Applications Due: July 19, 2021, 8am
Event: August 18, 2021, 3-6 p.m.
Cost: Free for Chamber members, $10 for non-members

Applications are now open for the eighth annual Pressure Chamber startup initiative, which returns, in-person, on Aug. 18 during Forward Festival, Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival.

Applicants for Pressure Chamber go through a screening process that may include presentations with prominent Wisconsin investors. From there, a select number of companies will be chosen to pitch to a panel of out-of-state investors, business executives and a live audience during Forward Fest. In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also get a reserved spot in the Chamber’s exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.

Past Pressure Chamber winners have credited the initiative for helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice. Collectively, participating Pressure Chamber companies have gone on to raise more than $500 million from investors.

Pressure Chamber is open to any industry, as long as the company meets the following requirements:

• Must be a member of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (startup memberships available) OR support another local entrepreneurial partner organization or group
• Must be located in Greater Madison or plan to locate to Greater Madison by Aug. 18, 2021
  Must have raised at least $25,000, excluding personal investment by company founders
• Application must be received by 8 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 2021

The full application can be accessed at: bit.ly/Pressure21