Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
The 2008 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium was held November 5-6 at the Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis. The 2009 conference is scheduled for Nov. 10-11 at Monona Terrace.
Click here to view a copy of the 2008 conference agenda.
Click here to view on-demand video of select panel discussions and keynote speakers
 Leading the pack: Sprint ahead in the race for private equity was the theme of the 2008 conference. For more than 20 years, this conference and its predecessors have helped fuel Wisconsin's high-growth economy by matching investors, companies and entreprenuers.
The 2008 conference resulted in a record number of attendees and investors!
Read below for a recap of conference features.
Keynote speaker Eric Apfelbach, president and CEO, Virent Energy Systems spoke during the Nov. 5 dinner which honored the winners of SBIR and STTR grants. Keynote speaker Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel spoke the morning of Nov. 6
The annual “Elevator Pitch Olympics” for very early-stage companies (see below for more information)
Investor-oriented track for angel-ready companies and beyond, i.e., seeking $500,000 and up in equity financing (see below for more information)
An Entrepreneur workshop where entrepreneurs were able to learn and practice their pitches.
A “First Look Forum” for presenting selected pre-commercial, campus-based discoveries.
A retrospective on University Research Park after 25 years, featuring some principals from the time.
An update on Wisconsin investor tax credits: What are the next steps?
An invitation-only event for investors hosted by the Wisconsin Angel Network.
...........................................................
Please read below for more information on the Elevator Pitch Olympics and WAN Investors Track.
The producers of the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium are looking for cutting-edge companies from Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest to present at our Nov. 5-6 conference at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wis.
On behalf of the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Angel Network, the Wisconsin Innovation Network and its partners, we invite you to apply OR nominate companies that will be a good match with the private investors who will attend this productive and informative event. At the 2007 symposium, 47 angel or venture capitalists from five states attended.
The 2008 conference was open to early stage companies representing an array of industries: biotechnology, biofuels and products, “cleantech,” advanced manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology and business services.
There were two separate presentation levels:
- 22 early stage companies seeking capital in the range of $500,000 and up were selected to make seven-minute presentations to investors in the Wisconsin Angel Network track.
- 17 companies were selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been companies seeking a smaller investment round (less than $500,000) or planning to do so within the next year. All presenters will make 90-second pitches to a panel of investors.
WAN Track presenters were selected to present in one of two tracks. Please see the presenters below.
Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and “Cleantech” Track:
BioInoix – James Tretheway
Composite Rebar Technologies – Robert Gibson
CRS Medical Diagnostics – Christopher Burton
Earth Mimic – Brian Hans
Innovative Sports Strategies – Brian Cole
MicroBlade – Thanh Nguyen
My Payment Network – David Dunaway
NxtMile, LLC – Mike Miller
Dew and Ken Group, Inc. – James Sun
Project-Based Learning Systems – Shane Krukowski
TrackCost Corporation – Jeff Clark
Biotechnology, Medical Device and Health Care Track:
BioSentinel – Ben Lap
Dossette, LLC – Joe Trygar
NeurogenomeX, Inc. – Thomas Sutula
Perscitus Biosciences, LLC – James Thomas
Platypus Technologies, LLC – Jeffrey Williams
Prism Clinical Imaging – Paul Schmelzer
StrataTech – Lynn Allen-Hoffmann
Swallow Solutions – Nicolas Cindric
Sword Diagnostics – Dave Dingott
VitalMedix – Jeffrey Williams
VibeTech, Inc. – Jeff Leismer
Read below for a recap of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium.
The 2007 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium was held Nov. 14-15 at Madison's Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. . Click here to view the 2007 agenda.
Scroll down to see the following 2007 ESS highlights:-- Press coverage of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and "Elevator Pitch Olympics" [ more] -- Presentations to investors by selected companies seeking $500,000 to $5 million [ more] -- The "Elevator Pitch Olympics," in which early-stage companies had a (very) brief opportunity to make their case to a panel of investors, who scored their presentations and provided valuable feedback. A returning hit from 2006! [ more] -- The VentureQuest educational seminar was another returning hit! Entrepreneurs learnd how to prepare their companies to look for investors. This "venture readiness” workshop was led by the founders of VentureQuest Ltd., a Denver-based firm with a national reputation for getting companies ready to compete for private-equity investment dollars. [ more] -- Nationally known speakers such as Jeff Wacker, director of strategy and futurist, EDS, and Mark Lee, four-time space shuttle astronaut and managing engineer for Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. [ more] -- SBIR/STTR awards dinner for grant recipients [ more] -- The First Look Forum, hosted by the UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations, which provided a sneak peek at new technologies under development on campus. [ see agenda] -- Panel discussions on finding investors, lessons from entrepreneurs, tapping Wisconsin resources and more! [ see agenda]
To learn more about the this and previous year's Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, follow the links below:
Press coverage of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and the “Elevator Pitch Olympics”
Read press coverage on the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and the “Elevator Pitch Olympics” from the Tech Council and news organizations across Wisconsin.
