MADISON, Wis. – Fifteen major firms (thus far) are ready to meet with emerging companies at the Wisconsin Tech Summit, which will take place in-person at Milwaukee’s American Family Field on Monday, March 17 and produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Emerging companies may apply through Feb. 27 to meet with major firms and explore potential business relationships around technology needs and innovation as part of the 12th annual Wisconsin Tech Summit. More information, including the online application form, is available at wistechsummit.com. Past emerging companies are encouraged to apply.
First-time major firm participants include Dairyland Power Cooperative, Isthmus Project, Live X and Plexus. Repeat major firms include Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Faith Technologies Inc., gener8tor, Google Cloud, Kimberly-Clark, Mayo Clinic, OEM Fabricators, Oshkosh Corp., Promega, Rockwell Automation and Versiti. Visit our website to read more about each major firm and their interests in meeting with emerging companies.
A selection process involving major firms and the Tech Council will follow. Selected emerging companies may meet with multiple major firms, depending on mutual interest.
There is no set definition as to what constitutes an emerging company. It can be a startup with a few founders and limited revenue or a small business with several dozen employees and solid revenue. What matters most is whether major firms spot partnership potential when reviewing applications. Applications are welcome from early stage funds that may want to introduce portfolio companies and otherwise connect with major firms.
“There are many reasons why major firms would want to meet with emerging companies, and vice versa,” said Gary Frings, chairman of the Wisconsin Tech Council, which produces the event. “This is a way to enhance company-to-company connections in Wisconsin and beyond, with benefits to small businesses and major firms alike.”
Major firms will be able to hear from emerging companies with innovative products or services tied to areas such as digital health innovation, artificial intelligence, fin-tech and insure-tech, health diagnostics and delivery, software and data analytics in sectors such as manufacturing, health care, information systems and power electronics.
A company registration fee is due at the time of application; forms for which are available online. Companies that are not selected to participate will receive a full refund.
The March 17 “speed date” meetings are 15 minutes each with five minutes between.
Other features of the event are:
- Six educational “Office Hours” seminars, which will be available to all participants during those times in which they are not scheduled for individual meetings;
- An event overview and opening discussion to help set the stage for emerging companies by allowing major firms to talk generally about their goals, needs and emerging markets;
- A keynote speech from Derek Hyde, vice president of IT for the Milwaukee Brewers, and;
- A networking breakfast, lunch and reception.
Sponsors thus far are: Amazon, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, AVI Systems, Baird Capital, BDO, Center for Technology Commercialization, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Dairyland Power Cooperative, Findorff, Fine Point Consulting, Flad Architects, Godfrey & Kahn, Google, Kimberly-Clark, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Microsoft, Raven Software, Summerfest Tech, SustainableHR PEO, UMOS, University Research Park, UW-Madison Center for Diary Research, UW-Madison Data Science Institute, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, UW-Platteville, Versiti, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp, WHEFA and Wisconsin Counties Association.
Visit wistechsummit.com for more information on the event, the application process, registration and sponsorship opportunities.
