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| Dear readers, |
November 2019
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November has been a productive month for the Wisconsin Technology Council and its members. The annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium was a success at many levels, with 43 companies making investor presentations; 85 engaging in about 450 “speed dates” during our Investor Intros segment; and strong speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking spread throughout. Jan Eddy was inducted into the “Investor Hall of Fame” and Anne Smith won the “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award.
On the policy front, our efforts led to results in the Wisconsin Legislature, which passed separate bills tied to Wisconsin’s investor tax credits law and to removing roadblocks to faculty-led startup companies in the University of Wisconsin System. Both bills are headed to Gov. Tony Evers for his review. Read on to learn what’s on the horizon!
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
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It's a wrap: 2019 Early Stage Symposium
The 2019 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium attracted a mix of 500 investors, entrepreneurs and others Nov. 6-7 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center, where a combination of company pitches, speakers, panel discussions and workshops focused on ways to enhance venture and angel capital investing in Wisconsin.
Forty-three companies presented to investors during two separate presentation tracks over the two days. Scores of investors from Wisconsin, the Upper Midwest and beyond joined us to hear those presentations and to meet with companies one-on-one during the “Investor Intros” segment on Nov. 7.
The conference also featured impactful keynote presentations by two speakers. Marques Odgen, a former NFL lineman who discussed going from rags to riches and back and learned to embrace inclusion along the way spoke on Wednesday morning after a warm audience welcome by new Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO/president Missy Hughes. Tech veteran, investor and UW-Eau Claire grad Jeff Schumacher presented a fascinating discussion Thursday morning on cryptocurrency and decentralized technology implications and forecasting.
Anne Smith, an attorney, small business owner and mentor won the 2019 Triple E Award (Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education) launched the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic at the UW-Madison and co-founded Madison Seed Accelerator Inc. and helped to launch StartingBlock Madison, where she serves on the board of directors.
The annual Wisconsin W•O•M•E•N reception, held Nov. 5 before the formal start of the conference in conjunction with WARF's Innovation Day, attracted nearly 100 people to hear Darcy Luoma speak about her life coaching experience and how she uses it to help entrepreneurs successfully balance work and personal life, followed by a panel with Cindy Poiecz, Evolve Brands and Laura Gallagher, The Creative Company.
Online photo gallery and newsroom articles linked here!
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Microsoft lab leader to discuss past, future at Nov. 19 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, who has been affiliated with the lab since its founding, 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. Jim Gray was the 1998 winner of the Turing Award, the world’s highest distinction in computer science. Read more + register.
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Growth of statewide Badger Fund of Funds is topic at Dec. 5 Tech Council luncheon in Wauwatosa
Learn more about three of the newest emerging funds to fall under the Badger Fund of Funds. The Badger Fund of Funds is a limited partner seeded by the state of Wisconsin to invest in Wisconsin venture capital funds that will, in turn, invest in young Wisconsin-based ventures. Panelists are Ross Leinweber, founder of Bold Coast Capital; Richelle Martin, managing director of the Winnow Fund; and Dan Voell, managing director of Forward Capital Fund.
Read more + register.
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SAVE THE DATES for 2020 Tech Council conferences:
- March 16: Tech Summit at Lambeau Field, Green Bay
- June 4: Entrepreneurs’ Conference at Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee
- November 10-11: Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace, Madison
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Guest column: Cybersecurity for improved business results
The global healthcare industry is different from many other industries and faces some unique challenges, because it directly affects human life. This gives the security of the healthcare industry special importance, knowing that a person entrusts his or her personal details, private life, sometimes their financial information, and ultimately their well-being with the companies in the sector.
Read the full column by Tech Council Innovation Network members Gregory Garrett and Greg Schu of BDO.
