Business Incubation

“I recommend the Madison Enterprise Center to any start-up business.”

Randy D. Cortright

Founder & CTO, Virent Energy Systems

Madison Enterprise Center

A business incubator in the heart of the vibrant near-east side.

In 1987, Common Wealth formed a unique partnership with Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) that launched the Madison Enterprise Center (MEC). 

MEC is Common Wealth Development’s 1st stage business incubation initiative offering office and light industrial business incubation spaces for start-up and expanding small businesses. The suites at the Madison Enterprise Center offer affordable rental rates and shared services, including high-speed Internet and video conferencing equipment. The on-site manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs. 

How Does It Work?

Businesses may stay at the Madison Enterprise Center for 1-5 years (12-month leases, renewed annually). To qualify for acceptance into the Madison Enterprise Center, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. All applicants must prepare a business plan as part of the application package, which will be reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee for final determination.

For more information, contact Brendan Vandenburg-Carroll, Business Development Coordinator

Via phone Cell: (608) 438-6804 Office:(608) 256-3527 x1564 or Email

Current Tenants

A SPACE Studio

Is intended to be an ever evolving space where creative persons of ALL kinds can come together to create for themselves and others. our motto is: A SPACE + to create + to inspire + to educate + to celebrate

Atmospheric Floral

Madison-based florist specializing in wedding flowers that also serves Milwaukee, Chicago, and beyond. We craft awe-inspiring florals authentic to our clients’ story. Atmospheric Floral is the floral designer for anyone who understands how impactful flowers can be to the experience they’re curating for their guests.

Aurora Creative

Design. Market. Brand. 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Bernie & Zuzu

At bernie & zuzu, we create small batch, hand dyed and screen printed goods with a special emphasis on bold color, lively shapes, and playful patterns

BWZ Architects

BWZ Architects

Architectural professional services firm.

Colleen Manner Design

Colleen Manner Design Studio specializes in bringing brands to life through visual identity, product design and packaging across beauty, wellness, home, tech, food and beverage industries.

FillMyRecipe

Flavor Temptations

Organic Indeal Meal Kits.

Not Your Angel Artistry

Not Your Angel Artistry is the online brand of Digital Illustrator, Alina Park. “Creating art that blends the soft and feminine with the dark and ethereal.”

Lily Forest Designs

Lily Forest Designs is a wedding & event floral atelier set apart by their use of unique and novelty blooms designed in their tailored organic style.

Madison-Skyline

MicroMyco Growers

Small scale urban mushroom farm. Part agriculture and part recycling program, MicroMyco focuses on locally produced waste to use as a nutritional base in the growing process. MicroMyco sells cultivated and foraged mushrooms to local restaurants and at local farmers markets.

TacoCat Creations

We make cool stuff for cats and the people who love them! We’ve got catnip, catnip toys of all shapes and sizes, cat beds, bows and more! We also offer human stuff like buttons, pins, stickers, magnets and apparel!

T.L. Luke Art

Whimsically dark illustrated goods designed by a nice witch!

Tori's Trinkets

Tori’s Trinkets is a Madison based small business, specializing in laser cut acrylic modern statement jewelry made with hypoallergenic materials. Healing your inner child one silly pair of earrings at a time.

Yips Snacks

Yips are freeze dried Greek yogurt chips made for on-the-go healthy snackers.

Main Street Industries

A second-stage business incubator serving start-up and expanding small businesses.

Owned and operated by Common Wealth Development, Main Street Industries is a second-stage business incubator located in an old 50,000-square-foot Greyhound Bus terminal that was renovated in 1996. The building offers attractive, affordable office and light industrial space and shared services. The manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs. 

How Does It Work?

To qualify as a Main Street Industries lessee, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. Main Street Industries requires all applicants to prepare a business plan as part of the application package which will be reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee. Businesses are not required to “graduate” from (i.e. leave) Main Street Industries, which differs from our Madison Enterprise Center.

For more information contact Brendan Vandenburg-Carroll, Business Development Coordinator

Via phone Cell: (608) 438-6804 Office:(608) 256-3527 x1564 or Email

Atwood Atelier

Drawing and painting school with an emphasis on traditional methods.

Bali & Soul

Bali & Soul

We are a fair trade retail and wholesale business featuring one of a kind clothing & accessories, stone and silver jewelry, wood carvings, home and garden goods, furniture, paintings, gifts and more.

Community Shares Wisconsin

Community Shares of Wisconsin brings the community together with 70 nonprofits, raising funds for, and awareness of, the local social and environmental justice movement.

CraftOptics, LLC

Craft Optics

Magnification device for artists, craftspeople & hobbyists.

Eco-Friendly Flooring

Woman-owned environmentally-friendly flooring and tile showroom and installation service.

Giant Jones Brewing

Giant Jones Brewing

Organic beer brewery and tasting room.

Hats-O-Fancy

Level5 Donuts

Level 5 Donuts is a 100% Vegan company that specializes in Donuts. Primarily starting as a “pop-up”, donuts can be found in coffee shops all over the Madison area. Custom Orders are also available online through their website.

Madison-Skyline

Lotions Limited

Lotions Limited does product manufacturing and wholesale sales for sexual health products and devices.

Madison-Skyline

Metal People

Decorative metal workers.

Old Sugar Distillery

Old Sugar Distillery

Distiller of spirits.

Origin Breads

Naturally leavened sourdough breads made with organic grains grown and stone milled in the Driftless Area.

Pat's Gym

Pat's Gym

Pat’s Gym is a community of passionate, supportive and driven athletes; be part of this special community!

Red Clover Tattoo Collective

Red Clover Tattoo Collective is a 50% Native owned and 100% queer owned tattoo and arts collective. We’re focused on community care, mutual aid, and providing a space for people to engage in the healing practice of tattooing. We collaborate with community to uplift local marginalized artists, host events, and promote causes important to us.

Steam Instruments

Developers of novel mass spectrometry technologies that create new directions for atomic and biomolecular detection and imaging.

The Baked Lab

The Baked Lab is a dessert studio and learning laboratory specializing in modern wedding cakes and delicious desserts for all occasions.

The Deliciouser

A small batch, handcrafted, locally made spice boutique.

Wildwood Productions

Wildwood Productions

Manufacturers of high-quality 100% cotton screen-printed apparel using water-based inks.

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