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Welcome to the July 2015 WIN eNewsletter |
Dear readers-
Innovation is not confined to Wisconsin’s major cities, but takes place statewide and across Wisconsin’s “I-Q Corridor.” As this edition of the WIN eNewsletter demonstrates, opportunities to engage abound whether the location is Madison, Milwaukee, Ashland, Minocqua or Green Bay. Wisconsin is ideally situated on the I-Q Corridor, with the “I” reflecting the interstate highways that connect us to the rest of the Upper Midwest, but also ideas, intellectual property and investment, and the “Q” qualify of education, workforce and life. Join us for summer in Wisconsin!
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
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Portfolio shows sharp increase in 2014 angel, venture activity
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The latest edition of “The Wisconsin Portfolio,” an annual publication of the Tech Council’s Wisconsin Angel Network, shows a sharp increase in angel and venture investment activity for the 2014 calendar year.
At least 113 Wisconsin early stage companies raised investment capital in 2014, a 31 percent jump from the prior year, when the total was 86 companies. More than $346 million was raised by those 113 companies, nearly three times more than the 2013 total of about $128 million. Click here to read more.
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Latest from state, UW-Madison CIOs featured at July 28 WIN-Madison
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The
technology needs of the State of Wisconsin and the UW-Madison have
changed significantly over time. How companies can tap into these
institutions for help – and even partner with them – will be the topic
of the Tuesday, July 28 meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network in
Madison.
Presenters at this event will be David Cagigal, chief information officer of the State of Wisconsin, and Bruce Maas, CIO and Vice Provost for Information Technology at the UW-Madison. They will discuss how technology has changed their institutions, how those needs have evolved and how they will continue to grow.
The luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Hotel
on Madison’s John Nolen Drive. Registration and networking begin at
11:30 a.m., lunch at noon and the presentation at 12:30 p.m. Learn more
and register here. |
Compete for pitch prizes at Aug. 14 Lake Superior tech event
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Chancellor Meyer |
Chancellor Robert Meyer from the University of Wisconsin-Stout
will kick off the 2015 Lake Superior Business & Technology
Conference Aug. 14 at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical iCollege in Ashland. The
conference will consist of panels, lunch, networking and presentations
by the finalists of the Business Idea Contest. The finalists will be
competing for $5,500 in prize money. The first place
contest winner will be awarded $2,500, second place $1,500 third place
$1,000 and audience’s choice will be awarded $500. Click here to learn more. This event is hosted by the Lake Superior chapter of the Wisconsin Innovation Network. |
Spread your wings: Angels on the Water fund to host July 14 session
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Angels on the Water is seeking accredited investors for its new fund; potential investors are invited to attend an information session about Angels on the Water II. Angels on the Water I has been a successful early stage fund with strong ties to Northeast Wisconsin. The event will be held 5 p.m. July 14 at Green Bay Country Club, 2400 Klondike Rd., Green Bay, Wis. 54311. For
more information or to RSVP, click here. |
July 14 Board meeting to focus on Northwoods, statewide topics |
The
July 14 meeting of the Wisconsin Technology Council’s board of
directors in Minocqua will includes presentations by the Northwoods
Angels and the Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corp., as well as
discussions on rural health, the outcome of state budget deliberations
and Wisconsin’s “non-compete” employment laws. The meeting will be held
at the Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Center, 9601 Townline Road, beginning
at 9 a.m. Click here to learn more. |
Tech Council welcomes new WAN director, Bram Daelemans |
Bram Daelemans has joined the Wisconsin Technology Council as the director of its Wisconsin Angel Network.
Before serving as the director, Daelemans was an entrepreneur and part of the management team for one of Wisconsin’s leading angel networks. As an early member of the AquaMost team, a Madison-based water treatment startup, he gained hands-on knowledge as an entrepreneur. Daelemans most recently spent four years as associate director at the Golden Angels Investors, a group of 100-plus active investors in tech-based companies.
“Bram brings a mix of experience to his role as director of the Wisconsin Angel Network, including connections that reach well beyond the state,” said Tom Still, president of the Tech Council.
Read more here. Daelemans can be contacted at 608-442-7557 or bram@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.
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Tech Council partners with 1 Million Cups Madison |
The
Wisconsin Technology Council is pleased to support 1 Million Cups
Madison, which is a free, weekly program to help startups pitch their
businesses to an audience over coffee. Madison meetings of 1 Million
Cups are held 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays at the Madison Central Library. Click here to learn more. |
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Dan Isenberg, former Harvard professor, venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur and founder of Scale Up Milwaukee, will speak about how to scale technology ventures at the Thursday, July 9th, meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network’s Milwaukee chapter in Wauwatosa. Scale Up Milwaukee is an initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Committee focused on fostering a growth-obsessed and growth-enabled region. The Scalerator program, Scale Up Milwaukee’s six-month intense growth-training program for entrepreneurs, has graduated two classes with an average planned growth of 41 percent in revenues in 2015.
The evening event will take place at UW-Milwaukee’s Innovation Accelerator, 1225 Discovery Parkway. Registration, networking and hors d’oeuvres will begin at 4:30 p.m, with the presentations starting at 5:30 p.m. Learn more here.
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Tech Council welcome's newest addition to the team, Baby Sawatzki
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An update for those who attended the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in June: Conference director Joy Sawatzki and her husband, Matt, are parents of Adelynn Sawatzki, born June 15 at 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Congratulations!
