MADISON – Four entrepreneurs who have built successful
companies in Wisconsin will talk about their ups and downs Wednesday, June 4,
during a morning session at the 12th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’
Conference at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center.
“ ’Treps in the trenches: Lessons learned from the front
lines” will feature Mark Bakken of Nordic Consulting, Mark Gehring of Propeller
Health, Mark McGuire of Nextt and Toni Sikes of CODAworx in a free-wheeling
discussion about success, failure – and how to learn from both.
The panel discussion, which begins at 8:45 a.m., will be
preceded by an announcement from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development
Authority regarding a new program aimed at helping young companies.
The two-day conference kicks off Tuesday, June 3. Tracks
within the event 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
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; 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; David Ward,
Angels on the Water; Jackie Darr,
Racon Capital Partners; and Tim Keane,
Golden Angels Network.
Entrepreneurs on other
panels include: Matt Sabljak,
Spreenkler; Michael Drescher,
Okanjo; Jalem Getz, Wantable; Betsy Rowbottom, The Good Jobs; Mike Tecku, Strike a Pose Photo Booths;
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; Abe Palmbach, Wellbe; Rimas Buinevicius, Madcelerator; Shawn Guse, Intuitive Biosciences; Liz Eversoll, SOLOMO Technology; Sarah Sandock, Dock Technologies; Eric Paulsen, WellStream Media; Michelle D’Attilio, Sõsh; Roy Elkins, Broadjam; Mark T. Nelson, Microscopy Innovations;
Scott Fulton, Cellara; 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 13 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; Wisconsin
Center for Dairy Research (TURBO); UW Extension/Center for Technology
Commercialization; UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; UWM Research
Foundation; Venture Investors; WIN Lake Superior; Wisconsin Alumni Research
Foundation; 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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