More than 30 early stage venture funds, angel networks and “super-angels” will meet with young companies during the “Investor Intros” track at the annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 15-16 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

Along with two other presentation tracks, Investor Intros is open to companies and entrepreneurs that register for the conference and apply for a chance to tell their stories to investors. It’s essentially a “speed-dating” session in which companies will spend about seven minutes with interested investors.

The deadline for companies to apply for the Tech Council Investor Network track, the Elevator Pitch Olympics and Investor Intros is 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2. Instructions for how to apply for all or a mix of the investor presentation opportunities are found at www.wisearlystage.com.

Investor groups or “super-angels” who will meet with companies during Investor Intros include: 30 Ventures, AmFam Ventures, Baird Capital, Bascom Ventures, BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Capital Midwest Fund, CMFG Ventures, gener8tor, Golden Angels Ventures, Harbor Street Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Hyde Park Ventures, Idea Fund of La Crosse, Inventure Capital, Lancaster Investments, Lewis & Clark Ventures, M25 Group, MDC Corp, Meridian Street Capital, N29 Capital Partners, NEW Capital Fund, NM Future Ventures, PharmaSeek Companies, Rock River Capital Partners, Stateline Angels, Symphony Alpha Ventures, TASC, Venture Investors, Winnebago Seed Fund, Wisconsin Investment Partners and WISC Partners.

“More investor groups are expected to take part as we draw closer to the conference,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Those same investors will be among those who observe the main presentation track and who judge the Elevator Pitch Olympics.”

Here is more detail on the three company forums:

Tech Council Investors Network Track – Wednesday, Nov. 15:

These tracks will feature more than 20 companies from the Midwest representing an array of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, medical device and mobile application sectors.

Companies selected will have many opportunities to interest investors: a five-minute presentation, networking receptions, an executive summary published in the investor-only program and an opportunity to exhibit where investors may speak directly to presenting companies. Selected companies will also be invited to participate in a pre-conference practice session with a group of mentors.

Elevator Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 16:

Companies or entrepreneurs selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics will give a 90-second pitch in front of conference attendees and a panel of six to eight investors. The investors will score the presenter on a scale of 1 to 5, focusing on whether the pitch was compelling enough to arrange a follow-up meeting, and will offer immediate feedback.

About 15 companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been companies just forming, seeking a smaller investment round or planning to do so within the next year.

Investor Intros – Thursday, Nov. 16:

Returning this year are the Investor Intros. Companies selected for the Investor Intros will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors from Wisconsin and beyond. To foster this type of communication, the Investor Intros will feature scheduled, 7-minute strategic meetings between investors and emerging companies. This format will resemble a “speed dating” exercise, allowing both parties to learn more about each other and explore potential relationships.

The conference will also feature:

  • Speakers, panel discussions and educational seminars featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors and others tied to the tech sector.
  • “Office Hours,” offering the opportunity to meet with subject experts on a variety of topics in small discussion groups or one-on-one.
  • SBIR/STTR awards luncheon to recognize grant recipients from the past year.
  • The 4th annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award presentation.
  • Exhibit hall showcasing more than 40 Wisconsin companies.
  • A Nov. 14 Wisconsin WOMEN reception (Women, Opportunities, Mentors, Entrepreneurs, Networking). This event is open to both men and women.
  • A Nov. 15 conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities, including an investors-only dinner.

 

The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors so far include: 100state, Aberdean, Advanced Materials Industrial Consortium, Affiliated Engineers, Alliant Energy, American Transmission Co., AT&T, Aurora Health Care, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, BMO Harris Bank, Boardman & Clark, Bunker Labs Madison, Carroll University, Center for Technology Commercialization, City of Fitchburg, Concordia University, Cresa, Dane County Regional Airport, Dedicated Computing, DXC Technology, Enbridge, Findorff, First Business Bank, Fluno Center, Functional Biosciences, Godfrey & Khan, HealthX Ventures, Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Madison Central, Husch Blackwell, IBM, Madison College, Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Medical College of Wisconsin, Michael Best, Midwest Prototyping, Morgridge Institute, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, Northwestern Mutual, Perkins Coie, Promega, Red Arrow Productions, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, River Valley Bank, Skyward, Smith & Gesteland, Square 1 Bank, Susan Healy (Tech Council board member), SWIB, TASC, University Research Park, UW-Green Bay, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy, UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations, Venture Investors, WCMP, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., WERCBench Labs, Whitewater University Technology Park, WIPFLi, Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, Wisconsin Hospital Association and Ziegler.

 

Learn more and register at www.wisearlystage.com.