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. 7-8 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
Along with two presentation tracks, investors will be able to meet with selected companies and entrepreneurs during the “Investor Intros” segment during the second day of the conference. It’s essentially a “speed-dating” session in which companies will spend about seven minutes with interested investors.
Investor groups or “super-angels” who will meet with companies during “Investor Intros” so far include: 30Ventures, 4490 Ventures, Advocate Aurora Health/InvestMKE, AmFam Ventures, Baird Capital, Bascom Ventures, Bold Coast Capital, Brightstar Wisconsin Foundation, Capital Midwest Fund, CMFG Ventures, gener8tor, Golden Angels Investors, HealthX Ventures, Hyde Park Ventures, Idea Fund of La Crosse, Independence Equity, Iron Forge, Inventure Capital, Iron Forge, Lewis & Clark Ventures, M25 Group, Madison Development Corp., MaSa Partners, Northwestern Mutual/Cream City Capital, Rock River Capital Partners, Silicon Pastures, TASC Venture Partners, Venture Investors, Winnow Fund, Wisconsin Investment Partners , Wisconsin River Business Angels, Wisconsin Super Angel Fund and Ziegler.
“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. 7:
These tracks will feature 24 companies from the Midwest representing an array of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, agriculture, biotechnology, health care, information technology, medical devices and mobile application sectors. Those companies have been selected by the conference steering committee and will be announced soon.
Investor Intros – Thursday, Nov. 8:
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.
Elevator Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 8:
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.
The conference will also feature:
- Keynote speakers Kelly Fitzsimmons, Custom Reality Services, and Aaron Kennedy, founder of Noodles and Co.
- 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.
- The 5th annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award presentation luncheon.
- Exhibit area showcasing more than 40 Wisconsin companies.
- A Nov. 6 Wisconsin WOMEN reception (Women, Opportunities, Mentors, Entrepreneurs, Networking). This event is located at Findorff and open to both men and women.
- A Nov. 7 evening 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 Consulting, Accuray, ACS, Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance, American Transmission Co., AT&T, Aurora Health Care, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, Barb Luhring Graphic Recording, BDO, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, BMO Harris, Boardman & Clark, The Burish Group – UBS Financial Services, Capital Newspapers, Carroll University, CGI, City of Fitchburg, Concordia University, Cresa Madison, Dane County Regional Airport, Dedicated Computing, DXC Technology, Enbridge, Eppstein Uhen Architects, Exact Sciences, Findorff, First Business Bank, Fluno Center, Foley & Lardner, Functional Biosciences, Godfrey & Kahn, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, JP Cullen, M3 Insurance, Madison College, Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Medical College of Wisconsin, Merchant & Gould, Michael Best, Midwest Prototyping, MOD Media, Morgridge Institute, Murphy Desmond, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, Northwestern Mutual, One Neck IT Solutions, Perkins Coie, Quarles & Brady, Red Arrow Production, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, River Valley Bank, Skyward, Square 1 Bank, Sun Mountain Kegonsa, Tech Council board member Susan Healy, TASC, Technology Innovation Center – MKE, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, University Research Park, UW-Green Bay, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, Venture Investors, WEA Trust, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Health & Educational Facility Authority, Whitewater University Technology Park, WIPFLi, Wisconsin Investment Partners, Yahara Software and Ziegler.
Learn more and register at www.wisearlystage.com.
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