By Amanda Ciesielczyk
For WisBusiness.com
Entrepreneurial leaders are due to discuss stimulating Wisconsin’s economic growth at today’s meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network’s Milwaukee chapter.
Dan Steininger, president of Steininger and Associates, will present an overview of both Successful Entrepreneurs Investors (SEI) and the newly launched BizStarts Milwaukee.
Wisconsin ranks 48th in the nation in the number of start-up companies and 43rd among the states in job growth.
“The Milwaukee region ranks in the bottom one-third of metropolitan areas for business start-ups and venture and angel investments,” said Steininger, “BizStarts aims to start 50 new companies by the end of 2010.”
SEI connects entrepreneurs with resources such as the Wisconsin Angel Network, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network and the Wisconsin Innovation Network and has already proven itself as a platform for potential high-growth companies to present their business plans to obtain capital.
Steininger says the the long term goals of BizStarts are to, “establish a continual flow of new companies, motivate young entrepreneurs, increase the number of jobs created by fast growth start-ups and increase the growth in regional per capita income.”
BizStarts’ president John Torinus says BizStarts will accomplish its mission by setting up a network to connect entrepreneurs with a wide range of resources. BizStarts will also implement a broad start-up initiative to create an entrepreneurial culture in southern Wisconsin.
“BizStarts will be the catalyst that surrounds Milwaukee entrepreneurs with the resources they need,” said Torinus, “It will create a buzz about new enterprises.”
“BizStarts will be loosely affiliated with Successful Entrepreneur Investors,” Steininger said. “But will have no role in the funding of new enterprises. It will help enterpreneurs connect to angel, venture investors and bank lenders.”
BizStarts business leaders say the corporation will help southern Wisconsin innovators jumpstart their early stage businesses and ideas.
The October WIN meeting will be held at the Brookfield Suites Hotel and Convention Center. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the presentation starts at 12:30 p.m. To register, go to http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/win.
