Wisconsin SBDC

What Wisconsin SBDC does

Wisconsin SBDC is a publicly funded, statewide network of 12 Small Business Development Centers serving entrepreneurs and small business owners across Wisconsin. It operates as a structural extension of the Universities of Wisconsin System through the Office of Business and Entrepreneurship, with 11 centers located at UW campuses (Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Racine/Kenosha, River Falls, Stevens Point, Superior, and Whitewater) and one additional office serving Southwest Wisconsin. The network is funded primarily through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration supplemented by state appropriations and university support, and all consulting and educational services are delivered at no cost to clients.

The organization delivers its services through a portfolio that combines individualized consulting, structured training programs, and digital self-serve content. Core consulting is provided one-on-one by certified business consultants, supported by specialized initiatives including the Go Global international trade program, Capital Access Clinic, Digital Marketing Clinic (staffed with student interns), Cybersecurity program, Manufacturing Initiative, and the Entrepreneurial Training Program. Educational assets include the 'First Steps to Starting a Business' free online course (with over 8,000 global users), the Beginner's Guide to Financial Projections course, the SBDC Business Lab, and an Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series available in Spanish and Hmong. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML product, or commercial software offering is referenced in the source material.

The business model is a federally and state-subsidized service-delivery model rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. Wisconsin SBDC serves a long-tail of SMB and pre-revenue clients across Wisconsin, and reports 2024 outputs of 5,354 clients served, 289 new businesses started, 18,938 jobs supported, and $117 million in facilitated capital investment. In 2025, UW-Milwaukee clients secured more than $10.6 million in funding and UW-Green Bay facilitated a record $31.5 million in capital formation. The network's commercial counterparties are ecosystem partners — WEDC, SBA, SCORE, WWBIC, Food Finance Institute, Center for Technology Commercialization, the Green Bay Packers, and various regional economic-development organizations — that co-deliver, refer clients to, and co-locate with SBDC services.

Name

Wisconsin SBDC

Legal name

Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Network

Website

https://wisconsinsbdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wisconsin SBDC is a statewide network of 12 Small Business Development Centers providing no-cost consulting, education, and specialized programs to Wisconsin entrepreneurs and small businesses through Universities of Wisconsin campuses, funded primarily by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Cooperative Agreement (U.S. Small Business Administration): Wisconsin SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, supplemented by state appropriations and university support. Services to clients are provided at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wisconsin SBDC is a statewide network of 12 center locations at Universities of Wisconsin campuses that provides no-cost, confidential business consulting and education to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Core offerings include one-on-one consulting across business stages, structured training programs such as the Entrepreneurial Training Program, specialized initiatives for international trade (Go Global), financing (Capital Access Clinic), manufacturing, digital marketing, and cybersecurity, plus online self-paced courses.

Product overview

The Wisconsin SBDC is a nationally accredited statewide network of business development centers providing no-cost, confidential consulting and business education services to entrepreneurs and small businesses across Wisconsin. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model rather than a modular software platform, offering a portfolio of complementary programs including consulting services, educational courses (Entrepreneurial Training Program, First Steps to Starting a Business, Beginner's Guide to Financial Projections, Online Learning, Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series), specialized initiatives (Go Global Initiative for international trade, Capital Access Clinic for financing, Manufacturing Initiative, Digital Marketing Clinic, Cybersecurity Program), and analytical tools (SBDC Business Lab, Accounting and Projections Clinic). These services work together to support businesses at all stages from ideation through growth and international expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Go Global Initiative: International trade assistance program helping Wisconsin businesses with export readiness, market entry strategies, and global expansion.
• Capital Access Clinic
• Digital Marketing Clinic
• Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP)

