‘Diligent Dozen’ selected to present live June 7 at Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference

Finalists representing diverse tech-based sectors in Wisconsin’s startup economy will present live to judges in the Governor’s Business Plan Contest during the 14^th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison.

The 13 contestants (the total includes one tie) have emerged from three rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council, which produces the contest in conjunction with its partners and sponsors. The contest began in late January with about 200 entries; about 3,350 entries have been received since the contest began in 2004.

This year’s finalists will deliver seven-minute pitches on their business ideas beginning 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, during the conference. Winners will be announced June 8 during a closing luncheon. To register for the conference at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center, visit www.WiTrepsConference.com.

Software and business service plans include systems and applications to authenticate and standardize bioactive compounds in foods and supplements; analyze water utilities’ real-time information; and remove compostable products.

Entries focused on social or educational innovations include platforms to track weightlifting performance data; vote and communicate with local government; and raise money for K-12 schools.

Manufacturing ideas include technologies for on-site treatment of industrial wastewater; a disposable nozzle for two-part adhesives; a three-dimensional metal printer to enable high resolution manufacturing within a large build volume; and an inflatable life jacket for water sports.

Health-related plans include a robotic-computed tomography device for equine veterinarians; anti-CRR9 antibodies to inhibit lung and pancreatic tumor growth and sensitize tumors to chemotherapy; and assay technologies enabling the prediction of clinical treatment response for multiple myeloma and other blood cancer patients.

Entries were submitted in four categories: Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology and Life Sciences.

Finalists submitted full business plans for review by a panel of more than 100 judges. Each plan describes the core product or service, defines the customer base, estimates the size of the market, identifies competition, describes the management team and provides key financial data.

Sponsors are contributing cash, office space, legal assistance, accounting, information technology consulting, marketing, prototyping, web design, event space and more. About $2.2 million in cash and in-kind prizes have been awarded since the inception of the contest in 2004.

Lead sponsors of the 2016 contest thus far include 3Rhino Media; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Co.; Ascendancy Advisors; AT&T; BizTimes; Madworks Co-working; Michael Best & Friedrich; Pieper Properties; Quarles & Brady; Racine Metal-Fab; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren; SCORE Wisconsin; University Research Park; Vertz Marketing; Ward4; Whitewater University Technology Park; and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Associate sponsors include 100state; Cresa Madison; Keane Consultants; Kinetic Compliance Solutions; Kollath CPA; Makin’ HEY Communications; Midwest Prototyping; Murphy Desmond; Neider & Boucher; Smith & Gesteland; and Wisconsin Public Radio. Additional sponsors are Aberdean Consulting; BizStarts; Bublrbikes; Evolution; EZ Office Supplies; Fine Point Consulting; Madison BCycle; Madison Gas & Electric; PowerBuy 4 You; Red Arrow Production; State of Wisconsin Investment Board; Summit Credit Union; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; and the Wisconsin Technical College System. To become a sponsor, contact Cassidy Wartenweiler at 608-442-7557.

The 2016 “Diligent Dozen” are listed below. Reporters wishing to contact individual contestants may do so through the Wisconsin Technology Council by calling 608-442-7557.