Helping young businesses launch, grow and succeed is the goal of three “back to basics” tracks spanning 15 panel discussions at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, to be held June 4-5 at the Marriott West in Middleton.
To register, go t http://www.witrepsconference.com/. “Early bird” registration is open through May 15. Hotel rooms are available at a discounted group rate here through May 6.
Tracks within the two-day conference are built around three distinct stages that matter to all startup companies: launch, grow and succeed. Seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and others who work with emerging companies will take part in each discussion.
The Launch Track will include these panels: “Startup 101: Understanding business acronyms, agencies and other alphabet soup;” “Lean startups: Operating at max efficiency;” “Beg/borrow/bootstrap: Lessons from entrepreneurs;” “Patent reform: What the new rules mean to you and your intellectual property;” and “Crowdfunding: Where do we stand one year after the JOBS Act?”
The Grow Track will feature: “Killer mistakes and how to avoid them;” “Designing your product: From idea to prototype;” “The C-Corp. vs. LLC Smackdown: What’s the right corporate structure for you and your investors?”; “Pursuing investors: What angels and VCs need to hear;” and “How to learn from failure as a startup and as an investor.”
The Succeed Track will include: “How to build a board of directors that works for you;” “Coming to terms with your term sheet;” “How to build your company’s team: Matching researchers and techies with business managers;” “Closing your first deal… and many more;” and “Do you want to be rich or king? Knowing when it’s time to let go.”
Already announced is a June 4 opening keynote by Jason Lucash, co-founder of OrigAudio and Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Emerging Entrepreneur of 2012.” Lucash will be available later in the day, as well. Other highlights will include:
- The Top 12: Finalists in the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off;
- The Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” Award, with the 2013 winner to be announced before the conference;
- Wisconsin Innovation Showcase, which will highlight some of the state’s best and boldest companies and their innovative products;
- A special plenary panel to be announced;
- Plenty of chances to network over food and refreshments!
The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference is produced by the Tech Council, the independent, non-profit science and technology advisors to the governor and the Legislature. It serves as a catalyst for the growth of Wisconsin’s tech-based and entrepreneurial economy.
Sponsors so far include: 5Nines; Aberdean Consulting; AE Business Solutions; Alliant Energy; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Co.; AT&T; Aurora Healthcare; Baird Capital; BDO; BloodCenter of Wisconsin; BMO Harris Bank; City of Fitchburg; CoreBTS; Cresa Madison; Death’s Door Distillery; EarthIT; First Business Bank; Godfrey & Kahn S.C.; Google, Grant Thornton; HP Enterprises; IBM; Madison Gas & Electric; Makin’ HEY! Communications; Marshfield Clinic; Michael Best & Friedrich; Midwest Prototyping; Murphy Desmond S.C.; Neider & Boucher S.C.; Nelson Schmidt; New Age Data Centers; Quarles & Brady LLP; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media; The Business Journal; University Research Park; UW Extension Small Business Development Centers; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; UW-Milwaukee; Venture Investors LLC; Vital Support Systems; WEA Trust; Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek s.c.; Widen Enterprises; WisBusiness.com; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority; and Wisconsin Technology Network.
Thank you to the Middleton Tourism Commission for its support of the conference. To learn more about the host city and what it has to offer, go to http://www.visitmiddleton.com/.
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