 |
The Wisconsin Technology Council’s summer line-up includes some sizzling events as well as the publication of our 11th annual report on the state of angel and venture capital. We’ll examine breakthroughs in eye research (July 11 in Wauwatosa), how Epic Systems views the role of machine learning in healthcare innovation (July 30 in Madison), and the evolving work of Microsoft’s Gray Systems Lab and how it may affect industry in Wisconsin (Aug. 27 in Madison). Also, we’ll host the summer conference of the Tech Councils of North America (July 23-25) in the Madison area. Please see below how you can take part in the #TECNA2019 conference and its social gatherings!
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
|
|
|
TECNA2019: State ‘techies’ may attend social events and keynote panel, mingle with tech leaders from North America
Members of TECNA, an international association that represents technology councils from across North America, will meet July 23-25 in the Madison area for the group’s 25th annual summer conference. The Wisconsin Technology Council is a member of the Technology Councils of North America and was selected to serve as host organization for the conference, which will attract tech leaders from most of the 50 states, all Canadian provinces and some states in Mexico. People from Wisconsin’s tech community may register at the TECNA member rate for the full conference, which includes working sessions at Epic Systems Corp. in Verona and a variety of social events during the three-day conference. Learn more + register.
|
 |
Wisconsin Portfolio:
State’s early stage firms raised record dollars in 2018, but total deals dipped
slightly
The latest edition of “The Wisconsin
Portfolio” shows more than $280 million was raised by the state’s early
stage companies in 2018, a record for any one year in Wisconsin. The report by
the Wisconsin Technology Council and its Tech Council Investor Networks showed
121 early stage deals – down from 127 in 2017 – with average and mean deal
sizes growing significantly. Over the five-year period beginning in 2014,
Wisconsin early stage companies have raised $1.216 billion. There were $218.8
million in early stage investments in 2014, $209.5 million in 2015, $276.2 million
in 2016 and $231 million in 2017. Access the full report online here.
|
|
The ‘eyes’ have it! Madison-Milwaukee research to headline July 11 Tech Council event in Wauwatosa
Hear from representatives from two major Wisconsin research institutions discuss their collaboration to better understand the structure and function of the human visual system. Panelists are Dr. Joseph Carroll, an investigator for Medical College of Wisconsin, and Dr. Melissa Skala, an investigator for Morgridge Institute for Research. Together, they developed an imaging technique that offers 3D color images of melanin, which serves a protective purpose by absorbing excess light that comes into eyes and is essential to vision. Read more + register.
|
|
Epic data science leader to overview innovation at July 30 Tech Council luncheon in Madison
James Hickman of Epic Systems will discuss the landscape of data science and machine learning in healthcare, predictive modeling efforts at Epic and impacts on patient care and operations and the future of machine learning applications in healthcare IT. Hickman leads Epic’s data science team, which works alongside Epic software developers and organizations using Epic software to support success with the development and implementation of predictive models and machine learning features. Read more + register.
|
|
Microsoft lab leader to discuss past, future at Aug. 27 Tech Council luncheon in Madison
Alan Halverson, a Microsoft veteran and UW-Madison computer sciences graduate who manages the Microsoft Gray Systems Lab in Madison, will discuss the lab’s past, present and future. Halverson has been affiliated with the lab since its founding and will cover how work done in Madison led to data warehousing solutions for Microsoft Azure; the future of cloud computing and machine learning; and trends that affect many sectors of Wisconsin business and industry. The Gray Systems Lab, founded in 2008, is a collaborative effort between Microsoft and the UW-Madison’s computer sciences department, where Microsoft staff work with UW-Madison graduate students to conduct research. Read more + register.
|
|
|
Stay on top of the real-time news and events coming out of the Tech Council.
We're on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram!
|
|
|
Tom Kret
UBS Financial Servcies |
 |
Andy Burish
UBS Financial Services |
|
Guest column:
Cybersecurity risks for retirement plans: Does your prudent process include cybersecurity risk mitigation?
There's a good chance you have received a suspicious-looking email before. An email that might say you've won a prize, asks you for personal information, or an alert that someone you know needs financial help. If you've encountered more than one of these, you probably recognize these scams.
Have you ever had a message that looked like it was from a known person or source, such as a family member? Or a financial advisor? How about correspondence from your 401(k)-service provider or sponsor of your retirement plan?
