The Entrepreneurs' Conference is one of the Midwest's premier networking and hands-on events for entrepreneurs. Business leaders, investors and others made connections as they learned how to crack into today’s emerging markets.

Major speakers and panelists included:

David Brophy, director of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
G. Steven Burrill, Burrill & Co. (nearly $1 billion in assets under management)
Craig Culver, Culver Franchising System (more than 370 restaurants nationwide)
John May, Angel Capital Association (North America's alliance of angel groups)
Sue Strommer, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (8,000 innovation capital professionals)
Anne Zizzo, Zizzo Group Advertising and Public Relations ($40-million in annual billings)

Other highlights included:

-- Exclusive forums for investors, such as the I-Q Corridor Investors' Forum and the "First Look" forum, which featured pre-commercialization technology from Wisconsin academic research institutions 
-- The Ken Hendricks Memorial "Seize the Day" award
-- The fifth annual Governor's Business Plan Contest awards, which  honored 23 finalists with $200,000 in cash and in-kind prizes  
-- Hands-on panel discussions, dozens of exhibits and a wealth of networking opportunities

To read more about the 'First Look Forum' which offered a preview of university-based innovation click here.  

The 2008 'Seize the Day' Award, which was renamed to honor Wisconsin entrepreneur Ken Hendricks, was awarded to Michael Cudahy.  Read more from the Journal Sentinel here.

To view presentations from the 2008 Entrepreneurs' Conference keynote speakers, click here.

To view the 2008 BPC Finalists' presentations click here.

To read press coverage of the 2008 conference and 2008 BPC, click here.

To view pictures of the 2008 Entrepreneurs' Conference click here.

For a recap of the 2008 Entrepreneurs' Conference agenda click here.

Thank you to the 2008 Entrepreneurs' Conference sponsors:

Platinum
AT&T
American Transmission Company
Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Grant Thornton
Michael Best & Friedrich
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and JSOnline
Quarles & Brady, LLP
WEA Insurance Trust
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions – full page ad
Wisconsin Education Association Council – full page ad
Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
Wisconsin Technology Network

Gold
Aberdean Consulting
Alliant Energy
Irgens Development
Madison Gas & Electric
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.
University Research Park
US Patent Services
WisBusiness.com
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center

Silver
Angel Soft
Associated Bank
Baird Venture Partners
Chippewa Valley Technical College
EDS
Fast Signs
Makin’ HEY! Communications
Marshfield Clinic
Matador Consulting/5 Nines Data
Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation
Park Printing
Rockwell Automation
The Luminis Group
Third Wave Technologies
TomoTherapy
UW-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations
UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation
Venture Investors, LLC
We Energies
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network

Aberdean Consulting LLC
American Transmission Co.
API Software
Associated Bank
The Boldt Company
CG Schmidt Co.
EarthIT
Fitchburg Technology Campus
Foley & Lardner LLP
The Gialamas Company
J.P. Cullen & Sons
Johnson Block CPAs
Journal Sentinel Online
Loughrin Accounting & Tax Service
Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences
Madison Gas & Electric Co.
McAllen TECH Campus
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Midwest Airlines
Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Quarles & Brady LLP
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.
Ruedebusch Development & Construction
Smith & Gesteland LLP
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
TDS Telecom
University Research Park
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
WisBusiness.com
Wisconsin Angel Network
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek
Wisconsin Technology Council


To learn more about the 2007 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference, scroll down to links to press coverage of the event, video of our major speakers and a photo gallery!     

Read press coverage about the 2007 conference and 2007 BPC winners 
Articles about the 2007 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference from news organizations across Wisconsin. 

Read press releases about the 2007 conference
Press releases about the 2007 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference from the Wisconsin Technology Council.