Northwestern Mutual was highlighted by the Milwaukee Business Journal in a round-up of top tech initiatives in 2020, including the launch of its Black Founder Accelerator and collaborative venture studio for financial technology and health and wellness industries, and its dedication of $20 million to investing in startup companies founded by Black entrepreneurs.

Northwestern Mutual Vice President – Digital Innovation Abim Kolawole and Vice President – Strategic Investing Craig Schedler reflect on the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures funding allocation.

Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures will dedicate $20 million to investing in companies founded by Black entrepreneurs and will also partner with gener8tor to launch the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator.

Northwestern Mutual recognized for the launch of its venture studio, the upcoming Women in Tech conference and its partnership with GalaxE.Solutions

Activities for the upcoming Women's Entrepreneurship Week in Milwaukee include a pitch competition, panel discussions on women in technology, and a session with women business owners.

Fiveable's latest round of funding was led by New York's BBG Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in female founders. Other investors included Metrodora Ventures, Cream City Venture Capital, Golden Angel Investors; Matchstick Ventures; Twenty Seven Ventures; SoGal; Spero Ventures in California; and Deborah Quazzo, the managing partner at GSV Ventures in San Francisco.

Northwestern Mutual is hosting its first Women in Tech Conference on December 3 and will virtually gather top companies nationwide, women technologists and their allies for a full-day event focused on professional development, empowerment and collaboration, with the ultimate goal of fostering a more diverse and inclusive tech industry and community.

Chief Information Officer Neal Sample discusses the latest trends in AI and blockchain, the benefits of investing in emerging tech and advice for leaders to implement new technologies in their organization.

Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures has invested in a Dallas health startup, Mountain Health Technologies, focused on helping millennials find access to affordable health care services.

A steady increase in Wisconsin startup funding has been attributed to a number of new Wisconsin-based startup funds, including Northwestern Mutual's Cream City Venture Capital.

OJO Labs raised $62.5 million in a Series D financing round with investments from Wafra, Breyer Capital, LiveOak Venture Partners, Royal Bank of Canada, and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures.

The MKE Tech Hub Coalition is searching for a board member that would represent Milwaukee’s diverse community in response to racial inequality and police brutality in America.

Northwestern Mutual has partnered with GalaxE.Solutions to launch Outsource to Milwaukee to create hundreds of new tech jobs in Milwaukee and upskill local talent to fill critical tech job needs.

Northwestern Mutual's Chief Information Officer Neal Sample highlighted the positive impact the company's partnership with GalaxE.Solutions will have on job creation in Milwaukee.

Northwestern Mutual's Chief Information Officer Neal Sample highlighted the company's commitment to building a diverse and inclusive tech community.

In the 2020 StartupBlink report, which ranks 1,000 global startup hubs, Milwaukee has jumped 31 spots to No. 132.

Northwestern Mutual and CUNA Mutual co-led a $12.3 million Series A round in Splash Financial.

Featuring U-Nest founder Ksenia Yudina, Forbes highlights the apps that helps consumers quickly and easily set up 529 plans and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures funding.

Milwaukee Business Journal shared perspective from Milwaukee tech executives, including Northwestern Mutual's Chief Information Officer Neal Sample, in a cover story that features insights on the growing prevalence of tech.

The Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) has been selected as a winner of the BizTimes Milwaukee's 2019 Innovation Quotient Award for the partnership between Northwestern Mutual, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University.

Kathy Henrich has been selected as the MKE Tech Hub Coalition's first CEO.

Northwestern Mutual leads $3.5M funding round for female-owned college savings app, U-Nest.

WisconsinInno recaps some of 2019's top funding rounds.

As 2019 comes to a close, WisconsinInno takes a look back at Wisconsin's top tech headlines throughout the year.

On October 22nd, the Data Science Institute at Northwestern Mutual hosted the fifth annual “Data Day: No Stories without Data, No Data Without Stories,” organized by local nonprofit Data You Can Use.

Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske discusses the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, its focus on doubling Milwaukee’s tech-worker population and transforming Milwaukee into a thriving tech ecosystem.

Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures has dedicated $20 million in venture funding to female-founded startups and that $20 million is only the beginning.

6 leading Milwaukee-area companies have partnered to form the MKE Tech, designed to attract and retain tech talent in region.

Learn more about Milwaukee’s second annual Fall Experiment, a two-day technology, art and music festival packed with keynote speakers, the region’s largest developer conference, a live performance from global DJ Steve Aoki, interactive gaming, entrepreneurship, product displays, STEM activities, and other immersive experiences.

Northwestern Mutual's Chief Innovation Officer recently spoke with WatersTechnolgoy on the collaboration between technolgoy and business at Northwestern Mutual and investing in technology talent in Milwaukee.

