The founder of Madison’s Sector67, making his first public appearance since being injured in a Sept. 20 propane flash explosion, will speak about next steps for the innovative maker space and the power of community support during a Nov. 15 appearance at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

Chris Meyer will join Madison investor John Neis for an on-stage conversation about Sector67’s new location and the community effort that has raised about $650,000 thus far. Neis and his wife, Chele Isaac, have been major supporters of Meyer and his wife, Doyenne Group co-founder Heather Wentler.

The conversation will take place Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Monona Terrace Convention Center, during a luncheon that will also honor Wisconsin winners of federal Small Business Innovation Research grants during the latest fiscal year.

Sector67, founded in 2010 and currently operating at 2100 Winnebago St., is a non-profit collaborative space dedicated to providing an environment to learn, teach, discover, build, and create next generation technology.  Members have access to a wide range of tools and equipment and become part of a creative support community that ranges from engineers to artists.

Meyer will share his vision for the building being remodeled to serve as the new expanded home for Sector67 at 56 Corry St.  He will discuss the important role they are playing in Madison’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, empowering innovators of all ages to explore and realize the possibility of their ideas. They will examine the power of the community to get behind an idea and to make a difference.

Produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council and its partners, the annual symposium is the premier event for companies to gain visibility among investors, other entrepreneurs and business leaders. This year, 42 companies will present during the Tech Council Investor Networks’ track and the 13th annual Elevator Pitch Olympics. Other highlights unveiled so far:

  • Remarks at the Wisconsin W·O·M·E·N reception the evening of Nov. 14 by Toni Sikes, the CEO of CODAworx. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. at The Madison Club. Register here for this separate event.
  • An un-keynote presentation on Nov. 15 from Tamara Kleinberg, founder of LaunchStreet, on innovation and getting ahead of the competition.
  • Nov. 16 plenary panel discussion entitled “Outside looking in: Thoughts on Wisconsin from investors in other states.”
  • More than 40 investor groups set to meet with emerging firms in “Investor Intros” on Nov. 16.
  • Entrepreneur and mentor Allen Dines to receive ‘Triple E” award Nov. 16.
  • The 2017 Investor Hall of Fame dinner, where BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation founder Tom Shannon will be inducted before invited investor guests.
  • Day Two luncheon speaker Dan Rashke, owner and CEO of TASC.
  • Hands-on “Office Hours” sessions to dive into common business issues facing young companies.

The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors so far include: 100state, Aberdean, Accuray, ACS, Advanced Materials Industrial Consortium, Affiliated Engineers, Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance, 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, CUNA Mutual, 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, Madison College, Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Medical College of Wisconsin, Michael Best, Midwest Prototyping, Technology Innovation Center – Milwaukee, Morgridge Institute, Murphy Desmond, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, Northwestern Mutual, Omni Resources, 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 for the conference at www.wisearlystage.com.