Wisconsin Technology Council: Investor, lawyer Joe Hildebrandt is 2022 inductee to Tech Council’s ‘Investor Hall of Fame’

MADISON, Wis. – Joe Hildebrandt, who has invested in more than 80 private companies and co-founded two Wisconsin early stage funds, will be inducted into the Wisconsin Technology Council’s “George Mosher Memorial Investor Hall of Fame” during the Nov. 9-10  Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

Hildebrandt is also known for helping to write legislation that established investor tax credits in Wisconsin and to modernize other rules critical to young companies.

He will be honored Nov. 9 at a dinner with fellow investors from across Wisconsin, the Upper Midwest and beyond. The dinner is sponsored by Baird Capital and Signature Bank.

The “Investor Hall of Fame” was established by the Tech Council to highlight the importance of angel and venture investors to the early stage economy. It was renamed in 2019 in honor of the late George Mosher, one of the first inductees and a prolific angel investor.

Hildebrandt was co-founder and managing director of DaneVest Tech Fund and Phenomenelle Angels Fund, and remains active in Wisconsin Investment Partners. He is a partner emeritus at Foley & Lardner LLP, where he was founder and chair of the firm’s Emerging Companies/Venture Capital Team and founder/co-chair of its Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice.

Over his 30-year career, Hildebrandt structured about 350 private placement offers, was vice president of a small investment brokerage firm and served a similar role in a small hedge fund.

“Joe Hildebrandt has been at the core of Wisconsin’s early stage economy for decades, working with and investing in young companies, and serving as a trusted public policy advisor,” said Tom Still, president of the Tech Council. “Through his quiet, patient style, Hildebrandt has consistently stepped forward to help young companies and entrepreneurs.” 

He joins past Hall of Fame inductees Dick Leazer, Wisconsin Investment Partners; the late George Mosher; the late Roger Ganser, Venture Investors; Jeff Rusinow, Silicon Pastures; the late Carl Gulbrandsen, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Tom Shannon, BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation; John Neis, Venture Investors; Jan Eddy, Phenomenelle Angels, Tim Keane, Golden Angels Investors; and Bob Wood, Wisconsin Investment Partners.

General registration is now open by clicking here!

The conference will also feature:

  • Forty presentations and the “Investor Intros” speed-dating segment, which will involve at least three-dozen investor groups.
  • Keynote speaker Bobby Franklin, president and chief executive officer of the National Venture Capital Association.
  • Presentation of the “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award to Joe Kirgues and Troy Vosseler, co-founders of gener8tor.
  • A plenary panel on the National Science Foundation’s “Regional Innovation Engine” program featuring three applicant teams for federal grants.
  • Six panel discussions on early stage issues facing entrepreneurs and investors.
  • “Office Hours,” offering the opportunity to meet with subject experts on a variety of topics in small discussion groups or one-on-one.
  • A Nov. 9 evening conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities.

The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors thus far include: Aberdean ConsultingAdvocate Aurora HealthAmerican Family Insurance, American Transmission Co.Arrowhead PharmaceuticalsAT&TBaird CapitalBaker Tilly, BDOCity of FitchburgConcordia UniversityDeWittEUAExact SciencesFindorffFirst Business BankFoley & LardnerGodfrey & KahnGoogleHealthX VenturesHusch BlackwellInsperityKW2M3 InsuranceMadison Development Corp.Madison Gas & ElectricMakin’ Hey CommunicationsMarquette UniversityMichael BestMobile22Morgridge Institute for ResearchN29 Capital PartnersNeider & BoucherOne City SchoolsQuarles & BradyReinhart Boerner Van DeurenRSM USSustainableHR PEOState of Wisconsin Investment BoardTDS, Tech Council board member Susan Healy, Technology Innovation Center – MilwaukeeUMOS One Workforce – TechStarsUniversity Research ParkUW HealthUWM Research FoundationUW-Madison Computer SciencesUW-Madison Office of Business EngagementVenture InvestorsVersitiWisconsin Alumni Research FoundationWisconsin Economic Development Corp., WIPFLiWisconsin Dept. of Financial InstitutionsWisconsin Investment PartnersWiSysYahara Software and Ziegler.

To learn more about sponsorship information, please reach out to Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com