Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: Fishidy wins Pressure Chamber Pitch Contest at neXXpo

Contact: Jo-ell Carson, Communications Director, Greater Madison Chamber, at 608-443-1952 or 608-213-1799

Contact: Brian Jensen, President, Fishidy, at 608-836-1500 or 608-215-9743

Fishidy Secures Spot in the Chamber’s Summer Delegation to Silicon Valley to Pitch in Front of Nation’s Leading Venture Capital Firms

MADISON – Fishidy won the first ever Pressure Chamber business pitch contest at the Alliant Energy Center Tuesday afternoon. The contest, similar to ABC’s Shark Tank, drew a crowd of approximately 250 people at neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward, putting the finishing touches on a day that showcased business innovation in Greater Madison.

Brian Jensen, the president at Fishidy said he is looking forward to the opportunity to represent Madison and its entrepreneurial community. “I love this community, and I love the underdog mentality of the entrepreneurs here, said Jensen. “I am excited to head to California and pitch our company to the venture capitalists and shed more exposure on Wisconsin.”

Chamber President Zach Brandon said Fishidy will be a great addition to the Chamber’s meetings with Silicon Valley investors. “Fishidy has a great story and innovative product with a huge market in Wisconsin. We’re excited to provide a national platform to promote their work as well as promote all of the exciting things happening here in Greater Madison.”

The winner was decided by a combination of investor judges and live audience voting. Along with the opportunity to pitch in front of prominent venture capital firms in California, Fishidy also won tickets to the prestigious Brandworks University.

“While only one company could win, the remaining finalists enjoyed the opportunity to pitch in front of top regional and national investors on today’s judges’ panel,” said Brandon. “I look forward to seeing their continued success and growth here in Greater Madison.”

Other Pressure Chamber finalists included:

* GoStrive – Mobile search app for community activities
* Intuitive Biosciences – Turn-key protein analysis tools for the life science industry
* Murfie – Online marketplace of music, which make CDs and vinyls digitally viable
* OpenHomes – Discount brokerage directly connecting buyers and sellers through an online platform
* Thalchemy – Technology to enable smartphones to sensory process information like a human brain

Pressure Chamber was presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Accelerate Madison, Capital Entrepreneurs, 4490 Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Kegonsa Capital Partners, Lindsay Stone & Briggs, Venture Investors and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 7,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com .