Silicon Pastures

Silicon Pastures LLC is a principal investment firm based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in venture capital, focusing on early-stage, high technology companies primarily located in the Midwest. Silicon Pastures aims to invest in businesses that leverage technology to address various challenges, supporting innovation and growth in the region.

Teresa Esser

Managing Director

27 past transactions

Blue Line Battery

Angel Round in 2020
Blue Line Battery is a manufacturer of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. It is an engineering-driven technology company that designs and manufactures lithium-ion power systems for a variety of market applications including; industrial, stationary, small electric vehicle, and solar. Blue Line Battery was founded in 2015 and is based in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Digsite

Convertible Note in 2020
Digsite, Inc. develops a platform for online insight communities that improve on outdated online focus group technology. Its platform enables moderators to start public or private discussions, upload images and videos, and use survey and mark-up tools; and participants to add their own comments and discussions. The company also provides SmartReporting, which enables marketers and brand managers to bring qualitative research results to life. Digsite, Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Sprecher

Angel Round in 2020
Sprecher Brewing Company, founded in 1985 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is recognized as the oldest craft brewery in the city. The company specializes in producing handcrafted beers, offering a diverse range of products that include unique flavors such as maple and root soda beer. Sprecher Brewing focuses on delivering organically produced alcoholic beverages, catering to consumers who appreciate quality and distinctive taste in their drinks.

Fiveable

Seed Round in 2020
Fiveable, Inc. is an educational technology company founded in 2018 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It operates an interactive social learning platform designed specifically for Advanced Placement (AP) students and teachers. The platform facilitates engagement through live-streamed lessons, interactive discussions, and supportive communities, allowing students to connect with peers and educators. Fiveable offers resources across various subjects, including history, social science, STEM, and languages, to enhance academic and social-emotional learning. By fostering collaboration and interaction, Fiveable aims to create a dynamic educational environment that supports both teaching and learning outside of traditional classroom settings.

Passage

Venture Round in 2020
Passage Inc. is a company based in Detroit, Michigan, that specializes in providing a web and mobile application for ticketing and payments, allowing businesses to sell tickets both online and at the door. Founded in 2014, Passage focuses on niche event verticals, offering category-specific branding and features to enhance the user experience. Their platform is designed for small to mid-sized events, enabling users to book tickets through secure online payments. Notably, Passage has developed specialized solutions such as HauntPay, tailored for the haunted attraction industry, which exemplifies their commitment to meeting the unique needs of various event categories.

Intuitive Bio

Venture Round in 2019
Intuitive Biosciences makes non-human primate (NHP) research safer, more effective, and more efficient. Their leading tuberculosis and specific-pathogen-free tests improve accuracy, while making testing more efficient for colony managers and more humane for the animals. Their world-class scientists and proprietary development platforms allow us to deliver a continually expanding portfolio of diagnostics and research tools for the animal health and research markets.

Sonex Health

Funding Round in 2019
Sonex Health, LLC develops micro-invasive surgical device. The company offers SX-One MicroKnife with Meerkat Technology to treat carpal tunnel syndrome in orthopedic patients through an ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (USCTR) procedure. It also offers Stealth MicroGuards and TCL Blade devices. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Rochester, Minnesota.

Bright Cellars

Funding Round in 2017
Bright Cellars Inc. operates an online wine subscription service that personalizes wine selections for its members. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company employs a questionnaire and customer feedback to understand individual tastes and preferences. Using a machine-learning algorithm, Bright Cellars generates tailored wine recommendations that are shipped monthly to subscribers, helping them discover and refine their wine palate. The service also includes options for gifting wine, making it accessible for users to share their experience with friends. Bright Cellars aims to educate and inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts through a curated and transformative wine experience.

Microscopy Innovations

Venture Round in 2016
Microscopy Innovations, LLC is a life science tools company based in Marshfield, Wisconsin, focused on developing innovative products for microscopy laboratories since its founding in 2007. The company specializes in electron microscopy and offers a range of products designed to enhance laboratory workflows and specimen processing. Key offerings include the mPrep system, which streamlines microscopy and histology procedures; mPrep/g capsules for grid staining and immunolabeling; mPrep/s capsules for various specimen processing challenges; and the ASP-1000 Automated Specimen Processor, which automates specimen preparation and staining. Microscopy Innovations also provides its products to pharmaceutical, clinical, academic, and industrial research markets through a network of distributors in several countries, including the United States, England, France, and Japan. The company's core mPrep technology is protected by US patents and pending international patents, with plans for future development extending into light microscopy applications.

Indiana Integrated Circuits

Venture Round in 2016
Indiana Integrated Circuits LLC develops, licenses, and commercializes microchip interconnect and packaging technology. Its technology applications include microwave/RF, large format focal plane arrays, micro-electromechanical systems, digital, power, and high-performance computing. The company also offers custom fabrication, and research and development services, including e-beam lithography and nanofabrication, thin film deposition, dry and wet etching, specialty plating, magnetics, and metrology. Indiana Integrated Circuits LLC was founded in 2009 and is based in South Bend, Indiana.

Eso Technologies

Angel Round in 2013
ESO- Tech is an medical device company that is driven by an experienced management team.The company is developing an esophageal cardiac vital signs monitoring system.The system is minimally invasive ,safe,and accurate.Clinical studies have demonstrated the technology provides an attractive alternative to the invasive devices in use today,while enhacing the scope of cardiac care for surgical and ICU patients.

Blue Moon Learning Center

Debt Financing in 2013
Blue Moon Learning Center is a private educational center for American children. It offers classes in subjects such as language, crafts, and values formation. Blue Moon Learning Center began operation in February 2012. Its headquarters was in Wisconsin before it moved to Alameda in California.

