MADISON
– John “Jack” Lynch Jr.
, chief executive officer of Renaissance Learning, a
Wisconsin-based online education company recently purchased for $1.1 billion,
will speak June 3 at the 12th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’
Conference in Madison.
Visit www.WiTrepsConference.com to register and learn more.
“Early bird” registration is open through May 13 and special hotel rates apply
through May 3.
Google
Capital invested $40 million in Renaissance Learning in early 2014, and the
company was purchased within a month for $1.1 billion by Hellman & Friedman
LLC, a private equity firm.
Founded
in 1984 in Wisconsin Rapids, where the company remains to this day, Renaissance
Learning creates software that helps educators quickly and accurately assess math
and literacy levels for their students. The cloud-based analytics company has
more than 1,000 employees, mostly in central Wisconsin.
Lynch,
who became Renaissance Learning’s CEO in 2012, has more than 20 years of
experience in software and educational technology companies. He was the founding
CEO of bigchalk.com, president and CEO of Pearson Technology Group, and was a member
of the executive board of Wolters Kluwer. Lynch also served in lead roles for
Jnana Technologies and CCH Legal Information Services.
“We’re
looking forward to hearing the Renaissance Learning story – from its early days
to how investors from far outside Wisconsin ‘found’ the company,” said Tom
Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “The company is symbolic
of a larger sector in Wisconsin, and evidence that investors from far and wide
can find good reasons to look for deals here.”
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. More than 500 people are expected to attend the two-day conference, to
be held June 3-4 at the Alliant
Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, just off Madison’s South
Beltline.
Additional
speakers and features will be announced in coming weeks. Other highlights will
include:
– The
2014 Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the
Day” award recipients
– Other
nationally known speakers
– Diligent Dozen:
Top 12 finalists from the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off
– Panel discussions for emerging companies on how to
“Launch, Grow and Succeed”
– 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; Alliant
Energy; American Family Insurance; Associated Bank; Aurora Healthcare; Baird
Capital; Baker Tilly; BDO; BloodCenter of Wisconsin; BMO Harris Bank; City of
Fitchburg; Cresa Madison; 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; Murphy
Desmond; Neider & Boucher; Nelson Schmidt; Nordic Consulting; Quarles &
Brady; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Revelation PR, Advertising &
Social Media; UW Extension; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; UW-Milwaukee;
Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Wisconsin Health and Educational
Facilities Authority; Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; and WTN Media.
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