Local start-up businesses look to expand through Beloit program

BELOIT, Wis. (WIFR) - Leaders of local start-up businesses meet in Beloit for the chance to become a household name in years to come.

It’s been months in the making for five local companies, but on Wednesday night, each presented their pitch at Irontek in Beloit to look for investors and advice.

Since 2017, gBETA Beloit has worked with 45 companies that have gone on to raise more than $13 million in growth capital and create more than 100 jobs. Now for the new class of gBETA proteges, it’s their turn.

Ahead of Wednesday’s forum, five companies were chosen out of all types of start-ups. The business needs to have a well-rounded complete team and be in a $1 billion or more market with few direct competitors.

“We are a mobile application that provides affordable and accessible coaching for parents,” said CEO of Support.ed, Domenica Doro. “I started a company as a part time nurse which provides nurses with a marketplace to be able to pick up and work shifts when they want, and really when they’re available.”

Locally grown businesses have the chance to participate in the fall 2021 gBETA Beloit accelerator. The companies feature a wide variety of businesses, ranging from emergency nursing care to online tailoring needs. Four of the startups came from the gALPHA program, a program run by gBETA parent company gener8tor. This program enables entrepreneurs with ideas but no start-up to start one.

“By growing faster, they’re investing their money back into their communities by way of salary, by way of job creation, by working with local vendors such as yourself,” said Mason Cook gBETA Beloit Director.

These startups have already seen some success, because they’ve been started by people who are in those industries. G-beta brings an opportunity for growth, and hopes to catapult these local businesses into national enterprises. The six companies who were featured can be found below.

• Tad More Tailoring and Alterations is the number one online tailoring platform, based out of Rockford, their website can be found here.
• Dock Clock works with large retailers, offering a digital scheduling platform. It does not have a website yet.
• TRACE allows transgender individuals the ability to track their transition and build a safe community of allies.
• Care-Stow designs medical-grade storage solutions for hospitals, nursing homes and care facilities.
• Support.ed is a mobile app that provides accessible support, education and resources to parents.
• PT Nurse is a company that provides emergency nursing to facilities that are short staffed. Their website can be found here.

Director Mason Cook hopes to get more entrepreneurs to participate in the gALPHA program, to realize their dreams and implement their ideas, he encourages people to send him an email about their businesses. His contact information can be found here.

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