MADISON, Wis. – The proposed cuts to the National Institute of Health research funding will not only hit home with researchers in major institutions but will have a trickle-down effect in the supply chain. Learn more on impact on the afternoon of June 5 at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.
The two-day, annual conference begins the afternoon of June 4 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. It returns to Wisconsin’s capital city to celebrate the region’s rise as a startup and scale-up hub within the Midwest.
Registration is open at witrepsconference.com or linked here. Online registration closes at noon on Monday, June 2. Walk-in registrations are welcome, but pre-registration online is highly encouraged.
Panelists include Max Duckworth, director of Abingdon Health USA; Jenni Le, principal of Venture Investors Health Fund; and Dennis Winters, chief economist at the state Department of Workforce Development and formerly part of the team at NorthStar Economics, a private firm. The panel will examine how such reductions in federal research funding may hit home in Wisconsin in ways that go beyond reducing basic research.
“Proposed cuts in NIH research funding will not only hit home with researchers in major institutions in Wisconsin but will have a trickle-down effect in the supply chain that stems from it,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Will there be fewer life science startups, fewer investments, fewer jobs, fewer building projects? There’s also the general effect on human health. How does one measure the long-term consequences of diagnostics and therapies that may never happen? We hope this panel can help define the possibilities.”
Students, veterans and entrepreneurs whose companies are three years old and under can attend the two-day conference for $79; the general admission rate is $279. More information on all other fees can be found at witrepsconference.com.
“Building bridges for Wisconsin’s emerging economy” is the conference theme, which underscores that entrepreneurs from across the state can showcase their ideas, services and technologies. Detailed session information is posted at witrepsconference.com.
Produced by the Tech Council, the Entrepreneurs’ Conference is among the largest and most affordable events for entrepreneurs and early stage investors in the Upper Midwest. Other highlights are:
- Hear from Exact Science’s chairman and chief executive officer Kevin Conroy during his keynote talk the morning of June 5;
- Listen to entrepreneur and analyst Scott Becker over lunch June 5,during which each attendee will receive a free copy of Becker’s book, “The Entrepreneur’s Edge;”
- “Diligent (Baker’s) Dozen”: Top 13 finalists from the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off on the afternoon of June 4;
- An investor-only meeting on the afternoon of June 4;
- “Open Mic” pitches featuring 30 entrepreneurs from across Wisconsin;
- Organized networking to connect, collaborate and grow companies
- Governor’s Business Plan Contest “Diligent (Baker’s) Dozen” awards announcements June 5;
- Innovation Showcase featuring exhibits from Wisconsin companies, and;
- Plenty of chances to network with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors over food and refreshments, including a June 4 reception on the roof of Monona Terrace, weather permitting.
Sponsors thus far are: Affiliated Engineers, Amazon, Apple, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, ATC, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, Business Fitness, Center for Technology Commercialization, City of Fitchburg, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Dairyland Power Cooperative, DeWitt, Findorff, Fine Point Consulting, First Business Bank, Foley & Lardner, Godfrey & Kahn, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, J.P. Morgan, Kimberly-Clark, Kinetic Compliance Solutions, Madison College, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Michael Best, Microsoft, Neider & Boucher, Novii CPA, Perkins Coie, PetBliss, Quarles & Brady, Raven Software, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Rockwell Automation, SustainableHR PEO, Technology Innovation Center – Milwaukee, UMOS One Workforce-TechStars, University Research Park, UW-Madison Center for Dairy Research, UW-Madison College of Engineering, UW-Madison Dept. of Computer Sciences, UW-Madison Discovery to Product, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, UWM Research Foundation, VC3, Venture Investors, Whitewater University Innovation Center, WIPFLi, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Wisconsin Technical College System and Yahara Software.
To become a sponsor, contact Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. For more information, visit witrepsconference.com or call 608-442-7557.
