A panel of experts well-versed in early stage deals in Silicon Valley and beyond will talk about investment trends and emerging models to open the second day of the 2016 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison.
Experts from leading national law firms and funds will take part in “A national view: Trends in early stage investing,” 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.
Panelists are Buddy Arnheim, who leads the emerging companies and venture capital practice at Perkins Coie in Palo Alto, Calif.; Rick Moss, managing director and founder of Better Ventures in Oakland, Calif.; Mark Reinstra, a leader in the corporate and securities practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto; and Greg Lynch, co-founder of the Venture Best venture capital practice at Wisconsin-based Michael Best.
“We’re excited to have experts with a national perspective talk about how trends in early stage investing may influence financing for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council.
“We’ll talk about investors who back entrepreneurs with scalable solutions to problems facing society and the world; “mission” investing; the Simple Agreement for Future Equity; and other emerging tools and techniques,” said Still, who will moderate the discussion.
The panel on national trends is the latest feature to be announced at the Early Stage Symposium. Other highlights unveiled so far:
- An 8:30 a.m. Nov. 16 panel discussion entitled “Invest in the Midwest: How regional funds view Wisconsin.” It will include representatives of Lewis & Clark Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners and MATH Venture Partners.
- Remarks 1 p.m. Nov. 17 by Jack Salzwedel, the chief executive officer and president of American Family Insurance. Known as “AmFamJack” for his social media presence, Salzwedel will describe how a 90-year-old Wisconsin success story is investing in the growth of the state, community and the company. AmFam Ventures was launched by the company in 2013 and has made about 40 investments.
- Remarks at the Wisconsin W·O·M·E·N reception the evening of Nov. 15 by Eve Hall, the president of the African-American Chamber of Commerce. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the meeting space at M3 Insurance, 828 John Nolen Drive. Register here!
More than 80 companies from Wisconsin and beyond applied to present at this year’s conference, which is one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest. All applicants will be eligible to take part in “Investor Intros,” a speed-dating exercise that will involve at least 26 funds, angel networks or individual investors. Twenty-eight companies will be selected for the Tech Council Investor Track and another 22 for the annual Elevator Pitch Olympics.
Registration is open at www.wisearlystage.com. The conference will also feature:
- Speakers, panel discussions and educational seminars featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors and others tied to the tech sector.
- “Office Hours,” which are small-group meetings with subject experts on a variety of topics.
- SBIR/STTR awards luncheon to recognize grant recipients from the past year.
- The 3rd annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award presentation.
- The “First Look” forum featuring selected campus-based technologies.
- Exhibit hall showcasing more than 40 Wisconsin companies.
The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors so far include: 100State; Aberdean; Adana Holdings; Advanced Materials Industrial Consortium; Alliant Energy; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Co.; AT&T; Aurora Research Institute; Baird Capital; Baker Tilly; BDO; BloodCenter of WI; BMO Harris Bank; Boardman & Clark; Carroll University; City of Fitchburg; Concordia University; Cresa Madison; Dane County Regional Airport; Dedicated Computing; Findorff; First Business Bank; Fluno Center; Functional Biosciences; Godfrey & Kahn; HealthX Ventures; HP Enterprise Services; Husch Blackwell; Madison College; Madison Gas & Electric; Makin HEY! Communications; Marquette University; Marshfield Clinic; Medical College of Wisconsin – OTD; Michael Best; Midwest Prototyping; Morgridge Institute; Murphy Desmond S.C.; N29 Capital Partners; Neider & Boucher; NEW Capital Fund; New Glarus Brewing Company; Perkins Coie; PreventionGenetics; Promega Corp.; Quarles & Brady; Red Arrow Production; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Skyward; Smith & Gesteland; Square 1 Bank; State of Wisconsin Investment Board; Summit Credit Union; University Research Park; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation; Venture Investors; Veritas; WERCBench Labs; Whitewater University Technology Park; WIPFLI; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity; Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Wisconsin Health & Educational Facility Authority; WTN Media; Ziegler
Learn more and register at www.wisearlystage.com.
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