Marquette University geneticist, Edward Blumenthal, and UWM marketing professor, Purush Papatla, have been named directors of the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute.

Northwestern Mutual's Cream City Venture Capital and Rock River Capital Partners have partnered for Fall X Pitch, a new pitch competition created in Milwaukee for Milwaukee's technology startup community.

Learn about some of Fall Experiemnt's top upcoming technology, gaming, art and music events.

Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual has been a driving force in leading Milwaukee toward improving tech talent and increasing the volume of innovation in the region.

More than 300 academic researchers and technologists are in Milwaukee this week for the 2019 Computers, Software and Applications Conference hosted by the IEEE Computer Society.

Northwestern Mutual is adding a second Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures fund to build on the success of the first fund and continue to invest in new technologies that have the potential to advance innovation in the financial planning space.

After launching Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures in 2017, Northwestern Mutual announced it has committed $150 million to Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Fund II to invest in startups whos technologies have to potential to transform the financial security experience.

Northwestern Mutual has committed $150 million to form Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Fund II, an extension of the existing corporate venture capital to transform the financial planning client experience.

Launched in 2018, Northwestern Mutual's innovation lab, Cream City Labs, has been selected as one of WisconsinInno's coolest tech offices.

Milwaukee moves away from being known as just a manufacturing region and moves toward a region of tech innovation as one of top 5 emerging tech markets in the U.S.

Pythonic AI, an artificial intelligence startup in the medical records space, has been announced as the winner of the second annual Reverse Pitch MKE event.

Hear from Northwestern Mutual's James Hiscke on growing the tech ecosystem in Milwaukee.

Cloud computing, AI, and data science are among emerging technologies in Milwaukee's growing tech ecosystem.

Northwestern Mutual, continuously working toward a digital transofrmation, received Celent's 2019 Model Insurer Award in the "Innovation and Emerging Technology" category.

Explore what conferences, competitions and showcases organizations across the Milwaukee area are running for software developers, technology professionals, and entrepreneurs this Spring.

Aurora Advocate Health, Foxconn, Johnson Controls and Northwestern Mutual announced that Jason Franklin will manage the $100 million Wisconn Valley Venture Fund.

Milwaukee Business Journal recognizes James Hischke, one of 2018's 40 Under 40, for his efforts in helping build Milwaukee as a tech hub.

More than 120 Milwaukee-area middle school girls spent the day at Northwestern Mutual, exploring science, technology, engineering and math.

The technology industry in Wisconsin continues to expand as more companies like American Family Insurance begin to establish offices in Milwaukee.

Read how financial services and life insurance company, Northwestern Mutual, continues to explore blockchain applications.

Making the switch from corporations to startups and increased investments in local startups are just a few of the predictions for Wisconsin's tech ecosystem this year.

As the Milwaukee Business Journal unveiled it's annual 40 Under 40 list this week, WTMJ highlighted Milwaukee-area leader on the list, James Hischke, Senior Director of Tech Advancement and Outreach at Northwestern Mutual.

This list features a diverse group of companies in the Milwaukee area that are expected to continue breaking barriers in 2019.

From the Wisconn Valley Venture Fund to UWM's Lubar Entrepreneurship Center to Hub640, here are the top 5 things to look out for in Milwaukee's tech industry in 2019.

Increased investments in Milwaukee's tech industry, as well as acquisitions of tech companies in the Milwaukee area highlighted as top stories of 2018.

Cream City Venture Capital among other investors in Milwaukee startup, SteamChain Inc.'s $2.7 million round of funding.

The rise of the startup and venture fund scene in Milwaukee has contributed to Milwaukee's ranking as 29th on the list of 50 best places in America to start a business.

Wisconsin is one of the states experimenting with new tactics to nurture relationships with local startups.

The inaugural Milwaukee Blockchain Conference was co-hosted by the Marquette Blockchain Lab and Northwestern Mutual and drew more than 300 business leaders, entrepreneurs and students.

Emilia Sherifova, Northwestern Mutual's first female chief technology officer, is leading a team focused on advancing the company's technology capabilities and enhancing the client experience.

Wisconsin Native and former product and project designer at Google and YouTube, John Zeratsky, will host a Design Sprint boot camp in Milwaukee in Northwestern Mutual's Cream City Labs.

Northwestern Mutual Venture Partner Craig Schedler discusses venture capital trends and startup opportunities in the Midwest.

The El-Amin brothers are helping to cultivate entrepreneurship talent in Milwaukee's central city through their organization, Young Enterprising Society (YES).

Northwestern Mutual held its second Reverse Pitch MKE event during Startup Milwaukee Week and is inviting entrepreneurs to solve business challenges for a chance to earn a seed investment.

