The Osthelder Experiment: Rural Innovation in Action

A 148-year-old bar in a rural community is looking to the Wisconsin ecosystem and operators for innovative solutions. Relevant attendees and participants include, but are not limited to, capital providers, ESOs, hospitality and startup operators, founders, and entrepreneurs. Developed by the Osthelder team, this onsite program brings a reverse pitch model and proven innovation practices from ecosystem leaders, decorated founders, and aggressive early stage investors into a rural hospitality setting. The physical environment is part of the exercise, giving participants the opportunity to observe, experience, and respond to the challenges firsthand. Rather than a traditional pitch, this is an opportunity to bring together diverse perspectives, experience, and resources to identify challenges, develop innovative solutions, and put those ideas into action together. The event also creates a space for meaningful networking, building new connections, and identifying the innovators, entrepreneurs, and resources already working in this area. THE AGENDA 4:30 | Arrival + Connections Meet the room. 5:00 | Why an Experiment? A quick introduction to what we’re testing and why. 5:10 | Five Founders. Two Spots. Five pitches. Five conversations. 5:55 | Make Something Happen Turn ideas into customers, pilots, introductions and next steps. 6:30 | Two Spots Selected The two startups officially entering the experiment are announced. 6:45 | Launch Celebration