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Wisconsin early-stage investing success stories:
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Angel Investing in the News:

U.S. venture investments held steady in the second quarter at $7.4 billion invested 990 deals, the MoneyTree report has shown. But Wisconsin's share of $33 million in three deals puts it well below average.

A low level of venture investment in Wisconsin firms creates opportunities for investors with local connections, says a new white paper released by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), which manages the $88 billion retirement fund for state employees, and close to $6 billion of other assets.

Madison, Wis. — Roche announced today that it is buying Mirus Bio Corporation for $125 million, one year after acquiring NimbleGen, also a Madison-based company.

Milwaukee, Wis. — After a fortunate meeting at a trade conference and a successful four-year partnership, a Mequon firm, COSS, is merging with iPipeline, a software-as-a-service firm flush with $18 million from a recent series-A investment round. iPipeline is located in Exton, Pennsylvania.

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board has issued a white paper report on "The Wisconsin Venture Capital Landscape," which describes SWIB's assessment of private equity investment opportunities in Wisconsin. 

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holdings is continuing its Madison buying spree by acquiring Madison-based Mirus Bio for $125 million. Mirus, a privately held company, develops therapies based on nucleic acids.

Wisconsin healthcare firms gathered more venture capital in the first half of 2008 than the first half of last year, but Wisconsin still fared poorly compared to other Midwest states, the latest survey by BioEnterprise has shows.

Menomonie, Wis.—Defending his focus on science to propel the state's economy, Governor Jim Doyle said Wisconsin is at crossroads not unlike the one that transformed the state into America's Dairyland 100 years ago.

Wisconsin healthcare firms gathered more venture capital in the first half of 2008 than the first half of last year, but Wisconsin still fared poorly compared to other Midwest states, the latest survey by BioEnterprise shows.

Three state companies raised $5.4 million in the second quarter, bringing the total amount of venture capital raised in Wisconsin to nearly $33 million through June.

Whether your new business venture is technology oriented or not, there are lots of options available to an early stage company looking for money to fund its operations. Often, the early stage company is gearing up for more significant financing down the road, but it needs money now. Early stage funding can come from banks and institutions, but also is likely to come from friends, family and angel investors.

After missing out twice before, a northern Wisconsin biofuels project got word Monday that it will receive federal funding, which one expert called historic for the state’s emerging renewable energy industry.

The recent BIO International 2008 conference (it should really be called the BIO Global conference), held in San Diego, demonstrated the extent to which the biotech industry has globalized.

A Madison company that last month raised $2.3 million and acquired an Ohio drug development company is starting a clinical trial for a drug aimed at improving brain function and maybe even halting the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

A group of Milwaukee-area business people are gathering support for a nonprofit organization to foster more innovation and entrepreneurship in southeastern Wisconsin.

Madison, Wis. — TomoTherapy (more articles) said on Tuesday that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding to acquire certain assets of Hi-Art Co., Ltd., a distributor of TomoTherapy's products in Japan. The sale involves parts of Hi-Art (also the name of TomoTherapy's main product) related to sales and service.

At last month’s international biotech convention in San Diego, one of the seminars focused on the work underway at three U.S. Department of Energy laboratories – including the lab in Madison that will be funded with $135 million over five years. With good reason, a description of the seminar included cautionary phrases such as “overcoming cost barriers” and “formidable scientific and technological challenges.”

“Good is the enemy of great” is the first sentence in “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t.”

When Geoff Bastow decided to re-launch Thin Air Software two years ago, he only considered one place to do it: the Milwaukee County Research Park.  Three times before Bastow had been part of a new firm launched in the small business incubator at the research and each time he saw it provide a great running start for entrepreneurs.

A Cleveland private equity firm has purchased a majority stake in GTI Diagnostics, the companies said Thursday.

Twelve provosts from the Big Ten universities and the Midwest region say they will work together on efforts to make the Midwest's economy more competitive and are calling on governors to join them in the effort.

Madison, Wis. - The Wisconsin Department of Commerce has qualified early-stage technology companies in Madison and Milwaukee for investor tax credits under the angel investor and venture fund tax credit programs.

Madison, Wis. - The Wisconsin Legislature should continue to make expanding access to capital a priority in the next legislative session, according to State Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls.

