Coming Soon - Venture Track will be launched in late 2008. Keep checking here for more information.
Venture Track is designed to support existing and future high-growth, innovative companies. Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply to be accepted and get more information.
Venture Track provides strategic connections and information for fast growth companies to help them grow and prepare to raise capital. Venture Track does not make financial investments in companies.
Venture Track has two main components: an"Entrepreneur 2.0" network community, and a Venture Track Program Path.
The program path consists of a suite of hands-on mentoring, training programs, and events that assist entrepreneurs at different stages of their company, from the idea stage through early stages of funding, by providing mentors and instruction. The programs provide entrepreneurs with tools to evaluate their ideas, refine their business concepts, develop business plans, make strategic connections, and raise capital. BizStarts Milwaukee helps each entrepreneur identify those elements of the program that will uniquely suit their business needs.
"Entrepreneur 2.0" will be an innovative virtual community that will allow entrepreneurs, service providers, technology specialists, investors, and others who want to actively participate in building the innovation economy in the Milwaukee 7 region to make connections, share information, and help build exciting new businesses. Those interested in helping to create this virtual community can contact us by email.
To get this rolling, watch for monthly networking events starting Winter 2008-09. These will provide a time to network with other entrepreneurs, technology specialists, investors, coaches and mentors, and service providers. Check the events calendar for announcements for these meetings.
Venture Track Program Path:
- Innovator's Workshops
- FastTrac Tech
- Human Capital Connections
- Capital Connections
Innovator’s Workshops
Innovator’s Workshops are open to entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs who meet the Venture Track criteria and are recommended by BizStarts Milwaukee. The workshops are designed to help entrepreneurs and innovators evaluate the business feasibility of their ideas.
These interactive workshops cover financial management, venture and angel investment criteria, how to identify and evaluate markets, entrepreneurial mindset, risk-reward relationships, investment trends, and how to become involved in the entrepreneurial network. Upon completion, participants should be able to make the decision whether or not to pursue the new venture creation.
Innovator’s Workshops are lead by accomplished entrepreneurs, service providers and investors through panels, discussions and small break-out workshops that provide introductions to key players in the entrepreneurial network.
FastTrac Tech
FastTrac Tech is a comprehensive entrepreneurial training program run by successful entrepreneurs and service providers for entrepreneurs starting or growing innovation-based businesses, including but not limited to technology transfers and corporate spin-outs or licensees. FastTrac Tech develops critical entrepreneurial skills and networks for innovators whose ideas and market opportunities will demand significant external financing from investors, strategic partners and/or other external sources. In fastTrac Tech, entrepreneurs will create and/or refine their business plans.
Human Capital Connections
When able, BizStarts Milwaukee will assist Venture Track entrepreneurs to find specialized business, scientific or technology advisors, along with board members, mentors, key employees and potential strategic partners. Entrepreneur 2.0 will also facilitate these connections as it develops.
Capital Connections
Entrepreneurs who qualify for this program will be mentored by and showcased to investors from the angel and venture capital communities. Once BizStartsMilwaukee refers a company to Capital Connections, a team consisting of an angel, a venture capitalist, an attorney, an accountant, and a venture-backed entrepreneur is formed to mentor the company. The company supplies the team with a business plan and meets with them at least twice, delivering a 10-minute investment pitch each time. At the first meeting, the team helps the company develop a game plan to address red flags and other emergent issues. At the second meeting, the team offers advice to the company on next steps, potential partners, etc. One of the next steps is to refer the company to angel investing groups in the region and state.
Do You Qualify for Venture Track?
- Are you starting a high-growth, innovative business in information technology, financial services, water technology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, life sciences or another technology field?
- Do you have a fast-growing, innovative business and want to take your business to the next stage?
- High growth companies typically:
- have or will have customers located outside the immediate region.
- have a sustainable competitive advantage such as a patent and/or a unique process, product or service that could be the intellectual basis for a high-growth business.
- will grow at a scalable pace to provide a significant return on investment to investors.
Your Venture Track Application
This application will be reviewed by the BizStarts VentureTrack Team to best determine which Venture Track programs are most appropriate for you based on experience and stage of company development. All submitted materials will be kept absolutely confidential. Send an email with the following information, and someone will be contacting you.
- Name of Co.
- Address
- City
- State
- Zip
- Contact name
- Phone #
- Email address
- Provide a brief description of your business, including the stage of development, and your current needs or planned next steps. Please limit to 250 words.
- Please attach an executive summary if you have one.
Contact us today!