Dear readers-

The Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium is less than a week away. We’re expecting hundreds of people for the two-day event at Monona Terrace Convention Center. You may register through Saturday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. or at the door Wednesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Nov. 16. Here are some highlights of what to expect:

• Release: Sector67’s Meyer to make public appearance Nov. 15 at Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
• Release: ‘Office Hours’ opens door for company questions at Nov. 15-16 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
• Release: Entrepreneur, mentor, catalyst: Allen Dines to receive ‘Triple E’ award at conference
• Release: Experts on equity, capital, social media and more on panels at Early Stage Symposium
• Release: TASC exec Dan Rashke to speak on innovation, investing, community at Early Stage Symposium
• Release: BrightStar’s Shannon to join Investor Hall of Fame
• Release: Emerging firms will pitch over two days at 2017 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
• Release: Innovation enabler Tamara Kleinberg to open November’s Early Stage Symposium

Sincerely,
Tom Still, president

‘Stubborn’ trep Sikes on tap for Nov. 14 WOMEN reception

Serial entrepreneur and investor Toni Sikes will answer the question, “Does stubborn have a bad reputation?” at the third annual Wisconsin W·O·M·E·N reception in Madison in November on the eve of the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium. Sikes, the co-founder of Madison-based CODAworx, will also describe how her latest endeavor brings artists and industry professionals together to foster commissions and transform public spaces. Sikes is also a general partner with Calumet Venture Fund, a Midwest-based investment firm that specializes in the information technology sector.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Elliott will discuss the expansion of Exact Sciences and offer market perspectives on the life sciences industry at the Tuesday, Nov. 28 luncheon meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Madison. Exact Sciences is a molecular diagnostics company focused on colorectal cancer. Its lead product, Cologuard, continues to show broad market acceptance and is “changing the paradigm for color cancer screening,” in the words of CEO and Chairman Kevin Conroy. The luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Hotel on Madison’s John Nolen Dr.

The work of the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences and how computer science is driving the Wisconsin economy will be explored at the Tuesday, Dec. 5 meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Appleton. Guri Sohi, professor and chairman of the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences, will be joined by Jignesh Patel, a professor in the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences, in talking about how the department can help industry in northeast Wisconsin and beyond. It will be held at the Fox Valley Technical College D.J. Bordini Center.

Early-stage company funding can be difficult, especially in the cleantech space. Hear from investors with years of experience through the ups and downs of cleantech investment at the Nov. 13 Cleantech Network event. The panel will address fundable technology trends, how to approach investors and examples of what they see as investable opportunities.Presenters include: Doug Cameron, First Green Partners & U.S.-China Green Fund;Spencer Maughan, Finistere Ventures; and Jason Smith, Peak Ridge Capital Group. Register atwarf.org/cleantech.

Women leaders in tech, business, science, non-profit, and education will come together Nov. 14 to celebrate, empower and support each other at Women's Entrepreneurship Day. The conference will be held at Monona Terrace. It is part of a week-long celebration culminating in the global recognition of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on November 19th. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide. This event will be followed by the Tech Council’s Wisconsin WOMEN Reception.

Marquette University and WARF announce 2nd annual ‘Force For Positive Change’ event and award

BizTimes: Milwaukee manager lined up for Badger Fund of Funds

Release: BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announces latest investment

JSOnline: Northwestern Mutual, Aurora Health Care investing $5 million each in Milwaukee startup companies

WisBusiness: WEDC partnering with Invest in Wisconsin on tech startup initiative

Xconomy: Phoenix pulls in $12M to fuel growth of neutron generators

WisBusiness: Four women-led businesses share the spotlight at Doyenne Group Fall Showcase

Madison Startups: WellBe adds two partners

VentureBeat: Why VCs shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Heartland startups

Xconomy: With new funding, TAI Diagnostics set to launch post-transplant test

BizTimes: TAI Diagnostics raising $10 million Series B round

BizTimes: Packers and Microsoft to pour $10 million into Green Bay incubator

Appleton-based PR News Wire: Endowment Wealth Management has launched a new private fund

Xconomy: Green Bay startup Lanehub wins $100,000 Steve Case investment

BizTimes: South Korean entrepreneurs meet Milwaukee investors

Xconomy: Access HealthNet raising $3 million for tools aimed at cutting care costs

Wisconsin State Journal: Six Wisconsin companies land SBIR funding

Madison Startups: Doyenne Evergreen Fund taking apps

Release: Jamf to receive majority investment from Vista Equity Partners