The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest - the nation's first statewide, tech-based business plan competition - is accepting entries online for the 2008 competition. Entries will be accepted now through 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2008. The contest's Grand Prize is worth $50,000 in cash and services.

For their initial entry, contestants will submit 250-word idea abstracts online at www.govsbizplancontest.com. Contestants who advance to subsequent contest rounds will have the opportunity to expand their plan or idea. More than 60 judges drawn from the finance, sales, marketing, research and specific technology sectors will score the entries and provide feedback.

Since its inception in 2004, more than 1,000 entries have been received and nearly $650,000 in cash and in-kind prizes has been awarded. In 2007, 12 finalists won cash prizes...

443 - People who registered for at least one event at the conference. Thank you for attending!

59 - Companies that applied to present in either the WAN track or the EPO.

47 - Angel or venture capitalists from five states who attended the conference.

58 - Speakers and panelists over two days.

21 - Presenters in the Wisconsin Angel Network investor presentation tracks. ACCREDITED INVESTORS: Contact Joe Kremer, WAN, to see video presentations from Wisconsin companies.

51 - Wisconsin companies honored for receiving federal research and development grants.

$33.7 million - Total value of the federal R&D grants received by those companies.

3 - Winners out of 15 presenters in the "Elevator Pitch Olympics." Brian Hans of Appleton, CJ Schmidt of DePere and Mike Miller of Madison.

36 - Exhibits in the Grand Terrace at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

378 and nearly 1,000 -- Drinks and hors d'oeuvres served at the Tuesday night reception.

46 - Conference sponsors. Thank you for making it all possible!

Mary Bell, president, Wisconsin Education Association Council

Sen. Robert Cowles, 2nd Senate district - Green Bay

Fred Evert, executive director, WEA Insurance Trust

Jack Fischer, secretary, Wisc. Department of Commerce

Bill Hickey, director, Phillips Plastics Corp. Technology Center

Lorrie Keating-Heinemann, secretary, Wisc. Department of Financial Institutions

Mark Miller, chief executive officer, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

Rep. Jennifer Shilling, 95th Assembly District - La Crosse

Brian Thompson, president, UWM Research Foundation

Tom Still looks like a journalist yet. Rolled oxford sleeves, hands clasped behind his head, chair tipped back as far as it will go, brow knotted in thought, he sits buried beneath stacks of newspapers and books, including his own, Hands on Environmentalism. His rich voice sounds distinctly Washingtonian, a throwback to his days growing up in the D.C. suburb that is Alexandria, Virginia...

• Last month, The Business Journal of Milwaukee covered the release of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's quarterly report titled, Wisconsin Economic Outlook. The report showed signs of solid economic growth, increased employment rates and improvements in personal income percentages in the state. Click here to read the report.

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:

Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) events covering topics ranging from connecting with investors to entrepreneurial success stories to information on emerging Wisconsin technologies.

What topics would you like to see covered at your regional WIN chapter in 2008?

Last issue we asked:
How strong of an effort are Wisconsin academic institutions making to 'grow and harvest' the next generation of entrepreneurs?
9% said very strong / 18% said strong / 27% said moderate / 9% said weak / 36% said very weak

Wisconsin Technology Council Board of Directors meeting,
January 8, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., We Energies Headquarters, Milwaukee; Requests to host a future meeting may be directed to Ryann Petit-Frere at ryannp@wisconsintechnologyco uncil.com

2008 Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon, January 22, Monona Terrace, Madison

2008 Green Manufacturing Summit, January 29, Milwaukee

Building Value and Driving Profits, April 14-16, UW-Madison

MHTA networking event: Advocacy and the MN Legislature, February 19, Minneapolis

Digital Healthcare Conference 2008, May 7-8, Madison

2008 Manufacturing Advantage Conference, May 21, UW-Stout

SPONSOR YOUR NEXT REGIONAL WIN MEETING! WIN has six chapters across Wisconsin. Click here or contact WIN director, Liz Katz, to learn more!

Opportunities for Wisconsin companies:
Contact Ryann Petit-Frere to learn more.
1. The UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication is seeking Madison-area companies with unpaid-internship availability for undergraduate and graduate students skilled in marketing, writing, graphic design and more. Students taught by Tom Still, former associate editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, are available from early February through mid-May for an average of five hours per week.
2. Calling all Wisconsin companies to be the subject of a profile that may be published on WisBusiness.com, a news site visited by 12,000 visitors per month. Some company profiles will also be published on the Wisconsin Angel Network website and newsletter. All stories are written by students and edited by Still.

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.