KICstart
A suite of entrepreneurial services designed to foster community development and support the growth of early-stage scalable companies. This program will provide access to financial and technical assistance, mentorship, and innovative technology solutions, specifically tailored for underserved entrepreneurs.
Meet the Advisors
KICstart Office Hours, a weekly advisory series designed to centralize high-level expertise for early-stage companies and strengthen Southeast Wisconsin’s innovation infrastructure.
Held every Wednesday at the Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC), the program provides founders with direct, free access to legal, financial, capital, cybersecurity, and innovation leaders. Advisors will participate on a rotating basis, ensuring consistent access to curated expertise throughout the year.
Michael Best Startup Advisor
Aaron Nodolf, Legal Partner
Advises startups, advanced manufacturing companies, and universities on intellectual property strategies, and he facilitates business-to-business transactions that help companies and universities drive innovation and protect assets. Aaron is part of the firm’s Venture Best team, which includes experienced attorneys who assist with company formation and execute equity-backed transactions to help companies grow in their market.
Startup Innovation Advisor
Ernesto Camacho
Head of Innovation and Partnership Experience at 1871 in Chicago and U.S. Army veteran, brings deep expertise in corporate innovation, startup engagement, and operational strategy. He was recognized in 2024 as an Innovator of the Year USA finalist by the Forces in Business Awards.
CFO in Residence
Ben Wallace
​CFA charterholder and University of Chicago Booth MBA, has supported companies from seed through exit, including guiding 4C Insights through its acquisition by a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company. He advises founders on financial modeling, operational strategy, and scaling for growth.
Mastercraft Ventures
Mason Cook
Served as president of a VC-backed augmented reality startup, led a Wisconsin-based startup accelerator, and held early leadership roles at a $70 million VC-funded fintech company. A graduate of Iowa State University and Columbia Business School, Mason supports founders with hands-on guidance rooted in real operating experience.
Cream City Cyber
Jeffery Brand, Director of Product Security
Jeffery brings more than 25 years of technology and cybersecurity leadership experience. He leads product security strategy, ensuring solutions are built with resiliency, secure design, and strong risk mitigation to help organizations navigate complex digital environments with confidence.
Supported by grant funding
