(Eau Claire, WI) – WiSys VentureHome-Eau Claire, the area’s first seed accelerator, launched in April 2020 through partnership with CoLab, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Madison-based non-profit WiSys, is launching its fourth cohort in the seed accelerator program. The partners are very excited to announce its six new founders that will take part in programming over the next five months:

Andrew Gehrke- Eau Claire Cocktail Company

Doug Rhoten- Cereus

Emily Elsner Twesme- Vibrant Virtual

Justin Vajko- Dialog

Graham Barnes- No Boundaries Tiny Homes

Nick Clattenburg- CAC

Andrew Gehrke, founder of Eau Claire Cocktail Company, teaches cocktail classes, offers private event bartending for all occasions and is working to get his Old-Fashioned Cocktail Syrup sold in stores. At Cereus “We help organizations determine if their websites are compliant with international privacy laws” stated Doug Rhoten, founder of Cereus. At Vibrant Virtual “We hire, train, and manage interns for small businesses” said Emily Elsner Twesme, founder of Vibrant Virtual. No Boundaries Tiny Homes, founded by Graham Barnes, is a demolition deconstruction company that acquires quality, repurposed materials to build eco-friendly tiny homes that save tress and landfill space. Dialog, founded by Justin Vajko, is a recruitment marketing agency for blue collar employees. CAC, founded by Nick Clattenburg, is a company working to make aviation cheaper, greener, and more accessible.

Over the next five months, this cohort will network with other entrepreneurs in the local and statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem as they complete programming and receive assistance from these experienced entrepreneurs. This rigorous and customized program will prepare these six founders to present their businesses to investors and the community at the end of this summer on “Pitch Day” to garner funding and support as they take their next steps with their businesses.

About Wisys VentureHome-Eau Claire

WiSys VentureHome- Eau Claire seeks to serve its local community through fostering growth of new companies and startups in the area. Through WiSys, founders have access to a larger state-wide ecosystem, entrepreneur toolkits, research and technologies coming out of the University of Wisconsin system, intellectual property and legal strategy assistance, and possible seed funding. CoLab, VentureHome’s workspace, provides the physical space in downtown Eau Claire for founders to meet together and collaborate throughout the program. WiSys VentureHome- Eau Claire looks to build of the success of past cohorts in securing funding, grants, partnerships, and creating meaningful industry connections as it continues to grow and serve the local community in Eau Claire.