WIN Newsletter - September 2005
Welcome to the Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) eNewsletter for September 2005, a periodical of news, events and programs that focuses on the needs and challenges faced by new and growing technology-based businesses in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Innovation Network has chapters in the Chippewa Valley, Lake Superior Region, Madison, Milwaukee and Northeast Wisconsin. It is a non-profit subsidiary of the Wisconsin Technology Council, which works with organizations such as those listed (left) to enhance Wisconsin's technology development climate. Look below for upcoming WIN events.
Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium to stress "venture readiness" for emerging firms
The first Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Oct. 19-20 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, has evolved from the successful Wisconsin Life Sciences & Venture Conference, which served the state and Upper Midwest technology economy for 20 years. Its new name reflects the focus on early-stage company investments. The goal? To better prepare symposium companies to compete for regional and national capital. The symposium's Oct. 20th agenda will feature an instructional track for early-stage companies from a variety of technology sectors, as led by Courtney Price and Mack Davis of the Denver-based VentureQuest LTD. That would be followed by a final “Elevator Pitch Olympics,” scored by members of the investment community, for selected companies from that group. Read more about the conference.
Upcoming WIN events
Wisconsin Innovation Network events focus on the needs and challenges faced by new and growing technology-based businesses in Wisconsin. Over time, WIN events have effectively assisted companies in the areas of capital, networking, information, and business consultation referrals. If you have questions, contact Sally Muller, program director, at 608-442-7557x 22 or 1-888-443-5285. Watch for e-mail notices about upcoming WIN meetings in Milwaukee, the Fox Valley, Chippewa Valley, Madison and Lake Superior Region. Dean Michael Knetter will speak on the UW School of Business' mission and growth, what the national “rankings” of business schools really mean, and how the school is helping to build the Wisconsin economy. The event will be held at the Sheraton Inn, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison. The cost is $35 for non-WIN members and $25 for members. Lunch is provided with registration. ### MATC and business incubators: What’s the connection?
October 25, 2005 – WIN Madison, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Wisconsin Technical College System President Dan Clancy and Madison Area Technical College President Bettsey Barhorst will discuss Madison’s TEC Incubator and the relationship of MATC and the Wisconsin tech college system to our technology economy. The cost is $35 for non-WIN members and $25 for members. The event will be held at the Sheraton, 700 John Nolen Drive, Madison, and lunch is provided with registration.
"Power of Angel Investing" seminars set for October in Appleton, Menomonie and Madison
The Wisconsin Angel Network will present “Power of Angel Investing” seminars in three locations in October. The seminars – which will be modeled on the well-attended Milwaukee event in June – will be held Oct. 17 in the Fox Valley at the D.J. Bordini Center in Appleton, Oct. 18 in Western Wisconsin at the Phillips Origen Center in Menomonie, and Oct. 19 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center as a part of the Tech Council’s fall Early Stage Symposium (Oct. 19-20). The Power of Angel Investing seminar is a day-long program that is open to any accredited individual who is interested in angel investing. Admission price to a seminar includes admission to the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium. Please contact WAN director Joe Kremer (jkremer@wisconsinangelnetwork.com) with questions or go to www.wisconsinangelnetwork.com/events for more information and registration materials.
