2010 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium

The 2010 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium will be held on Nov. 10-11 at Monona Terrace in Madison, WI.

Click here for hotel reservations.

For more than 20 years, this conference and its predecessors have helped fuel Wisconsin's high-growth economy by matching investors, companies and entrepreneurs.

Register for the 2010 symposium.

Sponsor the 2010 symposium.

Apply to present to investors at the symposium.

The conference agenda will be posted in early September.

Conference highlights include:

The annual “Elevator Pitch Olympics” for very early stage companies
Separate investor-oriented tracks for angel-ready companies and beyond that are seeking private equity capital
A workshop for entrepreneurs to learn and practice their pitch to investors
A “First Look Forum” for presenting selected pre-commercial, campus-based discoveries
An invitation-only event for investors hosted by the Wisconsin Angel Network
A Nov. 10 reception celebrating early stage companies
A workshop for companies that may seek SBIR grants
Major speakers with messages of interest to Wisconsin investors, entrepreneurs and others in the tech-based economy. Returning by popular demand: Bill Joos of Go-to-Market Consulting.

Presentation opportunities:

On behalf of the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Angel Network, the Wisconsin Innovation Network and its partners, we invite you to apply OR nominate companies that will be a good match with the private investors who will attend this productive and informative event. At the 2009 symposium, more than 50 angel or venture capitalists were present.

The 2010 Early Stage Symposium is open to early stage companies representing an array of industries: biotechnology, biofuels and products, “cleantech,” advanced manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology and business services.

There are two separate presentation levels at the ESS:

About 20 early stage companies seeking capital will be selected to make seven-minute presentations to investors in the Wisconsin Angel Network track.

About 15 entrepreneurs will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been companies seeking a smaller investment round or planning to do so within the next year. Past Elevator Pitch Olympics winners have won the Governor's Business Plan Contest.

Click here for application instructions.

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Read below for a recap of the 2009 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

Click here to view a copy of the 2009 agenda.

2009 WAN Track presenters were selected to present in one of two tracks. Please see the presenters below.

Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and “Cleantech” Track:

AquaMost- Kyle Montgomery
HarQen- Kelly Fitzsimmons
Lightweight Structures LLC - Jim Jendusa
NxtMile LLC- Michael Miller
PosiPair- Sarah Manski
Scopia LLC- Ophir Ben-Yitschak
Sologear LLC- Chad Sorenson
Spira Footwear- Andy Krafsur
White Bear Technologies- Mark Mitchell
World Sports Technology Inc.- Jeff Thomas
Xela Innovations LLC- Todd Muderlak

Biotechnology, Medical Device and Health Care Track:

Addiction Therapeutix LLC- Frank Langley
Echometrix LLC- Samuel Adams
Flex Biomedical Inc.- Sal Braico
AviMed Pharmaceuticals LLC- Daniel Sem
CDI Bioscience Inc.- Todd Bucciarelli
Eso-Technologies Inc.- Bonnie Reinke
Neuro Amp- Brian Curry
OrthoCor Medical- John Dinusson
Stemina Biomarker Discovery- Elizabeth Donley
Vatrix Medical Inc.- Matt Ogle
VitalMedix Inc.- Jeffery Williams

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Click here to view a copy of the 2008 conference agenda.

Click here to view on-demand video of select panel discussions and keynote speakers

2008 WAN Track presenters were selected to present in one of two tracks. Please see the presenters below.

Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and “Cleantech” Track:

BioInoix – James Tretheway
Composite Rebar Technologies – Robert Gibson
CRS Medical Diagnostics – Christopher Burton
Earth Mimic – Brian Hans
Innovative Sports Strategies – Brian Cole
MicroBlade – Thanh Nguyen
My Payment Network – David Dunaway
NxtMile, LLC – Mike Miller
Dew and Ken Group, Inc. – James Sun
Project-Based Learning Systems – Shane Krukowski
TrackCost Corporation – Jeff Clark

Biotechnology, Medical Device and Health Care Track:

BioSentinel – Ben Lap
Dossette, LLC – Joe Trygar
NeurogenomeX, Inc. – Thomas Sutula
Perscitus Biosciences, LLC – James Thomas
Platypus Technologies, LLC – Jeffrey Williams
Prism Clinical Imaging – Paul Schmelzer
StrataTech – Lynn Allen-Hoffmann
Swallow Solutions – Nicolas Cindric
Sword Diagnostics – Dave Dingott
VitalMedix – Jeffrey Williams
VibeTech, Inc. – Jeff Leismer

Read below for a recap of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium.

The 2007 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium was held Nov. 14-15 at Madison's Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. . Click here to view the 2007 agenda.

