Fear and greed are the drivers of the
market, according to Michael Roth of Stark investments.
Roth, whose firm has $12 billion in assets under
management, presented to the Milwaukee chapter of the
Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN).
He believes the market will begin a comeback, in
earnest, when investors feel stability has returned.
Once that occurs, the desire to "get a deal," a.k.a. the
greed factor, will drive the market up.
Read press coverage of the WIN-Milwaukee
meeting by the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel and the Business
Journal.
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2008 Early Stage Symposium |
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Nearly 500 people, including 60 investors,
attended the 2008 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
held Nov. 5-6 in Madison. Forty-one companies
presented in various forums. Follow this
link to a sampling of news coverage about the
event and on-demand video of many panels and
presentations.
Investors, if you are a
member of the WAN, you have access to the
executive summaries and business plans from many
of this year's presenting companies. Logon to the
Deal-flow
Pipeline and open the "ESS applicant"
folder.
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Investment tax credits |
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A discussion is currently
taking place regarding the expansion of
Wisconsin's early stage tax credits. The state
provides a 25 percent credit to investors in
Qualified New Business Ventures (QNBV). Follow this
link to the official QNBV website to learn
more about the program.
Two recent news
columns detail the importance of investor tax
credits in Wisconsin. Follow this
link to the articles by Tom Still, president
of the Wisconsin Technology Council, and John
Torinus, chairman of Serigraph Inc.
Also
within the I-Q
Corridor, Minnesota is considering a new
economic stimulus initiative, including investment
tax credits. Follow this
link to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's recent
announcement.
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Canada's expanding angel market
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Two and a half years ago the
New Brunswick Securities Commission contacted the
Wisconsin Angel Network in search of initiatives
to fuel the growth of the Maritime provinces'
early stage investment market. Recently the National
Angel Capital Organization (NAO), Canada's
national trade organization for angel investors,
held its annual conference in Halifax, Nova
Scotia, highlighting the success of the Maritime
provinces' fast-growing angel market.
Follow this
link to the latest information on Canada's
early stage market, including a panel discussion
from the NAO's 2008 conference titled
Sustainability of Angel Networks with Joe
Kremer, director of the Wisconsin Angel
Network.
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Lake Superior Angel Network
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On December 9 in Superior an
informational meeting will be held for prospective
members of the new Lake Superior Angel Network.
The meeting is open only to accredited
investors, as defined by the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission. The new group will review
and invest in early stage ventures and serve as
the "champion" for regional, entrepreneurial
talent seeking start-up capital.
For
more information, contact Joe Kremer, WAN
director, at (608) 442-7557 or jkremer@wisconsinangelnetwork.com.
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Deals, Acquisitions and Exits
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Cellular Dynamics
International, Inc., $18 million from Tactics
II Stem Cell
Ventures LP, Tactics II
Ventures LP and WARF.
Alice.com, $4.2
million from Kegonsa Capital*, DaneVest Tech Fund*
and
individual investors. Read
more.
Perscitus Biosciences, LLC,
$115,000 from individual investors.
Other
News:
Perscitus Biosciences, LLC won
a $110,000 SBIR grant from NCI.
ConjuGon,
Inc. awarded $2.4 million by the Defense
Department, read
more.
FluGen, Inc. received a
$250,000 loan from the state, read
more.
Baird Capital Partners is
launching a new fund, read
more.
Are we missing a deal or other news? Please
e-mail us at info@wisconsinangelnetwork.com.
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