Regional Events Calendar
WEN workshop to explore federal funding resources
The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network is holding several workshops across the state to help young companies explore little-known but valuable federal funding sources. These sources can help in areas such as innovative product development or reducing business, technical and marketing risks. “Bringing your technological innovations to life” will be held beginning Sept. 27 in Eau Claire. The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be held at the UWEC Continuing Education Center. To register or for more information on other workshop dates and locations, visit www.wenportal.org ### Conference promotes ‘failure’ as a milestone to success
Turning past failures into a learning tool for future successes will be the subject of the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center’s Nov. 4-5 conference. The conference, held within the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater University Center, annually targets innovative manufacturers, technology entrepreneurs and independent inventors looking to advance their opportunities in business. Program Director Deb Malewicki said WISC has taken a unique approach to this year’s event, featuring a keynote panel of three innovative, successful entrepreneurs who will tell their business “tragedies.” “The idea is that if we want to continue to foster an entrepreneurial culture in Wisconsin, we need to create visibility for ‘failure is acceptable,’” Malewicki said. Craig Schiflebein of Paragon Development Systems, Jan Eddy of Wingra Technologies and Ralph Kauten of Quintessence will serve on the keynote panel. Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still will moderate. For more information or to register, contact Jeff Herman at hermannj@uww.edu ### Chicago hosts The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) Midwest Conference
The TiE Midwest organization will host a one-day seminar Oct. 1 for leading entrepreneurs to share ideas in business and innovation at the Chicago Hyatt Regency. Keynote speakers include: Ed Zander, CEO and chairman of Motorola Inc., who will discuss entrepreneurship in a “flat world”; and Deepak Jain, dean, Kellogg School of Management, who will define social entrepreneurship. Tech Council board member Kelly Hansen, president of Neohapsis, will serve on one of six panel discussions. TiE is a non-profit organization with 42 chapters in nine countries. ### UW Small Business Development Center hosts breakfastThe University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center is hosting a breakfast: "High hopes for high-tech companies," as part of the organization's goal to assist potential businesses. Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Mary Burke will introduce and moderate a panel of Wisconsin Entrepreneur Network (WEN) experts during an Economic Development Breakfast, Oct. 13, 2005, at the Univeristy Research Park, 510 Charmany Drive, Room 50, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The panel will discuss how WEN can serve Dane County and Wisconsin's high tech and emerging companies. ### The 7 Rivers Region is celebrating innovation and new product development with "Bootstrap," the first 7 Rivers Region Innovation Fair, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Omni Center in Onalaska.
Bootstrap will provide an arena for product scouts, lenders, investors, marketing professionals, production manufacturers, and service providers to meet inventors who are in various stages of taking products to market. The event adds links in the entrepreneurial network by matching needed resources to companies going to the next stage. Several organizations are collaborating to ensure the success of the fair, including Coulee Bank, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Entrepreneurship, the Juneau County Inventors and Entrepreneur’s Club, Wisconsin Innovation Service Center, Wisconsin Technology Council, Wisconsin Innovation Network, Western Wisconsin Technical College and the UW-La Crosse Small Business Development Center. For more information, visit www.uwsbdc.com/events
Wisconsin Academy sets season schedule
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters announced its Academy Evenings Forums series for the 2005-2006 season.The events take place regularly in the Overture Center for Performing Arts in Madison and at other locations around the state. These public forums can include presentations on a wide variety of topics. There are no events in November and December. UW professor speaks on infections diseases
Port O’Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Monday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Hear UW-Madison Medical School professor Dennis Maki talk about infectious diseases at home and abroad and their foreseeable impact on our future. Maki is a world-renowned specialist in infectious disease. The talk is a joint presentation of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse as part of the Academy's Academy Evening series. No tickets or registration are required, but seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Woman in the Boardrooms: Getting it right in Wisconsin
Overture Center, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Join Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton as she discusses how some Wisconsin businesses are big supporters of women and progress. Lawton wil also discuss her nonpartisan initiative "Wisconsin Women + Prosperity." For more information please visit www.wisconsinacademy.org.
Third Annual Wisconsin Digital Government Summit takes shape
Don't miss an opportunity to see the latest in government solutions at the Wisconsin Digital Government Summit. The event will take place at Monona Community and Convention Center in Madison on Nov. 29, 2005. You'll network with key government executives, technologists and industry specialists about current policy issues. The registration fee is $25 for government employees. To learn more or to register, contact Liese Brunner at 1-800-917-7732. Read more about the summit.
Tech Council offers new online service
The Wisconsin Technology Council has teamed with PropertyDrive, an online commercial listing service, to provide a searchable database of commercial real estate on the Tech Council website. This new feature will allow technology companies looking to locate or expand in Wisconsin the ability to search a wide variety of space for lease, buildings for sale and land for sale Please go to www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com and click on Resource Center, Commercial Property Search.
Air service to Atlanta improves
The addition of twice-daily non-stop service from the Dane County Regional Airport to Atlanta and from the Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay to Atlanta will strengthen links for Madison and Green Bay's technology community to academic, government and private technology resources, Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still. “Atlanta is home to the federal Centers for Disease Control, Georgia Tech University and literally thousands of IT and life sciences companies. Our technologists, researchers and business leaders will benefit from quicker connections to Atlanta and the southeast United States,” Still said. Read more about the new service.
