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 WisBusiness: The Show

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The 2014 InvestMidwest, to be held March 26-27 in St. Louis, Mo., provides an opportunity for high-growth companies from throughout the Midwest to present to an audience of over three hundred attendees, including more than 60 venture capital investors. The conference features three presentation tracks: life sciences, technology and food/ag/bioenergy.   

The final application deadline is Jan. 10, 2014. Click here for more information or to apply to present.

Madison Bioenergy Research Center tackles energy initiatives
The nation's three Bioenergy Research Centers — including one in Madison — are cranking out transformative research that is beginning to find its way into companies and the broader economy, said Patricia Dehmer, chief science officer for DOE.

For small businesses and ‘treps, some year-end advice on health care
As 2013 rolls to a close, many wonder: What’s our next step if we want health care coverage in the year ahead? The answer depends a great deal on the size and current coverage plan of your company – and whether you’re a one-person shop.

Ex-governor Thompson finds late second career in health care deals
Thompson is the chairman and chief executive officer of Thompson Holdings, a business umbrella under which one of the most familiar names and faces in Wisconsin politics is investing and advising about 30 companies, mostly in the health care space. 

Higher education’s challenges aren’t confined to Wisconsin
The same problems and trends that are challenging the University of Wisconsin System these days are confronting other public universities across the country. That was evident at the annual conference of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, held recently in Washington, D.C.

State Journal: Progress and pitfalls for our 2013 agenda
The State Journal editorial board championed six big goals during the last year. Some of our priorities fared well, including a state investment fund for emerging businesses. Other causes drew strong public support — especially redistricting reform — but stalled because of stubborn lawmakers.

Grow: Communicating Science in the Digital Age
Web-based science news has placed a higher burden on scientists to more effectively share their discoveries with the public— a challenge that CALS life sciences communicators are ready to help them meet.

JSOnline: Wisconsin start-ups put twist on online retail
In an increasingly digital world, three Wisconsin start-ups are looking to claim a share of the growing amount of retail dollars flowing online.

Program gives businesses access to high-performance computing
Wisconsin small- and medium-sized businesses will have the opportunity to gain access to specialized high-performance computing systems and services under a new program unveiled Monday by the Milwaukee Institute, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and Mason Wells. 

JSOnline: UW-Milwaukee proposes microgrid facility
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is proposing to create a microgrid combining wind, solar and battery power at a research building in Glendale.

JSOnline: Milwaukee Institute to provide resources to water center
The Milwaukee Institute will provide high-performance computing and storage resources to tenants in the new Global Water Center under the terms of a partnership announced Monday morning.

SupraNet Communications to provide wireless at MSN for holidays
SupraNet Communications, Inc. is excited to offer passengers at the Dane County Regional Airport complimentary wireless Internet for the holiday season.

JSOnline: Zywave sells insurance division
Zywave Inc., a software company that employs 366 people in Wauwatosa, has sold its insurance division and the Zywave brand name to Aurora Capital Group, a private equity firm in Los Angeles.

WisBusiness: Exec says small biz should wait out Obamacare tweaks
Al Wearing, an insurance executive for Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, spoke at the Nov. 26 Wisconsin Innovation Network meeting in Madison. Wearing said that a good deal of the original health reform law has been modified by changes to regulations and delays and it might be best for small employers to sign up for early health insurance renewals and wait out some of the changes.

JSOnline: Somna Therapeutics seeks approval for new device
Germantown-based Somna Therapeutics has asked federal regulators for approval to market an adjustable band that is worn around the neck at night to keep stomach acid from rising into the throat.

JSOnline: Feds approve BrightStar's tax-exempt application
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc., a new group with an unusual plan for using charitable donations to make venture investments in young state companies, has received federal approval to operate as a tax-exempt organization.

State Journal: Businesses connecting to more countries than ever
Two years ago, Wisconsin could connect local businesses with trade partners in five countries. Today, the number of countries has grown to 36 — more than in any year since the state began offering such assistance in the 1970s. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. now contracts with 15 trade representatives, also a record, and at a lower cost than in previous years.

State Journal: Grandin has a grand plan for KayO Technology
Dave Grandin is CEO of KayO Technologies, which is developing a wireless, hand-held device that he hopes will give the Fitchburg company a handle on the physical and occupational therapy market.

State Journal: UW-Madison's IceCube lands cover of Science magazine
From deep below a sheet of Antarctic ice, UW-Madison researchers have identified invisible cosmic objects they think traveled there from black holes or other unexplored places literally galaxies away. One of the 28 extremely high-energy particles will be on the cover of this week’s Science magazine, fronting a story about the first major discovery announced since the $272 million IceCube project opened at the South Pole in 2010. The IceCube project was the topic of a Wisconsin Innovation Network meeting in February 2011.

JSOnline: Sonic Foundry grows globally with two acquisitions
Sonic Foundry Inc., a Madison provider of video communication services, said Thursday it plans to acquire two companies — one in Japan and the other in the Netherlands — and increase its presence in the global market.