BizStarts and Wells Fargo Unite to Celebrate Wisconsin’s Best Entrepreneurship
Educators at Hometown Heroes Symposium
Milwaukee, WI — BizStarts is proud to announce the Hometown Heroes Symposium, presented by Wells Fargo, a dynamic two-day event celebrating the world-class entrepreneurship education happening right here in Wisconsin. Taking place June 12–13 in Milwaukee, Hometown Heroes will bring together small business owners, students, and community resource providers for an immersive experience designed to strengthen and showcase Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Building on the success of BizStarts’ acclaimed Midwest Visiting Professors Symposium (MVPS), which brought nationally recognized professors from institutions such as Notre Dame, Howard, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill and Morehouse to Milwaukee, Hometown Heroes turns the spotlight inward, elevating the exceptional educators and experts already driving entrepreneurial excellence across the Badger State.
“Last year we brought the country’s best to Milwaukee. This year, we’re proving that Wisconsin’s best can stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone in the nation,” said Patrick Snyder, President of BizStarts. “Hometown Heroes is our way of saying the talent is right here. The knowledge is right here. And now, so is the stage.”
Wells Fargo’s presenting sponsorship underscores the organization’s deep commitment to economic development and small business growth in Wisconsin and the broader Milwaukee community.
“Entrepreneurs move forward with access to real-world guidance and strong local networks,” said Trina Shepherd, Vice President, Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo. “Hometown Heroes brings together educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders to turn expertise into action and expand opportunity for Wisconsin small businesses, a focus Wells Fargo advances through its support of business growth.”
What to Expect
Hometown Heroes will feature two signature programming components: Wisconsin Professor & Practitioner Masterclasses — Wisconsin-based professors and practitioners will lead short, high-impact, TED-style masterclasses built for founders and operators. No academic jargon, just real frameworks you can put to work immediately.
Confirmed sessions include:
– Balanced Scorecard: A Comprehensive Assessment of Firm Performance | Dr. Kalin Kolev, Marquette University — Moving beyond financial metrics to evaluate your business across customer, internal operations, and innovation dimensions.
– Failing Smart and Fast | Kelly Nowicki, UW La Crosse — How the right mindset around failure transforms mistakes into stepping stones for entrepreneurial success.
– From Startup to Exit: Building a Business Worth Selling | Tyler Carlson, Taureau Group — What acquirers really look for, how to avoid common exit obstacles, and how to build a company with maximum value from day one.
– Commercial Strategy | John Wright, Marquette University — How to make an integrated set of choices that uniquely position your business to create sustainable advantage and better get, serve, and retain customers.
– You Can’t Scale What’s Only in Your Head: How Operators Use AI to Build Real Systems | Natasha Broxton, Alitura Group — A practical guide to turning owner-dependent processes into AI-supported systems, no tech background required.
– Mastering the Media: Tools for Effective Pitching and Clear Communication | Kim Shine, Radio Milwaukee — How to craft compelling pitches, identify strong story ideas, and confidently engage with journalists and producers.
– Thriving in Wisconsin: Entrepreneur Panel — New to the Hometown Heroes format, this candid conversation will bring together entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses in Wisconsin. Panelists will discuss what it really takes to start, grow, and sustain a business in Milwaukee and across the state, sharing honest insight and hard- won lessons from the entrepreneurial trenches.
Event Details:
– Dates: June 12–13, 2026
– Location: O’Brien Hall, Marquette University, 1530 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee,
WI 53233
– Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/hometown-heroes
Whether you are a first-time founder, a seasoned entrepreneur, a student, or a
community organization, Hometown Heroes offers something rare: a room full ofWisconsin’s sharpest entrepreneurial minds and an open invitation to learn from all of them.