Scroll down to see the following 2007 ESS highlights:

-- Press coverage of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and "Elevator Pitch Olympics" [more]

-- Presentations to investors by selected companies seeking $500,000 to $5 million [more]

-- The "Elevator Pitch Olympics," in which early-stage companies had a (very) brief opportunity to make their case to a panel of investors, who scored their presentations and provided valuable feedback. A returning hit from 2006! [more]

-- The VentureQuest educational seminar was another returning hit! Entrepreneurs learnd how to prepare their companies to look for investors. This "venture readiness” workshop was led by the founders of VentureQuest Ltd., a Denver-based firm with a national reputation for getting companies ready to compete for private-equity investment dollars. [more]

-- Nationally known speakers such as Jeff Wacker, director of strategy and futurist, EDS, and Mark Lee, four-time space shuttle astronaut and managing engineer for Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. [more]

-- SBIR/STTR awards dinner for grant recipients [more]

-- The First Look Forum, hosted by the UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations, which provided a sneak peek at new technologies under development on campus. [see agenda]

-- Panel discussions on finding investors, lessons from entrepreneurs, tapping Wisconsin resources and more! [see agenda]

To learn more about the this and previous year's Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, follow the links below:

Press coverage of the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and the “Elevator Pitch Olympics”

Read press coverage on the 2007 Early Stage Symposium and the “Elevator Pitch Olympics” from the Tech Council and news organizations across Wisconsin.

2007 Wisconsin Angel Network investor presentations

View list of the Wisconsin companies who presented and this year's Early Stage Symposium seeking between $500,000 and $5 million in private equity investment. About half are biomedical companies and the rest are engaged in software, Internet services, advanced manufacturing and “cleantech,” which includes alternative energy.

"Elevator Pitch Olympics" and VentureQuest

Congratulations to the 2007 "Elevator Pitch Olympics" winners!

"People's choice" award winner
EarthMimic
Brian Hans; Appleton, WI

"Most likely to read company business plan" award winner
NxtMile
Mike Miller; Madison, WI

"Most likely to take a meeting with" award winner
Bayland, LLC
C.J. Schmidt; DePere, WI

Thank you to the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" judges and participants. Click to view a list of participants and judges and to read more information on the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" and VentureQuest.

2007 Early Stage Symposium Speakers

Learn more about this year's keynote speakers:

- Jeff Wacker, futurist and corporate strategist, EDS

- Mark Lee, former astronaut, currently with Affiliated Engineers and Institutes for Discovery Project

SBIR/STTR awards dinner for grant recipients

Learn more about 21st Annual SBIR Awards Banquet that took place Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at the Early Stage Symposium. The event recognized over 50 Wisconsin companies.

The 2007 Conference Agenda

View the 2007 conference ageanda and a full list of event panelists and moderators.

2007 ESS Sponsors

Thank you to all 2007 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium sponsors.

AT&T
Aberdean Consulting, LLC
American Transmission Co.
Associated Bank
Baird Venture Partners
Chippewa Valley Technical College
DaneVest, LLC
EDS
Eli Lilly
First Weber Group, Relocation Division
Flad & Associates
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Godfrey & Kahn, s.c.
Grant Thornton, LLP
Great Dane Brew Pub
Madison Gas & Electric Co.
Makin’ HEY! Communications
Marshfield Clinic
Matador Consulting/5 Nines Data
Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
Murphy Desmond, s.c.
Neider & Boucher, s.c.
Park Printing
Quarles & Brady, LLP
Ruedebusch Development and Construction
Smith & Gesteland, LLC
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Third Wave Technologies
TomoTherapy
University Research Park
US Bank
UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations
Venture Investors, LLC
WEA Insurance Trust
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, s.c.
WISCAPE
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Bankers Association
Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network
Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
Wisconsin Technology Network

News releases on the 2006 Early Stage Symposium

MADISON -- Companies preparing to compete for private equity capital at the state, regional or national level should attend the second annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, Oct. 30-31 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Convention Center.

Links to 2005 Mediasite presentations

Links to presentations recorded through Mediasite, a “rich media” system available through the Tech Council. For more information on how to make Mediasite work for your company or event, call 608-442-7557.

Read press releases about the 2005 conference

Press releases about the 2005 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium from the Wisconsin Technology Council.

Read press coverage about the 2005 conference

Articles about the 2005 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium from news organizations across Wisconsin.

2005 Early Stage Symposium Sponsors

We would like to thank our sponsors for supporting the first Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

What you get for your registration fees

Your conference registration fee includes:

All panels and seminars
Nov. 14 and 15 luncheons, Nov. 14 evening reception, Nov. 14 dinner and Nov. 15 breakfast with guest speakers
An opportunity to be part of the VentureQuest educational track.
A chance to pitch in the "Elevator Pitch Olympics" (companies seeking under $500,000).
An opportunity to be considered for the Early Stage Investor Presentation track ($500,000 to $2 million).

NOTE: Companies that want to be considered for the Elevator Pitch Olympics or the Early-Stage Investor Presentations track must register first for the conference as a whole. See additional instructions below.

Who Should Attend

Investors with an interest in early-stage firms
Executives involved in an early-stage firm
Service providers
Economic development professionals
Others interested in networking with the above individuals

Hotel Information and Driving Directions

Located in the heart of downtown Madison, The Hilton is attached to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive, via an enclosed skywalk.