Entrepreneur-Focused Cafe Is Closing – Urban Milwaukee

Report on the Strategic Evolution of BizStarts and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The BizStarts organization has announced a strategic transition involving the closure of its physical Community Market in Walker’s Point, effective November 22. This move facilitates the launch of a new, decentralized partner network designed to scale its support for local entrepreneurs. This report analyzes this operational shift through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the organization’s continued commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and community resilience.

2.0 Background and Operational Review

The BizStarts Community Market, located at 161 S. 1st St., has served as a critical incubator for local businesses since its inception in October 2023. Its primary function was to provide a “retail laboratory” for new entrepreneurs, contributing directly to local economic vitality.

• Operational Period: October 2023 – November 2025
• Key Function: Provided a physical retail space for entrepreneurs to test products, gain market feedback, and build a customer base.
• Impact Metrics:
  1. Partnered with over 55 small business vendors.
  2. Hosted 40 pop-up events in 2025 alone.

3.0 Strategic Pivot to a Partnership Network Model

The closure of the single-venue market marks a strategic evolution towards a more distributed and scalable model. BizStarts is launching a new partner network to connect entrepreneurs with a variety of established Milwaukee-area retail stores. This initiative is designed to generate greater and more tailored impacts for participating businesses by matching them with appropriate retail environments.

According to Chairman Glenn Margraff, this new program “bridges the gaps between retailers and small business owners,” acknowledging that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is not optimal for entrepreneurial development.

4.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The mission and operational model of BizStarts, particularly with its new strategic direction, demonstrate strong alignment with several key SDGs.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By providing education, mentorship, and market access, BizStarts directly promotes entrepreneurship and the creation of small enterprises. The new network model aims to enhance sustainable economic growth by integrating small businesses into the broader local economy, fostering job creation and decent work.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The organization’s foundational goal, established by founder Dan Steininger in 2008, is to support business owners, with a specific focus on those from underserved communities. This mission directly addresses the target of empowering and promoting the social and economic inclusion of all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative strengthens the local economic fabric of Milwaukee. By supporting a diverse ecosystem of local producers and retailers—from Vennture Brew Co. to Indigo Plant Collective—BizStarts contributes to building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban community.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The new partner network is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. It mobilizes resources and expertise by creating collaborative relationships between a non-profit entity, emerging entrepreneurs, and established local retailers to achieve shared sustainable development objectives.

5.0 Conclusion and Future Outlook

The transition from a physical market to a dynamic retail partner network represents a strategic enhancement of the BizStarts mission. While the Community Market is closing, its legacy of supporting local entrepreneurs will be expanded through a more scalable and impactful model. This evolution reinforces the organization’s commitment to achieving sustainable economic growth, reducing local inequalities, and building strong community partnerships in Milwaukee. Businesses interested in participating in the new network are directed to contact President Patrick Snyder.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article focuses on BizStarts, an organization dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs and small business owners. This directly contributes to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by fostering entrepreneurship and job creation at the local level.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article explicitly states that BizStarts was launched to support business owners, “particularly those from underserved communities.” This mission directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities by empowering the economic inclusion of marginalized groups.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The initiative is centered in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point and aims to connect entrepreneurs with various local stores. This strengthens the local economic fabric, making the urban community more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable by supporting small-scale local enterprises.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article highlights the creation of a “new partner network connecting entrepreneurs with Milwaukee-area stores.” This is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership (a civil society organization, entrepreneurs, and local retailers) working together to achieve common economic and social goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.

   • The entire premise of BizStarts and its Community Market aligns with this target. The article describes it as a “retail laboratory” that provides “entrepreneurial education, hands-on training and mentorship” to help small businesses test products, grow, and expand.

2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.

   • The article’s mention of BizStarts’ focus on supporting entrepreneurs “from underserved communities” directly corresponds to this target. The program is designed to provide resources and opportunities to those who may face greater barriers to economic participation.

3. Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

   • The new partner network aims to create positive economic links within the urban area of Milwaukee. By connecting small producers with a variety of local retailers, it strengthens the local supply chain and economic ecosystem, contributing to a more sustainable urban development model.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   • BizStarts, as an organization, is facilitating a civil society and private-private partnership. The new network is a formal mechanism to “bridge the gaps between retailers and small business owners,” which is a direct implementation of this target to achieve greater impact.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 8.3: Number of small-scale enterprises supported.

   • The article provides a specific metric: the community market has “partnered with more than 55 small business vendors” over two years. This number serves as a direct indicator of the program’s reach and its contribution to supporting small enterprises.

2. Indicator for Target 10.2: Proportion of entrepreneurs from underserved communities supported.

   • While the article does not provide a specific number, it implies this as a key metric by stating the organization’s mission is to support business owners “particularly those from underserved communities.” Measuring the number or proportion of participants from these communities would be a direct way to track progress toward this target.

3. Indicator for Target 17.17: Number of partnerships created through the network.

   • The article describes the launch of a “new partner network connecting entrepreneurs with Milwaukee-area stores.” An implied indicator of success for this new initiative would be the number of successful connections and ongoing partnerships formed between the entrepreneurs and the retailers in the network.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: urbanmilwaukee.com