2007 Wisconsin Angel Network investor presentations
View list of the Wisconsin companies who presented and this year's Early Stage Symposium seeking between $500,000 and $5 million in private equity investment. About half are biomedical companies and the rest are engaged in software, Internet services, advanced manufacturing and “cleantech,” which includes alternative energy.
"Elevator Pitch Olympics" and VentureQuest
Congratulations to the 2007 "Elevator Pitch Olympics" winners!  "People's choice" award winner EarthMimic Brian Hans; Appleton, WI "Most likely to read company business plan" award winner
NxtMile
Mike Miller; Madison, WI "Most likely to take a meeting with" award winner
Bayland, LLC
C.J. Schmidt; DePere, WI
Thank you to the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" judges and participants. Click to view a list of participants and judges and to read more information on the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" and VentureQuest.
2007 Early Stage Symposium Speakers
 Learn more about this year's keynote speakers: - Jeff Wacker, futurist and corporate strategist, EDS - Mark Lee, former astronaut, currently with Affiliated Engineers and Institutes for Discovery Project
SBIR/STTR awards dinner for grant recipients
 Learn more about 21st Annual SBIR Awards Banquet that took place Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at the Early Stage Symposium. The event recognized over 50 Wisconsin companies.
The 2007 Conference Agenda
View the 2007 conference ageanda and a full list of event panelists and moderators.
2007 ESS Sponsors
Thank you to all 2007 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium sponsors. AT&T
Aberdean Consulting, LLC
American Transmission Co.
Associated Bank
Baird Venture Partners
Chippewa Valley Technical College
DaneVest, LLC
EDS
Eli Lilly
First Weber Group, Relocation Division
Flad & Associates
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Godfrey & Kahn, s.c.
Grant Thornton, LLP
Great Dane Brew Pub
Madison Gas & Electric Co.
Makin’ HEY! Communications
Marshfield Clinic
Matador Consulting/5 Nines Data
Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
Murphy Desmond, s.c.
Neider & Boucher, s.c.
Park Printing
Quarles & Brady, LLP
Ruedebusch Development and Construction
Smith & Gesteland, LLC
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Third Wave Technologies
TomoTherapy
University Research Park
US Bank
UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations
Venture Investors, LLC
WEA Insurance Trust
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, s.c.
WISCAPE
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Bankers Association
Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network
Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Wisconsin Technology Network
News releases on the 2006 Early Stage Symposium
MADISON -- Companies preparing to compete for private equity capital at the state, regional or national level should attend the second annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, Oct. 30-31 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Convention Center.
Links to 2005 Mediasite presentations
Links to presentations recorded through Mediasite, a “rich media” system available through the Tech Council. For more information on how to make Mediasite work for your company or event, call 608-442-7557.
Read press releases about the 2005 conference
Press releases about the 2005 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium from the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Read press coverage about the 2005 conference
Articles about the 2005 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium from news organizations across Wisconsin.
2005 Early Stage Symposium Sponsors
We would like to thank our sponsors for supporting the first Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
What you get for your registration fees
Your conference registration fee includes:
- All panels and seminars
- Nov. 14 and 15 luncheons, Nov. 14 evening reception, Nov. 14 dinner and Nov. 15 breakfast with guest speakers
- An opportunity to be part of the VentureQuest educational track.
- A chance to pitch in the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" (companies seeking under $500,000).
- An opportunity to be considered for the Early Stage Investor Presentation track ($500,000 to $2 million).
NOTE: Companies that want to be considered for the Elevator Pitch Olympics or the Early-Stage Investor Presentations track must register first for the conference as a whole. See additional instructions below.
Who Should Attend
- Investors with an interest in early-stage firms
- Executives involved in an early-stage firm
- Service providers
- Economic development professionals
- Others interested in networking with the above individuals
Hotel Information and Driving Directions
Located in the heart of downtown Madison, The Hilton is attached to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive, via an enclosed skywalk.
| 