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'WisBusiness: The Show' covers news, commentary |
Please watch these latest editions of "WisBusiness: The Show," the twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues.
This episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show” features an interview with Carl Ruedebusch of the Northwoods Angels on efforts to spur economic growth in Wisconsin's North Woods. Tom Still discusses state-by-state startup rankings and how Wisconsin measures up and Liz Schrum presents this week's Tech Metrics, a look at key indicators in the Wisconsin economy.
Click here to view the biweekly show, produced by Red Arrow Production for the Tech Council and WisBusiness.com, as well as archives of past shows. The show is sponsored by UW-Milwaukee and Exact Sciences.
This next episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show” is set to premier Thursday and features an interview with Gina Carter of Whyte, Hirschboeck Dudek on how companies can protect themselves against data breaches and the legal aftermath. Tom Still discusses angel and venture investing totals for 2014 and Liz Schrum presents this week's Tech Metrics, a look at key indicators in the Wisconsin economy.
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Inside Wisconsin columns tackle state, tech issues |
Inside Wis: Why stopping data breaches will become a bigger problem by the day
Shelhart was among the experts who spoke June 29 at the first Data Privacy and Security Summit in Waukesha, where more than 100 people heard about the risks of data breaches – and how to better protect themselves and their organizations.
Inside Wis: Revisiting some recent topics: Startups, innovation, trade, cybersecurity and more
On Wisconsin’s startup climate: A prime example of why business rankings can depend on what’s being measured – and how – comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages noted that Wisconsin stood 35th among the 50 states in jobs created between 2010 and 2014, a relatively lackluster standing.
Inside Wis: Helping startups ‘scale up’ is a vital strategy for Wisconsin
What often matters more than the sheer number of startups is the survivability and “scale up” stages for young companies, a time when emerging firms produce increasing numbers of jobs that pay solid salaries.
Still in JSOnline: Innovation cluster aims to help seniors
With plans to accommodate about 250 employees and entrepreneurs within six years, the Direct Supply innovation center is the latest effort to build upon a natural cluster in Milwaukee: expertise in serving the needs of seniors and the providers who care for them once they move into assisted living centers or skilled-care facilities.
Inside Wis: Why Wisconsin doesn’t fare well in most business startup rankings – and how to improve
There’s something counter-intuitive about Wisconsin dropping to dead last among the 50 states in the latest business startup index published by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
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Innovation news round-up |
JSOnline: Johnson Controls wins $44.5 million federal contract
State Journal: Potential Madison financial investments aimed at bringing Exact Sciences Corp. Downtown
JSOnline: The Kauffman Foundation's incomplete, misleading message
JSOnline: Light-emitting robots help keep VA hospital patient rooms germ-free
BizTimes: Water Council attracts international startups in third accelerator class
Governor's Business Plan Contest winner targets women's fertility
WisBusiness: Exact Sciences CEO: Swiss model worth considering for economic development
State Journal: East Wash development including StartingBlock entrepreneurial hub grows in scale
Xconomy: The Water Council Raising $5M Fund, Names Next Accelerator Startups
WHN: Exact Sciences provides update on strong launch trajectory of Cologuard
JSOnline: Aurora invests in firm that advises digital health care start-ups
BizTimes: Water Council awarded JPMorgan Chase grant
State Journal: Tech and Biotech: Madworks accelerator kicks off its new class
WisBusiness: UW-Madison spinoff receives $1.45 million federal grant
State Journal: UW-Madison biochemistry fellow seeks solutions to problems of infertility, preterm babies
WISC-TV3's 'For the Record' discusses Wisconsin's startup ranking
Wide variety of cash, in-kind prizes for finalists in 2015 Governor’s Business Plan Contest
BizTimes: 'Making Deals:' Einhorns target technology startups in Midwest
State Journal: Tech and Biotech: Shark Tank-type event crowns Kiince, with a device to help stroke patients
Petri dish tumor test could personalize drug therapy for cancer patients
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News, events and opportunities |
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Get WIN-volved! Membership has its privileges |
Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) is The Tech Council's membership subsidiary - a community-based economic development organization dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. In association with the Tech Council, WIN programs focus on the needs and challenges faced by new and growing technology-based businesses in Wisconsin. When you become a WIN member, your membership applies to all chapters, statewide. Membership is for one year starting with the month you join. Go here to learn more about the benefits of a WIN membership.
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations that have recently joined or renewed their WIN memberships:
Corporate members
Bayfield County Economic Development Corp.
Bayfield County UW Extension
Lien & Company
UWO Business Success Center
Individual members
Mark Boeder
Cliff Grand
Bruce Lindgren
Tom Stanley
Click here to fill out an online application to become a new member or renew your current membership!
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Sponsor your next regional meeting |
Sponsoring your chapter's next WIN meeting will give you and your company immediate exposure to Wisconsin's best and brightest people. WIN is a network dedicated to giving a voice to the technology community as a whole - from the bottom up! Sponsorship opportunities are available on a monthly or annual basis. Contact Maurice Cheeks for more information.
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Post events in our community events section |
Click here to add your event to the Tech Council Community Events section that is designed to assist in the development, growth and success of science- and technology-based businesses in Wisconsin.
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