Wisconsin Technology Council

Coverage from Nov. 26 Wisconsin Technology Council luncheon on higher education in Wisconsin Thanks to everyone who came to our luncheon on Nov. 26 featuring Eric Fulcomer of WAICU; Layla Merrifield of the Wisconsin Technical College System; and Jay Rothman of the Universities of Wisconsin. Click here https://lnkd.in/g9Wscr7g to see coverage from the event, including a recording of the discussion.

Event (12/13): Small Business Clinic at Blackhawk Technical College Engage in FREE workshops, educational sessions, and receive professional one-on-one #consulting from experts in #marketing, #business planning, legal, finance, #accounting, international trade, and more. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gKUfcWwZ via Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Madison

As part of his presentation to a group organized by the multi-state 7 Rivers Alliance, Aaron Brossoit engaged in a conversation with a digital avatar of himself who spoke five languages and poked fun at the “real” Aaron for not being as debonair as the fake model. It was an entertaining yet sobering reminder of the power of #artificialintelligence. An avatar produced through generative #AI can be used for #marketing, customer service, teaching or even remote speeches – or to trick unsuspecting people into spending time or money on something they otherwise would not. “Frankly, I think I am better at speaking than the other guy,” Avatar Aaron said, touting his mistake-free record. He (it?) continued: “The real Aaron can barely manage with a little German” and went to speak in German, Spanish, Korean and Mandarin as well as English. As chief executive officer of Golden Shovel Agency, Brossoit making the point that AI can improve regional competitiveness in western #Wisconsin if companies and others use it for engagement with new markets and better service to existing markets. Article: 'Inside Wisconsin: Artificial intelligence can be used and misused – but it can no longer be ignored' https://lnkd.in/gXrQJxfr via Tom Still #technology #innovation #leadership

We appreciate your continued involvement on many things, from taking part in our conferences and #Innovation Network lunches, to helping shape our policy positions on many issues of importance to #Wisconsin’s #tech-based #economy. In our newsletter, linked below, please check out our round-up on the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in #Madison, which attracted 450 attendees… maybe you will spot yourself in our photo gallery! Also, please read my latest “Inside Wisconsin” columns, one of which focuses on a recent conference in La Crosse tied to #artificialintelligence trends. Our Nov. 26 luncheon in Madison will feature the top leaders in higher #education – public and private. Hope to see you there! - Tom Still Read about the above and more in our latest newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gjgnYTzH #startup #entrepreneur #leadership

Event (1/9): 'Cap Times Power Hour' at the The Edgewater Madison The Cap Times Power Hour, a quarterly executive breakfast series, features one-on-one future-focused conversations with #Wisconsin’s top CEOs discussing business in our state. This session will feature George Whittier of Fairbanks Morse Defense. Under his #leadership, the company evolved from being a naval engine supplier to a diversified defense contractor offering a comprehensive array of products, services, and technologies that are reshaping the landscape of maritime defense. Whittier's adeptness in steering companies toward #innovation, impact, and prosperity has cemented his industry reputation as a catalyst for substantial growth. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/g3xpnHpC via The Capital Times #business #technology

Event Reminder (11/26): What's next for state's three pillars of higher ed? Top higher education leaders in #Wisconsin, from its private colleges to its technical campuses to the Universities of Wisconsin, will talk about what’s in store for those respective systems during an upcoming luncheon in #Madison. Panelists include?Eric Fulcomer,?president of the?Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (WAICU); Layla Merrifield, president of the?Wisconsin Technical College System; and Jay Rothman, president of the?Universities of Wisconsin. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gR3nk4Kz #university #education #leadership

