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Dear readers-
The 2018 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference generated buzz through new media, social media and old-fashioned word-of-mouth. Check out the coverage below from some of Wisconsin’s major news outlet, social media channels and more, including video highlights. Our next big event: The Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, Nov. 7-8 in Madison. In the meantime, check out our upcoming Tech Council Innovation Network events, which will focus on topics of specific interest to entrepreneurs, investors and others in the tech community.
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
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Tech Council team update: Angela Schlobohm is the
Tech Council’s new Development and Member Relations director, which
places her on the front lines of working with members and sponsors on a
host of Tech Council activities. Her successor as the Tech Council’s
Operations Director is Julie Johnson, who brings a history of customer
service, communication and management at Capital Newspapers Inc. to the
job. Congratulations, Angela, and welcome, Julie! As always, feel free
to reach out at 608-442-7557 to contact our team.
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It’s a wrap! See news coverage from the 2018 #WiTreps Entrepreneurs’ Conference
The annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference was held June 5-6, 2018 at the UW-Madison’s Union South on the campus more than 500 attendees. The #WiTreps conference supported 12 panel seminars focused on Launch, Grow and Succeed tracks as well as keynotes by entrepreneurs Marsha Lindsay and Tom Erickson. Two plenary panels focused on social media and the introduction of the members of the Badger Fund of Funds: Sun Mountain Capital, Idea Fund of La Crosse, Winnebago Seed Fund, Winnow Fund, Bold Coast Capital and Rock River Capital Partners. Click here to follow the Twitter feed and read news coverage. |
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Clean energy in sub-Saharan Africa wins 2018 Governor’s Business Plan Contest
A Madison social enterprise that
provides clean electricity for off-grid rural communities in sub-Saharan
Africa with solar-powered systems took home the grand prize in the 15th
annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. Mehrdad Arjmand, who
holds a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from the UW-Madison, presented
for NovoMoto Tuesday during the “Diligent Dozen” track of the 2018
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison. NovoMoto was founded by
Arjmand and Aaron Olson, an engineering mechanics doctoral candidate at
UW-Madison. |
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Racine County News: Alex Hart-Upendo wins annual ‘Wisconsin YES!’ youth business plan contest
Alex Hart-Upendo, a 5th grader at Gifford Elementary School in Racine who has made a splash in national news media, is the grand prize winner in Wisconsin YES!, a statewide youth business plan contest for students in middle and high school. Hart-Upendo’s company, Build-A-Bow, is a custom eco-friendly bow retailer specializing in bow ties, hair bows and bow ties for dogs. Hart-Upendo founded Build-A-Bow when he was just nine years old. In addition to starting his business, Hart-Upendo is the author of “Bullies, Bowties and Brilliant Alex.”
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Digital duet: Couple wins ‘Seize the Day’ award June 5 at Entrepreneurs’ Conference
Kerry and Dude Frank, whose vision for digitizing bulky airline pilot manuals took them from their home’s basement in northern Illinois to a successful business in Beloit, received the 15th annual Ken Hendricks “Seize the Day” award June 5 at the 2018 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference. The award, which celebrates entrepreneurial leaders who have been crucial to Wisconsin’s economic growth, is named in honor of the late Ken Hendricks, a Beloit businessman and 2006 “Seize the Day” award winner who died in an accident in late 2007. |
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The Wisconsin Idea and Regional Economies: Apples falling from many trees
Authored by Tech Council President Tom Still and UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen. This column is part of a larger collection of essays on the power of the “Wisconsin Idea” and how it continues to influence all corners of the state. Read the published articles of the series here. |
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Advancing cell therapy at UW-Madison topic of June 26 Innovation Network luncheon
Recent advances in the development of personalized cell therapies, from campus laboratories to bio-manufacturing and human use, will be examined at the Tuesday, June 26 Tech Council Innovation Network luncheon meeting in Madison. Dr. Jacques Galipeau, assistant dean for therapeutics discovery at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and the director of its new program for advanced cell therapy, will speak. “Dr. Galipeau will discuss, in lay-person terms, the resources available at UW-Madison that make it possible to push the envelope of cell therapy while increasing the potential for therapies and entrepreneurial spin-offs,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “It is part of a revolution in medical care that is coming faster than one might imagine.” |
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Follow the money! Wisconsin Portfolio topic of July 12 Tech Council luncheon
What are emerging trends in Wisconsin's angel and venture capital communities? Learn from veteran investors and detailed investment data contained in the 2018 Wisconsin Portfolio at the Thursday, July 12 meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Wauwatosa.
