The 2013 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium attracted more than 550 attendees over two days. Thanks to all who participated!

2013 Post-conference materials:

  • View downloadable photos of presenters, exhibitors and speakers here.
  • Watch a slideshow of conference photos here.
  • Read a comprehensive list of media coverage below.

State Journal: Pitching for investors at the Elevator Pitch Olympics

From companies with back pain solutions to live golf scores to crowdsourced beer, entrepreneurs gave it their best shot Wednesday at the Elevator Pitch Olympics in Madison. The event capped the two-day Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace and featured 16 young companies. Each had 90 seconds — about the time it can take to ride up an elevator in a tall, Wall Street-type building — to sum up their mission and lure investors into taking a longer look.

Journal Sentinel: American Family Insurance touted for involvement in startup scene 

American Family Insurance is leading the way among state companies in terms of its involvement in Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial scene, a State of Wisconsin Investment Board portfolio manager said Wednesday.

State Journal: Elevator Pitch Olympics photo gallery 

See pictures of the ninth annual Elevator Pitch Olympics, held Nov. 6 at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison.

WisBusiness: Improving economy boosts attendance at state startup event 

More than 525 people took part in the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium at the Monona Terrace Conference Center on Tuesday, up from 488 last year, organizers said. Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, attributed the increased number of attendees at the annual matchmaking event for investors and nascent companies to a slowly improving economy and a broader range of technologies.

WisBusiness: Companies seeking investors find stage at Early Stage Symposium 

More than 45 early stage companies spanning products as diverse as medical devices, dairy products, a portable jet ski and a diesel aircraft engine presented to potential investors and others during the 2013 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

State Journal: Investors get the hot seat at the Early Stage Symposium 

Entrepreneurs grilled investors and judged their performances in a lively role-reversal session at the Early Stage Symposium on Tuesday at Monona Terrace. The two-day conference, highlighting some of the area’s promising young companies and letting them make a pitch to an audience of investors, turned the tables at one of the breakout sessions.

Journal Sentinel: George Mosher to be inducted into Investor Hall of Fame 

George Mosher, who has invested $20 million in about 150 young companies since selling National Business Furniture, will be inducted Monday night into the Wisconsin Investor Hall of Fame. Mosher will be honored during a dinner with about 50 angel and venture capital investors. The dinner kicks off the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, which takes place in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday.

State Journal: Early Stage Symposium to showcase startups, from milk to jet skis 

Twenty-eight up-and-coming companies — about half from the Madison area — will have a chance to bend the ears of investors Nov. 5-6 at the Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace.

Journal Sentinel: Startup Alithias Inc. gets a boost from big business 

In the struggle for sales that is at the heart of every start-up, Alithias Inc. has been helped by a surprising number of much bigger companies. At least seven established companies in Wisconsin have funded beta testing or become early customers of the Milwaukee maker of health care price and quality information software programs. As a result, Alithias has been able to develop its software more quickly, said Ross Bjella, the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer.

State Journal: 28 businesses selected to make presentations to investors 

Twenty-eight companies in industries including medical devices, health care information technology and dairy products have been chosen to make presentations at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison Nov. 5-6.

Madison Startups: TechStars co-founder speaks at ESS

TechStars Co-Founder Brad Feld discussed topics ranging from investing to communities during the opening keynote at the annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium Tuesday at the Monona Terrace.

Madison Startups: ESS panel provides investment update

More investment capital is on the horizon, according to “Emerging Funds” panelists at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium Wednesday at the Monona Terrace.

State Journal: Would SXSW work in Wisconsin?

Out-of-state investors shared advice and offered encouragement to Wisconsin entrepreneurs at a session of the Early Stage Symposium at Monona Terrace on Nov. 5.