The Wisconsin Technology Council News Room provides news about the Tech Council, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their efforts to assist in the development, growth and success of technology-based businesses in Wisconsin.
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February 5, 2010
Please watch the early February edition of "WisBusiness: The Show,'' the twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues. This episode includes the Wisconsin Stock Report with Liz Schrum, commentary about why high-speed rail is a fast track to economic development for the state from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, and Bill Malkasian, president of the Wisconsin Realtors Association talks about the state of Wisconsin’s real estate market.
Click here to see the show, produced by Tweedee Productions of Madison.
Upcoming guests include Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel; Kelly Fitzsimmons, founder of Harqen; and Shawn Guse, CEO of
Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation, a spinout of TomoTherapy Inc.
February 4, 2010
MADISON – From innovative ways to improve business processes to ideas for saving energy, water and lives, the seventh annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest has attracted 284 entries from 239 individuals in 97 different cities, villages and towns, it was announced Thursday.
February 3, 2010
Wisconsin’s pavilion and related events at the BIO International Convention will feature a “family” of organizations, colleges and programs with ties to UW-Madison, one of the nation’s leading research universities in the life sciences.
February 1, 2010
Investors from seven locations in the Upper Midwest, ranging from Peoria, Ill., to Sioux Falls, S.D., reviewed presentations by three start-up companies during last week’s ‘Midwest Investors’ Forum. Using videoconferencing technology, the forum connected 40 investors from 12 angel networks and funds in a live, two-hour format.
January 29, 2010
MADISON - Don’t miss the Sunday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m. deadline to enter the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. It’s the nation’s first statewide, tech-based business plan competition and the Grand Prize is worth $50,000 in cash and services.
Last year’s winner, Bonnie Reinke of Eso-Technologies, has since raised $1 million in private equity for her company. Since 2004, winners and finalists have collectively raised tens of millions of dollars from angel and venture capitalists.
January 28, 2010
Wisconsin will receive $810 million to build a high-speed rail line carrying passengers between Milwaukee and Madison, it was announced late Wednesday. The line, which will improve existing Milwaukee-Chicago service and extend it to Madison, could be up and running as early as 2013. Service could eventually extend from Madison to the Twin Cities.
The Wisconsin Technology Council has long endorsed the notion of high-speed rail in the I-Q Corridor. Click here to read a Wisconsin State Journal story.
January 28, 2010
Madison, Wisconsin-based Virent Energy Systems ranked #21 on the Biofuels Digest list of 50 hottest companies in bioenergy for 2009-2010. The list salutes innovation and achievement in bioenergy development. Virent's BioForming process is a recognized leader in advanced biofuels technologies. The company's technology converts abundant plant sugars from non-food and home grown sources into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel hydrocarbon molecules previously refined only from petroleum.
January 27, 2010
A bill that would expand Wisconsin’s investor tax credits program, invest in research and development and make it easier for employers to train workers is advancing through the Wisconsin Legislature. The Jan. 26 WIN-Madison meeting featured a discussion on SB-409, called the Connecting Opportunity, Research and Entrepreneurship act, which has passed the Senate and is awaiting Assembly action.
January 26, 2010
John Neis, managing director of Venture Investors LLC and a member of the Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors, was one of three people honored by Madison magazine through its 2010 "Best of Madison Business" awards. Neis won the Brian D. Howell Award for Excellence in Innovation, named for the magazine's late editor. As the magazine noted in its January edition, "Neis is widely respected for his skill, his knowledge and his style." Neis has been honored in the past by Forbes magazine as one of the world's top 100 dealmakers.
January 25, 2010
Wisconsin biotechnology companies with an interest in attending the BIO International Convention at Chicago’s McCormick Place may apply for grants and scholarships from two state-based sources.
January 22, 2010
Robert W. Baird, a global financial services firm based in Milwaukee, has been named to Fortune magazine "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the seventh straight year. Click
here to read more. Devin Mathews of Baird Venture Partners is a member of the Tech Council's board of directors.
January 20, 2010
Please watch the latest edition of "WisBusiness: The Show,'' the twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues. This episode includes the Wisconsin Stock Report with Liz Schrum, a report on Wisconsin's efforts to build the supply of venture capital from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, and an interview with Rod Hise, president of the Luminis Group and one of the partners in the quarterly WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey. Click here to see the show, produced by Tweedee Productions of Madison.
