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| Welcome to the February 2015 WIN eNewsletter |
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Dear readers -
This edition of the WIN eNewsletter captures a cross-section of events, programs and policy initiatives that make up the work of the Wisconsin Technology Council. It will update you on how to get involved in the March 23 Wisconsin Tech Summit, advances two business innovation contests for adults and youth, describes upcoming WIN events focused on new Wisconsin investors, summarizes our biennial “white papers” report to the governor and Legislature, and captures the work of emerging businesses and our partners through news outlets such as “WisBusiness.com: The Show.” Please read on to learn more!
Sincerely,
Tom Still
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Emerging companies can apply through Feb. 16 to meet with major firms and explore likely business relationships around technology needs and innovation as part of the second annual Wisconsin Tech Summit.
The day-long event will be held Monday, March 23, 2015, at the GE Healthcare Institute in Waukesha, Wis. Participating
major companies thus far are American Family Insurance, Aurora Health
Care, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Dedicated Computing, Direct Supply,
Faith Technologies, GE Healthcare, HP Enterprise Services, Intel,
Johnson Controls Inc., Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer Information Systems,
Marshfield Clinic, Rockwell Automation and TASC (Total Administrative
Services Corp). Others are being invited.
More information, including an application form, can be found at www.wistechsummit.com. Read Tom Still's recent "Inside Wisconsin" column on the event here.
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Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, a statewide youth business plan contest modeled after the successful Governor’s Business Plan Contest, is open for online entries from Wisconsin middle- and high-school students through 5 p.m. April 6, 2015.
Public, private and home-schooled students across Wisconsin are eligible to turn their science- and tech-related ideas into business plans and compete for cash and prizes. The contest begins with a 250-word summary submitted through the website. Entries that advance to Phase 2 of the competition will expand their idea into a 1,000-word executive summary. Throughout the process, students get feedback from professionals across Wisconsin who will serve as judges.
The Tech Council produces the contest. Major sponsorship is provided by IBM and WEA Trust, with additional support from the Wisconsin Technical College System. Learn more at www.wisconsinyes.com.
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'White papers' recommend investing in next-generation jobs
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Improving access to capital for Wisconsin entrepreneurs, building the supply of human capital, enhancing the startup and business climate, and improving tech development, delivery and transfer are four major themes of the Wisconsin Technology Council’s 2015 “white papers” report.
The Tech Council is the bipartisan, non-profit science and technology policy adviser to the governor and the Legislature, and a catalyst for tech-based development in Wisconsin. The Tech Council periodically issues “white papers” and special reports to assist those policymakers.
See highlights of the 2015 report, “Investing in Next-Generation Jobs," here. Download the full report here.
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WISC Partners to outline new fund at Feb. 12 WIN-Milwaukee event
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David Guinther, founding general partner of WISC Partners, will outline the new fund’s investment priorities, as well as its unique commitment to mentorship of early stage companies, at the Thursday, Feb. 12, meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network’s Milwaukee chapter in Wauwatosa.
The meeting will also feature a brief tour of the UW-Milwaukee’s new Innovation Accelerator, 1225 Discovery Parkway, Wauwatosa. Located on what many area residents would know as the Milwaukee County Grounds near Highway 45 and Watertown Plank Road, the Innovation Accelerator is the first installment in a larger UWM Innovation Campus that will eventually fill 89 acres.
Registration, networking and hors d’oeuvres begins at 4:30 p.m. Two 20-minute tours of the facility will be offered at 4:40 p.m. and 5 p.m., with the presentation at 5:30 p.m. Learn more and register here.
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Mark Bakken, managing partner of the Madison-based venture capital firm, HealthX Ventures, will outline the fund’s focus on local healthcare start-up companies at the Tuesday, Feb. 17, luncheon of the Wisconsin Innovation Network in Madison. Bakken will discuss why the timing is right for such a fund in Wisconsin.
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.
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Biz Plan Contest entry deadline passes; judging underway
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The Jan. 31 deadline for the annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan contest yielded about 240 entries from 70 communities across Wisconsin. Those entries included 84 in the contest’s information technology category, 79 in business services, 39 in advanced manufacturing and 36 in life sciences. Judging is underway with 80 judges and a strong poll of mentors. As with past years, the contest will be conducted in phases culminating with live presentations at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison, June 2-3. A “boot camp” for contest semi-finalists will be held in Waukesha in early March.
A major sponsor is the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. The UW-Extension’s Center for Technology Commercialization and SCORE Wisconsin will assist with mentoring throughout the contest. Additional sponsors of the 2015 contest thus far include: 100state; Aberdean Consulting; American Family Insurance; AT&T; Exact Sciences; Kollath & Associates; Madison Gas & Electric; Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences; Michael Best & Friedrich; Nordic; SCORE Wisconsin; Tweedee Productions; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; and the Wisconsin Technical College System.
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| Tech Council’s Still part of TechAmerica ‘fly-in’ on Capitol Hill |
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Tech Council President Tom Still will take part this week in a congressional “fly-in” organized by TechAmerica to discuss tech-based economic development issues with members of Congress. Nearly two-dozen states with organizations similar to the Tech Council will meet in Washington, D.C. Their agenda included extending a 17-year-old ban on taxing Internet access charges; writing rules to protect an open Internet; better sharing of cybersecurity threat data; freeing unlicensed wireless spectrum for rural broadband, Wi-Fi and more; helping keep highly skilled immigrants in the United States; and providing incentives for research, development and private investment.