2024 Early Stage Symposium – It’s a Wrap! The?Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium?was held Nov. 13-14, 2024, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. More than 450 people registered to attend the conference from across the state and beyond. This year, 23 companies pitched in the?Tech Council Investor Networks presentation tracks?on Nov. 13 featured the Startup World Cup regional competition.?Phoenix-Aid?of Oshkosh was the winner and has the chance to pitch in October 2025 at Startup World Cup’s grand finale event in Silicon Valley. We again staged the ever-popular?Elevator Pitch Olympics?and “Investor Intros” – allowing entrepreneurs to introduce themselves and their ideas to investors – on Nov. 14. Congratulations to?My Coverage Plan?of Madison,?Tailored Remedy?of Milwaukee and?Easy Wear Jewelry?of Milwaukee on their EPO wins! The Early Stage Symposium featured informative and inspiring speakers: This year,?Erik Iverson,?president and CEO?of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, was the keynote speaker on Nov. 13. Over lunch on Nov. 13, we heard from?David Beightol?of Flywheel Government Solutions.?Balamurugan Balakreshnan?of Microsoft and?Joe Hamann,?executive director of the?UW-Milwaukee’s Connected Systems Institute were the morning plenary panel speakers on Nov. 14. The conference featured panel discussions on day one; ‘Office Hours’ sessions on both days; networking and many more opportunities to make presentations, formal and informal, and to meet with investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders. The winner of the Tech Council’s?“Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education”?award was?Dan Olszewski?of the?Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, and the latest inductee into our?“Investor Hall of Fame”?was?Mark Bakken of HealthX Ventures. Many firms have cited participation in the conference as a key factor for significant business growth. Nearly 990 companies have presented during this fall conference in one format or another over the years, including some of the largest technology companies that call Wisconsin home. Other 2024 highlights included: --Our exhibit hall in the Grand Terrace showcasing more than 30 Wisconsin companies and emerging companies --A first-night reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities. The conference is produced by the?Wisconsin Technology Council?and its partners and sponsors. We are looking forward to next year’s conference, which will be at the Monona Terrace in Madison!

Economic development groups aim to launch a new multi-region alliance early next year, timed to coincide with the 2025 National Football League (NFL) Draft in #GreenBay. Barbara LaMue, president and CEO of the New North, Inc., discussed the plan during our Early Stage Symposium in Madison. The group she leads seeks to advance economic growth and #business development in the 18-county northeastern #Wisconsin region. ? “We have a team of consultants that are looking at, how do we better connect the three larger hubs in our state?” she said, referring to the New North, the greater #Madison area and Milwaukee 7, an economic development #partnership spanning seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin. “We’re calling it, for now, the #innovation triangle.” The project aims to identify and double down on the most impactful programs spurring #technology and early-stage business growth, aligning regional efforts to provide support for entrepreneurs, according to LaMue. Article: 'New North launching new multi-region alliance in early 2025, timed with NFL Draft' https://lnkd.in/gJtvmUjs via WisBusiness.com #entrepreneur #startup

There was a time not long ago when early stage investors in #Wisconsin could meet in a studio apartment kitchen or a telephone booth (back when there were still telephone booths). Today, such a gathering of angel and venture capitalists requires much more elbow room – especially when the meeting includes out-of-state investors who like what they’re seeing in Wisconsin. That conclusion could safely be drawn from the Nov. 13-14 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison, where nearly 60 investors from 35 angel networks, angel funds, venture funds and corporate or family funds were among the 450 people who attended. Hailing from California, New York, Minnesota and Illinois as well as Wisconsin, these investors were drawn to see young #tech-based companies pitch on stage or in one-on-one meetings. With more than 50 such companies taking part in three conference tracks, those investors weren’t left unfulfilled. Article: 'Inside Wisconsin: Early stage capital scene in Wisconsin benefiting from more players' https://lnkd.in/gCy_V-E3 via Tom Still #startup #entrepreneur #innovation #venturecapital

Meet the founders from the Wisconsin Technology Council‘s Elevator Pitch Olympics. These founders had 90 seconds to win over the judges: Archetto, LLC of Madison, an app that helps students learn to play musical instruments; Block Time Financial | Tokenization of Delafield, a blockchain solutions provider; Carbon Rose of Delafield, a customized guitar manufacturer; Easy Wear Jewelry of Milwaukee, an adaptive jewelry manufacturer; Encrypiest of Madison, a digital privacy provider, Higher Ground of Mineral Point, manufacturer of cooling garments; Laser Comm of Madison, laser technology that detects methane leaks; My Coverage Plan, Inc. of Madison, a medical debt resolution tool; MyTalentPlanner of GreenBay, software to enhance small business growth; Oui Technologies of Madison, a SaaS tool for the restaurant market; Pogie the Yogie of Madison, children’s programming that promotes mindfulness; Queued Up of Eau Claire, an app that allows users to create cross-platform music playlists; RojoBio of Madison, an engineered hemp product; Saturn Agrisens of Madison, a soil nutrient sensor; SmartTriage Pod of Madison, an AI-based emergency room solution; Stempath of Madison, an AI-based human resources solution; and Tailored Remedy of Milwaukee, an AI-based medical information tool.