IT Association of Wisconsin recently formed
The Information Technology Association of Wisconsin (ITAW) was recently organized and is the first statewide organization focused on the needs and requirements of the IT sector.
In Wisconsin, firms who depend upon IT for their success and firms who create IT products and services generate more than $14 billion in revenue, with more than 55,000 employees, in economic centers spanning the state. Increasingly, the state’s IT sector serves as a critical technology enabler for industries like biotechnology, medical devices, financial services and manufacturing. ITAW is the result of more than 18 months of research and planning by a cross section of IT sector members, consultants, and venture capitalists all with a deep experience base and commitment to the success of the IT sector.
Come join the fun at the High Tech Happy Hour
Network with colleagues and meet new friends at the High Tech Happy Hour next Thursday, Sept. 29 at J.T. Whitney's Pub and Brewery, 674 S. Whitney Way in Madison. This month’s High Tech Happy Hour is sponsored by IMS http://www.ims.net/
An iPod Shuffle will be given away along with other great prizes in a free raffle drawing. Take advantage of this great opportunity to socialize and network with people in the high tech field! For more information visit www.hthh.org
TechBytes
- Tom Still, Wisconsin Technology Council president, recently released a book co-authored by Brent Haglund, titled "Hands-On Environmentalism." Visit www.encounterbooks.com for more info.
- The Wisconsin Angel Network (WAN) will be holding seminars on Act 255 Early Stage Investment Tax Credits at various locations around the state. For the most current information on location and time, please visit the WAN website at: www.wisconsinangelnetwork.com/events.
- The Tech Council Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting in La Crosse at Piggy's Restaurant on Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wisconsin Technology Council Board member Tom Hefty was recently nominated to serve as interim county executive for Waukesha County.
Benefits expand for WIN Members
Your membership with the Wisconsin Innovation Network is rewarding. It includes:
- Discounted registration at the Oct. 19-20 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
- WIN luncheon, event and sponsorship opportunities.
- Your subscription to the WIN eNewsletter.
- Subscription discounts and/or advertising opportunities for publications such as the Wisconsin Technology Network, WisBusiness.com, The Business Journal, the Small Business Times and the Capital Region Business Journal.
- Access to other WIN members and their expertise.
- Opportunities to be listed in our online Resource directory.
- Monthly educational and networking events.
- Discounts from selected vendors. For example, the Tech Council and Aberdean Inc., a Madison-based IT consulting and management firm, have reached an agreement to provide strategic technical services consulting to eligible WIN members at a discounted rate. Dependent upon your membership level, eligible WIN members may be able to receive up to a 25 percent discount for technical services. Some complimentary services are also expected to be available. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jenine Lacson at Aberdean (608) 204-9620 or jenine.lacson@aberdean.com
- Discounts for educational classes. The UW-Madison College of Engineering is offering its all-new Thermostat Molding Conference this fall to bring together plastics industry representatives and customers to consider effective practices and the latest information on materials development, design innovations and manufacturing advancements. Each half-day track will feature cutting-edge topics and case studies
Wisconsin Technology Council Newsroom
Wisconsin Technology Council Newsroom The Wisconsin Technology Council News Room provides “real-time” 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. Be sure to also visit these news sources: - Inside Wisconsin
Tech Council President Tom Still writes weekly columns on technology, business and politics for more than 20 Wisconsin publications. - The Wisconsin Technology Network, which reports on life sciences, biotechnology, and information technology in Wisconsin along with clusters and corridors throughout the Midwest www.wistechnology.com
- WisBusiness.com www.wisbusiness.com
- Small Business Times www.smallbiztimes.com
- The UW Business News Wire www.corprelations.wisc.edu/buswire/
- The State Science and Technology Institute Weekly Digest, which lists funding opportunities, state and federal program changes, congressional activities and the latest studies and reports. www.ssti.org
- The Capital Region Business Journal, distributed monthly in south-central Wisconsin. www.madison.com/crbj/
- The Business Journal, www.bizjournals.com/
Sign up for WTN Newsletter
Wisconsin Technology Network is a life sciences and information technology news source that reaches a wide variety of people in the science and tech industry. WTN networks the people and ideas that drive the advancement of technology and life sciences in Wisconsin. Researchers, entrpreneurs and investors are part of the WTN community. To sign up for the free news source delivered to your email, please sign up at www.wistechnology.com
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