The Latest from BizStarts

BizStarts tracks 40th innovative, high-growth company launch since Sept. '08 

Since BizStarts kicked off its efforts on September 30, 2008, we've been tracking launches of the "gazelles" - innovative, high-growth potential companies that meet criteria of a) having an innovative product or service, b) significant sales outside the region, and c) receiving outside investment. Once a slow trickle of companies, the region's entrepreneurial activity is heating up. We celebrate the launch of Golf Pipeline, the 40th "gazelle" we've tracked since we began. See our list of start-ups here - and we're looking forward to growing this list further this year!

BizStarts' Collegiate Business Plan Competition awards over $15,000 to students, welcomes entrepreneur Jami Doucette

Over 130 students, mentors, entrepreneurs and others in the entrepreneurial space gathered at MSOE's Todd Wehr Conference Center for the BizStarts Collegiate Business Plan Competition and Annual Networking Event, sponsored by Mason Wells on Thursday night, celebrating student entrepreneurs and providing $15,000 in cash prizes! Thanks again to the colleges and universities around the region whose students participated in competition, thanks again to Mason Wells, and congratulations to our winner, Scanalytics, Inc.!

Check out all six finalists receiving their cash prizes from BizStarts and Mason Wells:

Thanks also to Inspirational Entrepreneur Jami Doucette, MD, who shared his story of ModernMed and life as an entrepreneur with the audience. Click below to see his presentation! 

Wisconsin moves up in business, entrepreneurial, and incubation rankings

Encouraging signs for entrepreneurship continue in Wisconsin, with Chief Executive magazine's latest survey placing Wisconsin as the 20th best state to do business, up from 41st two years ago. 

Also, once at the near-bottom in the Kauffman Foundation's annual index of entrepreneurial activity, Wisconsin has moved up to 40th in rankings of the U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Read more about it in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

The state also reported a 12% increase in new business formations during Q1 of 2012... get the details here.

And, Wisconsin has jumped from 43rd to 29th in its ranking for business incubation abilities, according to this report from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston.  (Interestingly, Massachusetts was first in its rankings.)

BizStarts Chairman John Torinus' latest blog: "UW-Milwaukee leads reinvention parade"

John Torinus, Chairman of Serigraph, Inc. and BizStarts Milwaukee, writes a regular blog on topics ranging from entrepreneurship to health care. His latest blog explores the dramatic increase in R&D, new patent issues and start-up companies resulting from I.P. (intellectual property) created at UWM. You can subscribe to John’s blog here if you would like to receive regular updates. Please note that John Torinus’ blog is his individual blog, completely independent of BizStarts Milwaukee. The opinions expressed in his blog do not necessarily reflect those of BizStarts Milwaukee.

Fourth and State: Dan Steininger
 

Dan Steininger, president of BizStarts Milwaukee, discusses job creation as part of the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board's Agenda 2012: The 2020 Project. Read more at JSOnline AGENDA 2012: THE 2020 PROJECT Our No. 1 problem

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