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October 21, 2021

Dear readers:

It seems as if there is another headline every day about the ills of social media – but as the recent Facebook outage demonstrated, could society do without social media communication now even if it wanted? We’ll examine our love-hate relationship with social media at our Oct. 26 Tech Council Innovation Network luncheon in Madison. My most recent “Inside Wisconsin” column builds on our Oct. 19 luncheon in Wauwatosa, and you can read more about our superb lineup of speakers, panelists and advisors at the Nov. 3-4 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

And, yes, the Early Stage Symposium will be in-person at Monona Terrace Convention Center. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely, Tom Still
President, Wisconsin Technology Council
The University of Illinois College of Engineering, IBM and state government unveiled plans for a Discovery Accelerator Institute on the Champaign-Urbana campus, with the long-range goal of spurring breakthroughs in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, accelerated materials discovery and sustainability.
 
It may sound like an overgrown science project to some, but it’s aimed at solving national and global problems and introducing products and technology that may find their way into the commercial world, although not necessarily overnight. It will also help students who engage in hands-on work that will better tie them to jobs and careers after graduating. Read the full column here.

From the Jan. 6 Capitol storming to screen-addicted kids, and from genocide in Myanmar to COVID misinformation, social media is being blamed for a host of society’s ills. True, overblown or a little of both? Hear our panel of experts talk about social media’s pluses and minuses. Panelists include Spencer X. Smith, founder of social media marketing firm AmpliPhi, and Karl Rohe, an associate professor of statistics at UW-Madison who works with experts in other departments on understanding polarization and civic renewal. Learn more and register.
This past year, Exact Sciences acquired Thrive Earlier Detection, the only company that has real-world data in an asymptomatic population to support the premise that we can find multiple types of cancer with a simple blood test, called a MCED. The groundbreaking results demonstrate we have the capabilities to move the needle from just 25% of cancers identified through standard of care screening to more than 50% identified with the addition of the blood test. Patients’ lives have already been impacted in meaningful ways. Read the full column here.
Have an opening? Let us know: it's a complementary member benefit to list your openings!
Email Laura@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com to have yours included.

This week's featured opportunities:
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
WiSys
PDS
Venture Investors Health Fund
Rockwell Automation
City of Fitchburg
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Usona Institute (Promega)
Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
AirDeck
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
Department of Health Services update – Click here to access all current DHS data.
Find in-state pharmacies and community clinics offering the vaccine.

57.5% of total eligible Wisconsin residents have received first dose, 54.8% of have completed their series and 83.8% of 65+ residents are fully vaccinated. 44.1% of Wisconsin 12- to 15 year-olds are fully vaccinated. Dane County continues to be a country-wide leader in vaccination rates with 86.2% of adults receiving at least one dose.

With COVID-19 cases still prevalent, getting vaccinated is highly recommended to stop the spread. DHS: New data shows the rate of infection much higher amongst individuals who are not fully vaccinated
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.
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.

Kris Andrews, who was also chief of staff for two former Wisconsin members of Congress during her career, will be available as a point of contact and resource to Tech Council corporate members to provide advice, education and communications services.

This new member-benefit service for corporate Tech Council members comes at a time when there are emerging funding sources at the federal level due to White House, executive agency and congressional actions. Kris can be reached directly at kris@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.
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.
  • WARF Essential Topics: Conflicts of interest in professional careers with UW-Madison legal experts Sam Leinweber and Stephanie Leroy shed light on policies for researchers engaged in outside activities on Monday, October 25 in person.
  • The Tech Council presents Examine society’s love-hate relationship with social media at Tuesday, October 26 luncheon in Madison. Panelists include Spencer X. Smith, founder of social media marketing firm AmpliPhi, and Karl Rohe, an associate professor of statistics at UW-Madison who works with experts in other departments on understanding polarization and civic renewal.
  • WEDC presents a free Lieutenant Governor’s Conference on Small Business Development (virtual) on October 26-27. This two-day business academy is designed for: existing small businesses, individuals thinking of starting a business, and entrepreneurs looking for funding and resources.
  • MKE Tech Hub presents Reverse Pitch MKE on Wednesday, October 27. It’s a unique pitching competition where corporations present business challenges to entrepreneurs and startups in search of the next great solution.
  • Center for Technology Commercialization presents Innovation Funding with the Air Force on Thursday, October 28 featuring David Brown, Air National Guard; Idella Yamben, CTC; Adam Braatz, Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce and Michael Adam, AeroX Accelerator.
  • CDIS Red Talk: Professor Sarada: Is High-Tech Innovation Raising Economic Disparity? occurs virtually on Thursday, October 28. Professor Sarada discusses the economic impact of technology and innovation on people around the world.
  • WARF’s Crossroads of Ideas presents COVID-19 and a Deluge of Data on Tuesday, November 2. Join Caroline Chen, health care reporter for ProPublica and UW–Madison's fall 2021 Science Writer in Residence, and a panel of campus experts: Jordan Ellenberg, Ajay Sethi and Dominique Brossard.
  • WiSys: Finding Funding: Spotlight on the NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award webinar on Wednesday, November 3. The purpose of the Academic Research Enhancement Award is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health, featuring Gina Jahn, Research Development Associate.
  • Nominations are now open for the WisconsinINNO 2021 Fire Awards, seeking tech firms setting the sector ablaze. Submit your nominations by Friday, October 22.
  • WEDC is accepting applications for the Entrepreneurship Partner Grants through Friday, October 29.
  • Gov. Evers, WDVA announce grant application period open through Monday, November 1 for nonprofits that assist, train veteran entrepreneurs
  • Isthmus Project is excited to help you turn your innovative idea into the next great healthcare innovation. Please fill out the submission form. You’ll receive a follow-up shortly after.
  • The National Cancer Institute has released its FY22 Contract Solicitation with a list of 16 topics. Does your tech fit a topic?  Consider CTC's SBIR/STTR Assistance Micro-grant program that supports the hiring of grant consultants.
  • The Creative Destruction Lab Course offers mentoring, high-potential ventures and investment decisions exposure.
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ECONOMY
MKE Business Journal: How COVID-19 is changing jobseeker habits
Tech Ed:[Podcast] How to build a comprehensive approach to economic development: WEDC’s Hughes
Ruder Ware: Social Security Administration announces 5.9% benefit increase for 2022
McKinsey: Women in the Workplace 2021: The state of women hangs in the balance
WEDC: Enterprise Zone credits help power Generac expansion
WisBusiness: Customers will pay up to $65 more per month more for heating this winter
USA Today: Vast majority of businesses temporarily closed in COVID have reopened
WEDC: Sam Rikkers' testimony to the Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy
Journal Times: Foxconn admits biggest hurdle is not knowing how to make cars
MKE Business Journal: Expedient opens data center in former Harley-Davidson building
 
