Local entrepreneurs launch caregiver app during first-ever Wisconsin Startup Week

Local entrepreneurs launch caregiver app during first-ever Wisconsin Startup Week

By Jennifer Kliese, WKOW

Monday marks the start to the first-ever Wisconsin Startup Week, to empower and educate aspiring business owners across the state.

It’s an effort by organizations all over Wisconsin to spread the wealth of entrepreneurial knowledge.

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As the week kicks off, two Madison area women are launching their first business together, as part of the future of entrepreneurs in Wisconsin.

Deb Thompson’s son with autism inspired her to become a business owner.

“I’ve always, since he was little, kept thinking, if something happened to me, how would somebody know how to take care of him and what would happen to him?” Thompson told 27 News.

She teamed up with Laura Berkner to develop Stimmi, an app for parents of kids with disabilities to share critical information with caregivers, like how to communicate with the child or understand them.

“As a caregiver, I’ve had people have difficulties or be upset if you don’t know what their language is, or how to interpret what they need. It’s hard,” Berkner said. “We recognize that this is something that could just change the lives of so many people.”

The two were able to start up their own business in just over a year, with support from the entrepreneur community in Madison, including help from Bunker Labs, an organization supporting veterans who want to become business owners. Thompson’s husband is a retired military member. Read more …