Co-founder
gener8tor | Madison
Joe Kirgues co-founded gener8tor, an accelerator that invests in high-growth startups, in 2011. The company has since graduated over 1,400 startups, which have gone on to raise $1.3 billion in follow-on financing and create nearly 10,000 jobs. Gener8tor operates 285 accelerators in 46 communities, including several Wisconsin cities, as well as Anchorage, San Juan and Luxembourg. In addition gener8tor offers corporate programming, a speaker series, conferences, skills accelerators and fellowships. Kirgues manages the company – including its 125 employees – alongside business partner and co-founder Troy Vosseller. Kirgues previously served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board of directors and currently serves as co-chair of WEDC’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Committee. Earlier in his career, Kirgues got his start as an associate at Quarles & Brady LLP.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University; J.D., University of Wisconsin
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Emerging Industries | Startups
Co-founder
gener8tor | Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni Joe Kirgues and Troy Vosseller teamed up in 2012 to found gener8tor, a startup accelerator designed to help Milwaukee- and Madison-based entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses. In the decade since, gener8tor has graduated 938 startups from its 104 annual accelerator programs, and 34 of its alumni companies have been acquired. gener8tor has 140 full-time employees, accelerators in more than 41 cities with more than $1.2 billion in total funding across 22 states and two countries; and more than 90 programs and conferences among startups, artists, musicians, corporations and job-seekers. In Wisconsin, gener8tor’s programs have helped bring millions in investment to a state that has historically lagged in venture capital. Earlier in his career, Kirgues worked as an associate at Quarles & Brady LLP.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University; J.D., University of Wisconsin
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
“Gilles. Never forget to make sure the shake machine is fully closed before you pour in 20 gallons of shake mix.”
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career?
“Don’t self defeat.”
If you could have dinner with any two business leaders, who would you choose and why?
“Taralinda Willis from Curate and Chris Campbell from ReviewTrackers. We have a history of celebrating founders who successfully build and exit companies from scratch and we owe them a dinner.”
What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“gener8tor markets across the country.”
What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why?
“Fareed Zakaria’s GPS. Best interviews from global leaders.”
What’s your hobby/passion?
“Helping people build something larger than themselves from scratch.”
What is your favorite Wisconsin restaurant and what do you order there?
“Carnevor. Twin lobster tails and the amazing sides whose recipe Omar won’t share.”
What would people be surprised to learn about you (fun fact)?
“I can wiggle my ears one at a time.”
What was your first car? How long did you drive it for?
“Toyota Camry. Way, way too long.”
If you could take a one-year sabbatical, what would you do?
“I’m worried I’d end up working on some new project instead.”
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“The insecurity that comes with holding conviction that you believe is true but others are certain is wrong.”
What advice would you give to a young professional?
“Don’t self defeat.”
What has been your/your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months?
“Helping hundreds of people go from unemployed/offline to employed/online through our Skills Accelerator partnership with Microsoft.”
What is one thing you would change about Wisconsin to make it even better?
“Wisconsin has to get excited about its next generation. If we choose not to invest in our best and brightest we should expect brain drains that encourage our emerging talent to build their careers elsewhere. We need to get our pension funds and balance sheets committed to investing alongside venture capitalists into our own.”
As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song and why?
“A Yung Gravy song because he worked at gener8tor before deciding to make very unexpected music.”
Is there a nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you?
“The United Way. When we ran an emergency response program to help people during COVID it was the one place we knew would help people we were engaging that could not afford food or shelter.”
What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
“Starting gener8tor.”
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
“Being grateful for every day and taking none of it for granted.”
What has you most excited about the future?
“Our incredible team and the inspiring people going through our accelerator.”
