Wisconsin Biotechnology & Medical Device Association (WBMA)
Manchester Place-Capitol Square
2 E. Mifflin St., Suite 600
Madison, WI 53703
www.wisbiomed.org
wisbiomed@dewittross.com
Contact: Jim Leonhart, WBMA Executive Vice President, 608-252-9338
In September 2007, the Midwest’s largest life science venture conference will be held in Milwaukee. The BIO Mid-America VentureForum is co-sponsored by the national Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and ten Midwest state life science associations lead by the Wisconsin Biotechnology & Medical Device Association (WBMA). The event will bring more than 500 attendees and up to 90 national venture capitalists to what Entrepreneur Magazine has called one of the top 20 “hottest” large cities in the United States for entrepreneurs. The 2007 event will be the fifth in a series of annual regional biotech venture forums.
During the three-day 2007 event, up to 100 companies from the Midwest will have the opportunity to raise funds by presenting their business plans to the venture capital world. At the September 2005 event in Minneapolis, Wisconsin companies presenting were Conjugon, EraGen Biosciences, Inc., Lucigen Corporation, NeoClone, OpGen, Inc., Renovar,Inc. and Wicab. They interfaced with 70 venture capitalists.
Over the years, attendance has increased significantly, and the number of venture capitalists, especially those from the East and West Coasts, has increased dramatically. In 2004 in St. Louis, there were nearly 400 attendees and 40 venture capitalists in attendance. Companies who presented in St. Louis have secured over $89 million in funding. A large share of that, $20 million, went to Wisconsin companies.
According to WBMA Executive Vice President James L. Leonhart, “The WBMA is exceedingly pleased that BIO has decided to hold this premier venture capital event in Wisconsin. It could not have happened without great teamwork from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Technology Council, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, Visit Milwaukee, WE Energies, and TechStar. Dan Broderick, Managing Partner of Mason Wells and a member of the WBMA Board of Directors, spearheaded this effort to attract the 2007 event to Wisconsin. Broderick stated that, “This is a huge opportunity for Milwaukee and for Wisconsin. We can provide a backyard opportunity for our companies and, at the same time, show the country what we are creating here.”