Products and services

• SBDC Consulting Services No-cost, confidential one-on-one consulting provided by expert business consultants to entrepreneurs and small business owners at any stage of business development, covering start-up planning, financing, growth strategy, and operational improvement.
• Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) Comprehensive training program designed to guide entrepreneurs through launching a new business, covering business planning, financial projections, and startup fundamentals.
• Go Global Initiative International trade support program providing export readiness assessments, trade compliance guidance, sanctions-aware market entry strategies, and assistance with international market expansion for Wisconsin businesses.
• Capital Access Clinic Program helping entrepreneurs secure financing through guidance on funding options, loan applications, and connections to capital resources for business growth.
• Manufacturing Initiative Specialized support services for manufacturing businesses including operational improvement, growth strategies, and supply chain optimization.
• Digital Marketing Clinic Marketing support service providing social media strategies, website optimization, brand cohesion guidance, and digital marketing training through student interns.
• Cybersecurity Program Educational resources and training helping small businesses understand and implement cybersecurity measures to protect their operations.
• First Steps to Starting a Business Free online course introducing entrepreneurs to the fundamentals of starting a business, accessible globally with over 8,000 users worldwide.
• Beginner's Guide to Financial Projections Free on-demand course helping new businesses create realistic financial forecasts and determine the feasibility of their business ideas.
• Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series Practical video series available in Spanish and Hmong providing step-by-step guidance on various business topics for entrepreneurs.
• SBDC Business Lab Financial planning resource where consultants guide entrepreneurs in building budgets, business plans, and identifying lender and financial needs.
• Accounting and Projections Clinic Clinic helping business owners develop bank-ready financial projections with support from student interns, aiding both entrepreneurs and lending institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,354 clients served and 289 new businesses started in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Universities of Wisconsin / Office of Business and EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Office of Business and Entrepreneurship within the Universities of Wisconsin system. University campuses host 11 of the 12 SBDC centers, providing institutional infrastructure, staff, and academic integration.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDC partners with SBDC on initiatives including the annual MARKETPLACE conference, the Governor's Business Plan Contest, Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative (RWEI), and Connect Communities/Main Street programs. SBDC staff participate as speakers, panelists, and advisors at WEDC events.
• Food Finance Institute (FFI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI, also part of the Office of Business and Entrepreneurship, provides specialized food and beverage business training and resources. FFI and SBDC jointly present at events and share resources for food and agriculture entrepreneurs in Wisconsin.
• Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTC, part of the Office of Business and Entrepreneurship, supports technology commercialization and assists startup companies. CTC and SBDC jointly assist technology-sector entrepreneurs and cross-refer clients.
• Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Packers Mentor-Protégé Program pairs emerging Wisconsin businesses (protégés) with established companies to support business growth. SBDC at UW-Green Bay director Tara Carr has served as a mentor, with multiple protégé businesses winning Protégé of the Year awards.
• Grant County Economic Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SBDC at UW-Eau Claire and Southwest Wisconsin SBDC to host the Small Business Clinic in Fennimore, WI at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, providing regional entrepreneurs access to SBDC consulting and resources.
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the Small Business Clinic event organized by SBDC at UW-Eau Claire and Southwest Wisconsin SBDC, providing venue and institutional support for entrepreneurial outreach in the region.
• UW-Madison Law & Entrepreneurship ClinicflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe UW-Madison Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic provides free legal guidance to entrepreneurs. SBDC consultants refer clients to the clinic for legal issues including entity formation, contracts, and intellectual property, and the clinic's attorney presents at SBDC events.
• Wisconsin Department of Financial InstitutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRepresented by Revenue Tax Specialist Tracey Mueller, who presented on sales and use tax at SBDC Small Business Clinics, providing regulatory guidance to entrepreneurs.
• Business Improvement District (BID)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBID assists downtown business owners with marketing, promotion, property management, and revitalization efforts. 920 Wellness partnered with BID to support wellness services in the downtown area.
• Huff Family Innovation Center at UW-PlattevilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference tours; a 20,000 sq ft makerspace with CNC equipment, 3D printing, and prototyping services available to entrepreneurs, students, and community members in rural Wisconsin.
• Milwaukee Anchor CollaborativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBDC at UW-Milwaukee consultants work with the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative to help small businesses access anchor institution supply chains and partnership opportunities.
• Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the inaugural Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference with SBDC and other partners, supporting rural entrepreneurship and economic development across southwestern Wisconsin.
• SCOREflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCORE, SBA's partner organization providing mentor services to small businesses, collaborates with SBDC at events and programs. Mike Mueller of SCORE Southeast Wisconsin won SBA Mentor of the Year in 2024.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative (WWBIC)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWWBIC provides business training and financing support to women and diverse entrepreneurs. Heather Lux of WWBIC Southeast Wisconsin received SBA Women's Business Center of the Year in 2024. WWBIC and SBDC collaborate at events and cross-refer clients.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): WEDC is Wisconsin's statewide economic development agency that co-funds and partners with Wisconsin SBDC on initiatives like MARKETPLACE and the Governor's Business Plan Contest; broadly comparable in economic-development scope.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal agency that funds and accredits the entire SBDC network; directly comparable as the parent funder and policy sponsor governing Wisconsin SBDC's operating model.
• America's SBDC (ASBDC): America's SBDC is the national association that represents all state SBDC networks; directly comparable as the umbrella organization of which Wisconsin SBDC is a member.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): WWBIC is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit providing business training, lending, and consulting to entrepreneurs, with a focus on women and diverse founders; overlapping service offerings and referral relationship with Wisconsin SBDC.
• Food Finance Institute (FFI): FFI is a Wisconsin-based, Universities of Wisconsin-affiliated institute providing specialized business training to food and beverage entrepreneurs; comparable as a sibling resource serving overlapping Wisconsin SMB segments.
• Wisconsin Technology Council: The Wisconsin Technology Council runs the Governor's Business Plan Contest and statewide tech and entrepreneur policy forums; comparable in serving Wisconsin entrepreneurs and partnering with Wisconsin SBDC.
• Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC): CTC is a Wisconsin-based, Universities of Wisconsin-affiliated organization supporting technology commercialization and startup growth; closely related to Wisconsin SBDC as a sibling Office of Business and Entrepreneurship entity.

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is an SBA-partnered nonprofit network providing free mentoring and education to small businesses, directly comparable to Wisconsin SBDC in mission, funding source (SBA), and no-cost service model.
• Michigan SBDC: Michigan SBDC is another statewide SBDC network with university-anchored centers and SBA funding, directly comparable to Wisconsin SBDC in operating model and target clientele.
• Illinois SBDC: Illinois SBDC operates as a sister state SBDC network delivering the same SBA-funded no-cost consulting and education model; highly comparable in structure, funding, and service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wisconsinsbdc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wisconsinsbdcnetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/WisconsinSBDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/62390743/admin/dashboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin SBDC