The Greater Green Bay Chamber hosted a free community event at the Startup Hub on Tuesday, December 16, celebrating 20 years of supporting entrepreneurs on the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College campus.
The Startup Hub, formerly known as the Business Assistance Center, opened in December 2005 as a partnership between the Greater Green Bay Chamber and NWTC. Over the past two decades, hundreds of entrepreneurs have accessed resources and support through the Startup Hub as they launched businesses and transitioned into independent operations within the community.
“When the Startup Hub first opened two decades ago, the goal was to create a space where people with big ideas could find guidance and support,” said Lisa Jossart, vice president of economic development at the Greater Green Bay Chamber. “The Greater Green Bay Chamber is dedicated to elevating businesses through growth, talent, and impact, and the Startup Hub reflects that commitment to helping businesses succeed.”
Businesses launched in an incubator setting like the Startup Hub have a 90% chance of surviving beyond five years. Without that support, the survival rate drops to just 44%. In 2025, 50 businesses representing a range of industries operated out of the Startup Hub.
“The Startup Hub represents what’s possible when education and entrepreneurship come together. For 20 years, it has served as a launchpad for ideas and a catalyst for economic growth in the Greater Green Bay area,” said Michael Vander Heiden, dean of the College of Business, Communication & Social Sciences at NWTC. “By connecting entrepreneurs with students, faculty, and real-world resources, the Startup Hub helps turn bold ideas into businesses that strengthen our regional economy.”
Beginning in 2026, the Greater Green Bay Chamber will provide Startup Hub tenants with a complimentary annual Chamber membership for their first five years in the space, helping entrepreneurs expand their networks and deepen connections within the Greater Green Bay business community.
Learn more information about the Startup Hub and businesses located in the space.
Photo credit: Greater Green Bay Chambers
