Twenty-one entries representing sectors as broad as software, agriculture, transportation, medical devices and innovations in manufacturing are competing in the finalist round of the 10th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

The contestants have survived two rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council and its programs. A lead sponsor is the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Read this release at WisBusiness.com.

“The business plans in the finalist round reflect some of Wisconsin’s core technology strengths, as well as the fact that entrepreneurs can be found in emerging business sectors as well as familiar industries,” said Mark Bugher, chairman of the Tech Council.

 

Top entries from collegiate business plan contests throughout the state will join these 21 plans in the Phase 3 judging round in early May. Organizations that will contribute plans are the UW-Madison’s G. Steven Burrill Contest, the BizStarts Collegiate Competition and the Marquette University Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship Competition.

 

Software and business service plans include systems and applications for agricultural field surveillance, real estate, automated research, martial arts management, medical education, wedding planning, gaming – and even a system for awarding good behavior in children.

Manufacturing ideas cover innovations in electric motors, energy-efficient windows, data center cooling, wastewater treatment, “green” trolley production and trucking.  

Health-related plans include a rapid cardiac analysis system, an emergency cooling vest for hypothermia cases, a nitric oxide system for treating diabetic foot ulcers, a device to noninvasive measure hydration and tools to assist diabetes drug discovery.

The contest began in late January with 326 entries. Finalists will submit 15 to 20-page business plans for review by a panel of more than 70 judges. Each plan describes the core product or service, defines the customer base, estimates the size of the market, identifies competition, list members of the management team and provides key financial data.  

The finalists’ executive summaries as well as those filed by semi-finalists are available for inspection by accredited investors through the Wisconsin Angel Network, which has more than 25 member angel networks, private equity funds or corporate strategic partners. 

 

The Top 12 business plans, announced in late May, will present in front of a panel of judges and conference attendees at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference on June 4 at the Marriott West in Middleton. Prize winners will be announced June 5 during the conference luncheon. More than $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes have been pledged thus far.

 

Sponsors of the 2013 contest to date include: 5Nines; Aberdean Consulting; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Company; AT&T; BDO; City of Waterloo; Cleantech Open; Cresa Madison; EarthIT; Flanagan Financial/Functional Biosciences; Grant Thornton; JZB Solutions; Kohner Mann & Kailas; Kollath & Associates; Logistics Health; Madison Gas & Electric; Marshfield Clinic; Michael Best & Friedrich; Midwest Prototyping; Milwaukee Institute; Mortenson Construction; Murphy Desmond; Nelson Schmidt, Inc.; Pieper Properties; Quarles & Brady; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media; Smith & Gesteland; State of Wisconsin Investment Board; University Research Park; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority; and Wisconsin Technical College System.

 

To become a sponsor, contact Molly Lahr at 608-442-7557 ext. 27.

 

Finalists are listed below. Reporters wishing to contact individual contestants may do so through the Tech Council by calling 608-442-7557 ext. 26.

 

Justin Reed

 

C-Motive Technologies Inc.

 

Madison

 

Justin Knupp

 

CyderMED

 

Middleton

 

Timothy Shedd

 

Datacenter Cooling  Technology

 

Madison

 

Olivia Nix

 

Diddits

 

Milwaukee

 

Mitchell Fiene

 

DMZ Aerial

 

whitewater

 

Gary Krause

 

EKG Concepts

 

Racine

 

Heather Johnston

 

Find My Spot

 

Milwaukee

 

Shobhan Thakkar

 

Gaming – Gristmill Studios (GS)

 

Fitchburg

 

Pradeep Rohatgi

 

Lightweight composite castings

 

Milwaukee

 

Allen Oelschlaeger

 

Martial Arts Marketing Network

 

Mequon

 

Charles Potter

 

MTD Therapeutic Hypothermia

 

Mequon

 

Frederick J. Montgomery

 

Nitric Oxide Generator

 

Madison

 

Russ Rymut

 

Nobo

 

Hartland

 

Tom Dougherty

 

OSAT: Real Time Metal Analysis

 

Franklin

 

Jon Odorico

 

Regenerative Medical Solutions

 

Madison

 

Scott Kohl

 

Ronin Studios

 

Madison

 

Chad Lee

 

SpectraNotes

 

Middleton

 

Jim Schuessler

 

Trolley Green Energy Platform

 

Crandon

 

David Buslee

 

Truck Data Measurement

 

Delafield

 

Peter Petit

 

V-Glass Vacuum Insulated Glass

 

Pewaukee

 

Brian Mayer

 

WeDo

 

Glendale