Dear readers-

The annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference and two of its centerpieces, the culmination of Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest and the Wisconsin YES! youth contest, is less than a month away. We hope you can join us for a conference line-up that includes top-notch speakers, panel discussions and plenty of networking opportunities. The coming weeks also feature Tech Council Innovation Network discussions in Appleton, Madison and Racine County. Join us to hear the latest about Wisconsin’s strong business and technology economy! 

Sincerely,
Tom Still, president

What’s your startup ‘brand’? Speaker can help you decide at 2018 Entrepreneurs’ Conference
Marsha Lindsay, who has helped companies large and small to brand products, services and even their missions, will lead off the 16th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, June 5-6 in Madison. Lindsay, who started her company as a UW-Madison graduate student and grew it to service firms that range from Fortune 100 multi-nationals to homegrown startups, will open the conference Tuesday morning, June 5, at Union South in Madison.

Curtain raiser: Badger Fund of Funds team to speak June 6 at Entrepreneurs’ Conference
Managers of a statewide fund that will invest in some of Wisconsin’s youngest companies will take center stage Wednesday, June 6, at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison. The morning session at Madison’s Union South will feature six investors who help lead the Badger Fund of Funds, which will take a statewide approach to vetting startups and other early stage companies. The Badger Fund of Funds was officially seeded in 2014 with a $25-million investment from the state of Wisconsin and has since raised private matching dollars. The parent fund has committed to make matching investments of 40 percent of any money the five “recipient” funds raise.

What to expect with Foxconn: Renowned economist Von Nessen to speak May 24 in Racine
Foxconn Technology Group is expected to begin work soon on its production plant in the Racine County town of Mount Pleasant. Hear how a similar investment from BMW affected the South Carolina economy and prompted major changes in that state. Joey Von Nessen, a top economist at the University of South Carolina who has studied the BMW impact on manufacturing clusters, and who has tracked the Boeing project in Charleston, S.C. Von Nessen also does annual economic forecasts for South Carolina and provides expert advice to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Von Nessen’s presentation will be followed by a conversation with UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone, Rockwell Automation executive David Vasko, and foreign commerce expert Roxanne Baumann. Tech Council President Tom Still will moderate.
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​From detecting gunshots to saving potato crops, Biz Plan Contest finalists show state’s tech range
Twenty-five entries representing sectors as broad as social media, health technologies and innovations in products or services are competing in the finalist round of the 15thannual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. The contestants have survived two rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council and its sponsors and volunteers. “These finalists are emblematic of Wisconsin’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Greg Lynch, Tech Council chairman.
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