Twenty-three entries from 15 communities are competing in the finalist round of the fifth annual Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest.

The contestants have survived two rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council, which is producing the contest in conjunction with its membership subsidiary, the Wisconsin Innovation Network, the Wisconsin Angel Network and other statewide affiliates. The contest began in late January with about 250 entries statewide.

Some of the biggest names in private equity investing as well as Wisconsin entrepreneurs who went from start-up to success will speak at the sixth annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference.

Mark your calendar for the 2008 Wisconsin Entrepreneur's Conference, to be held June 9-10 at the Hyatt Regency, 333 W. Kilbourn, Milwaukee.

Major speakers and panelists include:

• David Brophy, director of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
• G. Steven Burrill, Burrill & Co. (nearly $1 billion in assets under management)
• Craig Culver, Culver Franchising System (more than 370 restaurants nationwide)
• John May, Angel Capital Association (North America's alliance of angel groups)
• Sue Strommer, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (8,000 innovation capital professionals)
• Anne Zizzo, Zizzo Group Advertising and Public Relations ($40-million in annual billings)

Other highlights include:

• Exclusive forums for investors, such as the I-Q Corridor Investors' Forum and the "First Look" forum, which feature pre-commercialization technology from Wisconsin academic research institutions
• The Ken Hendricks Memorial "Seize the Day" award
• The fifth annual Governor's Business Plan Contest awards, which will honor 23 finalists with $200,000 in cash and in-kind prizes
• Hands-on panel discussions, dozens of exhibits and a wealth of networking opportunities

The first Wisconsin Biofuels Destiny conference drew 120 people to the UW-Stevens Point campus for a discussion of the state's role in biofuels research and production.

• Wisconsin didn't have an ethanol plant six years ago; there were nine as of April 2008. Wisconsin may produce 500 million gallons of ethanol in 2008.
• Wisconsin can be a leader in cellulosic ethanol because of its forest cover (16 million acres out of 34.7 million total), its existing paper and pulp industries, and its experience in managing this resource.
• The UW-Madison, the UW System and Michigan State University recently received a five-year, $130-million grant to find new and better ways to produce cellulosic ethanol. This grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is one of only three in the United States.
• Shell and Virent Energy Systems of Madison recently announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline-blend components, rather than ethanol. The collaboration could herald the availability of new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines. This could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.

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:

Have you or your business drawn on the resources of the UW-Madison, UW-Extension or other UW System campuses in the past six months?

Last issue we asked:
Given recent economic reports, have you modified your personal or business spending habits?

46% of voters said "Not at all"
31% of voters said "Only a little"
23% of voters said "Yes, a great deal"

Digital Healthcare Conference 2008, May 7-8, Madison

Angel Capital Association Summit, May 7-9, San Diego, CA

I-Q Corridor Central Business and Investors' Forum remote conference, May 20, Madison, UW-River Falls

2008 Manufacturing Advantage Conference, May 21, UW-Stout

eHealth Implementation Summit, June 12, Madison

2008 BIO International Convention, June 17-20, San Diego, CA

Wisconsin Technology Council Board of Directors meeting,
July 15, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., CenturyTel, La Crosse; Requests to host a future meeting may be directed to Ryann Petit-Frere at ryannp@wisconsintechnolog ycouncil.com

Lake Superior Technology Conference, August 6-7, Ashland, WI

2008 Resource Rendezvous, September 28, Marshfield

Midwest U.S. - Japan Association Conference, September 7, Milwaukee

2008 World Stem Cell Summit, September 22-23, Madison

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.