John Torinus

Cleveland's jobs commitment is an enviable model

Knowing that almost all new jobs are created by young companies and that northeastern Ohio desperately needed more jobs, Ray Leach set out to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem, a rich soil that would be hospitable to new ventures.

 

Entrepreneurs insulated from roiling financial markets

The meltdown of the financial and political systems in the United States was the backdrop for a meeting of 250 enthusiastic believers in the power of entrepreneurship at Discovery World last week. More than half of the participants in the kickoff ceremony for BizStarts Milwaukee were entrepreneurs. About a dozen were the great entrepreneurs of the last generation, some of whom are still doing deals. The rest were the entrepreneurs of the 21st century.

 

Entrepreneurship prepares for what we hope will come

One of the best strategic bets for restoring economic vitality to the Milwaukee region, creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, continues to gain momentum.

 

Gale Klappa honored, entrepreneurs and investors mix at BizStarts’ February 4th event

John took it one step further, noting that “the ecosystem we set out to establish is starting to take root” and that “starting a company is almost a patriotic act.”

 

John Torinus interview with Bob Bach of WUWM discussing BizStarts Milwaukee and Venture Track

John Torinus interview with Bob Bach of WUWM discussing BizStarts Milwaukee and Venture Track

 

Mentors are key to start-ups

"What's important is getting the whole community more entrepreneurial," Greenblatt told a group of potential mentors from southeastern Wisconsin. His Venture Mentoring Service is more concerned about creating entrepreneurs in larger numbers than in the deals themselves.

 

Milwaukee area's entrepreneurial culture changing for better

The Public Policy Forum last week assessed the Milwaukee region's embrace of the innovation economy as a "work in progress," but stopped short of prognosis or proscription. Its snapshot, which it distilled into an Innovative Index, gave the four-county metro area what amounted to an incomplete grade, but almost none of its metrics put Milwaukee at or near the top of the pack of six comparable areas.

 

U.S. Department of Commerce Partners with BizStarts Milwaukee

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $458,000 grant to BizStarts Milwaukee, Inc., to advance entrepreneurism in Wisconsin.