Wisconsin Technology Council: Veteran entrepreneur Joos will speak, coach during Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium

Contact: Liz Schrum or Tom Still at 608-442-7557

Or visit http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com to learn more

MADISON – The co-founder of Garage Technology Ventures will discuss the “Top 10 mistakes made in business plans” in a keynote speech at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

Bill Joos, who founded Garage Technology Ventures along with Guy Kawasaki and once headed up the sales effort at Apple Computer’s software division, will speak 8:30 a.m. Nov. 10 and then conduct a seminar on how entrepreneurs can polish and refine their fundraising and customer presentations.

More than 20,000 entrepreneurs worldwide have attended conferences where Joos, now the principal of Go To Market Consulting of Palo Alto, Calif., has spoken or coached on market strategies, revenue and pricing, business alliances, business development, partnerships and more.

“We’re excited that Bill Joos will be able to kick off the Early Stage Symposium and then build upon his remarks by leading a workshop for entrepreneurs,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, which is producing the conference. “Joos has worked with literally hundreds of early to mid-stage, high startups, as well as venture capital firms and their clients. He’s a ‘pitch doctor’ and a whole lot more.”

The annual conference, which has existed under different names for more than 20 years, will feature the fifth annual “Elevator Pitch Olympics” for companies in a seed financing stage and the third annual Wisconsin Angel Network Early Stage presentation track for companies seeking angel investments beginning in the $500,000 range.

Twenty-two companies were selected for the WAN track (Tuesday, Nov. 10) and 18 for the Elevator Pitch Olympics (Wednesday, Nov. 11). Companies in the WAN track feature technologies in major sectors: information technology and Internet services, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing and “cleantech.” These companies are located in communities across Wisconsin as well as other Midwestern states.

In addition, 20 Wisconsin companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and industrial biotech industries will be among 49 companies presenting at the MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum, which will be held back-to-back with the Early Stage Symposium at the Monona Terrace. The MHVF is an annual event led by the MidAmerica Health Investors Network, which includes 45 venture capital firms from 14 states as members. MHVF sought presenters in a 14-state region. Click here to read more.

“In all, nearly 90 companies will have a chance to present to investors attending one or both conferences,” Still said.

The Early Stage Symposium will also feature nationally known speakers and panelists, the “First Look Forum” for pre-commercial, campus-based discoveries and a dinner honoring Wisconsin’s winners of SBIR and STTR grants. Participants in the angel and “Elevator Pitch” tracks will also be eligible to take part in presentation training seminars.

The conference is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council and its partners and sponsors. Visit http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/earlystage to register, review sponsorship opportunities or to learn more.

News media representatives may contact Joos through Liz Schrum at 608-442-7557 or lschrum@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com