MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced the five finalists that will take the stage at the 12th annual Pressure Chamber on Aug. 19 at The Sylvee. This initiative, presented by Michael Best and in partnership with The Forward Festival, is a proven launchpad for local entrepreneurs and a showcase of the innovation coming out of the region. Collectively, funding raised by participating Pressure Chamber companies is approaching $1 billion.
The 2025 Pressure Chamber finalists are:
- Atrility is transforming cardiac care with AI-driven arrhythmia diagnostics and prediction using the highest quality cardiac waveform data available, accessed through a patented device in use at hospitals nationwide. This equips clinicians with the critical information they need to quickly identify and act on dangerous arrhythmias, helping improve clinical outcomes, shorten length of stay and reduce cost of care.
- Maxwave is pioneering long-range wireless power beaming — delivering energy without wires using focused electromagnetic waves. This technology enables efficient, safe and scalable power transfer for autonomous systems, disaster recovery, remote operations and smart cities.
- redelevenlabs uses AI to crack down on AI-driven impersonation and defamation. This revolutionary new tool helps individuals and agencies detect and remove deepfake or harmful content quickly and affordably without expensive legal teams.
- Reliable Residence connects healthcare professionals with furnished monthly housing. Founded by a physician who experienced the housing struggle firsthand, Reliable Residence makes it easy for nurses and doctors to find safe, reliable places to stay — so they can focus on caring for our community.
- Strudel uses AI to automate complex technical support by analyzing production data and code, cutting resolution time by 65% and saving engineering teams 20% of their time for product development. The Madison-based startup addresses a $264 billion problem affecting B2B SaaS companies whose engineers spend 30-50% of their time on customer support instead of building products.
At the event, finalists will pitch to a group of national investors and a live audience. The winner — determined by a combination of judge scoring and audience voting — will receive the “golden suitcase,” which guarantees a reserved spot in the Chamber’s exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.
”It’s a sign of the ingenuity and innovation coming out of our region that this year’s Pressure Chamber is shaping up to be the biggest yet,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “We look forward to hearing from this exciting new group of emerging companies that will help write the next chapter in Greater Madison’s story.”
Past Pressure Chamber winners have credited the initiative with helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice.
To register for Pressure Chamber, visit madisonbiz.com/pressure-chamber. If you plan to cover the event, contact Communications Manager Jess Miller (jess@madisonbiz.com).
Pressure Chamber is presented by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Michael Best, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Fetch, TruStage, Associated Bank, Madison College, JP Cullen, The Gialamas Company, 4490 Ventures, Baird Capital, Idea Fund, Mastercraft Ventures, Rock River Capital Partners and FPC Live.
About The Forward Festival: The Forward Festival is a 5-day festival held annually in Madison, Wisconsin, for entrepreneurs byentrepreneurs with locally organized events to connect and inspire innovation featuring all aspects of entrepreneurship. The 2025 edition of The Forward Festival will run August 18-22. Visit forwardfest.org for more information.
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
