When Sheila Firari and her business partner Bowen Dornbrook sought funding for their startup auqaponics company they hit more than one brick wall.
First they applied for grants from the federal and state governments. They were denied.
Then, they turned to the private sector, applying for loans at commercial banks. Denied again.
That's when they turned to Fund Milwaukee.
The organization connects "mainstream" investors with local startups, allowing people to individually invest so together they can help get a company started. Those individuals decide which projects they'll support and how much money they'll contribute.
Want to hear it in action? Click the podcast player to hear how Fund Milwaukee helped Central Greens get off the ground.