The BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation accepts charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) organization and uses them to take equity positions in for-profit early-stage companies. Earnings and return of proceeds on investments made are reinvested again and again. BSW works with government, educational institutions, other charitable organizations, angel groups and venture funds to identify, invest or co-invest in, and promote fast growing early-stage companies to create technology based jobs in Wisconsin.
Through the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Wisconsinites who care about job growth can now donate and combine their forces to get the job done. As a founder of BSW, Tom Shannon is the foundation’s head of day-to-day operations as its uncompensated President and CEO. He has been involved with early-stage companies for over a decade. The Foundation’s seven other co-founders have all built businesses themselves and have pledged over $5 million for its initial capitalization.
We Mean Business:
This experienced group has seen hundreds of deals, invested in dozens of early-stage companies and knows what it takes to get these high growth companies moving. Our hope is that the Foundation grows and becomes a lightning rod for donations by other individuals, businesses and charitable organizations that want to see our great State continue to be able to produce those jobs that allow our citizens to use their skills and education to their fullest. Returns on the Foundation’s investments in early-stage companies would be reinvested again in early-stage Wisconsin companies. We can begin to get the job done ourselves… without fees and carried profit charged by for profit funds or the stop-and-go funding associated with government initiatives. Instead, leveraging original donations to create a perpetual job growth engine.