January 20, 2010
Back at the dawn of the Web, the most popular account password was "12345." Today, it's one digit longer but hardly safer: "123456." Despite all the reports of Internet security breaches over the years, including the recent attacks on Google's e-mail service, many people have reacted to the break-ins with a shrug. Read more from The New York Times
here.
January 19, 2010
Watch an overview of the 2010 Wisconsing Governor's Business Plan Contest with Tech Council President Tom Still. The contest's grand prize is worth $50,000. The deadline to enter is Jan. 31, 2010. Click
here to watch the overview.
January 15, 2010
Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story about Thursday's meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network meeting in Brookfield. A panel of area leaders outlined what's needed to accelerate the growth of the regional tech-based economy.
January 15, 2010
A Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
editorial has endorsed continuing efforts to expand the supply of venture capital in Wisconsin, including a privately centered "fund of funds" approach backed by the Wisconsin Technology Council.
January 15, 2010
The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, which is the budget-writing panel for the Senate and the Assembly, has advanced the Connecting Opportunity, Research and Entrepreneurism bill (SB-409). The bill accelerates Wisconsin's investor tax-credits law and contains other proposals to spur research and job creation. Approval by both houses is still required. Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
January 15, 2010
Even in tough economic times, Wisconsin tech-based firms are attracting investors, finding partners and moving their products and services to market. Here is a round-up of recent company news.
January 14, 2010
Milwaukee-based ZBB Energy Corp. has appointed Eric Apfelbach as its president and chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors. Apfelbach is a member of the Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors.
ZBB Energy Corp. provides clean energy storage solutions based on proprietary zinc rechargeable energy storage technology that addresses requirements in multiple markets such as alternative energy applications, large electrical utilities and green residential and commercial architecture.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead ZBB and to help the company achieve its plans for growth,” Apfelbach said. “The distributed renewable energy industry cannot scale without cost effective energy storage and power management solutions. I believe ZBB's products will address these needs."
Paul Koeppe, interim CEO of ZBB and chairman of the search committee of the company’s board of directors, added: "I believe that Eric's background is a perfect fit for ZBB. His past leadership of high tech companies has been a great proving ground for stepping into the CEO role at ZBB. I am delighted with his decision to join us."
Most recently, Apfelbach led Virent Energy Systems Inc., a catalytic biofuels company. Before Virent, Apfelbach co-founded Alfalight Inc.
To learn more about zinc bromide technologies, click here to read a story from Green Energy News.
January 13, 2010
Technology industry executives who responded to the fourth-quarter WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey continued to temper how they rated the condition of the state’s economy – even as they ranked the prospects for their own companies as good.
January 12, 2010
The licensing director at one of the country's biggest academic technology transfer offices has left to become general counsel at Promega Corp. Craig Christianson's last day at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation was Friday, said Janet Kelly, a WARF spokeswoman. Read more from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel here.
January 12, 2010
AquaMost LLC and a Pennsylvania environmental remediation company, Encotech Inc., said Tuesday they have received a $100,000 federal innovation grant to develop an advanced water purification device. Read more in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel here. Aquamost was a finalist in the 2009 Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest. To learn more and enter the 2010 contest, click here.
January 12, 2010
Alice.com said Tuesday morning it is launching a new service that gives makers of toothpaste, toilet paper and other consumer packaged goods a way to create their own Internet storefront. The storefronts deliver a "learning lab of consumer data and insights" and allow consumers to make their purchases from multiple makers in a single transaction, Alice.com said in a news release. Read more from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel here.
January 10, 2010
Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story that charts how the Milwaukee area lags in at least one important indicator of innovation -- patents of intellectual property. A related Wisconsin Innovation Network meeting will be held Thursday at the Brookfield Sheraton. Click
here to register.
January 8, 2010
Click
here to read about the 2010 In Business magazine "Executive Hall of Fame," which includes Dave Anderson of American Family Insurance, David Walsh of Foley and Lardner, Bill Bathke of WPS Insurance, Kathleen Woit of the Madison Community Foundation and Tom Still of the Wisconsin Technology Council.
January 6, 2010
Please watch the latest edition of "WisBusiness: The Show,'' the twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues. This episode includes the Wisconsin Stock Report with Liz Schrum, a 2010 trends-to-watch commentary from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, and an interview with Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Click here to see the show, produced by Tweedee Productions of Madison.