Retirement plans are major targets for cyber hackers, especially considering the $28 trillion held by these plans in the United States. Today's cyber criminals are often sponsored with significant resources and are continually stepping up their game when targeting organizations managing significant amounts of assets and personal data - such as retirement plans and the entities that service them.
|
|
|
TECH COUNCIL NEWS SERVICE:
|
|
Week of July 8
Milwaukee Business Journal: Wisconsin startups raised record $280M in 2018 while deals to women-led companies shrunk
Release: BrightStar announces three new investments
WisconsinINNO: WI legalizes e-scooters, encouraging scooter startups to come to the state
Week of July 1
Xconomy: WI Watchlist: Microsoft, Exact Sciences, Shine & MKE Tech Hub
WisPolitics: Isthmus Project nets WEDC grant to boost innovation at UW Health
WisBusiness: SpayVac to submit animal birth control vaccine for approval by years end
Forbes: College towns are the next big thing for startups
Week of June 24
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Barbara Hastie, CEO and founder of PoWER
BizTimes Milwaukee: Five Milwaukee-area companies earn Ideadvance grants
WisBusiness: Marquette University and WARF accepting applications: Force for Positive Change award
WisBusiness: Researchers at UW-Madison developed a way to derive valuable chemicals from a residue
BizTimes Milwaukee: Nearly two-thirds of manufacturers prepping for recession, survey says
WisBusiness: WEDC CEO Mark Hogan said he will step down from his role in the coming months.
WisBusiness: SpayVac using vaccines to control wildlife populations
BizTimes Milwaukee: Translating science into business: Higher education & research
Week of June 17
BizTimes Milwaukee: EmOpti plans to double geographic reach this year
Milwaukee Business Journal: Leading the charge: WHEDA’s Altoro hits the ground running
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Eric Borgerding, president/CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association
WisBusiness: Paper Council’s legislators of the year highlight differing priorities
BizTimes Milwaukee: Versiti Blood Research Institute awarded $13 million research grant
WisconsinINNO: gener8tor wants to help aspiring entrepreneurs in Milwaukee launch a startup
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee is among the nation’s 10 best cities for jobseekers
FastCompany: Everything you need to know about the booming business of fighting food waste
BizTimes Milwaukee: Rockwell Automation seeks young innovators’ ideas with ‘You Make It’ challenge
WisconsinINNO: Madison’s growing tech industry is making it a top destination for millennials
TechCrunch: The future of diversity and inclusion in tech
Release: The 5th cohort of the WERCBench Labs Accelerator is now accepting applications
WisBusiness: Kenosha area leaders call for increased tech job training effort
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Amy Achter of the UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement
Wisconsin State Journal: Full speed ahead at Exact Sciences: Building, hiring, developing new products
Milwaukee Business Journal: Women of Influence winners give inspirational career advice: Slideshow
Release: MACC Fund awards $100,000 for pediatric cancer research at Marshfield Clinic Children’s Hospital
WisconsinINNO: Scale Up Milwaukee launches diversity initiative, 6th accelerator program
|
|
|
|
Tom Still
Tech Council
|
|
TOM STILL'S INSIDE WISCONSIN COLUMNS:
07/05/19: InsideWis: Wisconsin early stage investment trends: Bigger deals, more outside money
06/27/19: InsideWis: Dane County growth helps communities well beyond its borders
06/20/19: InsideWis: Keeping up with the Joneses: 5G wireless bill will better connect Wisconsin
06/13/19: InsideWis: Transportation budget should reflect what future will bring
|
|
|
Tina Chang
SysLogic |
|
WISBUSINESS: THE SHOW:
06/27/19: ‘WisBiz: The Show’ Ep. 227 covers Tech Metrics, Tom Still commentary on #TECNA2019 and WiTreps 2019; interview with Tina Chang of SysLogic
|
|
|
INVESTORS' CORNER:
WisconsinINNO: 2 Madison projects win $1.5 million from ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt
BizTimes Milwaukee: SHINE Medical raising $30 million Series C round
Milwaukee Business Journal: Summerfest Tech concludes with Marcus Lemonis giving $10,000 to Milwaukee startup
WisBusiness: Investment overview shows deals getting larger in Wisconsin
INvest: Deal Flow Snapshot reveals high Q1 median deal size
BizTimes Milwaukee: Blue Mangoes raising first investor round
Milwaukee Business Journal: Great North Labs closes $24 million seed fund to grow startups in Midwest, including Wisconsin
Xconomy: WI Watchlist: Aaron Rodgers, Redox, Zywave, Rusinow & more
BizTimes Milwaukee: New Wisconsin angel group is lead investor in Pyran
Madison.com: Abodo charges up apartment rental search engine with new funds
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|