The event will take place at UW-Milwaukee's Innovation Accelerator, 1225 Discovery Parkway. Registration, networking and hors d'oeuvres start at 11:30 a.m. and the presentation at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for students and returning veterans, $25 for individual members, $35 for non-members and included for Tech Council corporate members. Click here to register today. |
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Stay on top of the news and events coming out of the Tech Council.
Engage with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram!
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TECH COUNCIL NEWS SERVICE:
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Release: ‘AgTech Venture Day’ open for applications for company pitches to angels, VCs
Release: Chamber accepting applications for fifth annual Pressure Chamber competition
WisBusiness:
A Wisconsin company is helping to equip organizations with
mass notification technology
WisconsinEYE: Entrepreneurs’ Conference 2018 video coverage
Milwaukee Business Journal: Two Brass Ring Capital team members to depart, form new organization
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee startup PlasmaE launches next-generation device to clean water
WisBusiness: Bioscience industry on the rise in Wisconsin
BizTimes Milwaukee: Alan Yeung on Foxconn’s approach to Milwaukee jobs, overseas suppliers and transit options
JSOnline: Many Foxconn jobs won’t be in Racine County, a company executive says
BusinessWire: Intraband licenses key WARF technology for defense and industrial applications
BusinessWire: PTC and Rockwell Automation announce strategic partnership to drive industrial innovation
BizTimes Milwaukee: gener8tor announces artist accelerator
WisBusiness: JangoBio seeing positive results in animal tests
Milwaukee Business Journal: Google had $3.7B economic impact on Wisconsin business in 2017,
Wisconsin State Journal: Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics: We can make brain cells that can boost Alzheimer’s research
WisBusiness: Faith Technologies installs microgrid at Appleton nature preserve
Release: New QNBV rules helping startups reach success
WisBusiness: The Podcast with John Ernst and Irene Strohbeen of Kinnektor
Madison Magazine: A key to Madison’s co-working spaces
The Chippewa Herald: Tom Still: Upper Midwest is knocking off the rust
Wisconsin State Journal: Exact Sciences, Mayo Clinic say they’ve developed blood test for liver cancer
WisBusiness: Chemical engineering innovation on tap for plastic and paint production
Jay Handy: Optimism and wisdom on hand at the ‘Woodstock of Capitalism’
WARF: Proper Policy and Strategy Honors the Wisconsin Idea – Investing in Innovation
WisBusiness: Pyxsee founder: It’s time to put your phone down
ITIF: Why U.S. Business R&D Is Not as Strong as It Appears
BizTimes Milwaukee: Finalists named in 2018 Governor’s Business Plan Contest
WisBusiness: Impact Sports seeks to win over parents who worry about concussions
Milwaukee Business Journal: U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson talks big data privacy, making Wisconsin a tech hub
BizTimes Milwaukee: Former Bucks star Sidney Moncrief to host entrepreneurship summit in Milwaukee
Madison.com: Rural areas face broadband expansion challenges
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Jonathan Wiggins, president and CEO of myAgame
JSOnline: 2 Wisconsin utilities plan to partner on $390 million large-scale solar projects
Datica: Healthcare cloud take-off: Waiting for the fog to clear
BizTimes Milwaukee: Once homeless, now entrepreneurs
BizTimes Milwaukee: Advocate Aurora Health shows off Milwaukee’s assets to recruit college students
Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin among nation’s leaders in drone use by public safety agencies
Milwaukee Business Journal: GE Healthcare teams with Tampa hospital to create AI data center
WisBusiness: Lawmakers stress importance of millennials to state workforce
BizTimes Milwaukee: 21 entrepreneurs graduate from Launch MKE program
Wisconsin State Journal: FluGen tests its influenza vaccine against the wrong strain of flu — on purpose
WisBusiness: Foxconn development forcing change in Wisconsin
Milwaukee Business Journal: Advocate Aurora Health plans $250M hospital complex near Foxconn
BizTimes Milwaukee: Co-working company to open first Wisconsin location in downtown Milwaukee
WisBusiness: The Water Council: Announces 2018 pilot program winners
Journal Sentinal: WEA Trust buys health plan from Mayo Clinic Health System
BizTimes Milwaukee: Gallagher, Vosseller named to StartingBlock board
The New York Times: Foxconn says no changes planned for Wisconsin project
WisBusiness: AmebaGone uses benign organisms to attack pathogens in production crops
