Spring tech kickoff draws hundreds (Madison.com)

[The following are excerpts from the online article that appeared in Madison.com on March 28, 2014.]

Around 250 techies, entrepreneurs and their supporters partook of pizza and beverages, and shared news of their latest ventures Wednesday night at Madison’s Spring Tech Kickoff and Capital Entrepreneurs Open Social.  It was the largest event yet for Capital Entrepreneurs, founded in 2009 as a resource for budding business starters

While the new generation of tech entrepreneurs is commonly seen as recent college grads in their 20s, and while many of these startups in Madison have come from alums of electronic medical records giant Epic Systems Corp. in Verona, not all fit that mold.

One example is 32auctions, a website for conducting online silent auctions. 32auctions was created in April 2009 by Steve Klodd, 39, of Madison, and Curt Pederson, 44, of Sun Prairie, then info tech employees of American Family Insurance who became friends working on a project together.  In five years, the website has hosted more than 13,000 silent auctions worldwide, Klodd said, for a wide variety of causes, from fundraisers to help people with health emergencies to Fortune 500 companies trying to raise money for United Way.

Klodd and Pederson are still the only employees, available to answer clients’ questions, no matter where or when. “For us, it brings great satisfaction to know that the thing we’re doing every day is helping people,” Klodd said.

Read the full article at Madison.com at: http://host.madison.com/business/technology/biotech/tech-and-biotech-spring-tech-kickoff-draws-hundreds/article_2e91fb7b-e596-5992-a7c6-a48158de00b7.html

Blogger's Note: A great example of entrepreneurship from Sun Prairie.  Congratulations Curt and Steve on a great article and a great business idea!

Sector67 Monthly Meeting Tuesday April 2nd 7 p.m. (Sector67)

Sector67 is hosting their monthly meeting on Tuesday April 2nd at 7 pm at their facility at 2100 Winnebago St. in Madison, Wisconsin.  The meeting is open to anyone interested in attending. Presentations currently on the docket for the April 2nd meeting:

• Jack will demo his polar coordinate drawing robot
• Joe will talk about vinyl cutting with our new giant vinyl cutter and give a quick demo
• Josh will talk about stone carving and chainsaw wood carving and have a few pieces to show
• Dave will show off his Aluminatus 3D printer
• More stuff guaranteed, but you'll have to show up to find out

Sector67 is a non-profit collaborative space in Madison, WI dedicated to providing an environment to learn, teach, work-on, build, and create next generation technology; including software, hardware, electronics, art, sewing, pottery, glass, metalwork, iPhone/Android applications, games, etc.  Zero experience necessary, only enthusiasm to learn required.

For more information Sector67, visit them online at: http://www.sector67.org/ or call 608-241-4605.

Blogger's Note: This group can be a tremendous resource for existing and startup technology businesses in and around Sun Prairie, and I hope both our companies and our residents take advantage of having these guys right in our backyard.

Gener8tor Business Accelerator Seeks Summer 2013 Applications (Gener8tor.com)

Gener8tor is now accepting applications for the Summer 2013 Milwaukee program, which will be held for 12 weeks in Milwaukee’s famous Historic Third Ward, starting on May 31st, 2013. The early application deadline (encouraged) is April 14th, and the final deadline is May 5th.  The program is focused on technology startups: web, software, Internet, SaaS and hardware companies. Entry into our competitive program includes perks like capital investment, mentorship, office space, a great group of people and support staff. We run two programs per year alternating between our offices in Milwaukee and Madison, WI. 

The Madison program will be hosting their Winter 2013 Launch day on April 4th.  Contact Joe Kirgues at joe@gener8tor.com or by phone at 414-512-8880 for more information--including dates for the next Madison session.

Visit Gener8tor on the web for more information: http://www.gener8tor.com/.

Blogger's Note:  This would be a great opportunity for a techonolgy startup, and we'd love to have you get your start in Sun Prairie!

Startup Weekend: What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur (Madison Startup Weekend 2013)

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now for the best weekend of your life!

Event Information:

Madison Startup Weekend 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013 at 6:00 PM - Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 9:00 PM (CDT)
Madison College West Campus
302 S Gammon Rd Madison, WI 53717
Cost: $99

To Register, Click here: Startup Weekend Madison

Click here for a full agenda and more information on Madison's Startup Weekend: http://madison.startupweekend.org/

Blogger's Note: Anybody from Sun Prairie interested in attending? 

President of Sun Prairie's Allied Industries to Present at Entrepreneurs' Conference

Sun Prairie's Stuart Anders of Allied Industries LLC will be a keynote speaker at Thursday June 26th's "Catch the Culture: A 7 Rivers Regional Inventors & Entrepreneurs Rendezvous" from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Anders' inventions are a part of the Sears Craftsman tool line and have sold over of one million items. At the event Anders will share his experiences in turning an idea into a marketable item starting as a young apprentice in his father's woodworking shop through his unique career path as an industrial arts teacher, helicopter pilot, and leotard and swimwear designer.

Event details:

WHAT: "Catch the Culture: A 7 Rivers Regional Inventors & Entrepreneurs Rendezvous," providing a regional forum for new and existing business owners to share ideas and connect with like-minded people.

WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 26th. A program with speakers begins at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Cleary Alumni & Friends Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

ADMISSION: The event is free and open to the public. To register, contact a local inventors and entrepreneurs club or call the UW-L Small Business Development Center at (608) 785-8783.

MORE INFO: For more information, including a list of clubs, visit http://www.7riversregion.com/.

Click here for more information from TMCnet.com.