WCTC, gener8tor celebrate third gBETA cohort, plan for gBETA Frontier Technology Accelerator

Waukesha County Technical College and venture capital firm gener8tor have wrapped up their latest joint gBETA cohort, celebrating the progress of five startups at a spring showcase held at WCTC. The completion of the third session underscores the growing role of the lab as a regional hub for entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI technology for market readiness.

The five founders – four from Wisconsin and one from Canada -- completed their seven-week gBETA Applied AI Lab accelerator program and participated in a showcase event highlighting their companies and detailing their progress. Startups include:

• TalkToMedi – A clinical-grade voice AI platform “Medi” who answers calls, books appointments, routes patients and completes front-desk workflows, all inside of clinic systems. Founder: Kino Song (Based in Canada)
• You Fixed It – An AI-powered home repair application designed to assist do-it-yourselfers with home repairs, maintenance and diagnostics. 
• OpScribe – An artificial intelligence system used to transform intraoperative data, such as surgical video, images and audio, into accurate, standardized operative reports. Founders: Ruffin Bryant and Noah Kalthoff
• Built-N-Bioassays – A next-generation biosensing tool that integrate AI and machine learning to enhance chemical testing/monitoring. Founders: Eric Ostovich and Rebecca Klaper 
• Frilly – An AI-driven platform based in Madison designed to help local brands and businesses navigate the shift toward AI-powered search. Founder: Jorge Reyna

WCTC President and CEO Rich Barnhouse, Ph.D. said these are the kinds of problem-solving ideas that will help move the economy forward.“We believe the global AI race is going to be based on people like you,” he said.

To date, 15 companies have participated in the gBETA accelerator offered in the WCTC Applied AI Lab, including three from outside the U.S. (Canada, Italy and South Korea). Beyond the gBETA series, the College has also hosted gALPHA cohorts, designed to help founders turn initial concepts into viable business models.

>>> New this summer, a gBETA Frontier Technology Accelerator will begin, representing further opportunities for AI expansion. It is led by the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium and funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Consortium members include WCTC, the Wisconsin Technology Council, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, gener8tor and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce. This program focuses on quantum computing, robotics, advanced AI and energy storage. Applications are currently open through June 21, with the program set to kick off on July 9.

To learn more about accelerators, the WCTC Applied AI Lab and the many AI-related programs and workshops at WCTC, visit www.wctc.edu/ai.