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October 22, 2020
Dear readers:
The Tech Council is one of about two-dozen groups taking part in the “Stop the Spread” coalition, which is a private-sector effort to do precisely what the name suggests: Encourage people to take common-sense steps to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Please click https://www.wha.org/stopthecovidspread to learn more and view a video by Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson, a former Wisconsin governor and federal Health and Human Services secretary.
Also, please read my latest “Inside Wisconsin” column on economic trends that will be explored during the Nov. 9-11 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
Inside Wisconsin: Here are trends that may shape Wisconsin’s post-COVID economy
The response to the “We’re All Innovating” contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. was nothing short of overwhelming, with more than 1,200 entries from 70 of the state’s 72 counties. More on that later!
Register now for the Nov. 9-11 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium! Nearly 50 investor groups will be participating, entrepreneurs will pitch and present their companies, speakers and panelists have significant content to offer, and there are awards to be celebrated. Read more of our recent press releases below and register here.
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Make sure to check out our newsroom below for fast-changing information about Wisconsin's reopening process.
Stay tuned for announcements about virtual Tech Council webinars on COVID-19 issues of interest to our members and others.
Do you have news or best practices to contribute to a future edition of Tech Council Current?
Contact Laura@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
Thanks for helping to build a stronger Wisconsin! (And GO BADGERS as they open the 2020 season Friday night.)
Tom Still, president
» NEW: please click here to update your subscription preferences for Tech Council communications!
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Do you have experience with young companies and business plans? We’re looking for experienced judges who can confidentially review the “We’re All Innovating” contest. Please email Julie Johnson by noon Friday, Oct. 23rd with your interest. Thank you!
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The 2020 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium: Registration now open!
Registration is now open for our annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium #ESSWI, to be held Nov. 9-11 on a virtual platform. We hope you’ll join us!
The conference will focus on increased opportunities for emerging companies and startups to meet with investors 1:1, pitch and present their companies. Our virtual exhibitor booths will be enhanced time to meet with sponsors and others. Nearly 50 investor groups have already signed on (see hyperlinked list here) with more to come.
Can Wisconsin lead bio-industrial surge? Find out at 2020 Early Stage Symposium
Vets, students get discounted entry to November Early Stage event
Epic Health Research Network to be featured at 2020 Early Stage Symposium
Long-time angel capital leader to receive ‘Triple E’ award at Early Stage Symposium
Midwest Investors to discuss potential in Wisconsin, region at Early Stage event
Wisconsin ‘Creative Destruction Lab’ to be featured at 2020 Early Stage Symposium
Viral marketing pro, entrepreneur Jacques joins 2020 Early Stage Symposium line-up
Watch for more information to come via the Tech Council Current, press releases and social media!
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| Tom Erickson, CDL-Wisconsin |
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ECONOMY
- BizTimes: 5 coronavirus-related changes manufacturers expect to keep for the future
- Wisconsin State Journal: 'It’s really catastrophic': Pandemic sends hotel industry into free-fall
- WisBusiness: DWD partners with Google Cloud to tackle UI backlog
- Gov. Evers announces additional tax relief for Wisconsin taxpayers
- BizTimes: New study finds slight increase in women representation on Wisconsin corporate boards
- Milwaukee Business Journal: SBA lending to Black businesses plummeted despite broad economic expansion
- WisBusiness: Novel Coworking thrives in pandemic workforce disruption
- WEDC: Six communities selected for Broadband Connectors Pilot Program
- BizWomen: The pandemic’s persistent grocery trends: fewer trips, bigger bills, keeping more food on hand
ENTREPRENEURS + INNOVATION
- WisconsinInno: Milwaukee startup WorkShift envisions restaurants being able to hire staff on the fly
- Beloit Daily News: gBETA to support five area startup companies
- NYTimes: When start-ups go into the garage (or sometimes the living room)
- Spectrum News: UW surgeon invents one-of-a-kind operating room light
- Wall Street Journal: Microsoft teams with SpaceX to push cloud battle with Amazon into orbit
- Thrive Global: How a black small business owner, mom stays focused
