Startup Wisconsin

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?????? Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute AI Ethics Symposium, where I sat on a panel alongside my former PhD advisor, Dr. Zeno Franco, PhD . Just an hour before the panel, during my weekly catch-up call with Dr. Iqbal, I shared how thrilled I was about this moment. Over the years, I’ve learned so much from Dr. Zeno, and it was an absolute privilege to join him and the other phenomenal panelists to discuss one of my favorite topics: AI. The panel discussion was deeply engaging. We explored the importance of ethical AI, its life-changing impacts on marginalized communities, and the critical issues that still need to be addressed in the field. ??One topic that resonated with me was the question: “Can AI care? And if so, what does care look like for AI?” ..this topic was broached by Dr.zeno ..( I’m going to attempt to dig into this further in the comment section. ) Later during the discussion, I emphasized that conversations about bias in AI often focus on biased outcomes or lack of representation, without examining the deeper root causes. For instance, antiblackness in AI is not just about biased outputs but is rooted in the ontological space where foundational issues exist, such as: ???Exclusionary Foundations: The categories and relationships encoded in AI often reflect dominant sociocultural norms, which can marginalize or misrepresent Black identities. Example: In systems like ConceptNet, concepts tied to Black culture may be absent, misrepresented, or linked to harmful stereotypes. ???Systemic Power Dynamics: AI systems are developed within societies shaped by histories of colonization, slavery, and systemic racism. These histories influence how data is collected, categorized, and prioritized. ???Superficial De-biasing Efforts: Many “de-biasing” initiatives address surface-level errors without tackling the deeper structures and assumptions that create these biases in the first place. Conversations like these remind me why ethical AI is so crucial. It’s not just about fixing outputs; it’s about reshaping the very foundations of how AI is designed, developed, and deployed. I’m grateful to Dr Michael Zimmer Marquette University and NMDSI for creating a platform to engage in these critical discussions and to the panelists and audience for their thought-provoking insights.

Excited and amazed to see the progress the MKE Tech Hub has accomplished over the last 5 years. Privileged to represent UWM and MVP Milwaukee Venture Partners Angel Investors Network as a partner providing both investments and AI education. Looking forward to the future!

We want to take a moment to thank our generous state sponsors for supporting another successful Startup Wisconsin Week in 2024! ?? State Sponsors ?? Nicolet National Bank gener8tor Headway - Digital Product Agency New North, Inc. Just because Startup Wisconsin Week is over doesn't mean our job is done! ?? Every single month we are digging up events, accelerators, and resources for startups and founders. Subscribing to our newsletter is the best way to stay updated on what's going on across Wisconsin. You'll be surprised what you can find at https://www.startupwi.org/

The sixth annual Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition was presented by Bridge to Cures, the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Clinical and Translations Sciences Institute (CTSI) and Accelerating Medical Product Development (AMPDNR) at the Eagleknit Innovation Hub. Take a look at who we spotted there- and come back to MKEStartup.News on Monday to read all about the contests- and the winners CoMotions and Streamline Flow! UWM Research Foundation, Inc., Marquette University Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin

?? Applications close December 13!

?? Tonight’s the Night! ?? Southeast Wisconsin’s 6th Annual Healthcare Innovation Pitch ?? When: Tonight, November 21 ?? Where: Eagleknit Innovation Hub, 507 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI ? Time: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM RSVP:https://lnkd.in/gC5FNy6i What to Expect: ? Healthcare & HealthTech Startups pitching for $50,000+ in funding and resources ? Networking with top-tier angel and venture investors ? Insights from last year’s winner, Sanacor, on securing seed funding ? The debut of the program’s #Mi2Wi Track, aimed at better connecting the healthcare innovation ecosystems across Michigan and Wisconsin ?? Watch the video to hear directly from the founders as they share their groundbreaking visions. Whether you’re a founder, an investor, or someone inspired by cutting-edge healthcare solutions, this is your chance to connect and contribute to a thriving ecosystem. Like, share, and tag someone in the comments you know is passionate about improving the healthcare industry so we can pack the room for these founders tonight! ?? MaternityMetrix / Freyja, Inc. (AkkeNeel Talsma) ?? UbiVital (Karen Wurzel) ??Streamline Flow (Kelly A.) ??Advanced Trauma Analytics (Rachel Morris) ??Inrova Mobile Technology (Dr. John Burfeind) ??Synpha Biosciences (Phil Huss) ??CoMotions (Christian Kastrup) ??Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc. (William Donaldson) ??SmileBOND (William C Vuillemot DDS) ??BetterPlay Studios, Inc. Play (Vanessa Lane) #HealthcareInnovationPitch #HealthTech #HealthcareInnovation #Startups #Milwaukee #Wisconsin #Networking #Investors #Founders #Pitch #Mi2Wi These (and many more) folks and orgs have made it all possible this year ?? Daniel Sem, Jessica Silvaggi, Kalpa Vithalani, Kristin Ciezki, Landon Olp, Scott Bolte, MCW Therapeutic Accelerator Program, CTSI of Southeast Wisconsin, MKE Tech Hub Coalition, BioForward, Inc., Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Appleton ?? Grab coffee with Andrew Schmitz and Brian Davis!

This Lunch & Learn: Investor Series features Chris Eckstrom, investing in early stage companies with Rock River Capitol Partners. The event will include an interactive Q&A session and valuable networking opportunities. December 10, 12 noon Sponsored by StartingBlock Madison, Inc. Lunch provided. Learn more and reserve a spot: https://ow.ly/5s1650TXmIU

StartingBlock Madison, Inc. is continuing its partnership with Summit Credit Union for the Summit Credit Union Fellowship for Women Entrepreneurs! This one-year program is designed to support 12 exceptional women entrepreneurs with business basics & strategy, hands-on workshops & mentorship to build and grow their businesses. Read more below! https://lnkd.in/gf8ZpyKJ