Dear readers-

The pieces continue to fall into place for the Nov. 15-16 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison. Our “un-keynote” speaker is Tamara Kleinberg the morning of the 15th, and we’ll hear from a panel of out-of-state investors the morning of the 16th. More than 80 companies applied to present and we’ll announce those lineups soon. In addition, more than three-dozen investor groups will take part in “Investor Intros,” which is a speed-dating way to pitch your ideas. Stay tuned for other announcements in coming weeks!

Sincerely,
Tom Still, president

Investors from outside Wisconsin to offer perspectives Day 2 at Early Stage Symposium

A half-dozen investors from angel, micro-venture and venture capital funds will talk about the deal landscape in Wisconsin and the Midwest during a Nov. 16 panel discussion at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison. Investors from Lewis & Clark Ventures in St. Louis, Meridian Street Capital in Indianapolis, Bessemer Venture Partners in California and three Chicago funds – Hyde Park Ventures, Hyde Park Angels and Ekistic Ventures – will speak as part of a plenary panel to open the second day of the conference. The funds have a combined $95 billion in assets under management. Visit www.wisearlystage.com to register and learn more about the two-day conference.

Wisconsin W·O·M·E·N Reception
Women. Opportunity. Mentors. Entrepreneurs. Networking. This special reception is dedicated to the unique and lasting effect of WOMEN in Wisconsin through their expertise, commitment and purposeful influence on the business climate in the state.  This third annual event is the kick-off to 2017 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium November 15-16 at Monona Terrace in Madison. Guest speaker: Toni Sikes of CODAworx on “Stubborn has a bad reputation.”

Good, bad and (sometimes) ugly: Building startups in northeast Wisconsin theme of Oct. 12 event

Hear a panel of experts discuss the challenges of building a high-impact startup company in northeast Wisconsin at the Thursday, Oct. 12 meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Appleton. This Tech Council Innovation Network luncheon is in partnership with the Forum for Innovation, which will focus on high-growth companies in the region, and NEW North, the regional economic development group. It will be held at the Fox Valley Technical College D.J. Bordini Center, 5 N. Systems Drive, conference center BC112A.

Addressing skilled workforce needs is topic of Oct. 24 Innovation Network lunch in Madison

Specific strategies for meeting Wisconsin’s need for skilled workers, especially in technology-based fields such as advanced manufacturing, will be discussed at the Tuesday, Oct. 24 luncheon meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Madison. Presenters are: Ryan Stultz of Experis-Manpower Group and Dennis Winters, chief economist for the Office of Economic Advisors at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 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 what’s new with Exact Sciences, markets at Nov. 28 Innovation Network lunch in Madison

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.

Experts will discuss role of computer science in Wisconsin economy at Dec. 5 Tech Council event

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.

Muster Across America – Madison

We invite everyone to Bunker Labs Madison on Thursday, Oct. 12 for @MusterMadison to explore inspiring ideas, create new connections and build important relationships to help vets start and grow businesses across Wisconsin. The event will be held at the State Capitol Building from 1-6:30 p.m. Following the event will be a #BunkerBrews reception at R.W. Baird & Co. (USBank Building) from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

From moon rocks to flash talks, explore 100+ Wisconsin Science Festival events

Radio technology, astrobotany, dairy science and computer coding are just a handful of science topics to be explored at the 2017 Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF), held Nov. 2-5. Now in its seventh year, the science festival continues to engage communities in the enterprise of science and discovery and aims to communicate the power of knowledge and creativity, promote innovation and cultivate the next generation of global citizens. Check the Wisconsin Science Festival website for more detailed information about the full festival schedule for Madison and statewide events.

Economic empowerment of women in business in Wisconsin to be the focus for inaugural event 

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.

Help Sector67 and Chris Meyer

On September 20th, 2017 Chris Meyer, the founder and driving force behind Sector67, was seriously injured in a freak accident caused by a propane explosion while working to help build out the new Sector67 facility. Now Chris and Sector67 need your help! We are all very thankful that Chris survived. He is in stable condition and in good spirits. However, he has an extremely long way to a full recovery (over a year) and will be in the hospital for at least a month. Click here to learn more and donate.

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