CC028: building turnkey programs for entrepreneurs and creatives // a coffee chat with Joe Kirgues (gener8tor)

Interview begins: 05:49

Debrief begins: 41:15

Joe Kirgues is a co-founder of gener8tor. 

One of the top companies in its field, gener8tor offers accelerator programs whose missions are to promote local investors and companies investing in their own communities’ startups and entrepreneurs. Operating in Milwaukee, Madison, and Minneapolis, gener8tor is known for its unique cohort of five model within its accelerator programs that, since its beginnings in 2012, have seen 75 graduates.  

To date, gener8tor has developed nearly a dozen different accelerator programs whose disciplines range from tech and med-device to music and art. The company continues to grow and has expanded to several different cities around the country. Graduates of gener8tor include EatStreat, Swannies, docalytics, Datica, Bright Cellars, and SpeechMED to name a few. 

We discuss:

• Ad: Improved methods to sourcing talent and finding new possible colleagues (4:31)
• Where the idea of gener8tor came from (6:10)
• Logistics and benefits of running the cohort of five accelerator model (7:46)
• gener8tor’s applicant growth (10:00)
• Discerning company #5 from company #6 (11:29)
• Run-through of the different programs offered by gener8tor (16:00)
• Music and arts focused accelerator programs (25:41)
• gener8tor’s expansion tactics (30:02)
• gener8tor’s success and impact on community (36:42)

Learn more about gener8tor: https://www.gener8tor.com/
Follow Joe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JKirgues
Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm
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This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies.

Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity