Welcome to the Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) eNewsletter for May 2005, a monthly 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.

Questions or ideas? Contact Sally Muller at sallym@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com

Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference fast approaching

The third annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference will be held June 7-8 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, 333 W. Kilbourn. Winners of the 2005 Governor’s Business Plan Contest will be announced, and more than 20 panels and speakers will address the needs of entrepreneurs in high-growth businesses (see below.) A tentative agenda and registration information are posted on the Tech Council website. Be sure to register soon!

Entrepreneurs’ Conference features well-known speakers Speakers headlining the conference include:

• Milwaukee native Kay Koplovitz, who founded USA Networks and co-founded Springboard Enterprises and other ventures, will speak during a June 7th luncheon at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee. She co-authored her first book, Bold Women, Big Ideas, to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs. The book includes a chapter on the Wisconsin entrepreneurs behind the start-up of ioGenetics and Gala Design.
• Author and futurist Joel Kotkin, who recently praised Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial economy in an article written for Inc. magazine, will speak June 8th at a luncheon at the Conference. Kotkin is the author of the May 1, 2005, article in on "The Best Places for Doing Business in America 2005," which examined 274 population centers and ranked their economies. Greater Milwaukee jumped more than 100 places, to No. 66, this year—one of several Wisconsin areas that are making the state an anomaly in the Midwest. Wisconsin has three metro areas in the top 40, more than the rest of the Midwest combined.

Announcements about other conference speakers will be made soon.

Register here

Business Plan winners will be revealed at Entrepreneurs Conference

The 2005 Governor’s Business Plan Contest Grand Prize winner will be awarded $50,000 on June 7, 2005, during a gala Awards and Dinner ceremony. Governor Jim Doyle has been invited to distribute the awards. Twenty-three contestants are vying for prizes totaling more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind gifts.

The Tech Council would like to thank the sponsors of the Governor’s Business Plan Contest who donated cash prizes: The state Department of Commerce, Mason Wells Private Equity, American Transmission Co., the law firm of Michael, Best & Friedrich, Madison Gas & Electric, J.P. Cullen & Sons, the law firm of Axley Brynelson, Cory L. Nettles of the Quarles and Brady law firm, the architectural firm of Potter Lawson, The Boldt Company, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

In-kind sponsors who have donated professional time and/or services or office/lab rental space include the law firm of Foley & Lardner, Kegonsa Seed Fund and Fitchburg Technology Campus, University Research Park, the accounting firm of Smith & Gesteland, the Wisconsin Technology Network, and Loughrin Tax & Accounting Services.

To attend the Awards Dinner:
Register here

“Seize the Day” award recognizes entrepreneurial persistence

The recipient of the “Seize the Day” award will be announced at the June 7-8 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee. The award is given to an individual, or team, that has sustained the growth of one or more businesses through their ability to seize opportunities and marshal forces to make progress amidst uncertainty. This is not an award for technical innovation, but for pervasive innovation, the kind that translates into business opportunity. The award is presented by the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Innovation Network, and U.S. Patent Services.

Last year’s recipient was Donald J. Weber, chairman of Logistics Health Inc., in La Crosse, whose story of highs and lows on his entrepreneurial journey offered one of the most poignant and touching moments at the 2004 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.

The Wisconsin Technology Council has raised the curtain on a newly revamped web site that will be home to all Tech Council and WIN activities. The website went “live” April 15 and offers resources for the community as well as WIN members.

Please visit:
www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com

Exploring biotech ties with Japan is topic of June 3 briefing

Exploring biotech ties with Japan is topic of June 3 briefing

Wisconsin biotech and life sciences firms interested in exploring business opportunities in Japan may attend a June 3 briefing sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization and eight Wisconsin co-sponsors.

“Connecting Wisconsin biotech with Japan” will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 3, in Room 50 of the MG&E Innovation Center at University Research Park, 510 Charmany Drive. The event is free, but registration is requested at http://www.jetro.org/registration/eb

Speakers will include Takashi Tsuchiya, chief executive officer of JETRO Chicago, and other JETRO representatives; Wisconsin biotech executives Deven McGlenn of NeoClone Biotechnology, Harry Burrell of Lucigen Corp. and Paul Radspinner of Deltanoid Pharmaceuticals; Dmitriy Vinarov of the UW-Madison Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics; Allen Dines of the UW-Madison Office of Corporation Relations; and Tom Still of the Wisconsin Technology Council.

Registration opens at 1:30 p.m., the program opens at 2 p.m., and a networking reception begins at 4:30 p.m.

Benefits expand for WIN Members

Your membership with the Wisconsin Innovation Network is rewarding.

Last month, you should have received a free subscription to the Capital Region Business Journal, a new business publication produced by the Wisconsin State Journal. Email us if you would like to be added to the circulation list.

The new Business Journal will cover regional and promises to be newsy and analytical, while offering more hard data about regional economic indicators. If you would like to advertise in the Capital Region Business Journal, please e-mail jandruss@capitalnewspapers.com or call 608-252-6366.

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In addition, the Wisconsin Technology 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.

The Wisconsin Angel Network (WAN) has launched its website, www.wisconsinangelnetwork.com, with the introduction of a resource page for angel investors. The page offers links to various sources of information specific to early-stage investing, including starting an angel network, network best practices, investment trends, seed-stage research, angel tax credits and news sources.

This is the first step in the creation of a web-portal for the angel investor community, including a deal flow pipeline that will funnel entrepreneurial deals to investors. The pipeline will be operational and populated with business plan executive summaries on June 1, in time for the June 7-8 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee. Visit the website for instructions on how to post your executive summary.

WAN has also recently hired its first intern, Brent Newport. Newport is currently earning his MBA from the UW-Madison’s School of Business Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship program.

Federal funding ‘Update’ to follow Entrepreneur’s Conference

Registrants for the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference are invited to attend the “WISPRO: Federal Funding Update” seminar immediately following the conclusion of the conference on Wednesday, June 8, at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.

General admission is $100; faculty and student admission is $60. A combined registration fee of $190 is available for Entrepreneur Conference attendees who want to stay for the federal funding seminar. You may register at www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com

The seminar is sponsored by the Wisconsin Procurement Institute. Workshops will focus on issues in federal accounting, legal issues and responding to an SBIR/STTR solicitation. Speakers and panelists include Connie Jacobs from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Amy Ballentine from the NASA Garrett Morgan Initiative, Dr. David Macarus from the Environmental Protection Agency, Terry Maynard from Argonne National Labs, Kevin Kelbel from the accounting firm of Smith & Gesteland, Kristine Strodthoff from the law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, Dr. Brian Curry and Dr. James Antzak from TechStar.

For more information, contact Aina Vilumsons at ainav@wispro.org or at 414-270-3601