December 30, 2009
By Tom Still
Good riddance to 2009, a bruising year for the Wisconsin and national economies; welcome to 2010, which can hardly be more punishing – and which may even bring renewed vigor to the innovation economy. Here are 10 trends to watch in 2010:
December 24, 2009
Please watch the latest edition of "WisBusiness: The Show,'' the twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues.
This episode includes the Wisconsin Stock Report with Liz Schrum, commentary from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, and an interview with Teresa Esser, managing director of Silicon Pastures. Click here to see the show, produced by Tweedee Productions of Madison.
December 19, 2009
Click
here to read a Wisconsin State Journal story on SB 409, a bill that includes provisions designed to spark the Wisconsin economy.
December 14, 2009
Here is a Dec. 14 news story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on SB-409, the Connecting Opportunities, Research and Entrepreneurship bill.
By Kathleen Gallagher
Democratic legislators call it a $15 million economic growth package that will create jobs around the state.
Republicans such as Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) call it an effort that might look good on campaign literature but doesn't address the magnitude of the state's problems.
December 11, 2009
Click
here to watch the December 10 edition of "WisBusiness.com: The Show," a joint production of WisBusiness.com, the Wisconsin Technology Council and Tweedee Productions. Liz Schrum delivers the WisBusiness news "stock report," Tom Still examines how regional development groups are playing a role in the state’s economic growth and Bill McCoshen, executive director of Competitive Wisconsin Inc. and senior vice president of Capitol Consultants, discusses other efforts to improve the Wisconsin economy. Sponsored by: Grant Thornton and Madison Gas & Electric Co.
December 4, 2009
MADISON – The Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest – the nation’s first statewide, tech-based business plan competition – is accepting entries online for the 2010 competition. Entries will be accepted now through 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010. The contest’s grand prize is worth $50,000 in cash and services. Click
here to read a related Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
December 3, 2009
Click
here to watch the Dec. 4 edition of "WisBusiness.com: The Show," a joint production of WisBusiness.com, the Wisconsin Technology Council and Tweedee Media. Liz Schrum delivers the WisBusiness news "stock report," Tom Still comments on the federal health care reform debate and Scott VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin, discusses developments in the telecom industry. Sponsored by: Grant Thornton and Madison Gas & Electric Co.
November 30, 2009
Democratic state legislators plan to hold hearings, possibly as soon as next week, on a proposed $15 million economic growth package that would bulk up Wisconsin's angel investing tax credits, better connect businesses with university research, and include other measures to rebuild the state's economy. Click here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
November 30, 2009
Read the story behind the founding and growth of 5Nines Data in the Wisconsin State Journal's "Executive Q&A" interview with Todd Streicher. Streicher and others at 5Nines and its sister company, Matador Consulting, are Wisconsin Innovation Network members.
November 30, 2009
Click
here to read a Milwaukee Business Journal story about RedPrairie Corp. and a recent IPO filing by its holding company.
November 24, 2009
Click
here to read a WisBusiness.com story on remarks by Scott VanderSanden, president of AT&T in Wisconsin, at Tuesday's Wisconsin Innovation Network luncheon. Click
here to view the live presentation filmed by WisconsinEye. VanderSanden discussed the rise of wireless communications and proposed legislation in Wisconsin.
November 19, 2009
A package of economic growth ideas proposed by Senate Democrats is consistent with ideas advanced over time by the Wisconsin Technology Council and merits bipartisan consideration by the full Legislature, two leaders of the Tech Council said Thursday.
November 17, 2009
Click
here to read a BizTimes.com story on Gov. Jim Doyle signing an agreement with Israel that is aimed at enhancing research and development opportunities between Wisconsin and the Middle East's leading technology economy.
November 16, 2009
Click
here to read a Wisconsin Technology Network story on "Next Generation" manufacturing grants available through the state Department of Commerce.
November 13, 2009
Click
here to find links to five presentations by speakers and panelists at the MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum, which was held Nov. 11-12 at Madison's Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. This conference, held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, attracted private equity investors from across the Midwest and beyond.
