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Money manager Albert "Ab" Nicholas said Wednesday he has pledged $1 million to BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc., a new group with an unusual plan for using charitable donations to make venture investments in young state companies.

Nicholas, who is founder and chairman of Milwaukee-based Nicholas Co., is the first contributor to be named by BrightStar since the foundation launched in July with seed pledges of $6 million from eight founding donors.

BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc., a new Milwaukee organization that will invest in Wisconsin technology startups and is seeking nonprofit status, has received a $300,000 pledge from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

The WEDC investment will go toward BrightStar operating expenses and is meant to help BrightStar attract private donations to spur business growth and job creation, a Monday press release said.
BrightStar will receive the WEDC funds after it has achieved 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service, WEDC said.

It's time to lead instead of falling further behind

For at least two years now, headlines and editorials have all sounded the same theme: "State lags nation in job growth."

Thought leaders such as Tom Still of the Wisconsin Technology Council; Dan Steininger of BizStarts; Julia Taylor of the Greater Milwaukee Committee; and entrepreneur John Torinus have eloquently and repeatedly cited irrefutable data to lay out the problem and the solution:

Eight business leaders and early-stage investors are forming an unusual type of investment capital group: a nonprofit that will spur startups and job creation statewide through charitable donations.
The co-founders have pledged nearly $6 million to establish BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc., Milwaukee, and they expect to raise another $60 million over the next three years.

The group is currently seeking 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and its founders hope to begin screening companies in the fall.