Turn Your Idea Into a Startup at UW-Green Bay
gALPHA is a free, 7-week venture-creation workshop for UWGB students, alumni, and faculty. No company or business experience required, just an idea and the drive to build it.
About gALPHA
gALPHA is a free, seven-week venture-creation workshop for University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students, alumni, and faculty. Open to all members of the UWGB community regardless of background or experience, gALPHA gives you everything you need to turn an idea into a high-growth startup.
gALPHA's goal is that every participant leaves with a validated startup concept and the momentum to keep building. You can see gALPHA's progress against these goals here. Spots are first come, first served - apply as soon as possible to secure your place.
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Program Benefits
1-on-1 Mentorship
Coaching and mentorship from the team at gener8tor, a nationally ranked startup accelerator.
Product Development
Hands-on support from validating your idea to building out your full business model.
Weekly Sessions
2 sessions per week: Monday learning sessions and Wednesday group workshops, held on the UWGB campus.
Founder Network
Access to the broader gener8tor founder network and community.
Public Showcase
Present your company to investors, mentors, and community leaders at a public demo event.
Ongoing Support
Post-program support and continued involvement in the gener8tor ecosystem.
UW-Green Bay + gener8tor Partnership
Building a Stronger Innovation Economy
Explore how the UW-Green Bay Pre-Accelerator supports entrepreneurs, strengthens regional innovation, and creates a pathway for startup growth.
Hear From Our Partners
Eligibility Criteria for gALPHA UW-Green Bay
UWGB Community Member
You're a current University of Wisconsin-Green Bay student, alumni, or faculty member. All backgrounds, majors, and experience levels are welcome.
Program Commitment
You can commit to 2 sessions per week for the full 7 weeks: Monday learning sessions and Wednesday group workshops, held on the UWGB campus.
An Idea to Explore
You have a startup idea you want to validate, or you're eager to develop one. No prior business experience or existing company required.
Coachability and Responsiveness
You're coachable, open to feedback, and value multiple perspectives. You're ready to test your assumptions, iterate quickly, and show up prepared each week.
Apply to an Upcoming Program
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To be announced soon!
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We are not currently accepting applications for this program.
Stay tuned. While there aren't any upcoming programs for this location at the moment, there are plenty of other available opportunities at gener8tor!
gALPHA Program FAQs
What's the difference between gALPHA and gBETA?
gALPHA is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who have an idea but don't necessarily have a company yet. It's a 7-week venture-creation workshop focused on validating that idea and building a plan around it.
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies that already exist and are looking to gain traction, meet mentors, and pitch investors. Many gALPHA graduates go on to apply to gBETA.
Who is eligible to participate?
Any current University of Wisconsin-Green Bay student, alumni, or faculty member. All majors, backgrounds, and experience levels are welcome. You don't need a business background or an existing company to apply.
Does it cost anything?
No. gALPHA is free for all participants. There are no fees, and we don't take equity in your idea or future company.
What kind of weekly time commitment will gALPHA need from me?
The program runs 2 sessions per week for 7 weeks: a Monday learning session and a Wednesday group workshop, both held on the UWGB campus. Plan for roughly 2 to 4 hours per week of scheduled time, plus additional time outside of sessions to work on your idea.
gALPHA is built to fit alongside school and work. Our goal is that every session moves your idea forward in a meaningful way, so the time is well spent. We expect participants to attend consistently and show up prepared.
Are the sessions in person or virtual?
Sessions are held in person on the UWGB campus. If you have a scheduling conflict or accessibility need, reach out to the program team during office hours and we'll work with you on options.
What kind of support will gALPHA provide throughout the program?
You'll work one-on-one with the gener8tor team to identify a problem worth solving, develop product ideas, test those ideas through customer discovery and a minimum viable product (MVP), and connect with potential mentors, team members, and partners who can help grow your idea into a business.
What are the benefits of the program?
Through direct interaction with the program team and mentors, participants gain personalized insight they can apply immediately. Program focus areas include identifying high-growth opportunities, validating the idea, developing an MVP, and getting started building a company.
Benefits include:
- Access to gener8tor's national network of thousands of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors, with warm introductions to those most relevant to your idea
- Membership in gener8tor's founder community, with access to the network, events, and resources for the lifetime of your business
- A public showcase to present your validated concept to investors, mentors, and community leaders
Is there follow-up assistance after gALPHA?
Yes. Once you complete the program you become an alumni, and the program team stays in close contact. Alumni remain part of the gener8tor network for the life of their business and are considered for future opportunities such as the gBETA program, gener8tor's investment accelerators, gener8tor conferences, and introductions to new mentors and investors. We have your back from start to finish.
Do I need a team or a finished idea to apply?
No. You can apply as an individual or with a team, and your idea can be early and unpolished. The program is designed to help you sharpen it. What matters most is that you're motivated to explore the idea seriously and open to feedback.
Program Timeline
Getting Started
Program Kickoff: An orientation session on the UWGB campus where you meet your cohort and the gener8tor team, learn the venture-creation framework you'll follow over the next 7 weeks, and start shaping your idea.
Weeks 1-6
Monday Learning Sessions: Weekly sessions covering idea validation, customer discovery, market and competition, revenue models, building a business model, and pitching.
Wednesday Group Workshops: Hands-on working sessions where you apply what you learned on Monday, get feedback from peers, and make progress on your concept.
1-on-1 Coaching: Direct mentorship from the gener8tor team to work through your specific challenges and keep you moving forward.
Week 7
Showcase: Present your validated startup concept to investors, mentors, and community leaders at a public event celebrating the end of the program.
Post-Program
Ongoing Support: Continued access to the gener8tor team, resources, and founder community as you keep building.
Path to gBETA: gALPHA graduates are well positioned to apply to gBETA, our free seven-week accelerator focused on customer traction, mentorship, and investor introductions. Learn more
Looking to Learn More or Get in Touch?
Connect with our team to learn more about gALPHA UW-Green Bay.
Soumya Trivedi
Program Manager | gALPHA UW-Green Bay
