Four years ago the Wisconsin Angel Network launched a
new initiative in collaboration with the State Bar of
Wisconsin and Wisconsin's leading business attorneys to
uncover how many early stage investment deals occur
outside angel networks in Wisconsin. The result is
Wisconsin leads the nation in tracking early stage
investments. Last year a total of $147 million in 36
deals were reported and garnered much needed national
exposure for our state, follow this
link to a compilation of reports and articles.
The effort to track down 2008
investments is currently underway with attorneys from
around the state reporting aggregate numbers on
investment deals they have led for entrepreneurs. Follow
this link to more information on the initiative
including a downloadable reporting form and graphic
representation of early verses later stage deals.
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2009 BPC - Jan. 31 Deadline
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The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest
is accepting entries online for the 2009
competition. To enter, submit your 250-word IDEA
Abstract now through 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2009. The
contest's Grand Prize is worth $50,000 in cash and
services.
Participants have the chance
to win seed capital and valuable services that
will help them launch or grow their businesses.
Wisconsin residents 18 years old and older are
eligible, as are teams from Wisconsin-based
businesses and organizations. Entries from outside
Wisconsin from people or companies planning to
relocate in the state may be accepted. The contest
is free to enter at www.govsbizplancontest.com.
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Early Stage Tax Credits |
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Wisconsin's investor tax
credits law, which took effect four years ago, has
been cited as a national model - but improvements
have been suggested by the Tech Council, the
Wisconsin Angel Network and other groups. With 25
percent credits spread over two years, the Act 255
investor tax credits program has helped to nearly
triple early stage investments by angel investors
and venture capitalists in Wisconsin companies. In
2007, reported early stage investments in
Wisconsin reached $147 million, with the dollars
spread over scores of deals in high-growth
businesses ranging from advanced manufacturing to
biotechnology to information technology.
Watch
an online video recorded during the Jan. 20
WIN-Madison meeting featuring Act 255 and a
discussing on the merits of expanding the
program.
To read the Tech Council's
2008-2009 recommendations for improvements in the
law, visit www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.
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Triathlon Medical Ventures |
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Triathlon Medical Ventures is
the latest investment group to join the Wisconsin
Angel Network. Based in the Midwest, Triathlon is
a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in
the life sciences. The firm's focus is early and
expansion stage companies with proprietary
biomedical technology platforms or products
addressing significant human healthcare needs.
Learn more about Triathlon on their website, www.tmvp.com.
Triathlon joins WAN's 28
other investor-members with exclusive access to
the WAN Deal-flow Pipeline. Entrepreneurs, want
Triathlon to review your deal? Logon
to the WAN Deal-flow Pipeline and upload your
information.
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Midwest Investors Cross State Borders
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A panel of early stage
investors with Midwest offices and national reach
will talk about what they're seeking in the
marketplace - and how Wisconsin companies might
fit the bill - at the Feb. 12 meeting of the
Wisconsin Innovation Network's Milwaukee-area
chapter.
The panelists are:
- Carrie Bates, managing partner, Triathlon
Medical Ventures, Indianapolis
- Caralynn Nowinski, associate, Midwest
Venture Partners, Chicago
- Bob Okabe, co-founder and managing director
of RPX Group, Chicago
- Eric Olson, associate, DFJ Portage Ventures,
Chicago
The panelists will compare
and contrast their local early stage investment
climate to Wisconsin. They will share insights on
why they are interested in investing in Wisconsin
companies and what companies around the state can
do to attract out-of-state investors. For more
information, click
here.
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Deals, Acquisitions and Exits
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Mithridion
raised $2.9 million from Venture Investors*, SWIB,
Wisconsin Investment Partners* and Rocket
Ventures, read
more.
*WAN
Investor-members
Other
News:
Eso-Technologies received a
$100,000 loan from Wisconsin, read
more.
Tech Council report on the
value of academic R&D released, read
more.
Are we missing a deal or other news? Please
e-mail us at info@wisconsinangelnetwork.com.
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