Business Incubation
“I recommend the Madison Enterprise Center to any start-up business.”
Madison Enterprise Center
A business incubator in the heart of the vibrant near-east side.
Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and Common Wealth, a non-profit community development corporation, formed a unique partnership in 1987 that launched the Madison Enterprise Center (MEC).
MEC is a 1st stage business incubation initiative of Common Wealth Development, offering office and light industrial business incubation spaces, serving start-up and expanding small businesses. The Madison Enterprise Center offers an affordable rental rate and shared services including high-speed Internet and video conferencing equipment. The on-site manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs.
How Does It Work?
Businesses may stay at the Madison Enterprise Center from 3-5 years. To qualify for acceptance into the Madison Enterprise Center, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. All applicants must prepare a business plan as part of the application package that is reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee, which makes acceptance decisions.
Current Tenants
BWZ Architects
Architectural professional services firm.
FillMyRecipe
Organic Indian meal kits.
Potter’s Crackers
Organic handcrafted crackers.
The Common Kitchen
Full-service co-packing partner for micro-batch producers.
Hinchey Design Co.
We define success by how much our products & services positively impact the lives of each other.
Lily Forest Designs
Lily Forest Designs is a wedding & event floral atelier set apart by their use of unique and novelty blooms designed in their tailored organic style.
Aurora Creative
Design. Market. Brand. 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
MicroMyco Growers Small scale urban mushroom farm. Part agriculture and part recycling program, MicroMyco focuses on locally produced waste to use as a nutritional base in the growing process. MicroMyco sells cultivated and foraged mushrooms to local restaurants and at local farmers markets.
The Looking Glass Bakery
Looking Glass Bakery is a small batch bakery with unique flavors and custom designs.
The Baked Lab
The Baked Lab is a dessert studio and learning laboratory specializing in modern wedding cakes and delicious desserts for all occasions.
Metric Forrest Studio
Metric Forrest Studio jewelry is all made by hand, one at a time. At the Studio, we believe that jewelry is an expression of who you are. We create pieces inspired by you, so there is something for everyone. Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted to make your everyday feel special.
Colleen Manner Design
Colleen Manner Design Studio specializes in bringing brands to life through visual identity, product design and packaging across beauty, wellness, home, tech, food and beverage industries.
Atmospheric Floral
Madison-based florist specializing in wedding flowers that also serves Milwaukee, Chicago, and beyond. We craft awe-inspiring florals authentic to our clients’ story. Atmospheric Floral is the floral designer for anyone who understands how impactful flowers can be to the experience they’re curating for their guests.
Main Street Industries
A second-stage business incubator serving start-up and expanding small businesses.
Main Street Industries is owned and operated by Common Wealth and located in an old 50,000-square-foot Greyhound Bus terminal, renovated in 1996. The building offers attractive, affordable office and light industrial spaced and shared services. The manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs.
How Does It Work?
To qualify as a Main Street Industries lessee, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. Main Street Industries requires all applicants to prepare a business plan as part of the application package reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee, which makes acceptance decisions. Businesses are not required to “graduate” from (i.e. leave) Main Street Industries, which differs from our Madison Enterprise Center.
For more information contact Brendan Vandenburg-Carroll, Business Development Coordinator, via phone (608) 438-6804 or email.
Bali & Soul
Importer.
Origin Breads
Naturally leavened sourdough breads made with organic grains grown and stone milled in the Driftless Area.
Bayk Madison
A small batch artisan BABKA Baykery
The Deliciouser
A small batch, handcrafted, locally made spice boutique.
Zap Cables
Custom USB and audio cables, DIY kits, and desk mats for work- and battle-stations.
CraftOptics
Magnification device for artists, craftspeople & hobbyists.
Eco-Friendly Flooring
Woman-owned environmentally-friendly flooring and tile showroom and installation service.
Giant Jones Brewing
Organic beer brewery and tasting room.
Hats-O-Fancy
Hat maker.
Lotions Limited
Lotions Limited does product manufacturing and wholesale sales for sexual health products and devices.
Metal People
Decorative metal workers.
Old Sugar Distillery
Distiller of spirits.
Pat’s Gym
Pat’s Gym is a community of passionate, supportive and driven athletes; be part of this special community!
Quince and Apple
Our small team handcrafts preserves, syrups, nuts, candy and pickles in the heart of Madison, WI.
Wildwood Productions
Manufacturers of high-quality 100% cotton screen-printed apparel using water-based inks.
Wm. Chocolates
Madison-made, regionally sourced dark chocolate bars.
Steam Instruments
Developers of novel mass spectrometry technologies that create new directions for atomic and biomolecular detection and imaging.
Atwood Atelier
Drawing and painting school with an emphasis on traditional methods.
Community Shares of Wisconsin
Community Shares of Wisconsin brings the community together with 70 nonprofits, raising funds for, and awareness of, the local social and environmental justice movement.
