WisBusiness: UW launches peer problem-solving network for entrepreneurs

By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com

Entrepreneurs have reputations as being a finicky bunch.

They can be great idea people, but struggle with getting their companies off the ground. Then, once they get beyond survival stage, many are loathe to take advice from consultants or academics.

But the people they usually will listen to are fellow entrepreneurs who have gone through – or are currently experiencing – many of the same difficulties they face.

That’s the concept behind the Wisconsin PeerSpectives Network, a program launched recently by Small Business Development Centers at several University of Wisconsin campuses. The effort is backed with scholarships from the state Commerce Department.

The university will offer a special "demo" meeting for top executives of growth-oriented southeast Wisconsin companies from 8 a.m.to 10 a.m. Sept. 16 in Waukesha at the MRA Building, N19 W24400 Riverwood Drive, Waukesha.

Debra Malewicki, director of Business Outreach Services at UW-Whitewater, said the peer-to-peer problem-solving sessions of eight to 12 non-competing entrepreneurs have a proven record of success.

She said the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center network is working with the Edward Lowe Foundation, a Michigan-based not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to champion the entrepreneurial spirit.

Malewicki said PeerSpectives uses a structured method of group problem solving and idea generation to spark creative solutions to difficult problems. Each group is led by a trained facilitator.

"This is not another training program, speaker-focused seminar, or a free-for-all discussion with limited results," she said.

Malewicki said after issues are discussed, participants can talk about experiences.

"Nobody will be saying ‘you should’ do this or that," she said. “Entrepreneurs can have driving personalities, but the facilitators train them not to give advice."

Malewicki said topics can range from personnel problems to marketing, advertising, increasing sales, legal compliance, production and expanding market share. Group members are committed to confidentiality.

Malewicki said a key feature to the program is that participants are held accountable.

"Just talking about a problem isn’t enough," she said. "They have to actually deal with the issue or they will hear about it from their peers in the next sessions."

Participants meet about 10 times over a 12-month period.

She said one group may start soon in Madison, with others planned for the Milwaukee area and a third in Rock County.

Eligible companies are growth-oriented, second-stage companies which are:

  • Privately held
  • Past the start-up stage and currently growing
  • Facing issues of growth rather than survival
  • Generating between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or have acquired working capital in that range
  • Employing 6 or more people.

Each company may only have one participant join the PeerSpectives Network roundtables. This person must be the CEO, president, owner or other principal who is the business leader of the company.

The annual fee for participation in a Wisconsin PeerSpectives Network group is $1,500. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce is offering scholarships that will reimburse 75 percent of the cost to eligible participants making the final cost $375 for the first year.

For more information on the program, read the brochure at Wisconsin PeerSpectives Network. Registration closes Sept. 8. Contact Debra Malewicki at malewicd@uww.edu or call (262) 472-1366.