San Diego, Calif. - Wisconsin has moved up five spots since 2004 and now ranks 22nd among the 50 states in the annual State Technology and Science index published by the Milken Institute.

Milwaukee, Wis. - There are a number of initiatives to promote technology job growth in Milwaukee, including the new Milwaukee-Institute and more intense efforts to transfer technology out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but a new report on the nation's Cyber Cities is providing even more justification for them.

With its investment in biosciences and bioenergy research, and leadership in stem cell research, Wisconsin has continued to expand its knowledge economy, a new report by the Milken Institute shows.

Private dollars invested in Wisconsin start-up companies operating in high-growth sectors -- such as biotechnology -- grew 43 percent in 2007 to a record high, according to a report released Wednesday. 

SAN DIEGO – Private dollars invested in Wisconsin start-up companies operating in high-growth sectors such as biotechnology grew substantially in 2007, according to a report released Wednesday.

Madison, Wis. - Investments in early-stage Wisconsin companies rose dramatically in 2007, according to the 2008 Risk Capital Report, but the impact on the Governor's efforts to further stimulate investment remains an open question.

Early-stage companies in Wisconsin pulled in $147 million of funding last year, 43% more than in 2006, according to a report released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Technology Council.

Sun Prairie - With energy prices skyrocketing, Rob Creighton remains a firm believer in his plan to generate power from wind using large kites.

Milwaukee, Wis. - Entrepreneurs don't want to hear that securing capital is like finding a needle in a haystack, but given the wish list of angel and venture investors, there does appear to be some needle threading to do.

A Platteville company with a 17-year-old student on its scientific team has won the grand prize in the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest.

Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still today said the investment climate in Wisconsin “is getting progressively better” with increased investment by angel investors and venture capitalists.  

A growing number of wealthy Wisconsin investors are funding young companies.  Now they need to band together.  The state has 20 angel investing groups, compared with six just three years ago, according to the Wisconsin Angel Network.

Madison - More efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs, light-emitting diodes will be the next big thing in lighting when it comes to saving energy.

Merrill Iron & Steel Inc. was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1998 when Roger and Rick Hinner took over their family's business.  Ten years and many challenges later, the Schofield company is one of the top steel fabricators in the country.

Madison, Wis. - Two drug discovery and development companies focused on developing therapies for Alzheimer's disease and central nervous disorders have decided to merge as the drug candidate of one company is about to enter clinical trials.

Madison, Wis. - Wisconsin biotech's connection to “Big Pharma” are likely to grow stronger as state companies emphasize business development during the 2008 BIO International Convention in San Diego.

Milwaukee, Wis. - One of the enduring myths about Wisconsin is that you can't find entrepreneurs here. It's a Joe Lunchbucket state, or so the misperception goes, where most people would rather work for anyone else but themselves.

Madison, Wis. - Stemina Biomarker Discovery, a Madison-based company co-founded by stem cell scientist Garbriella Cezar, will receive a $150,000 Phase I grant from the National Cancer Institute through the federal government's Small Business Innovation Research grant program.

Milwaukee, Wis. - Wisconsin's risk-averse nature often is cited as a reason the state doesn't attract much venture capital, but when it comes to creating the new jobs of the new economy, states have no choice but to stimulate their entrepreneurial climates.

The Badger State will send around 120 people and spend at least $250,000 to show off Wisconsin's biotech prowess during this year’s BIO 2008 International Convention, which runs from June 17-20 in San Diego.

Madison, Wis. - aOva Technologies, an agricultural-biotechnology company that develops egg protein products used in animal nutrition, has begun another round of financing in which it hopes to raise more than $3 million.

Taking the expression "nothing ventured, nothing gained" to heart, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind decided it was worth investing the time and effort to bring a group of venture capitalists to western Wisconsin on Tuesday.

It's not exactly a beaten path for venture capitalists.  But 10 financiers from firms as far-flung as Palo Alto, Calif., and Boston will visit western Wisconsin today at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-LaCrosse).

A report issued in April by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation shows entrepreneurial activity on the upswing in the Midwest, including Wisconsin. The report concluded Wisconsin has 290 entrepreneurs per 100,000 people, which puts the state squarely in the middle of the pack: 25 other states have the same or less entrepreneur "density."