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TURBO growing the food industry through research, tech transfer
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In less than a year, the
Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research’s TURBO program – short for Tech Transfer,
University Research and Business Opportunity – has connected nearly 25
companies with economic development assistance. Located within the dairy
research center on the UW-Madison campus, this business accelerator was
developed with help from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corp. and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Food or
beverage businesses interested in licensing TURBO technologies or working with
the program on their own ideas should visit http://turbo.cdr.wisc.edu
or contact program coordinator Vic Grassman at vgrassman@cdr.wisc.edu.
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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 features Tricia Braun, vice president of economic and community development at WEDC, discussing the agency's recruitment and attraction strategies for 2015. Also, Tom Still previews the March 23 Wisconsin Tech Summit and Liz Schrum presents the WisBusiness.com Stock Report, which covers residential real estate and the Kenosha casino.
Click here view the biweekly show, produced by Tweedee Productions for the Wisconsin Technology Council and WisBusiness.com, as well as archives of past shows.
The show is sponsored by Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Madison Gas & Electric and UW-Milwaukee.
Upcoming guests:
Derek Hei, Waisman Biomanufacturing Center
Greg Piefer, SHINE Medical Technologies
Guests on recent shows:
Katy Sinnott, WEDC
Joe Kremer, Isomark
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| Inside Wisconsin columns tackle state, tech issues |
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Options for state transportation financing range from novel to complex
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal calls for about $1.3 billion in borrowing over the next two years to meet the state’s transportation needs, from building or repairing roads and bridges to supporting mass transit to improving ports, airports and more.
Coming debate over UW funding, structure deserves public attention
The stage is set for a state Capitol debate over the future of the University of Wisconsin System, from its smallest two-year campus to its flagship research powerhouse in Madison. Here’s hoping the debate is an honest effort to improve the performance, accessibility and accountability of the state’s largest higher education system, not a political exercise driven by perception rather than fact.
Low gasoline prices ideal for consumers; major challenge for alternative fuels
With gasoline prices hovering around $2 per gallon or less for regular grade across Wisconsin, drivers are saving money every time they fill up their tanks. The story for producers of alternative fuels and researchers seeking to unlock next-generation biofuels is very different. Their tanks are running on vapors.
Risk-averse Milwaukee makes raising money difficult
Tom Schuster, a seasoned corporate executive and turnaround expert who is now the managing general partner for the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund, spoke Thursday at a meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network in Wauwatosa. He outlined the investment goals for the $9 million fund while pointing out just how hard it is to raise such a fund in a financial risk environment that may be too cautious for its own good.
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| Innovation news round-up |
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JSOnline: Wausau, Madison companies raise money from investors
Madison Startups: Next gener8tor class begins
2013 research expenditure data show UW-Madison ranks 4th
Madison ranked top metropolitan area in U.S. for STEM graduates
BizTimes: Tech experts list cyber security, Internet of Things among top 2015 trends
Milwaukee Institute partners with NSCA, a leading national supercomputer center
JSOnline: Academic research seen as vital to economy
State Journal: State budget calls for expanded tax credits for investing
State Journal: Exact Sciences' hiring soars
State Journal: Tech leaders say Madison shouldn't be Silicon Valley, but it can grow
Nordic recognized as KLAS Category Leader in 2014 Best in KLAS Report
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation near the top of the patent charts for 2013
Xconomy: MobCraft sold on virtues of equity crowdfunding despite missed goal
9 UW 'treps to receive up to $325,000 in grants from Ideadvance Seed Fund
Xconomy: Capital Midwest eyes $150 million for third WI VC fund
JSOnline: Milwaukee start-up Okanjo Partners raises $1.7 million from investors
JSOnline: Heath care technology company Mpirik raises $1.75 million
CapTimes: Start-up incubator StartingBlock Madison moving closer
WisBusiness: StartingBlock could turn Madison into ‘world-class entrepreneurial city’
JSOnline: Vilas County group taps brain power, wealth for growth
Wisconsin firm named to “Innovation AveNEW”
State Journal: Wisconsin companies invited to join WEDC trade trip to East Africa
Supreme Court Justice Bradley and Candidate Daley address Tech Council board
Madison Development Corp. receives $2 million for technology businesses
Healthcare IT News: Mayo Clinic moves to Epic
Midwest healthcare companies raise $1.8 billion in 2014
Chancellor Blank addresses Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors
JSOnline: Madison biotechnology company raises $2 million from investors
Travel & Industry Development: Wisconsin stays at the forefront of R&D
JSOnline: Number of firms drawing venture capital investments rises in Wisconsin
JSOnline: Three groups chosen to manage $4 million in venture capital
Xconomy: Ebullient Heats Up With $1M For Computer Cooling Tech
High-tech companies get commercialization boost via $75,000 grants
BizTimes: BrightStar expands investment portfolio with five companies
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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
Aurora Health Care
City of Fitchburg
Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences
Marvel Medtech LLC
Milwaukee Institute
Reinhart Boerner Van Dueren s.c.
UW Extension / Center for Technology Commercialization
Individual Members
Todd Boehm
Nick Cray
Steve Dinehart
Dave Gee
Don Higgins
Grayson Hoberg
Mark Nelson
Peg Rickard
Richard Schmidt
Craig Stanley
Eric Thomas
Bob Winding
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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