‘Grow’ panels tackle young company challenges June 6 at Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – How entrepreneurs can work with trusted collaborators and challenges women face as entrepreneurs will be discussed during the “Grow” panel discussion track at the June 6 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.

The conference at the Italian Community Center returns to the “Cream City” to celebrate the region’s rise as a startup and scale-up hub within the Midwest. Registration is open at witrepsconference.com or linked here.

The “GROW” track is one of three conference tracks open to all attendees at the 22^nd annual conference. Panel discussions in the “Grow” track are:

10 a.m. June 6 – 1+1=3: How founders can work with trusted collaborators
Entrepreneurs often have people tugging at them from all directions … but who can help them walk the straightest line to success while building mutual trust along the way? Whether public or private, trusted advisers are out there and can be found by those who look.

Moderated by Jeff Bannink, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. Panelists are Aymen Azim, Technova Industries; and Tom Quinn, Marquette Energy Analytics

11 a.m. June 6 – Challenges women face as entrepreneurs and investors: Increasing women founders access to funding

Many challenges encountered by women entrepreneurs are more subtle than overt. They include struggles to be taken seriously or being able to “own” their accomplishments without coming off as bragging. At the end, however, it can boil down to finding investors who understand female-oriented market needs can be different. Our panel will examine ways that women can succeed in a male-dominated field.

Moderated by Stephanie Melnick, Melnick & Melnick/She Stands Tall. Panelists are Laura Hilty, HeatlhX Ventures; Bre Loughlin, Nurse Disrupted; and Toni Sikes, CODAworx

The “Launch” panels were recently announced and “Succeed” tracks will be announced soon. Attendees may attend all or parts of any track.

“Mapping the entrepreneurial mind” is the theme of the conference, where entrepreneurs from around the state will showcase their ideas, services and technologies. Six panel tracks formed under three unique stages of “launch,” “grow” and “succeed” will appeal to entrepreneurs in all stages. Detailed panel information will be posted soon at witrepsconference.com.

Produced by the Tech Council, the Entrepreneurs’ Conference is among the largest and affordable events for entrepreneurs and early stage investors in the Upper Midwest. Other highlights will include:

• Diligent (Baker’s) Dozen: Top 13 finalists from the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off on the afternoon of June 5
• Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” 2024 award winner, Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter award ceremony
• Governor’s Business Plan Contest “Diligent Dozen” awards announcements June 6
• Innovation Showcase featuring exhibits from Wisconsin companies
• Plenty of chances to network with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors over food and refreshments, including a June 5 reception at the Italian Community Center

Sponsors thus far are: Affiliated Engineers, Apple, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, AT&T, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, Business Fitness, Center for Technology Commercialization, City of Fitchburg, City of Milwaukee Office of Equity & Inclusion, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), DeWitt, Findorff, First Business Bank, Foley & Lardner, Godfrey & Kahn, Husch Blackwell, Ideal Builders, J.P. Morgan, Lost Boys Interactive, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, NuvaBox, Perkins Coie, Quarles & Brady, Raven Software, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Ruder Ware, Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction, SustainableHR PEO, Technology Innovation Center – Milwaukee, University Research Park, UW-Madison Center for Dairy Research, UW-Madison College of Engineering, UW-Madison Innovate Network, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, UW-Madison Office of University Relations, VC3, Venture Investors, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, WE Energies, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Whitewater University Innovation Center, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Technical College System and Yahara Software.

To become a sponsor, contact Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. For more information, visit witrepsconference.com or call 608-442-7557.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.