November 12, 2009
Click
here to watch the early November edition of "WisBusiness.com: The Show," a joint production of WisBusiness.com, the Wisconsin Technology Council and Tweedee Media. Liz Schrum delivers the WisBusiness news "stock report," Tom Still comments on the Mercury Marine incentive package and Tim Keane of the Marquette Golden Angels discusses investing and entrepreneurship. Sponsored by: Grant-Thornton and Madison Gas & Electric Co.
November 11, 2009
Three very young companies, all from outside Wisconsin, won the fifth annual Elevator Pitch Olympics Wednesday at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium. Read more about this rapid-fire event here in a story by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and here in the Wisconsin State Journal.
November 10, 2009
A Rice Lake company that provides community hospitals and clinics with diagnostic images pulled in a $3.35 million federal grant, making it the state's top recipient of such grants for the most recently completed reporting period. Read more about other top SBIR grant winners featured Tuesday night at the 2009 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium from the Journal Sentinel
here.
November 10, 2009
From fantasy sports software to advanced washroom technology, from drugs to treat alcohol addiction to high-tech running shoes. Those are among the products being pitched by young companies to potential investors at the Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace. Read more from The State Journal here.
November 6, 2009
MADISON – Still on the fence about coming to the fifth annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison? Here are 10 reasons to drop in Tuesday and Wednesday for one of the Midwest’s premier events for entrepreneurs.
November 6, 2009
Eso-Technologies Inc., the winner of the 2009 Governor's Business Plan contest, has closed on a $1 million round of financing, it was announced Friday. The company will be among presenters at next week's Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium and the MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum. Clich
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
November 4, 2009
MADISON – Investors from Wisconsin, the Midwest and beyond will take part as speakers, panelists and “Elevator Pitch Olympics” judges in the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
November 2, 2009
Click
here to read a profile on Chad Sorenson of Sologear, makers of the FlameDisk non-charcoal grilling fuel. Sorenson has been active in various Tech Council and Wisconsin Innovation Network forums, often helping advise other entrepreneurs.
November 1, 2009
Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story, headlined "Tech credits, loans luring entrepreneurial start-ups," that focuses on Wisconsin's investor tax credits program.
October 30, 2009
Click
here to watch the late October edition of “WisBusiness.com: The Show,” a joint news and commentary project of WisBusiness.com, the Wisconsin Technology Council and Tweedee Productions. This edition features the “WisBusiness.com” news stock report from Liz Schrum, an interview with serial entrepreneur Toni Sikes and a commentary on health-care reform by the Tech Council’s Tom Still. This edition is sponsored by the accounting firm of Grant Thornton.
October 28, 2009
Experts who have worked with early stage companies to secure federal grants or to gain access to technology developed in federal labs will speak at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
October 22, 2009
MADISON – The co-founder of Garage Technology Ventures will discuss the “Top 10 mistakes made in business plans” in a keynote speech at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
October 20, 2009
MADISON - While the majority of technology industry executives who responded to the most recent WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey still rate Wisconsin’s economy as poor (19.9 percent) or only fair (65.2 percent), perceptions about the state’s economy amongst those executives shifted positively from the second quarter to the third quarter.
October 16, 2009
Welcome to the debut of ``WisBusiness: The Show,'' a new twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues.
Today's show features the WisBusiness.com stock report, a commentary from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still on Minnesota's case of ``tech envy,'' and an interview with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President Jim Haney on the state's competitive future.
Click here to see the show, produced by Tweedee Media of Madison: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=173847
October 13, 2009
Forty early stage companies will present to potential investors at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
October 9, 2009
Cell phone Internet speeds could move into the fast lane within a few years, changing the way people get online, the president of AT&T Wisconsin said at the WIN-Milwaukee event on Thursday.
The wireless carrier plans to offer 4G, or fourth-generation technology, to boost Internet speed for mobile devices. Read more from the Journal Sentinel
here.
October 7, 2009
Prodesse, a Waukesha biotech firm, has been sold to Gen-Probe Inc. for $60 million. Prodesse will remain in Waukesha and Gen-Probe has said it plans to retain Prodesse's staff of 24. Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
October 6, 2009
RJA Dispersions LLC, a custom manufacturer of nano-particle and pigment dispersions for major original equipment manufacturing accounts worldwide, will relocate its operations to Hudson, Wis., from Maplewood, Minn., effective Nov. 1.
October 5, 2009
A top lawyer from Foley & Lardner, which is based in Milwaukee with offices nationwide, will become deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Click
here to read a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.
