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
western Wisconsin,
the Lake Superior Region, Madison,
Milwaukee and
Northeast and Central Wisconsin.
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Gov. Doyle, Commerce Secretary Leinenkugel and Virent's Apfelbach to speak at Early Stage Symposium
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*Eric Apfelbach, the president and
CEO of Virent Energy Systems, will speak
during dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
*Gov. Jim Doyle and Wisconsin
Department of Commerce Secretary
Richard J. Leinenkugel will speak the
morning of Thursday, Nov. 6.
Doyle has made development of
Wisconsin's tech-based economy a priority
since first taking office in January 2003.
He
supported the passage of Wisconsin's
investor tax credits in 2004, as well as the
creation of the Wisconsin Angel Network and
the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network.
Leinenkugel took office as
Commerce secretary in late September. He
is a fifth-generation member of the family
that founded Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing
Co., one of Wisconsin's iconic breweries.
Before joining Commerce, he was vice
president of sales and marketing for
Leinenkugel, as well as group manager for
specialty and craft brands at Miller Brewing
Co. Apfelbach is a homegrown
entrepreneur who has raised more than $80
million in angel and venture capital for his
companies and a lead investor of the largest
venture capital firm based in Southern
California. He is transitioning out of
his role at Virent and may start a
new venture capital fund to support
engineered technology solutions.
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Tom Still - Join us next week for the 2008 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
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Click here to watch an
on-demand, two-minute overview of what to
expect at this year's conference by Tom Still,
president of the Wisconsin Technology
Council.
To register for the conference, click here.
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New Tech Council publication reports boost in private investment in Wisconsin
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The Tech Council has published 'The
Wisconsin Portfolio,' a 16-page magazine
describing the private equity investment
landscape in Wisconsin. The publication,
which tracks recent trends and includes
valuable information on angel investing,
venture capital investments and more, is
available at the Tech Council website.
Printed
copies are available for $6 each by
contacting Gina Leahy.
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Tech Council Activity Update
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*
The Tech Council will launch a youth version
of its successful Governor's Business Plan
Contest. Thanks to a grant from the Madison
Community Foundation, the Dane
County
YES (Youth Entrepreneurs in Science)
will
be open to high-school students in Dane
County beginning in January 2009. This
online contest will encourage high-school
students to submit business plans for two
stages of judging. Look for contest guidelines
in December.
*
The Tech Council has also received a grant
from the Kern Family Foundation to conduct
a half-dozen town hall meetings around
the
state, each emphasizing the
importance of
science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) education to the academic and
business community. A list of locations will
be released soon.
*
The
I-Q Corridor brand continues to gain
traction. Organizations, institutions and
businesses
throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois
have adopted this Upper Midwest brand and
are using it to
promote our region. The Tech Council invites
you to visit our site and do the
same.
*
The Tech Council is providing input to
state policymakers as they consider
workforce development strategies.
Still is co-chairman of the state Department
of Public Instruction's "Next Generation
Assessment Task Force," and
recently facilitated a discussion of the
PK-16 Collaboration Council's discussion on
higher education readiness.
*
The 2008-09 Tech Council
white paper series focuses on human
capital, workforce development and
technology development issues. The policy
recommendations are submitted to
the Governor and the Legislature every even
year.
* She got hitched! WIN director, Liz
Katz, is
now Liz Schrum. Email her at
lschrum@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.
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Did you know?
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Fast facts about Wisconsin's high-tech economy
News about Wisconsin metropolitan
statistical areas from
'2008 The
Wisconsin Metropolitan Area Outlook,'
produced by the
Wisconsin Department of Revenue:
- Employment in Wisconsin's metropolitan
counties made up 72.3 percent of the
workforce in 2007 and 71.8 percent of total
state personal income.
- Metro areas forecasted to not see a
decline in employment growth, but rather a
slow in employment growth, include Eau
Claire, Green Bay and Madison.
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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:
Business owners, this survey is for you.
The reader poll question of the month
is...
Is your company currently seeking funding or
planning to do so within the next year?
Last month we asked readers to participate
in the Next Generation Manufacturing Survey,
which is being conducted by the Wisconsin
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
and its partners. The survey is now closed.
An analysis of key findings will be published
in December 2008. Thank you to those who
participated.
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Events and Opportunities
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Wisconsin Early Stage
Symposium,
November 5-6, Madison
Innovation Master
Class,
November 11, Madison, WI
Transportation
Development Association Funding
Forum,
November 12-13, Madison, WI
Pantheon Ceremony
2008,
November 13, San Francisco, CA
Global Entrepreneurship
Week,
November 17-23
State Economic
Development in Recessionary
Times,
November 18, Milwaukee, WI
E3 2008 Premier Energy,
Economic & Environmental
Conference,
November 18, St. Paul, MN
Pre-Clinical
101,
November 19, St. Louis Park, MN
Global Business Incubation
Day, December 8
SPONSOR YOUR NEXT REGIONAL WIN
MEETING! WIN has six chapters across
Wisconsin. Click
here or
contact WIN director,
Liz Schrum(formerly Katz), to
learn more!
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Get WIN-volved! Membership has its benefits
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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.
Welcome to this new
WIN member:David Scholtens,
Madison Development Corp.
Click here to join your
local WIN Chapter or to learn more about us.
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