AGENDA

Tentative agenda for the 2018 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium:

Tuesday, November 6
5:30 – 7:30 P.M.	4th annual W•O•M•E•N Reception at Findorff Speaker: DEMETRIA MENARD, former COO of SwanLeap sponsored by Promega, Perkins Coie and Findorff

Wednesday, November 7
7:30 A.M.	Continental breakfast + registration
8:30 – 9:30 A.M.	KELLY FITZSIMMONS, co-founder of Custom Reality Services
9:35 – 10:30 A.M.	Panel Tracks: “I think I need money: Now what?” Moderated by Katie Schmitz, Ziegler Panelists: Craig Schedler, Northwestern Mutual; Abby Taubner, gener8tor; Lorrie Heinemann, Madison Development Corp; Ankit Agarwal, Imbed Biosciences “Startup leadership: Building an ideal executive team from idea through exit” Moderated by Andrea Dlugos, Wisconsin Investment Partners Panelists: Mark Gehring, HealthMyne; Carmine Durham, Zurex Pharma; Fred Robertson, Baird; Beth Donley, Stemina “How to get on the Inc. 5000 ‘fastest growing’ list (other than just growing)” Moderated by Mark Bakken, HealthX Ventures Panelists: Jason Swanson, SwanLeap; Jason Potter, Farwell; Renee Bemis, Driftless Glen Distillery; Joseph Taylor, Penrod
10:30 – 10:45 A.M.	Networking + coffee break *
10:45 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.	Tech Council Investors’ Network presentations (session 1)
10:45 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.	Office Hours (session A): “How to apply for SBIR funding” Host: Todd Strother, Center for Technology Commercialization “Recruiting the right people for your company and culture” Hosts: Rachel Neill, Carex Consulting and Bill Beckett, CHRYSPAC
12:15 – 1:45 P.M.	Triple E Award ceremony luncheon Congratulations to TERRY SIVESIND! sponsored by Marshfield Clinic Health System and Enbridge A conversation with WARF’s new CVO Mike Partsch, featuring WARF’s managing director Erik Iverson and Tech Council’s Tom Still sponsored by 4490 Ventures
1:45 – 2:30 P.M.	Innovation Showcase
2:35 – 3:30 P.M	Panel Tracks: “Financial returns for investors: What ‘treps should know” Moderated by: Michael Thorson, Inventure Capital Panelists: Scott Button, Venture Investors; Kelly Fitzsimmons, Custom Reality Services; Jason Graham, Golden Angels Investors; Taha Jangda, HealthX Ventures “Taking the plunge: Executing a successful equity round” Moderated by: Nic Herdrich, Michael Best Panelists: Jackie DiMonte, Hyde Park Ventures; Greg Baker, Bascom Ventures; Mark Reinstra, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati “Building tomorrow’s comp sci workforce: Can it be done in Wisconsin?” Moderated by Steve Lyons, SJL Government Affairs & Communications Panelists: Sean Roberts, Code.org; Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, UW-Madison; Susan Koehn, M7 Talent Initiatives
3:30 – 3:45 P.M.	Networking + coffee break
3:45 – 5:30 P.M.	Tech Council Investor Networks presentations (session 2)
3:45 – 5:15 P.M.	Office Hours (session B): “Numbers that matter: Nuts and bolts of financial reporting and forecasting” Hosts: Derek Matzke, BDO and Jackie Wilcox, Husch Blackwell “How to best organize your enterprise to best serve you and your future employees” Host: Jim Yinko, TASC
5:30 – 7 P.M.	Reception celebrating Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs sponsored by Perkins Coie and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Thursday, November 8
8 A.M.	Continental breakfast + registration
9 – 10 A.M.	AARON KENNEDY, founder of Noodles & Company. sponsored by Ogden, Glazer + Schaefer
10 – 10:10 A.M.	Networking + coffee break
10:10 – 12:10 P.M.	Investor Intros
10:10 – 11:10 A.M.	Office Hours (session C): “Social media and small businesses: It’s harder than opening a Twitter account” Hosts: DP Knudten, COLLABORATOR creative and Sara Tetzloff, Hiebing “It’s more than big cities: Building a growth economy throughout Wisconsin” Hosts: Kelly Armstrong, Greater Green Bay Chamber; Jeremy Fojut, NEWaukee; Scottie Sandstrom, Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation
11:15 A.M. – 12:10 P.M.	Office Hours (session D): “Getting the word out: Knowing the difference between inbound and outbound marketing” Hosts: Don Stanley, 3Rhino Media and Jackie Hermes, Accelity Marketing “Incubator, accelerator or co-working space: What’s right for you?” Hosts: Abby Taubner, gener8tor; Chandra Miller Fienen, StartingBlock; Ryan Ledoda, Industrious; Eugenia Podesta, Synergy; Erin Clausen, Irontek
12:15 – 12:35 P.M.	Buffet Luncheon
12:35 – 2:45 P.M.	Elevator Pitch Olympics awards sponsored by Madison Development Corp.

Networking and Coffee Breaks are generously sponsored by:
American Family Insurance, American Transmission Company, AT&T, Capital Newspapers, Godfrey & Kahn, Husch Blackwell, Michael Best, University Research Park, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Tote Bag Sponsor