Tech Council Current - August 12 edition

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August 12, 2021

Dear readers:

Remember Elizabeth Anne Holmes, the California tech company CEO who was charged in 2018 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with defrauding investors? Unfortunately, Wisconsin may have its own mini-version in Blessing Egbon of Milwaukee-based Exit 7C, who the SEC says faked his success, lied to investors and spent their millions on looking successful. It’s a story that will contain lessons for investors and entrepreneurs alike as more unfolds. See our news section below. Also below, read about upcoming events and more!

Sincerely, Tom Still
President, Wisconsin Technology Council

Wisconsin has 126 hospitals generally spread around the state, serving communities large and small and contributing close to $50 billion per year to the economy while treating patients of all ages and conditions – usually with few questions asked when a sick person shows up at the emergency room door.

So why are some policymakers choosing to make it more difficult for those hospitals to run their own businesses at a time when many are swamped with COVID-19 patients? Read the full column her e.

Describe your mission and goals with your new role at Madison Region Economic Partnership.

As vice president of economic development, (big title, big job!) I will lead attraction efforts or “selling” the Madison Region to potential employers. That includes everything from making sure we’re putting out best foot forward on the national stage to helping companies find the right property/community to locate here. I’ll specifically be focused on growing our key industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Information Communications Technology and Bioscience. Read more about Kathy Collins and our other member spotlights.

The latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show” spotlights Christian Timm, who won the Advanced Manufacturing category of the 2021 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest with his pitch about the capabilities of SmartWell.

Listen to Timm’s presentation at the recent Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference to a live audience. SmartWell eliminates the need to open a sealed well for monitoring or maintenance by placing a remote monitor in the well to track well levels, water usage and replenishment, and monitor pump activity and health. Click here to watch the episode.

The Main Street Bounceback Grants program provides $10,000 to new or existing businesses and non-profit organizations moving into vacant properties in Wisconsin’s downtowns and commercial corridors. Funds can be used to pay leases or mortgages, operational expenses and other business costs related to the newly opened location. The program is open to new or existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space as of January 1, 2021. Grant funds are available as part of the American Recovery Plan Act and will be distributed by WEDC’s regional partners. Businesses must apply through the partner organization for the region in which they are located.

Not since the dawn of the space age has so much attention been paid to what is happening in the “near space” of Earth’s atmosphere as well as the galaxies and star systems far beyond the current reach of manned exploration. Join us Tuesday, Sept. 14 for an in-person luncheon at the renovated Sheraton. Panelists are Steve Ackerman, vice chancellor for research and graduate education and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the UW-Madison; and Eric Wilcots, dean of the College of Letters and Science and Mary C. Jacoby professor of Astronomy at the UW-Madison. Click here to learn more and register.

Have an opening? Let us know: It's a complimentary member benefit to list your openings!
Please look through our listings for openings and opportunities updated weekly.
Email Laura@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com to have yours included.

This week features opportunities with Marshfield Clinic, Greater Green Bay Chamber, First Business Bank, Ziegler, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Versiti, Kiio and WiSys.

Journal Sentinel: Supporters of fund of funds proposal hoping for standalone bill later this year
Legislature Fiscal Bureau: Venture Capital Fund of Funds Program (WEDC)
MKE Business Journal: Wis. lawmakers omit $100 million venture fund from latest budget; experts say there are other paths forward
Tom Still: Need for 'fund of funds' in Wis. remains in wake of state budget committee's decision

Seventy-five people and organizations support the state budget proposal to invest in a venture capital “fund of funds” much like those in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and other states.
Want to join us? All we need for now is your name, your logo (if you have one) and your willingness to tell your state legislators why it’s good for Wisconsin.

Visit the website: wisconsinfundcoalition.com. Contact: James Fenley at jfenley@thesjlgroup.com

The mission of the WHBF is to foster and promote one of Wisconsin’s most valuable assets – its high-quality, highly innovative healthcare sector. It will accomplish the mission by creating a forum for members of the business community, hospitals, health systems and others to communicate about challenges and work collaboratively to improve the health and wellness of their employees while better managing costs. Click here to learn more about the WHBF.

Department of Health Services update – Click here to access all current DHS data.

52.9% of total eligible Wisconsin residents have received first dose, 49.8% of have completed their series and 82% of 65+ residents are fully vaccinated. 30.4% of Wisconsin 12- to 15 year-olds are fully vaccinated. Dane County continues to be a country-wide leader in vaccination rates with 82.7% of adults receiving at least one dose.

> With COVID-19 cases rising, getting vaccinated is highly recommended to stop the spread.

Find in-state pharmacies and community clinics offering the vaccine.

The Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit is designed to give Wisconsin innovators a guide to resources available in Wisconsin and beyond. Resources include: Getting started, finding money, locating your business, education and tech transfer, regulations, networking and selling to government with a dedicated section for women, minorities, tribes and veterans. Click here to access our Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit.

UW-Madison’s Innovate Network offers Biotech Spotlight: AI & Advanced Computing Driving Innovation in Biohealth on Monday, August 16. Hear from some of the region’s most innovative startups working in the intersection of biotech and computing.
StartingBlock presents Brews and Views Open House on Tuesday, August 17. Meet the team and the board of directors while learning about services, events and their ecosystem mission.
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce’s Pressure Chamber pitches are Wednesday, August 18, followed by a networking happy hour. Our five finalist companies are Advocate MD, eCIO, Mobile22, Nano RED and Pivotal Health.
Quarles & Brady offers Force Majeure and Supply Chain Disruption in the COVID-19 Era webinar on Thursday, August 19. This session is designed for in-house counsel, corporate executives, and industry professionals.
WARF’s annual Innovation Day: Save the Date: Get an inside look at UW-Madison products, services and technologies that will shape the future of our world on Tuesday, November 2.

WisconsinINNO is accepting applications for the 4^th annual ‘Inno Under 25 awards.’ Submit nominations for young founders, technologists, and innovators by August 15! You can read more details here, including past years’ lists.
SPARC is a 10-week training program for Black, Hispanic, and woman owned businesses that want to GROW. Ideal applicants should have annual revenues between $100k and $1M.
WiSys VentureHome’s Level Up! is an action-oriented, 5-month program to help you take your scalable business or idea to the next level. Applications are now being accepted for the next cohort.
Igniter from Discovery to Product (D2P) is an intensive 14-week course for campus innovators, due September 20
The Creative Destruction Lab Course offers mentoring, high-potential ventures and investment decisions exposure

Experience for yourself why the Innovation Network has been a Tech Council tradition for more than a decade. With more than two-dozen events annually, you'll expand your network while learning from top-notch speakers at a variety of events. When you become a member, your membership applies to all chapters, statewide.

Your $750 Investor Networks membership entitles you to one free pass to our two major conferences (Entrepreneurs' Conference and Early Stage Symposium), as well as regular Tech Council Innovation Network events.

Please contact Angela Schlobohm, development & member relations director about Innovation Network membership: angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com and Investor Networks director Joe Kremer at joe@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

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We can't wait to welcome you back to in-person Tech Council luncheons.
Click here to add these dates to your calendar!

ECONOMY
MKE Business Journal: Delta variant has many companies rethinking the return to work
Engage Greater La Crosse: Wisconsin jobs climbing, still not back where they were
WisBusiness: MMAC details the economic recovery of Wisconsin’s largest city
Wisconsin State Journal: UW-Madison not expecting to receive $100 million gift Foxconn pledged
MKE Business Journal: Health systems, universities collaborate to improve jobs, small business economy

ENTREPRENEURS + INNOVATION
RedFox AI launches 'V Lab Digital Assistant'
WisconsinINNO: eCourt Reporters makes legal proceedings more efficient
Wall Street Journal: Innovation moves to Middle America bringing solutions, not just apps
Innovate 608: Artist-driven music-sharing app LÜM has seen huge growth
WisBusiness: Flambeau Diagnostics seeking FDA approval for mobile testing platform
BusinessWire: MetroNet to make La Crosse, Wisconsin a gigabit city
WisconsinINNO: Avidity Science expands RFID capabilities with acquisition
CBInsights: The top 12 reasons startups fail, but founders lie to themselves

INVESTING
Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Exit 7C founder fleeced mentors and investors
WisconsinINNO: Gateway Capital closed first fund at $13.5 million
“WisBusiness: the Podcast” with Jon Horne, managing director of the Idea Fund of La Crosse
Madison Startups: Northwestern Mutual Creates $100 million Impact Fund
MKE Business Journal: Frontdesk raises $7 million, giving space to Milwaukee startups

HEALTH
WisBusiness, WisPolitics Health Care Report for August 11
MKE Business Journal: Delta variant has many companies rethinking the return to work
WISN: UW Health to take part in pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial
WisBusiness: NorthStar Medical, GE Healthcare have signed an exclusive agreement
WPR: The Delta variant is surging. Here's how Wisconsinites can help stop its spread
WISN: More children get hospitalized during the delta variant surge
EHRN: COVID-vaccinated mothers less likely to have premature birth than unvaccinated mothers
WisBusiness: FluGen's 'human challenge' study show positive results

EDUCATION
EdWeek: More schools are doing systemic COVID testing. Will it work?
DHS releases new and updated resources for schools to keep students safe
WPR: There are more teaching jobs in southeast Wisconsin than grads to fill them
Post Crescent: Wisconsin officials 'strongly recommend' that schools require masks, many won't

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