Weinert Center History

The Center was created in 1987 and renamed in 1999 after James J. Weinert, an alumnus of the School of Business.   Bruce D. Neviaser, chairman/founding director of the Great Lakes Companies Inc., Madison, has pledged $1 million to the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business to honor his father, Daniel H. Neviaser, a prominent Madison businessman and civic leader.  More...

WAVE Program

All Weinert Center students attend the capstone course Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE) class that provides them with a year-long applied practicum in starting and growing entrepreneurial businesses. The practicum involves a weekly seminar, hands-on work with start-up businesses and interaction with local and national experts on a variety of topics important to the education of budding entrepreneurs.

WAVE students work with young local high-promise businesses to develop in-depth understanding of the businesses and their environments, leading to the creation of comprehensive strategic, operating and financing plans. These plans and our students' work have had a significant and positive impact on a number of important local businesses.

Students also use the WAVE program as a platform to launch their own ventures. The Weinert Ventures Funds is available to make equity investments in promising student start-ups. Several successful student ventures are currently adding vitality and employment growth to the Madison area.  Start-up companies include...More

The WAVE Program is supported by an outstanding advisory board, consisting of local leaders in several industries, including private equity, banking, legal services, information and bio-technology, consulting services and other lines. These business leaders help provide overall direction to the program and also provide extensive coaching and support to WAVE students. Additionally, the advisory board represents the core of a business and social network that supports students during and after their time at UW. This network continues to grow and to become more useful with the addition of members of each year's graduating cohort and the support and involvement of people who have benefited from earlier WAVE projects.

WAVE students have either won or placed very highly in a variety of national MBA students competitions, including business plan and venture capital investment competitions. These competitions have provided our entrepreneurship programs with substantial positive national and international coverage. They have also opened new horizons and provided additional entrepreneurial opportunities for the students who have participated.