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.
- 2007 Agenda / Panel Sessions (pdf)
- This year's event included 21 panel discussions featuring plenty of success stories (and a few lessons not to be repeated). Winners of the 2007 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest were announced, and the contest's top four finalists had the opportunity to pitch to hundreds of conference participants.
- The annual “Seize the Day” award was presented to one of Wisconsin’s legendary entrepreneurs, Jan Eddy, retired president of Wingra Technologies.
- 2007 speakers were:
- Jason Fried, founder of Chicago-based 37Signals. Fried and 37Signals have drawn acclaim for web applications such as Basecamp (web-based project management), Backpack (web-based personal information management) and Ta-da List (web-based to-do lists). Basecamp received a Business Week “Best of the Web” award in 2005 and 2006.
- John May, often called the “father of angel networks.” He is the managing partner of the New Vantage Group in Vienna, Va., co-founder of the Investor’s Circle, associate director of the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and chairman of the Angel Capital Association. May led the WAN deal syndication workshop and spoke at the Business Plan Contest awards banquet.
- Tim Jump, a high-school engineering teacher from the Twin Cities whose students won a national robotics championship -- against college teams! Jump addressed the importance of STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) in today's knowledge economy. He was introduced by Tom Gunkel, chief operating officer of M.A. Mortenson Co., and an advocate of education that produces more, and better, entrepreneurs
- Our SPONSORS!
We would like to thank our past sponsors and supporters. Call 608-442-7557 to learn how you can help sponsor the 2008 event.
5Nines Data
Aberdean Consulting
Amcore Bank
American Transmission Company
AT&T
Baird Venture Partners
Chippewa Valley Technical College
First Weber Group
Flad & Associates
Foley & Lardner
Godfrey & Kahn
Grant Thornton
M.A. Mortenson Co.
Makin’ Hey! Communications
Madison Gas & Electric Co.
Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences
Michael Best & Friedrich
Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation
Momentum Video Services Inc.
Park Printing
Quarles & Brady
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Small Business Times
The Business Journal
Third Wave Technologies
University Research Park
U.S. Patent Services
UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations
UW-Whitewater-Center for Innovation & Business Development, Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Venture Investors
Vrakas/Blum S.C.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Education Association Council
WEA Trust
We Energies
Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek
WisBusiness.com
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network
WiSys
Wisconsin Angel Network
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Wisconsin Technology Network
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
- Our 2007 Governor's Business Plan Contest SPONSORS!
Aberdean Consulting LLC
American Transmission Co.
Associated Bank
Axley Brynelson LLP
The Boldt Company
CG Schmidt Co
Fitchburg Technology Campus
Foley & Lardner LLP
J.P. Cullen & Sons
Johnson Block CPAs
Loughrin Accounting & Tax Service
Madison Gas & Electric Co.
Makin’ HEY! Communications
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
Mason Wells Private Equity
McAllen TEC Campus
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Quarles & Brady LLP
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.
Ruedebusch Development & Construction
Smith & Gesteland LLP
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
T Wall Properties
University Research Park
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
WisBusiness.com
Wisconsin Angel Network
Wisconsin Realtors Association
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek
Wisconsin Technology Council
- The Entrepreneurs' Conference is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, Wisconsin Angel Network and the Wisconsin Innovation Network-Milwaukee Chapter, with core sponsorship by the state Department of Commerce.