- Spectrum News: Lawrence University grad makes specialty COVID masks for musicians
INVESTING
- Capital Allocators: [Podcast] Interview with NVNG’s Carrie Thome
- Milwaukee Business Journal: Delafield-based Synthetaic raises $4.5 million from investors, including TitletownTech
- Northwestern Mutual: ‘Customized venture platform is a powerful catalyst for startups,’ says Erin Henry
- Elevate Ventures: Healthcare technology company Diagnotes secures funding to drive growth
- Milwaukee Business Journal: Northwestern Mutual’s Schedler keeps watchful eye on VC opportunities
- Crunchbase: Handshake gets an $80 million cash infusion for college recruiting platform
- Minneapolis Business Journal: GenEQTY founder finds lack of funding ‘daunting,’ but also ‘liberating’
- BizWomen: Everlywell at-home health testing startup could become unicorn
- Fortune: Chelsea Clinton’s venture capital firm ramps up, including Milwaukee’s Fiveable
- Milwaukee Business Journal: Revived association pushes venture capital growth in Wisconsin
- Crunchbase: Q+A: A look inside the Black Venture Institute
COVID-19
- Wisconsin State Journal: 'Rapid acceleration' of virus cases predicted
- STAT: CDC expands definition of ‘close contact’ after study suggests COVID-19 spreads quicker than thought
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aspirus Wausau Hospital staff urge Wisconsin to take COVID seriously
- Wall Street Journal: COVID-19 vaccines to be stored secretly under tight security
- NYTimes: Pfizer says it won't seek authorization for coronavirus vaccine before mid-November
- Spectrum News: Millions more COVID-19 rapid tests, but are the results being reported?
- URP’s Aaron Olver: University Research Park is where COVID meets cutting edge
- STAT: The share of Americans interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible is dropping
- NYTimes: Volunteers to be infected with coronavirus in vaccine study
- WKOW: Teel Plastics wins $6.8 million contract for COVID-19 test swabs
- WORT: As COVID-19 cases increase, so does the strain on Wisconsin's nurses
- Roll Call: COVID-19 has made AI crucial to our health care system, but we shouldn’t stop there
HEALTH
- Wisconsin State Journal: Rural Midwest hospitals struggling to handle virus surge
- Channel3000: Wisconsin health secretary: Scrap Thanksgiving gatherings
- Wausau Pilot & Review: Marshfield Clinic Research Institute receives $4 million for rural community COVID-19 study
- River Cities Capital surveyed MedTech companies to assess the COVID impact in 2020
- EHRN: Epic’s experience enabling patients to initiate incorporation of heart rate data into the EHR
- Milwaukee Independent: Pandemic contributing to a spike in Wisconsin’s climbing suicide rate
- Fox: Mounting evidence ties blood type to COVID-19 risk [O may help, A may hurt]
- Spectrum News: “I call them the silent sufferers”: Man dedicates life to helping Wisconsin vets
- Thrive Global: How multi-tasking can actually make us less productive
EDUCATION
- Wisconsin State Journal: Educator builds 145 desks (and counting) for schoolchildren
- CapTimes: How are Dane County districts with in-person learning doing with COVID-19?
- Wall Street Journal: Pandemic job market has bright spots for recent high school grads
- TMJ4: UW System names new chancellor of UW-Stevens Point
- Harvard Gazette: Is the slow approach to reopening schools failing kids?
- WisBusiness: Treasurer Godlewski announces $900,000 for scholarships and grants to UW System
- CapTimes: UW athletes and staff fighting racism feel thwarted by status quo
- TMJ4: UW-Milwaukee makes list of ‘Best of the Best’ LGBTQ-friendly college campuses
- UW-Madison: New professor optimizing energy technologies to empower renewables
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· Gov. Evers’ office regularly updates a statewide COVID-19 website that aggregates information and resources throughout state government, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and the departments of Financial Institutions, Revenue and Workforce Development. Some specific sites:
· The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this FAQ document.
· The Wisconsin Department of Revenue offers these information sources:
· The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has guidance for businesses.
· Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Wisconsin
· NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers are providing services to small- and medium-sized manufacturers such as connecting businesses that are pivoting their production in response to the coronavirus to new supply chains, connecting firms with state resources, advising companies on new operational issues, and providing workforce support.
· “Wisconsin COVID-19 Startup Talent” is a new project to help those displaced from jobs and employers now hiring
· Wisconsin Hospital Association releases a COVID-19 dynamic Situational Awareness Update
· View an interactive map of public wi-fi “hot spots” in Wisconsin
>> WisconsinEye interviews candidates for the Nov. 3 general election. Click here to watch free on-demand.
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