AGENDA
Virutal #ESSWI 2020: Nov. 9-11
Click on any name to read more about our speakers and panelists, connect on LinkedIn if available.
| Monday | Nov. 9 |
| 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Investor Intros sponsored by WEA Trust |
| 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | “George Mosher Investor Hall of Fame” virtual cocktails and presentation Congratulations to Tim Keane! (click to read the announcement) This event is open to invited investors from Wisconsin and beyond – those who are helping build the state’s capacity to finance early stage deals and honoring one of their own who has contributed to the rise of angel and venture capital investing. |
| Tuesday | Nov. 10 |
| 8:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Welcome intro, Keynote by viral influencer Jon Jacques, moderated by Spencer X. Smith, AmpliPhi Social Media Strategies (followed by a 15 min. content break) “How entrepreneurs can go viral & skyrocket their businesses via social media” With the COVID-19 pandemic crimping most forms of face-to-face business marketing, entrepreneur Jon Jacques will offer his expertise as a social media influencer for clients large and small. With more than 1 million followers and 100 million social media views, Jacques has worked with firms such as Disney, Kate Spade, Sony, Starwood, AT&T and Anheuser-Busch to increase revenues Through his online courses and presentations, Jacques has taught more than 20,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners how to leverage social media to bolster their personal brands and businesses. |
| 10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. | “Driven by data: The future of health research” Dr. Nichole Quick, Epic Health Records Network and Matt Doyle, Epic with Tech Council’s Tom Still (break) Electronic health records have long held the promise of contributing to the study of population health. The creation of the Epic Health Research Network is turning that promise into reality. Hear from two of the principals in EHRN on how the terabytes of medical data existing today – with countless more bytes to come – is helping physicians and researchers better diagnose and treat diseases and conditions. |
| 11:15 a.m. – Noon | “More players, more dollars: The future of corporate investing” Jason Franklin, WV Ventures with Craig Schedler, Northwestern Mutual (break) Wisconsin is home to a growing number of corporate venture capital funds in search of investments that can add to the parent firm’s bottom line while providing other strategic advantages. Learn about one of the latest entries on the scene, the Wisconn Valley Venture Fund, which is a partnership between Advocate Aurora Health, Foxconn, Johnson Controls International and Northwestern Mutual. |
| Noon – 1 p.m. | Lunch break with dedicated sponsor booth, trivia and prizes |
| 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | “Startups in the data stacks: The future of comp sci entrepreneurism” Tom Erickson and Jignesh Patel, UW-Madison Comp Sci and Kristjan Sigurdson of Creative Destruction Lab with Jessica Silvaggi, UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation (break) Wisconsin will be home to a unique partnership between academia and industry when the Canada-based Creative Destruction Lab takes root within the UW-Madison Department of Computer, Data and Information Sciences. Learn what this endeavor means for startup companies, especially those in the worlds of risk management, insurance and financial services. |
| 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Triple E Award Ceremony Congratulations to 2020 winner Lorrie Keating Heinemann! sponsored by Marshfield Clinic Health System Close with recognition of several of Wisconsin’s ‘Trep Teachers to Watch |
| Wednesday | Nov. 11 |
| 8:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. | “Midwest momentum in trying times: The investor view from outside Wisconsin” Candice Matthews Brackeen, Lighthouse Capital; Jonathan Ellis, Sandalphon Capital; Ron Watson, Dundee Venture Capital with John McDonald, Godfrey & Kahn (break) Even with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, investors haven’t foregone looking for good deals. They are increasingly finding those in the Midwest and Wisconsin. Hear from principals of three venture capital funds that have the region in mind every day as they meet with young companies. |
| 10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. | “The future of bio-industry: How Wisconsin can be a hub for sustainable products” Mary Blanchard, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Michael Koeris, National Institutes of Health and Kevin Barnett, Pyran with Karen Timberlake, Michael Best National trends that could build on Wisconsin’s tradition of manufacturing, agricultural and nature resource excellence will be outlined during a session that describes the promise of bio-industry and bio-energy. The Midwest is a center of such activity, both public and private. Wisconsin’s infrastructure includes the Wisconsin Energy Institute and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Hear from entrepreneur Michael Koeris, who has national ties in bio-manufacturing, and Mary Blanchard of the WEI and the GLBRC. |
| 11:15 a.m. – Noon | “‘Bots at the bedside: How artificial intelligence and voice technology is changing healthcare” Kristi Ebong, Orbita with Jed Roher, Husch Blackwell Join one of the nation’s leading innovators in the world of healthcare AI in healthcare for a conversation about what’s next. Kristi Ebong is the senior vice president of corporate strategy for Orbita, which powers chatbots, voicebots, bedside assistants and monitoring tools. She’s a UW-Madison graduate who earned some of her digital health spurs at Epic. |
| Noon – 1 p.m. | Lunch break with dedicated sponsor booth, trivia and prizes |
| 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Elevator Pitch Olympics sponsored by Madison Development Corp. Judges: Sarah Bain, Techstars; Erin Henry, Northwestern Mutual; and Michael Thorson, Inventure Capital/WIP |
| 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | “The future of manufacturing: A view from the National Institutes of Standards and Technology” Fireside chat: Mike Molnar, NIST with Tom Still, Tech Council president Click here to view his presentation slides: Wisconsin Symposium Molnar – 11NOV2020 What should Wisconsin manufacturers know about trends and opportunities in manufacturing today? Hear from a leading manager in the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Wisconsin native Mike Molnar, the founding director of the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office. |