JSOnline: We Energies plans 49-mile, $187 million gas pipeline to station near Foxconn site
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee startup WayAround offers on-demand personal drivers
WisBusiness: Nursing app aims to improve quality care in hospitals
WisconsinINNO: Meet the Milwaukee startup that’s bringing AI to the hiring process
WisBusiness: ReNeuroGen focuses on improving aftermath for stroke victims
WisBusiness: The Podcast with co-founders of Reinvent Ferment
Release: Steve Lyons, a veteran lobbyist and communications specialist, has started a new government affairs firm
Milwaukee Business Journal: Investors from Granular help launch Milwaukee SEO startup
Wisconsin State Journal: Cellectar Biosciences gets important FDA designations for its lead drug compound
WisBusiness: Foxconn announces $1 million ‘Smart City, Smart Future’ competition
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Jignesh Patel, UW-Madison professor of computer sciences
WisBusiness: V-Glass among 25 finalists in NASA energy competition
Release: gener8tor graduates six startups in 13th program
WisBusiness:Ab E Manufacturing breaks ground on headquarters, production facility
BizTimes Milwaukee: Launch Box accelerator companies ready to pitch
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TOM STILL'S INSIDE WISCONSIN COLUMN:
InsideWis: Wisconsin's congressional delegation should weigh in on trade, tariffs
InsideWis: Solving real-world problems may distinguish Wisconsin, Midwest ‘treps
InsideWis: Signs of “Rust Belt renaissance” evident in Wisconsin, Upper Midwest
InsideWis: In building a workforce at Foxconn, “Wisconsin First” is watchword
InsideWis: Even in prosperous times, rural Wisconsin economy faces an uphill climb
InsideWis: Behind the scenes and before the earth movers, Foxconn is plowing ground
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Tom Still,
Tech Council
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INVESTORS' CORNER:
Madison Startups: Propeller gets funding from McKesson
BizTimes Milwaukee: Milwaukee startup Restaurant PI working to raise $40 million ICO
Business Wire: Zurex Pharma announces capital raise of $9M in advance of pending new drug application
BizTimes Milwaukee: Sheboygan company raising $12M for hemp growhouse
BizTimes Milwaukee: Swirl Insurance makes progress on $1.5 million funding round
WisBusiness: Investment deals getting bigger in Wisconsin, panelist says
WisBusiness: Bootstrapping seen as useful tool for startups that can afford it
BizTimes Milwaukee: Scanalytics raising $1 million round
BizTimes Milwaukee: Motivo raises $950,000
BizTimes Milwaukee: SteamChain aiming higher on funding round
Milwaukee Business Journal: Fertility device company in Madison raises $3.4M in debt funding
Release: BrightStar Wisconsin announces two new investments
WisBusiness: Propeller Health developing new platform after $20 million funding round
Release: American Provenance partners with Winnebago Seed Fund and Tru Fragrance & Beauty
Fortune: Why Melinda Gates has been funding female VCs through her secretive investment firm
WisconsinINNO: Madison startup Fishidy gets acquired
PRNewswire: Renaissance Venture Capital Fund creates nation’s largest network fund, with $81 million fund
bizwomen: Healthcare startup raises $20M for house calls
Milwaukee Business Journal: Bright Cellars completes $2.8M round of funding
1871Blog: The great game: How to raise venture capital
BizTimes Milwaukee: Wantable raises $1.4 million
BizTimes Milwaukee: Venture Investors raising $100 million fund
JSOnline: Northwestern Mutual shutting down its LearnVest digital financial planning business
Pitchbook: Late-stage valuations have increased nearly 20% in 2018
BizTimes Milwaukee: Badger Fund of Funds launches statewide student entrepreneurship fund
BizTimes Milwaukee: Chicago-based 1871 program seeking Wisconsin 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 both major conferences (Entrepreneurs' Conference and Early Stage Symposium), as well as regular Tech Council Innovation Network events.
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EVENTS YOU CAN'T MISS:
June 26: Advancing cell therapy at UW-Madison
Sheraton Hotel, Madison |
August 28: Innovation Network-Madison
Sheraton Hotel, Madison |
July 12: Follow the money! Wisconsin Portfolio
UWM Innovation Accelerator, Wauwatosa |
September 13: Innovation Network-Milwaukee
UWM Innovation Accelerator, Wauwatosa |
July 24: Innovation Network-Madison
Sheraton Hotel, Madison |
September 18: Innovation Network-West
Location TBA |
August 9: Innovation Network-Northeast
Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton |
September 25: Innovation Network-Madison
Sheraton Hotel, Madison |
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