Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood Establishes Weekly Founder Office Hours, Strengthening Southeast Wisconsin’s Innovation Pipeline

KENOSHA, Wis. (March 4, 2026)  — The Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN) is launching 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. 

The series officially launches on Wednesday, March 18, with all core advisors participating in person for an inaugural founder kickoff. 

“KICstart Office Hours creates a consistent, trusted entry point for entrepreneurs to build smarter companies, faster,” said Kelly Armstrong, President of KIN. “This initiative is about building economic infrastructure that makes capital, expertise, and opportunity more accessible across our region.” 

Advisory Team 

Ernesto Camacho, Startup Innovation Advisor, 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. 

Ben Wallace, CFO in Residence, a 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. 

Aaron Nodolf, Legal Partner at Michael Best, 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. 

Mason Cook, Founder and Managing Director of Mastercraft Ventures, has 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. 

Jeffrey Brand, Director of Product Security at Cream City Cyber, 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. 

KICstart Office Hours are part of KIN’s broader platform to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem through mentorship, capital connectivity, and industry collaboration. 

Entrepreneurs can sign up for available sessions at innovateKIN.org/startups 

About the Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC) 

The Kenosha Innovation Center is a flagship facility within the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and community-driven economic development. The Center provides founders with workspace, mentorship, programming, and pathways to growth supporting the next generation of startups in the region. 

About the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood  

The Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Inc., is a non-profit organization led by a volunteer board of directors composed of local and regional leaders dedicated to fostering economic recovery, improving economic sustainability and resiliency, and ensuring equitable community access to prosperity through the development of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN).   

The KIN is the revitalization and transformation of 107 acres of vacant land in the heart of Kenosha as a collaborative, mixed-use project that is bringing the community together to define and deliver a regional destination with sustainable, innovation-focused office, medical, educational, commercial, and residential space that meets the unique needs of neighbors, the broader Kenosha community, visitors, and end-users. Learn more about the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood at www.innovatekin.org.