A game-changing opportunity
Before the Super Bowl era began in 1967, the NFL had a need for more stability. Teams often folded and relocated, and there was no unified game to crown a true league champion. When the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, pro football became more organized and the league has since expanded into 32 franchises. Fans anticipate the NFL Draft every year and many would be surprised to learn that it’s decades older than the Super Bowl. The NFL Draft aims to bring balance to the league and give every team the chance to build a winning roster.
Established in 1936, the NFL Draft originally took place at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, until a conflicting Rockettes show forced the Draft to relocate in 2014. What could have been a logistical headache turned into a reconsideration of what the Draft was all about. The NFL began hosting the Draft in different cities, igniting pride and economic energy along the way, and it now draws up to 12 million TV viewers with thousands in attendance.
Green Bay, pop. 100K, welcomed over 600K NFL fans in three days, over 2x the original projection.
In 2025, Green Bay, WI was chosen to host the NFL Draft, which gave the city the opportunity to introduce the TitletownTech Startup Draft. This was a landmark achievement for Green Bay. The city of just over 100,000 welcomed more than 600,000 fans over three days, more than double the original projection. By successfully hosting both the NFL and Startup Drafts, Green Bay proved that smaller communities can join forces to make big dreams a reality.
Tradition, spectacle, and fierce competition
Modeled after the NFL Draft, the TitletownTech Startup Draft is a nationwide pitch competition open to all high-potential tech startups. Backed by the Green Bay Packers through a collaboration with Microsoft, the Startup Draft gave two early-stage companies both $1 million investments, $350K in Azure credits from Microsoft, and support to help them realize their dream, totaling $2.7 million overall.
The Startup Draft coincided with the NFL Draft on April 24th in Green Bay, giving everyone early knowledge of the brightest emerging companies in tech. While the NFL drafts top players to develop into champions, TitletownTech, the Green Bay Packers, and Microsoft support companies that address industry challenges and help them grow, creating more jobs in America.
Ahead of the Startup Draft, seven startups were chosen out of nearly 1000 applicants across almost 50 states as finalists for the Startup Combine, which took place April 3-4 in Green Bay. This exciting event mirrored the NFL Scouting Combine but no one was expected to sprint, throw, or jump. The finalists instead sharpened their pitches, met with 30+ corporate partners to present their startups, engaged in interactive experiences at LiveX Studios, and attended breakout meetings with corporate partners aligned with their industries. Finalists were thrilled to connect with decision makers from industry giants like Kohler, Schneider National, Microsoft, Green Bay Packers, and more to build long-term connections and gain insight.
Get to know the seven finalists chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants
The draft picks
Two startups walked away as inaugural winners.
Ateios Systems (Newberry, IN) — Ateios developed a chemistry-agnostic platform that can manufacture battery electrodes without toxic solvents or forever chemicals. Their RaiCure™ Electrode Coating technology enables dramatically faster, cleaner, and lower-cost battery production, and is set to transform industries reliant on advanced energy storage.
Ubicept (Madison, WI and Cambridge, MA) — Using computer vision, Ubicept engineered a way for machines to see beyond the limits of traditional cameras to perform in extreme motion, lighting, and environmental conditions. Their advanced sensor processing enables ultra-low noise and high speed imaging for robotics, automotive, surveillance, and industrial applications.
Fostering transformation
Since 2017, Microsoft’s TechSpark initiative has worked to bring digital opportunity to underserved communities across the United States by investing in broadband access, digital skills training, and local innovation. When the NFL Draft came to Green Bay, these partners saw a chance to feature America’s most talented football players alongside America’s brightest tech entrepreneurs. In Wisconsin, TechSpark joined forces with the Green Bay Packers to create TitletownTech, a venture capital firm formed in 2019 that’s focused on early-stage startups driving industry transformation in the Midwest.
TitletownTech invests in early-stage scalable ventures that leverage emerging tech to solve meaningful problems. Key industries include supply chain, agriculture, and digital health. The Startup Draft is a first-of-its-kind event that features America’s next great startup right in the heart of the USA. The seven finalists were chosen because they represent some of the most promising companies aligned with goals like innovating for better health, optimizing sustainable solutions, and cultivating agricultural breakthroughs.
The Startup Draft was made possible by a dedicated coalition of local leaders. Craig Dickman and Jill Enos, Managing Partners of TitletownTech, played a pivotal role in designing the event and building momentum. Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy—instrumental in bringing the NFL Draft to the city—helped ensure this moment wasn’t just about football, but the future of Wisconsin’s economy.
The connections and camaraderie coming from the TitletownTech Startup Draft is inspiring – to the seven companies, and the next generation of American entrepreneurs.
