The insurance industry is not the only focus of the Madison, Wisconsin-based startup accelerator, gener8tor, but insurance is its oldest and largest operational sector. Founded in 2012 by attorneys Troy Vosseller and Joe Kirgues, gener8tor seeks out startups from around the world and from diverse industries to participate in its programs. Initiated in Milwaukee and Madison, Wis., the company expanded to Minneapolis, Minn., last year and in 2018 will move into Cincinnati, Ohio. On average, five startups are selected to go through each accelerator program. "We make a cash investment in exchange for a small portion of equity in those startups," Vosseller said.

Three stages, a packed football stadium overlooking Lake Michigan, decked out luxury suites. But some attendees might be star-struck by the industry heavyweights in attendance at the OnRamp Insurance Conference, which takes place at Chicago's Soldier Field on April 12. The one-day event is designed to bring together startup entrepreneurs, insurance company representatives and investors for a highly programmed mixer in which innovators and those seeking entrepreneurial talent or investment opportunities meet, network and learn from each other. Troy Vosseller, co-founder of both the OnRamp Conference Series and the startup accelerator, gener8tor, that spawned the conference series, says 30 insurance carriers will be participating in the event this year. Each carrier will "have their own suite or luxury box. They'll be populated typically by people from their corporate venture capital, corporate innovation, strategy or business development teams," he said.

Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin's innovation community with these recent headlines: The four-year college's goal in constructing the 64,000-square-foot research center is to position MSOE "at the forefront in artificial intelligence, deep learning, cybersecurity, robotics, computing, and other next-generation technologies," according to a press release. The facility will have classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium, and space for businesses that partner with MSOE, the school said. MSOE plans to break ground on the new center by mid-2018. Phoenix sells neutron generators and other machines to organizations in industries ranging from healthcare to defense to renewable energy. The company plans to use some of the proceeds from the funding round to construct a new headquarters that can house all of its workers and equipment.