Eight
panel discussions on topics of interest to entrepreneurs and investors alike
are among highlights of the annual Wisconsin
Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 4-5 at the
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.
Produced by the Wisconsin
Technology Council and its partners, the conference will feature four rounds of
breakout sessions over the two days. These will include panel discussions, as
well as four previously announced solo seminars on how to avoid (or correct) potentially
fatal startup errors. Panels will include:
– Marketing
1001: Effective tactics and strategies ‘treps need to know
– Seven
questions to ask when figuring out your capital-raising strategy
– Numbers that matter: Key
business metrics, capital planning and proformas
– Invest
in the Midwest: VCs scouting Wisconsin for their next deal
– How
to progress through financing steps: From seed to Series B
– Coming
to terms with your term sheet
– Pursuing
investors: What angels and VCs need to hear
In addition to these seven panels, a “Reverse Elevator Pitch” will give entrepreneurs an opportunity to hear directly from
angel groups and early stage funds on how, when and where they invest. The
annual “First Look Forum” will
feature university-based R&D projects coming out of Madison College,
Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-Madison D2P, UWM Research Foundation and
Wisconsin Energy Institute. They will present in two sessions.
“The
lineup of investors and experienced entrepreneurs taking part in this year’s
conference offers attendees a ‘who’s who’ list of expertise,” said Tom Still,
president of the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Investors who will take part in the breakout sessions
include: Ablorde Ashigbi, Pritzker
Group Venture Capital; Mark Bakken,
HealthX Ventures; Scott Button,
Venture Investors; Jake Colognesi,
Volition Capital; Jason Duboe,
Chicago Ventures; Jeff Ebel,
Wisconsin River Business Angels; Jan
Eddy, Phenomenelle Angels; Dan
Einhorn, Capital Midwest Fund; Adrian
Fortino, Mercury Fund; Walker Fuller,
River Cities Capital Funds; Charlie Goff,
NEW Capital Management; David Guinther,
WISC Partners; Paul Jones, Angels on
the Water; Tim Keane, Golden Angels
Investors; Lorrie Keating Heinemann, BrightStar
Wisconsin; Molly Lahr, American
Family Ventures; Kyle Nakatsuji,
American Family Ventures; John
Philosophos, Great Oaks Venture Capital; Tim Philosophos, individual angel; Andy Shrago, Wisconsin Investment Partners; Todd Sobotka, BrightStar Wisconsin; Mike Thorson, Inventure Capital/WIP/Golden Angels Investors; and LeAnne Tortellotte, Stateline Angels.
Entrepreneurs in the sessions include: Katie Brenner, bluDiagnostics; Mark
Gehring, HealthMyne; Robert Hopton,
Health eFilings; Matt Howard,
EatStreet; Brian Jensen, Fishidy; Laura King, Elucent Medical; Andy Nunemaker, Dynamis Corp.; and Daniel Lawton, Promentis
Pharmaceuticals.
Additional advisors and business professionals featured
include: Jim Bernthal, Top Floor; Scott Cooper, Marketing Engine Group; Mike Dahm, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; Jacquin Davidson, BizStarts; John Drury, Madison Gas & Electric;
Mark Ehrmann, Quarles & Brady; Matt Frank, Murphy Desmond; Susan Healy, Ascendancy Advisors; Gretchen Jameson, Concordia University;
Greg Lynch, Michael Best &
Friedrich; Craig Miller, Neider
& Boucher; Charles Neider,
Neider & Boucher; Dan Olszewski,
Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship; William
Robinson, Silicon Valley Bank; Carmel
Ruffolo, Marquette University; Bob
Van Enkenvoort, Wisconsin State Journal; David Volz, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; and Mark Witt, Godfrey & Kahn.
Previously
announced speakers are Zach Halmstad, founder of JAMF Software; Sue Marks, founder and chief executive office of
Cielo; and Mike Splinter, the former chairman of Applied
Materials and Intel executive. Learn
more and register at www.wisearlystage.com.
The
Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors so far include: Aberdean; Alliant
Energy; American Transmission Co.; AT&T; Ascendancy Advisors; Aurora
Research Institute; Baird Capital; Baker Tilly; BDO; BloodCenter of Wisconsin;
BMO Harris; Boardman & Clark; Carroll University; City of Fitchburg;
Concordia University; Cresa Madison; Dane County Regional Airport; Dedicated
Computing; DeWitt Ross & Stevens; Eppstein Uhen Architects; Findorff; Fine
Point Consulting; First Business Bank; Functional Biosciences; Godfrey &
Kahn; HealthX Ventures; HP Enterprise Services; Keane Consultants; Madison Gas
& Electric; Makin’ HEY Communications; Marquette University; Marshfield
Clinic Applied Sciences; Medical College of Wisconsin; Michael Best &
Friedrich; Midwest Prototyping; MIOsoft; Morgridge Institute for Research;
Murphy Desmond; Neider & Boucher; Nelson Schmidt; NEW Capital Management; Pendio
Group; Promega Corp.; Quarles & Brady; RDC National Inc.; Red Arrow
Production; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren; Safenet Consulting; Skyward; Smith
& Gesteland; State of Wisconsin Investment Board; Summit Credit Union;
University Research Park; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations;
UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation; UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center; Venture
Investors; WERCBench Labs; Whitewater University Technology Park; Whyte
Hirschboeck Dudek; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Wisconsin Economic
Development Corp.; Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority; and
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
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