Building Belonging in Startup Communities with Angela Damiani

“Every entrepreneur in Wisconsin has a place in this community.” In this episode, I chat with Angela Damiani, CEO and Co-founder of NEWaukee, a brand engagement agency that has been making waves with its innovative activations, events, and community-building efforts. Angela shares the story of how NEWaukee, initially a social club for entrepreneurs, evolved into a thriving agency and a leader in fostering Wisconsin’s startup culture. She discusses the creation of the Midwest Founders Community (MFC), a decentralized network connecting founders across the region, and the inspiring work of elevating the Wisconsin tech scene through collaboration and mutual support. From building a brand experience agency to leading an influential community of founders, Angela reflects on the importance of connection, mentorship, and a culture of belonging. She also shares the challenges of balancing multiple businesses and how she's helping others navigate the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to learn • How the Midwest Founders Community connects founders to capital, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs • The role of brand activations in building meaningful relationships within a community • Insights into the challenges of Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem and why it's crucial to foster risk-taking and innovation through community support Jump into the conversation (00:00) Introduction (03:50) NEWaukee’s social club origins (04:49) Discovering revenue models (07:22) Night market's staying power (13:15) Proudest project expansions (15:28) The social architecture concept (20:21) Belonging through warm invitations (25:17) Midwest founders community building (26:17) Finding the right founder crowd (28:22) Growing beyond NEWaukee’s boundaries (29:55) Real-time founder support calls (31:07) Funding and sponsorship challenges (33:54) Safe spaces for founders' doubts (42:14) Milwaukee's startup ecosystem pulse (44:30) Risk, capital, and customer sandboxes (47:30) Vision for a founder fund Connect with Angela Damiani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeladamiani/ Check out NEWaukee: https://www.newaukee.com/ Podcast SponsorValency FundFlexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies.Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/🔻 Connect With Us 🔻Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletterhttps://www.startupwi.org/Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year)https://www.startupwi.org/eventsFollow us on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/Connect with Jacob Miller:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbearInterested in being a guest? Reach [email protected] Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive.This podcast is made by your friends at Headway.https://www.headway.io