MADISON – Nearly 50 investors and entrepreneurs will talk
about best practices, success stories – and even how they learned from failure
– during panel discussions at the 12th annual Wisconsin
Entrepreneurs’ Conference, June 3-4 at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center.
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. To register, visit www.WiTrepsConference.com
The Launch Track
will include these panels: “Entry strategy: When to make the leap and start
your own company;” “Resources for entrepreneurs: How to find what you need;”
“Beg/Borrow/Bootstrap and other funding resources;” “Marketing 1001: Effective
tactics and strategies entrepreneurs need to know;” and “Taking money from
strangers: When and why to take angel investment or venture capital.”
The Grow Track will
feature: “Building your team: Finding the right managers and advisors;” “Lean
startups: Operating a max efficiency;” “How to find (and keep) your first
customers;” “Lawyer up: What you should
know about corporate status, IP and due diligence;” and “Killer mistakes and
how to avoid them.”
The Succeed Track
will include: “How to manage your company to a successful exit;” “Wisconsin’s
investment landscape: Angel, venture and beyond;” “Pursuing investors: What
angels and VCs need to hear;” “Strategic alliances with large companies:
Lessons learned from the Tech Summit;” and “After the applause: Staying on
track after the Biz Plan Contest is over.”
In addition, a plenary session on June 4 will feature
veteran entrepreneurs who have collectively raised tens of millions of dollars
in investment capital. They will discuss lessons learned from successes – and a
few flops.
Investors who
will take part in panels include: Jim
Pavlik, Baird Capital; Terry
Sivesind, Silver Lining Foundation; Paul
Jones, Angels on the Water; Andy
Shrago, Wisconsin Investment Partners; Terry
Sivesind, Silver Lining Foundation; Troy
Vosseller, Gener8tor; Yumin Choi,
HLM Venture Partners; Chris Olsen,
Drive Capital; Greg Robinson, 4490
Ventures; Jim Schultz, Open Prairie
Ventures; Frank Staniszewski,
Madison Development Corp.; Dan Reed
and Kyle Nakatsuji, American Family
Insurance; Paul Jones, Angels on the
Water; Ken Johnson, Kegonsa Capital Partners; John Philosophos, Great
Oaks Venture Capital; and Tim Keane,
Golden Angels Network.
Entrepreneurs on
panels include: Matt Sabljak,
Spreenkler; Michael Drescher,
Okanjo; Jalem Getz, Wantable; Betsy Rowbottom, The Good Jobs; Mike Tecku, Strike-a-Pose Photobooths; Travis Good, Catalyze; Chad Sorensen, RedSpark Ventures; Max Lynch, Drifty; Niko Skievaski, 100health; Terence
Barry, AquaMost; Matt Younkle,
Murfie; Kerry Frank, Comply365; Robert Hopton, Idle Free Systems; Natasha Vora, Iristocracy; Carmine Durham, Zurex Pharma; Matt Howard, EatStreet; Mark Bakken, Nordic Consulting; Mark Gehring, Propeller Health; Toni Sikes, CODAworx; Mark McGuire, Nextt; Abe Palmbach, Wellbe; Rimas Buinevicius, Madcelerator; Shawn Guse, Intuitive Biosciences; Liz Eversoll, SOLOMO Technology; Sarah Sandock, Dock Technologies; Eric Paulsen, WellStream Media; Michelle D’Attilo, Sõsh; Roy Elkins, Broadjam; Mark T. Nelson, Microscopy Innovations;
Scott Fulton, Cellara; Janet Phillips, Vector Surgical; Scott Jens, RevolutionEHR; Bonnie Reinke, Eso-Technologies; and Jonathan Fritz, Vilas Capital
Management.
Produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, the annual conference is one
of the largest events for entrepreneurs and early stage investors in the Upper
Midwest. Other highlights:
· Nationally known speakers, such as Jack Lynch of
Renaissance Learning and Dave Lambert of
Internet2
· The annual Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the
Day” award, which will go to Craig and
Lea Culver of Culver’s Franchising System
· Diligent
Dozen: Top 12 finalists from the
Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off
·
Innovation
Showcase featuring more than 50 companies from around the state
·
Plenty of chances to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors over food and
refreshments
Sponsors so far
include: 5Nines; Aberdean Consulting; Advocacy Consortium for Entrepreneurs; Alliant
Energy; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Co.; Ascendancy
Advisors; Associated Bank; AT&T; Aurora Healthcare; Baird Capital; Baker
Tilly; BDO; BloodCenter of Wisconsin; BMO Harris Bank; City of Fitchburg; Cresa
Madison; Data Holdings; Exact Sciences; Fine Point Consulting; First Business
Bank; Godfrey & Kahn; Google; Grant Thornton; Group Health Cooperative; HP
Enterprise Services; K&L Gates; Madison Gas & Electric; Marshfield
Clinic Applied Sciences; Michael Best & Friedrich; Midwest Prototyping; Milwaukee
Business Journal; Murphy Desmond; Neider & Boucher; Nelson Schmidt; Nordic
Consulting; Quarles & Brady; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Revelation
PR, Advertising & Social Media; Ruedebusch Development & Construction;
Tweedee Productions; University Research Park; UW Center for Dairy Research; UW
Extension/Center for Technology Commercialization; UW-Madison Office of
Corporate Relations; UWM Research Foundation; Venture Investors; WIN Lake
Superior; Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Wisconsin Health and
Educational Facilities Authority; Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development
Authority; Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; WTN Media; and Yahara Software. For more
information and to register, visit www.witrepsconference.com.
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