As the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference kicks off today in Middleton, a new report from the Wisconsin Angel Network finds Wisconsin companies raised more than $163 million in early stage funding in 2012, a 7 percent jump from 2011.
Among the largest deals reported in the state were $20 million-plus venture capital investments in CalStar Products, a Racine company that develops and manufactures sustainable building products, and Cellular Dynamics, a Madison producer of stem cells.
Today’s portion of the entrepreneurs’ conference kicks off with a keynote from Jason Lucash of OrigAudio, plus breakout sessions on topics ranging from building a board of directors to avoiding killer startup mistakes.
At lunchtime, Fred Foster, co-founder and CEO of Electronic Theatre Controls Inc., will be presented with the Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” Award.
In the afternoon, the Top 12 finalists in the 2013 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest will have seven-minute presentations in front of live judging.
