The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced the four finalists that will take the stage at the 13th annual Pressure Chamber on Aug. 18 at the Sylvee.
This program, which is part of Madison’s annual Forward Fest, has proven to be a launchpad for area entrepreneurs, as venture funding raised by past participants is approaching the $1 billion mark.
The following companies will showcase their innovations as 2026 Pressure Chamber finalists:
- CellTrack’s technology enables non-invasive imaging of cell therapies with 100 times greater sensitivity than existing methods, cutting development time and cost in half, which has major implications for the treatment of solid tumors.
- CuroNow is a care coordination platform for home care agencies that is solving a communication problem. CuroNow keeps the caregiver in the home, the agency that sent them and the family checking in from a distance in sync between visits with the same information, so small problems get caught early on.
- FUDI Protein produces RuBisCO, the world’s most abundant, functional and sustainable protein, from the leaves of plants. With global demand for protein booming, the world’s food companies are facing a $10 billion question: Where will the protein of tomorrow come from? FUDI believes RuBisCO is the answer.
- Service ID is an AI-powered decision intelligence platform that helps water utilities understand their assets, prioritize what to fix, and identify how to fund it. The company has already proven its concept in lead service line inventory compliance and is expanding across water utility infrastructure.
At the event, finalists will pitch to a group of national investors and a live audience.
The winner will be determined by a combination of judge scoring and audience voting and will receive the “golden suitcase.”
This guarantees a spot in the chamber’s Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.
“For more than a dozen years, Pressure Chamber has been a showcase of what’s next for our region’s economy,” Chamber President Zach Brandon said in a press release. “This year’s finalists exemplify the strength and versatility of that economy.
“Representing diverse industries, they are united in their approach to solving complex problems with unique, innovative solutions.”