Local entrepreneur and co-founder of startup Socialeads, Larry Hitchcock, discusses the growing momentum in Milwaukee's startup scene.

WisconsinInno announced its inaugural 50 on Fire list that recognizes the top 50 people, companies and organizations advancing tech in Wisconsin.

Former Apple executive Guy Kawasaki encouraged attendees at the Milwaukee Tech Hub Summit to think different and think big.

Milwaukee corporations are helping to Bolster the local startup community.

Northwestern Mutual CEO discusses the company's efforts to grow Milwaukee as a tech hub.

Inc's November issue features emerging industries and startups, including Forever Labs, a startup that is banking stem cells to help consumers live healthier, longer lives.

Startup Milwaukee has more than 40 free events across the Milwaukee area taking place November 5-11.

Karl Gouverneur, vice president of digital workplace, corporate solutions and head of digital innovation at Northwestern Mutual, discussed the opening of the company's new innovation lab.

CIOs are increasingly working with startups to drive innovation in their companies.

Seventeen companies reported raising at least $100,000 in investment rounds in Q3, according to the recent PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor Report.

Northwestern Mutual is holding its second Reverse Pitch MKE event during Startup Milwaukee Week.

Karl Gouverneur, vice president of digital workplace, corporate solutions and head of digital innovation at Northwestern Mutual, has been named one of the top 100 Hispanic Technology Leaders.

In its third year, Startup Milwaukee Week includes more than 50 sessions with more than 40 organizations hosting events

Northwestern Mutual held a grand opening for its new innovation lab, Cream City Labs.

Since launching in 2012, gener8tor has become a national accelerator spurring innovation in Madison and Milwaukee.

Northwestern Mutual held a grand opening for its new innovation lab, Cream City Labs.

Northwestern Mutual has been named a runner-up in Innovation Leader's 2018 Impact Awards, which honors companies that have achieved extraordinary outcomes related to their innovation programs.

Check out five of the top technology and entrepreneurship events taking place in Milwaukee this fall.

Founders of 12 companies were selected to participate in the Blueprint Bootcamp, a business development program geared specifically toward entrepreneurs of color.

Many prominent companies and organizations are partnering to create the Fall Experiment, a full day event highlighting the technology, film, music and art communities.

Gener8tor is bridging the gap between startups and corporations through Project North, a members-only network that gives investors the first look into new businesses on the rise throughout the Midwest.

Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske shares plans to bring together major employers in southeastern Wisconsin to form a coalition to grow technology in the region.

Four companies in Wisconsin are joining together to form a $100 million venture fund to help accelerate the state's tech ecosystem.

Four major Milwaukee-based corporations are committing $25 million each to form the Wisconn Valley Venture Fund.

Northwestern Mutual is partnering with Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to launch the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute.

Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske and Advocate Aurora Health CEO Dr. Nick Turkal discuss their mission to grow Milwaukee as a tech hub.

According to two recent studies, the number of tech employees in Madison and Milwaukee is significantly growing.

The growing corporate venture capital landscape in Wisconsin is fueling startup growth.

Northwestern Mutual venture partner Craig Schedler discusses the company's focus on investing in startups in its hometown of Milwaukee.

According to a recent study commissioned by leading employers in the Milwaukee region, tech talent had a local economic impact of $27 billion in 2017.

Northwestern Mutual, Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are investing nearly $40 million to form the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute.

Northwestern Mutual unveiled for its new innovation center, Cream City Labs, to further advance opportunities for employees to innovate and bring outside thinking into the company.  

In partnership with its Foundation, Northwestern Mutual launched Butterfly Island, a virtual reality game aimed at calming stress and anxiety for children affected by childhood cancer.

Northwestern Mutual offered the first preview of its new innovation center, Cream City Labs, which opens this fall.

Two Milwaukee e-commerce startups, Wantable and Bright Cellars, raised new rounds of venture funding.

To avoid disruption, CIOs are looking for new opportunities to transform their companies. Northwestern Mutual's Karl Gouverneur shared how the company is engaging startups in a new way.  

Q&A with Northwestern Mutual's Karl Gouverneur about the company's digital transformation journey and IT's role in digital innovation.

Northwestern Mutual hosts first "Hack It Til You Crack It" hackathon for college students from Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Technology Ecosystem within Milwaukee is growing with excitement.

Northwestern Mutual is hosting a series of job shadowing events to introduce sixty local high schoolers to career opportunities in technology.

Iconic products such as beer, motorcycles and tractors have been produced in Wisconsin, but in recent years, its economy has changed significantly.

For 160 years, Northwestern Mutual has withstood and prospered through crazy ups and downs in our industry and economy. The current digital transformation is reshaping the financial industry tremendously.