The Wisconsin
Innovation
Network (WIN)
eNewsletter
is a periodical of news, events and
programs that
focuses on the needs and challenges faced
by new
and growing technology-based businesses
in
Wisconsin. WIN has chapters in the
Chippewa Valley,
the Lake Superior Region, Madison,
Milwaukee and
Northeast and Central Wisconsin.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the
2007 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
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The annual Wisconsin Early Stage
Symposium will be held Nov. 14-15 at the
Monona Terrace Community and
Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive,
Madison. Registration information can be
found at
www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
Symposium highlights will include:
Nationally known speakers:
- Jeff Wacker, director of strategy and
futurist, EDS (Electronic Data Systems),
Plano, Texas
- Mark Lee, four-time space shuttle
astronaut and engineer; managing engineer
for the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
project
Presentations to investors by
selected companies seeking $500,000 to $2
million. Watch for details on how to apply to
present or visit the Tech Council's web site.
Elevator Pitch Olympics for early
stage companies seeking under $500,000 in
capital. Details on how to apply are on the
web site.
VentureQuest venture readiness "boot
camp" for companies beginning the
search for capital. This popular seminar was
also held in 2005 and 2006.
SBIR-STTR awards dinner for
winners of Wisconsin federal Small
Business Innovation Research awards in
the latest year.
Panel discussions on what
investors look for, company management
tips, "success stories" and more.
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Tech-based economic development items in the state budget
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Wisconsin lawmakers continue to debate
the state's 2007-2009 budget bill, which
includes a number of provisions of interest
to the tech community. The budget is now in
the hands of a "conference committee,"
made up of Democratic and Republican
leaders from both the Senate and the
Assembly. Those leaders will resolve
differences in budget items contained in four
versions of the $57-billion document: The
governor's proposal, the Joint Finance
Committee recommendations; the Senate
bill and the Assembly bill.
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Welcome: Liz Katz -- new WIN director
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The Wisconsin Technology Council,
Wisconsin Innoation Network and
Wisconsin Angel Network are pleased to
welcome the newest
member of our team: Liz Katz.
Katz's prior experience includes a
successful sales background coupled with
executive marketing, advertising and sales
niche recruiting. She was an executive
search consultant for Lucas Group, the
search firm in partnership with the Wall
Street Journal, and a senior account
manager - sales, for a highly regarded B2B
sales organization.
Katz looks forward to growing and
enhancing WIN, as she builds long term
relationships with individuals and companies
throughout the state. She is dedicated to
ensuring networking and educational
opportunities are available and beneficial for
entrepreneurs and innovators looking to
grow their businesses in the
knowledge-based economy.
She can be contacted at
lkatz@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
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Did you know?
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Fast facts about Wisconsin's high-tech economy
- Wisconsin moved up seven places
in the 2007 "State New Economy Index"
published August 22 by the State
Science
and Technology Institute in
Westerville,
Ohio. Wisconsin ranked 30th among the 50
states overall, compared to 37th in 2002.
Only four states (Alaska, Nebraska, Rhode
Island and North Dakota) show more
upwards movement in the rankings. Top half
categories for Wisconsin among SSTI's 26
categories were: Manufacturing value-
added, high-wage traded services, package
exports, "gazelle jobs," entrepreneurial
activity, inventor patents, online population,
technology in schools, online agriculture and
industry investment in
R&D.
- On August 1, the
Wisconsin
Health and Educational Facilities
Authority completed a $56.26
million bond
issue for Beloit College. The bonds will
finance a new Center for the Sciences,
which will consolidate the college's Science
program into one building while providing
additional classroom space for other
disciplines.
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WIN eNewsletter Reader Poll
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Reader Poll is the newest feature of the WIN
eNewsletter! Share your thoughts by voting
and view
the responses of others.
Reader Poll question of the month:
How strong of an effect will Wisconsin's
new federal biofuels research center have
on the state's tech-based economy?
Last month we asked:
Based on what you know, how would you
rate the overall strength of Wisconsin's
economy?
0% said very strong / 14% said strong /
50% said moderate / 29% said weak / 7%
said very weak
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Events and Opportunities
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The
First Step for Starting a Technology
Business, Sept. 6,
UW-MadisonBIO Mid-America
VentureForum, September
24-26, Milwaukee Ideas
to Profits Conference, Sept. 28,
UW-Whitewater I-Q
Corridor Investors' Symposium,
Oct. 3, UW-River Falls Wisconsin Technology
Council Board of Directors
meeting,
October 9, 9 a.m. -
2 p.m., Logistics Health Innovation, Inc., La
Crosse; Requests to host a future
meeting may be directed to Ryann Petit-
Frere at
ryannp@wisconsintechnologyco
uncil.com
Wisconsin Early Stage
Symposium, November 14-15,
Madison, WI
Mark your calendars! This
year's conference features the return of
the Elevator Pitch Olympics
and "VentureQuest." Promote your
community event on the Tech Council
website by visiting www.wisconsintechnologyc
ouncil.com/events/community
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Get WIN-volved! Membership has its privileges
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Joining your local Wisconsin Innovation
Network (WIN)
Chapter offers networking connections with
a variety
of industries and professionals in high tech,
law,
banking, government, public relations,
manufacturing,
and local entrepreneurs. Your next
client/customer/partner is only "six degrees
of
separation" away.
Click here to
join your local WIN
Chapter or to learn more about us.
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