Flex Biomedical

Venture Round in 2012
Flex Biomedical, a Madison-based company founded in 2007, is developing innovative treatments for orthopedic diseases. The company's lead product, the Flex Polymer™, is a synthetic polymer designed to treat osteoarthritis, an incurable, debilitating joint disease that affects 27 million people in the United States and 100 million people worldwide.

SOLOMO Technology

Seed Round in 2012
SOLOMO Technology Inc. specializes in indoor location intelligence and personalized marketing solutions for retailers. The company offers the SOLOMO Exchange, a web-services platform that integrates with retailers' mobile applications to collect customer identity and location data, facilitating personalized offers while prioritizing customer control over their information. Its suite of tools includes SOLOMO Geo, which provides location-based notifications and usage reports, and SOLOMO Identity, enabling customers to manage their data. Additionally, SOLOMO offers Single Sign On for secure authentication and SOLOMO Intent for users to communicate their intentions to trusted organizations. The company also develops branded in-store mobile applications that enhance customer engagement and assist sales associates in providing better service. Founded in 2010 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, SOLOMO Technology focuses on delivering effective mobile solutions that enhance the retail experience while fostering customer trust.
Stepping Stone Dental Partners is a transition and practice development partner dedicated to the advancement of private practice. It acquires, supports, and transitions dental practices from retiring dentists to aspiring practice owners, eliminating the inherent conflicts of interest in buying and selling a dental practice. It structures a transition that aligns everyone’s interests, maintaining a focus on patient care, and the overall success of the practice. It achieves this while giving selling dentists a smooth transition into retirement and providing younger dentists a clear path to ownership.

Enhancement Medical

Debt Financing in 2012
Enhancement Medical provides pharmaceutical and other health care services for residents of Wisconsin. It has developed Expression, a new Hyaluronic Acid derived from pathogen free material. Enhancement Medical has its headquarters in Wauwatosa in Wisconsin. It serves residents there and its vicinity.

Lucigen

Venture Round in 2012
Lucigen Corporation specializes in providing products and services for DNA and RNA cloning, sequencing, amplification, and protein expression, catering primarily to life science researchers. The company offers a range of sequencing products, including long mate pair library kits and DNA sample preparation kits, alongside protein expression solutions such as cloning and expression kits. Lucigen's portfolio also features PCR and amplification tools, competent cells for cloning and phage display, and various enzymes. Additionally, it supplies cloning kits and vectors tailored for general, PCR, and complex cloning needs, along with accessory kits for DNA manipulation. The company further enhances its offerings with genome closure services and genomic technologies. Founded in 1998 and based in Middleton, Wisconsin, Lucigen was previously known as Microgen Corporation before rebranding in 2001 and now operates as a subsidiary of LGC Limited.

HarQen

Series B in 2011
HarQen, Inc. offers Software as a Service tools designed to enhance and streamline recruitment processes. Founded in 2007 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company provides a digital interview platform that includes features such as on-demand video and phone interviews, live video interviews, automated pre-screening, SMS candidate engagement, and language verification. Additionally, HarQen supports candidate profile creation and offers mobile applications for interviewing. Its solutions cater to various sectors, including staffing and placement, recruitment process outsourcing, healthcare, banking, insurance, education, and small businesses. Beyond recruitment, HarQen specializes in Intelligent Voice Services that capture and enrich conversations, facilitating improved collaboration and productivity. The company is also a founding member of the Hypervoice Consortium, which focuses on organizing and navigating voice conversations for enterprise social collaboration.

Aver Inc.

Angel Round in 2011
Aver’s solutions help healthcare payers and providers design, implement, and administer value-based programs. Together, we are simplifying value-based healthcare.

Neoclone

Angel Round in 2011
Neoclone is a research-focused company with an emphasis on emerging antibody technologies. NeoClone was founded in 1999 by three University of Wisconsin scientists who recognized the need for better ways to discover and develop antibodies.

HarQen

Series A in 2010
HarQen, Inc. offers Software as a Service tools designed to enhance and streamline recruitment processes. Founded in 2007 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company provides a digital interview platform that includes features such as on-demand video and phone interviews, live video interviews, automated pre-screening, SMS candidate engagement, and language verification. Additionally, HarQen supports candidate profile creation and offers mobile applications for interviewing. Its solutions cater to various sectors, including staffing and placement, recruitment process outsourcing, healthcare, banking, insurance, education, and small businesses. Beyond recruitment, HarQen specializes in Intelligent Voice Services that capture and enrich conversations, facilitating improved collaboration and productivity. The company is also a founding member of the Hypervoice Consortium, which focuses on organizing and navigating voice conversations for enterprise social collaboration.

Biosystem Development

Venture Round in 2009
BioSystem Development creates, manufactures, and markets system products for unmet needs in the fields of biotechnology and life science research.

VitalMedix

Venture Round in 2009
VitalMedix Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on the research and development of therapies aimed at sustaining cellular function and protecting cells during and after hemorrhagic shock. Founded in 2005, the company is known for developing Tamiasyn, a biopharmaceutical that may enable the human body to withstand significant blood loss for prolonged periods and help prevent organ damage during resuscitation. In addition to Tamiasyn, VitalMedix is also working on a treatment system specifically designed for hemorrhagic shock, which underscores its commitment to addressing critical medical challenges in this area.

Biosystem Development

Series B in 2007
BioSystem Development creates, manufactures, and markets system products for unmet needs in the fields of biotechnology and life science research.

Biosystem Development

Angel Round in 2007
BioSystem Development creates, manufactures, and markets system products for unmet needs in the fields of biotechnology and life science research.