of her company, moved to Phoenix, and decided to build the front door to the city’s startup ecosystem: Freeway Phoenix.
Freeway Phoenix is some of the city’s most valuable tech infrastructure.
From the basics like events to a newsletter that amplifies wins, Freeway is also a public dashboard tracking venture activity, a clear on-ramp for founders and funders. And a belief that interior markets don’t lose because of geography, they lose when they think too small.
Daniela talked about how Phoenix is working to distill what it actually wants to be known for, not trying to be all things to all founders, but aligning around specific sectors where the region has structural advantage. Semiconductors. Clean tech. Health tech.
Not chasing hype, rather to get synced on an identity.
She was clear: interior markets don’t lose because of geography. They lose when they try to copy somewhere else instead of organizing around what makes them distinct.
For Milwaukee, the lesson isn’t “be more like Phoenix.” It’s this:
In a truly unique way, Milwaukee understands how to grow technology inside complex, 100 year old businesses with thousands of employees.
We do it in manufacturing, water tech, insurance, financial services, and healthcare.
Our history isn’t just about starting companies. We scale, operationalize and institutionalize them. That’s a different strength and skill set.
The opportunity is for Milwaukee to align around how we are one of the best cities in the country at integrating innovation into real, durable companies.
What would it look like if we built startup infrastructure around that truth?
If our corporate tech leaders made it normal to pilot with local founders?
If our universities encouraged students to launch ideas equally as they do to launch a corporate career?
If our elected officials amplified the data and made it easier for founders to plug in?
If our founders built $500M visions knowing that in Milwaukee, there are Fortune ranked companies with balance sheets and operational expertise within arm’s reach?
That’s how you get in sync.
Love you Milwaukee.
What this means if you’re building here:
Do not wait for the ecosystem to become perfect before participating in it.
The people who help create stronger connective tissue often become some of the most valuable people in a city.
If cohesion is the challenge, then relationship-building, sharing, and consistency matter more than they might seem.
Forward this to one person who cares about Milwaukee’s future and is willing to help make the city more connected and ambitious.
Really appreciate you sharing this perspective. Thoughtful, well-articulated, and inspiring. Love how you highlight Milwaukee’s unique strengths and long-term potential.
Oh this was a great read!