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TECH COUNCIL NEWS SERVICE:
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Week of November 11
BizTimes Milwaukee: Exact Sciences completes $2.8 billion acquisition
WisBusiness: Milwaukee startup ecosystem poised for healthcare investment growth
Week of November 4
Madison.com: Wedge Issues: Tom Still on science, tech and entrepreneurship in Wisconsin
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Katie Gold, plant disease researcher
WisBusiness: Milwaukee startup developing pill-based alternative to asthma treatments
Release: WARF announces annual grant figures and 2019 Innovation Award winners
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Greg Keenan, WARF Accelerator program manager
WisBusiness: New wearable ultrasound device could improve patient monitoring
Madison Startups: Invenra, Exelixis extend collaboration
UW-Housing: University Housing launches new Starship robot delivery service
WisBusiness: HaloVino founder going into Early Stage Symposium with new sustainability focus #ESSWI
Milwaukee Business Journal: Bucks owner Lasry leads $35 million funding round for Silicon Valley media startup
Week of October 28
PRNewswire: Promentis Pharmaceuticals announces positive results for phase 2A study of SXC-2023
WisBusiness: Startup innovations seen as key to fixing ‘broken’ health care system #ESSWI
Release: Curate expands database to cover all 50 states
UW-Madison: Aaron Kennedy to anchor program on Wisconsin’s growing support for entrepreneurs
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee beats Midwest peer cities in office rates for tech companies
Milwaukee Business Journal: IoT company launches smart city network in Milwaukee
BusinessWire: Propeller users can now locate inhaler by “ringing” their sensor from the app
WisBusiness: Cockpit Mobile piloting at music festivals
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Matt Cordio, president and founder of Startup Milwaukee
Release: UW-Platteville professor develops system for detecting tiny defects in bridges
Madison Startups: Moxe’s substrate available for Epic
WisBusiness: Medical tech expert shares industry insights, trends
Week of October 21
Fundera: The 11 best untapped cities for startups in 2020 (hint… Madison, Wisconsin is #1)
Release: UW-Madison launches campus-wide event celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship
Release: International Market Access Grants available through WEDC
Madison Startups: AkitaBox names new CEO
Week of October 14
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Shree Kalluri, founder and CEO of Zerology
WisBusiness: Madison Green Cab transitioning to electric Tesla fleet
Madison Startups: Phoenix opens neutron imaging center
WisBusiness: Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepts SHINE Medical’s operating license application
Wisconsin State Journal: WEDC, UW System award grants to help 8 Wisconsin companies bring products to market
WisBusiness: Pollster says health care ‘among top issues’ for voters heading into 2020 election
JSOnline: New tool tracks Milwaukee’s progress, or lack of it, toward a knowledge-based economy
Xconomy: WI Watchlist: Epic, Shine, Venture Investors, Stratatech & more
WisBusiness: New DOR business development unit to support WEDC strategy
InWisconsin: Early Stage Symposium connects young companies with investors #ESSWI
Fox11News: The business of papermaking: ‘Far from a dying industry’
#ESSWI: Law Clinic’s co-founder Anne Smith accepted ‘Triple E’ award Nov. 6 at Early Stage event
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Tom Still
Tech Council
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TOM STILL'S INSIDE WISCONSIN COLUMNS:
11/08/19 InsideWis: Women entrepreneurs, investors, making tangible strides #ESSWI
10/31/19 InsideWis: No longer exclusively biotech: Emerging companies in Wisconsin become more diverse #ESSWI
10/24/19 insideWis: Statistics point to a healthier entrepreneurial climate than imagined #ESSWI
10/17/19 InsideWis: Healthy startup communities benefit when entrepreneurs cash out
10/10/19 InsideWis: Injecting a dose of urgency: Clinical trials at UW Health get fresh approach
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WISBUSINESS: THE SHOW:
Coming soon: Interviews with
- Derek Riley, Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Darcy Luoma, Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting
- Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, UW-Madison Comp Sci
- Cindy Bohlen, Riverwater Partners
- Ryan Weber, Great North Labs
- Amanda DoAmaral, Fiveable
- Abhinaya Konduru, M25
- Kyle LaFond, American Provenance
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INVESTORS' CORNER:
Michael Best Strategies: Social investing – Moving quickly from fad to force for change #ESSWI
WisBusiness: Wisconsin’s investment landscape is restricted by an overall lack of capital, says panel of investors #ESSWI
Xconomy: HealthX’s Bakken: AI can unlock health data’s potential, but access still difficult
Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin still lags in venture capital despite investments tripling over past 5 years #ESSWI
BizTimes Milwaukee: Startups to receive up to $700,000 following Fall Experiment 2019
Milwaukee Business Journal: TitletownTech, Packers announce details on $25 million VC fund, including Baird involvement
#ESSWI: Investor, mentor, ‘trep: Jan Eddy latest to join Tech Council’s ‘Investor Hall of Fame’
Milwaukee Business Journal: Northwestern Mutual allocating $20 million of corporate VC dollars to women-led startups
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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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