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| Dear readers, |
August 2019
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Our summer run of informative Tech Council Innovation Network events continues in August and September with in-depth looks at corporate venture capital (Aug. 27), a visit to UWM's Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (Sept. 12) and leading-edge development of a multi-purpose flu vaccine by FluGen, a Madison-based firm founded by UW-Madison scientists Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Gabriele Neumann (Sept. 24). Be sure to read our latest “guest column” by financial advisor Derek Notman, as well as other news and opinion columns touching on the Wisconsin tech economy.
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
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TECNA conference at Epic wows visitors from across U.S., Canada
About 125 leaders from Tech Councils and similar associations across the United States and Canada attended the three-day summer conference of the Tech Councils of North America, much of which was held at the headquarters of Epic Systems in Verona.
Speakers included Gov. Tony Evers; Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary Mark Hogan; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Director Erik Iverson; Wisconsin Hospital Association President Eric Borgerding; Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon; Lorrie Heinemann, president of the Madison Development Corp., and other Wisconsin-based entrepreneurs, business and tech leaders.
Conference attendees also took part in events at the Madison Children’s Museum, the UW-Madison Pyle Center and Industrious. It was hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council.
“I know for most us, this was the first time in Madison, and I think we all came away impressed with the region, the people and the tech scene,” said Doug Robertson, chairman of TECNA’s board of directors. “Our conference venue was, well, intergalactic, as Epic describes their global headquarters. An amazing campus and TECNA truly appreciates the incredible support we received from Epic and from the many sponsoring partners for the conference.”
For more on the first-ever TECNA gathering in Madison, read our Tech Council News Service entries and Still’s Inside Wisconsin column elsewhere in this newsletter.
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Corporate venture capital: What’s driving the surge? Find out at August 27 Tech Council luncheon
Over the last five years, corporate venture capital investing has picked up both in terms of deal volumes as well as corporations investing in the asset class for the first time. In the United States and beyond, corporate VC deals doubled between 2014 and 2018 and dollars invested tripled. Panelists include Dr. Tim Bartholow of WEA Trust, Brian Kaas of CMFG Ventures and Molly Lahr of AmFam Ventures. Read more + register.
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Visit UWM’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center at Sept. 12 Tech Council event in Milwaukee
It’s open for business – especially the business of inspiring entrepreneurs! Get a front-row view of UW-Milwaukee’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center and learn how it will affect Milwaukee’s emerging economy.The event will take place in the AmFam Dream Studio. Panelists include Lubar’s Brian Thompson, director; Ilya Avdeed, director of innovation; Loren Peterson, entrepreneur-in-residence; Lindsey Roddy, a startup entrepreneur; and Chris Decker, the Kern Institute lead for the Medical College of Wisconsin, a partner with the center. Read more + register.
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Is universal flu vaccine on the way? FluGen founder to speak Sept. 24 at Tech Council luncheon in Madison
Ever wondered why the flu shot you got in the fall didn’t work during the height of winter’s influenza season? Progress toward a “universal” flu vaccine that could help solve that problem for millions of people will be the topic. Internationally renowned virologist Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a UW-Madison scientist and co-founder of FluGen, will explain how flu viruses naturally mutate – often into more dangerous strains. Such was the case in the 1918 pandemic that killed about 50 million people worldwide. Read more + register.
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Calling all companies! Apply for three chances to pitch at Early Stage Symposium
Applications are being accepted now from young companies that want to tell their stories to investors at our annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium #ESSWI, to be held Nov. 6-7 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
The 2019 format includes two pitch opportunities – the Tech Council Investor Networks track and the popular Elevator Pitch Olympics – as well as a repeat segment that debuted in 2016, “Investor Intros,” which will allow pre-selected companies brief, one-on-one meetings with targeted angel and venture investors.
Instructions for how to apply for all or a mix of the investor presentation opportunities can be found at wisearlystage.com on the “Presenting Companies” tab. General registration is also now open!
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Need an intern this fall? UW-Madison class may be source
Tech Council President Tom Still will once again teach a class in the UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication this fall. His senior and graduate-level students are available for unpaid internships in exchange for credit hours.
Madison-area tech companies and other businesses may submit requests for assistance on projects involving marketing, communications and more. Some past examples of items produced by the interns include websites, marketing materials, press releases, public opinion surveys and research reports.
Students would be available up to six hours per week, on average, from late January through early May. Student schedules vary. Companies may hire students for additional hours if there is mutual agreement. Contact tstill@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com with your interest and potential project.
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Derek Notman
Intrepid Wealth Partners |
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Guest column: Five tips for millennials on preparing for the future
It’s never too late to start saving. As a millennial, you’re either about to enter adulthood, or you may be in your late 30s.
Either way, building the resources you need to help you accomplish what you want in life is a must … but not as complicated as you might think.
The issue with leaving it until a later stage is that the older you get, the more significant the portion of your income you’ll need to save and invest.
Primarily, the thing that stops most millennials from investing and saving is that the one-size-fits-all approach of yesteryear does not work for us. We have a desire for self-directed investing and are inclined to harness technology to achieve this.