ENTREPRENEURS + INNOVATION
WisconsinINNO: washbnb seeks expansion funding coming out of Techstars
Madison Startups: Imbed Biosciences awarded $800,000 grant
WisconsinINNO: Retham Technologies developed a better test for blood-clotting diseases
Doyenne: Interview with AkkeNeel Talsma of Melius Outcomes
LinkedIn: The pandemic kicked off an entrepreneurial renaissance
WARF: Varsity Venture Studio launches Transfur to address veterinary referral issues
UW System: New grant to advance entrepreneurial mindset in UW-Platteville engineers
Findorff hires Tebrinke as Science & Technology Strategic Advisor
 
INVESTING
MKE Business Journal: Wisconsin startups raised a record $436 million from VCs so far this year
WisBusiness: RehabPulse lands $4.5 million funding round for durable medical equipment
TechCrunch: Missouri’s TripleBlind secures $24 million for privacy-preserving data sharing
ChicagoINNO: Hunt Club raises $10 million to help companies hire smarter
CincyINNO: CinCor Pharma, treating hypertension, lands $143 million Series B
Forbes: How VC partnerships can further open innovation for corporations
Reuters: Four U.S. venture capital funds founded by minority women band together for change
ImpactAlpha: [Podcast] The Indigenous wisdom of lending based on character, not collateral
VentureBeat: Seed-stage cybersecurity companies see investment slowdown
Economist: Femtech firms are at last enjoying an investment boom
Crunchbase: VC investment soars for fertility services even as birthrate dips
 
HEALTH
WisBusiness, WisPolitics Health Care Report for Oct. 20
Madison.com: FDA panel backs booster shot for J&J COVID-19 vaccine
WisBusiness: Demographic trends, vaccine resistance, lack of access driving COVID-19 disparities
STAT: FDA advisory panel unanimously endorses Moderna’s COVID vaccine booster for some
NYTimes: Biden’s plan to vaccinate 5- to 11-year olds forming as approval expected within weeks
WXPR: Retiring healthcare workforce adds to increasing COVID ICU patient stress
WisPolitics: MMAC poll shows majority of businesses aren’t requiring vaccinations
 
EDUCATION
WISN: National food shortage leads to local school lunch menu changes
Wisconsin State Journal: UW-Madison launches Center for DREAMers
UW-Madison: Cranmer chosen to lead American Family Insurance Data Science Institute
MKE Business Journal: Federal proposal for free community college faces chopping block
UW-Milwaukee: Liao awarded $275,000 to expand Water Equipment and Policy Center research
Crunchbase: Why the future of education is just as important as the future of work
>> Press on the October 19 Innovation Network luncheon in Wauwatosa:
WisconsinINNO: University innovation leaders in Wisconsin planning region’s pitch for federal tech hub funding
WisBusiness: Panelists say partnerships between industry and universities key to drive tech growth
WUWM: Engineering school leaders say more federal money for innovation and research might help Wisconsin
We are able to produce our weekly newsletter thanks to our generous ongoing Tech Council Current sponsors. Learn more about them here or by visiting our newsletter page.

American Transmission Co., AT&T, BDO, Dane County Regional Airport, Exact Sciences, Madison College, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
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