‘Diligent Dozen’ BPC pitches can be viewed ahead of June 4 Entrepreneurs’ Conference

Finalists representing diverse tech-based sectors in Wisconsin’s early stage economy have recorded their presentations for online viewing as part of the 17th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. The four-month-long contest culminates during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference. This year’s finalists have recorded seven-minute pitches on their business ideas for you to watch. New this year is a “People’s Choice” award and contestants need your support to win! Please watch all 12 and vote for your favorite before June 4. Winners selected by our judges as well as the “People’s Choice” award will be announced during our virtual conference. Click here to watch!

INSIDE WISCONSIN by TOM STILL

View Tom Still’s full InsideWis archives by clicking here.

Registration now open for our ‘virtual’ Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference!

We recently announced that Brian Pinkerton, Apple’s chief architect for Siri and a graduate of the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences, will speak June 4 during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference on a virtual platform that will offer plenty of interaction with attendees.

Click here to read the conference press releases: (* NEW)
* 'Diligent Dozen' BPC pitches can be viewed ahead of June 4th Entrepreneurs' Conference *
Discounted registration for vets, students available for June 4 Entrepreneurs' Conference 
Tech Council's virtual event platform launched for June 4 Entrepreneurs' Conference 
Exact Sciences CEO Kevin Conroy to receive the 2020 'Seize the Day' award June 4 at 'treps conference
Five interactive workshops to target post-COVID strategies at June 4 Entrepreneurs' Conference
Panels at virtual Entrepreneurs’ Conference will focus on COVID-19 economic recovery 
‘Virtual’ Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference will offer plenty of ways for attendees to engage
‘Siri, did you know your boss will speak June 4 at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference?’

We’ll announce more conference highlights soon, including engaging ways for attendees to network among themselves and presenters. Nothing beats live, but this will come close! Among the features of the conference over time have been the Governor’s Business Plan Contest (see more below) and a presentation by the winner of the Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, or YES!, contest. A full release on the young people advancing in that competition is linked here, as well.

Please stay tuned for more about panel discussions, workshops and special networking activities.                                                                    Register here!

WPR: Where stay-at-home orders and other COVID-19 restrictions are in effect in Wisconsin
WISN: Counties, municipalities that reopened & remain closed
TMJ4: Dane County issues its own order, continues Safer At Home measures
City of Milwaukee Health Department: COVID-19 Public Health Plan for the City of Milwaukee
Wisconsin State Journal: 13 of 72 Wisconsin counties and the city of Racine have extended stay-at-home orders
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's which Wisconsin counties and cities have continued or started new stay-at-home orders
Urban Milwaukee: Cities respond to pandemic with public space experiments
The Journal Times: After the coronavirus: Your next road trip may look like this
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we've learned about how to protect yourself from coronavirus in reopened Wisconsin
Milwaukee Business Journal: Employers need to weigh legal and health ramifications when reopening, experts say
Madison.com: As Memorial Day tempts people outdoors, precautions advised
The Cap Times: Some Madison restaurant owners wary about reopening dining rooms
Madison.com: How should I clean and store my face mask?
Wisconsin State Journal: How to manage COVID-19 risk as you leave your cocoon
BizTimes: Area restaurants carefully approach reopening dine-in service

Gov. Evers announces $200 million "Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants" Program
     * “We’re All In” – DOA Grants
     * Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants
Wisconsin State Journal: Dane County takes first tentative steps toward getting back to business
Milwaukee Business Journal: Northwestern Mutual, CUNA Mutual co-lead $12.3 million investment in Cleveland startup
Wisconsin Public Radio: A bad time to graduate: Class of 2020 facing historic job market uncertainty
WisBusiness: Manufacturers expect some elements of pandemic response are here to stay
The New York Times:  Pay cuts become a tool for some companies to avoid layoffs
Milwaukee Business Journal: Wisconsin hotel revenue drops $82 million in March because of Covid-19
Inc.: How three businesses reinvented themselves to beat COVID-19
Isthmus: The nature of things: Rethinking our relationship to Earth amid a pandemic
InBusiness Madison: Future office picture becomes more transparent
The New York Times: Stocks rise as lawmakers get behind economic stimulus efforts
Milwaukee Business Journal: Milwaukee County trending upward in counts of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, official says
Wisconsin Public Radio: Report: 47 percent of Wisconsin nonprofits have reduced programming, staff amid pandemic
Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin Supreme Court allows lower courts to resume with coronavirus controls
Madison.com: Madison teachers miss their students as they adjust to virtual learning
Milwaukee Business Journal: As more casinos reopen, Potawatomi does not yet have a public reopening plan
The New York Times: How to make sure the rise in remote work doesn’t mean the death of work-life balance
Forbes: AbCellera raises $105 million to boost drug discovery against coronavirus and other diseases
Royal Bank of Canada Economics: 8 ways COVID will transform the economy and disrupt every business
Tech Republic: 50% of US healthcare providers to invest in robotic process automation in next 3 years

• Gov. Evers’ office has launched a statewide COVID-19 website that aggregates information and resources throughout state government.
• COVID-19 Volunteer Program
• Prioritizing Children’s Mental Health
• Religious Gatherings and Services
• DVA Assistance to Needy Veterans Program
• Call 1-800-WIS-VETS for Veterans Benefits Information
• Relief and recovery resources for your business: Reopen guidelines
• Gov. Evers Announces Badger Bounce Back Plan
• Helping minority-owned micro-businesses weather the storm: Ethnic Minority Emergency Grant
  
• The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this helpful Frequently Asked Questions document.
• The Wisconsin Department of Revenue offers these information sources:
•       Business Development and Government Relations (BDGR)
•       COVID-19 Information and Announcements
• WEDC has compiled a comprehensive overview of their resources along with state and federal resources to assist Wisconsin citizens aimed at maintaining the viability of the companies upon which our economy depends.
• Report any scams or price gouging to Wisconsin Department of Justice: If you suspect fraud or a scam, Attorney General Kaul suggests filing a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) has guidance for businesses, Pending congressional and presidential approval, the SBA may offer another round of low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses and non-profits impacted by coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus latest updates
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Wisconsin
• The FDIC has provided guidance to banking institutions and consumers affected by COVID-19 and encouraged financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers and customers in affected communities.
• The Department of Labor has issued guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements.
• 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
• The Department of the Defense has established the Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) for COVID-19 to assess and rapidly respond to challenges presented by this pandemic. They are collecting information from both government and non-government personnel who are interested in getting involved. All resources and solutions are welcome from industry, academia, venture capital firms, individual contributors and more. Request information here.
• Wisconsin Hospital Association releases a COVID-19 dynamic Situational Awareness Update
• View an interactive map of public wi-fi “hot spots” in Wisconsin