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TECH COUNCIL NEWS SERVICE:
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Week of August 12
Xconomy: WI Watchlist: AmFam, Venture Investors, Understory, gener8tor & more
CapTimes: From earthquakes to active shooters, Madison company Singlewire specializes in emergency notifications
Milwaukee Business Journal: Yahoo co-founder, Samsung part of $11.5 million round for cloud company with ties to Brookfield
WisBusiness: Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: Announces Pressure Chamber finalists
Week of August 5
Milwaukee Business Journal: Health tech giant Epic Systems is focusing on machine learning. Here's why
BizTimes Milwaukee: New entrepreneur program aimed at drawing businesses to downtown West Bend
Wisconsin Ag Connection: WEDC study: State’s paper industry still leads the nation
TECNA: Technology Councils of North America announces winners for first-ever Innovation Awards
Week of July 29
WisEye: Wisconsin Technology Council Innovation Network Luncheon: James Hickman of Epic Systems
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee firm’s water purifying technology helps tackle city’s lead problem
WisBusiness: Day on Campus to explore partnerships between businesses and UW-Madison
WisBusiness: Exact Sciences purchasing Genomic Health for $2.8 billion
Week of July 22
Wisconsin State Journal: 17,000-panel solar array may come to Middleton; MGE will give city, schools access to power
WisBusiness: Canadian talent initiative grants 24,000 visas in past two years. [TECNA]
WisBusiness: Tech associations across North America working to strengthen talent pipelines [TECNA]
Milwaukee Business Journal: Gov. Evers, Tech Council and Epic Systems host North American tech industry leaders [TECNA]
WisBusiness: TECNA Summer Conference to highlight tech industry issues in Madison [TECNA]
BizTimes Milwaukee: Wisconsin startup ecosystem growing, with room for improvement
BizWomen: Few women make it to the C-suite in finance. Why?
WisBusiness: Versiti researchers exploring factors behind von Willebrand disease
Milwaukee Business Journal: Foxconn plans building for industrial internet business arm in Mount Pleasant
Week of July 15
WisconsinINNO: How Otologic Technologies is using AI to better diagnose ear disease
Release: Wisconsin DWD awarded $1 million Workforce Data Quality Initiative Grant from U.S. DOL
BizTimes Milwaukee: Madison ranks 25th among top 50 cities for tech talent
WisBusiness: Wealth of new data represents a challenge and opportunity for researchers
WisconsinINNO: Women founders see fewer investments as WI startups raise record funding in 2018
BizTimes Milwaukee: Medical College of Wisconsin therapeutic accelerator program receives WEDC grant
Urban Milwaukee: UW System drives Wisconsin’s economy
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Eric Borgerding, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association
Milwaukee Business Journal: These are the biggest second-quarter venture fundings in Wisconsin
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Tom Still
Tech Council
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TOM STILL'S INSIDE WISCONSIN COLUMNS:
Aug 7 InsideWis: As rural population falls, what can retain people or lure them back?
Aug 1 InsideWis: Exact Sciences plan to acquire California cancer-fighting firm elevates state’s image
Jul 26 InsideWis: Seeing it is believing it: Wisconsin tech growth is tangible [TECNA]
Jul 18 InsideWis: People win when collaboration leverages Wisconsin research assets
Jul 11 InsideWis: State economy should grow through 2020, but wild cards in deck
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Elmer Moore Jr
Scale Up Milwaukee |
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WISBUSINESS: THE SHOW:
Jul 30: WisBiz: The Show’ covers Tech Metrics, Tom Still commentary; interview with Craig Schedler of Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures
Jul 11: WisBiz: The Show’ covers Tech Metrics, Tom Still commentary; interview with Elmer Moore Jr. of Scale Up Milwaukee
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INVESTORS' CORNER:
Xconomy: AIQ Solutions hits on $3.2 million to pinpoint drug-resistant tumors
BizTimes Milwaukee: Sellars Absorbent Materials raising $12.1 million in debt
BizTimes Milwaukee: Curate Solutions closes $1.6 million funding round
Milwaukee Business Journal: American Family Insurance venture arm launches $200 million fund
WisBusiness: Exact Sciences purchasing Genomic Health for $2.8 billion
BizTimes Milwaukee: Fiveable gains investors with social learning platform
Xconomy: WI startup funding hit record in 2018 as VCs cut bigger checks
Marquette University: Professor awarded $2.3 million grant for stroke research
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GET INVOLVED:
Tech
Council Innovation Network membership:
Experience for yourself why the Innovation Network has been a Tech Council tradition for over a decade.
With more than two dozen events annually, you'll expand your network while learning from top-notch speakers. When you become a member, your
membership applies to all chapters, statewide. With a variety of membership types to choose from, you and/or your company will be sure to find a membership that fits your business goals.
Join today!
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations that have recently joined or renewed their memberships:
Need help finding the membership level right for you?
Please contact Angela Schlobohm, development & member relations director:
angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com or 608-442-7557.
Tech
Council Investor Networks membership:
Your $750 Investor Networks membership entitles you to one free pass to our two major conferences (Entrepreneurs' Conference and Early Stage Symposium), as well as regular Tech Council Innovation Network events.
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