A list of local-area resources, programs, events and facilities beyond the immediate campus offering assistance for early-stage entrepreneurs.





Accelerate Madison
A high-technology networking organization that sponsors monthly events featuring         speakers with expertise in diverse topics. Attendance requires paid registration or annual membership.

BioForward
Trade association of the Wisconsin biotechnology industry. Conducts various networking events and annual meetings, and supports a committee structure to foster development of the biotechnology industry within Wisconsin.

BioPons, Inc.
An international professional services company focused on creating and building value from life sciences technologies.

BiotechProfiles™
BiotechProfiles is a web portal for the Madison area biotechnology industry and for biopharmaceutical business development executives worldwide. The site provides a centralized forum to serve the networking and information needs of biotech companies, executives and job seekers. For biopharmaceutical business development, the site’s unique databases help executives or entrepreneurs locate and connect with pharmaceutical strategic partners globally.

Bjorksten - bit 7
Scientific, engineering and design resources to help any organization, young or old, to deliver feature-rich products to the marketplace.

Bureau of Entrepreneurship, Wisconsin Department of Commerce
The Bureau of Entrepreneurship provides entrepreneurial assistance for small businesses, advises small businesses on Federal Clean Air Act compliance issues, and staffs the Small BusinessOmbudsman and Technology Transfer functions.

CleanTech Partners, Inc.
CleanTech Partners assists early-stage, high-technology companies in energy intensive industries by providing financial and other assistance focused on energy efficiency and alternative energy. CleanTech Partners also can work with entrepreneurs to evaluate new technologies for suitability for startup enterprises in the CleanTech sector. Led by entrepreneurial executives with hands-on experience in private industry, CleanTech works with state and regional development groups to provide local counseling and assistance.

Design Concepts
Design Concepts is an award-winning product development and design firm delivering product innovation strategy, design and engineering services that help companies bring new products to the marketplace.

High-Tech Happy Hour
Monthly networking for Madison’s high-tech community—no preregistration, no speakers, no format, no fees. Informal by design, perhaps even a bit feral in nature, the High-Tech Happy Hour is organized and produced by an the HTHH Alliance consisting of Applied Tech Solutions, SupraNet Communications and Yahara Software. Co-producers are OCR and the Wisconsin Technology Council.

International Professionals
A networking organization of professionals in the Greater Madison international community. The group hosts monthly happy-hour gatherings and other educational events, and serves to build social ties and business networks among those having an interest in the international arena.

The Office of Business Resources, City of Madison
The Office of Business Resources (OBR) is the central point of contact for business assistance in the City of Madison. OBR services are geared to serve new start-up operations, corporate re-locations, and everything in between. It is OBR’s mission to assist businesses in developing and thriving in Madison.

Propel Wisconsin
Propel Wisconsin is an online networking group for Wisconsin entrepreneurs. Microsoft recently named Propel Wisconsin a BizSpark partner. As such, Propel can help eligible startups obtain a wide array of software free of charge to help them get off the ground. Please see the complete press release here:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=158743.

WIN Foundation
Monthly luncheons that bring together entrepreneurs, business owners and related high-tech professionals in a collaboration-rich environment. Attendance requires paid registration or annual membership.

Wisconsin Business Wizard
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Wisconsin Business Wizard uses a series of five question-and-answer pages that provides customized information to help you start and operate a Wisconsin-based business.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource, Small Business Assistance Permit Primer
The DNR has designed the Small Business Assistance Web site to take you step-by-step through the various DNR programs to determine what environmental requirements apply to you, including environmental permits and how to get them, and ways to save money and resources through pollution prevention, waste minimization, water conservation and resource protection.

The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network
Integrated statewide support to entrepreneurs in all industries and developmental stages. The WEN coordinator for the Madison area is Ms. Ayla Annac ( 60... or ayla.annac@uwex.edu. Contact her for assistance with starting a business, finance and accounting, marketing, product development, business plans, intellectual property and competitive research.

Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest
This statewide competition engages entrepreneurs in a six-month process of business plan development culminating in selection of a grand prize winner and winners in each of four major business categories. Since 2004, winners of this competition have collected more than $500,000 in seed capital and business services. More than 60% of the finalists have gone on to secure financing and grow their businesses.

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
A for-fee service operated by the UW-Whitewater Small Business Development Center providing new product and invention assessments and market-expansion evaluations for manufacturers, technology businesses and independent inventors.

Wisconsin Technology Council
The leading catalyst for the creation, development and retention of science- and technology-based businesses in Wisconsin. Working in partnership with others, the council works to ensure that Wisconsin makes the most of its people, resources and opportunities—and meets the challenges posed by the rise of the Knowledge Economy.

The Wisconsin Toolkit
This site identifies resources for planning and starting a business; navigating government regulations with ease; financing business growth; developing commercial technology; business-to-business networking; advancing to the next business stage; and selling to government markets. The site was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Bureau of Entrepreneurship, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Technology Council.

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation
WWBIC is a nonprofit economic development corporation providing quality business education and access to capital for entrepreneurs. Established in 1987, WWBIC consults, educates and mentors owners of small and micro businesses throughout Wisconsin.