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A Note From the President & Executive Director
This month we launched a collaborative Investor Forum with Silicon Pastures. Silicon Pastures is the longest standing angel network in Southeast Wisconsin and is led by Teresa Esser.
Two new companies seeking capital will present to investors from BizStarts, Silicon Pastures and members of the University Club on March 30. The purpose of this collaborative forum is to reduce the difficulty entrepreneurs go through having to make pitches to multiple angel and venture capital groups.
Tom Still, President of the Wisconsin Technology Council featured BizStarts in his Milwaukee Journal Sentinel column on March 22. He described how BizStarts has expanded to serve what we call "deer", the vast majority of startup businesses that create jobs for the Wisconsin economy.
Roughly 40,000 businesses get started in Wisconsin every year and the majority will fail within 3 to 5 years. BizStarts recognizes the serious market need to help these entrepreneurs and is providing our expanded services to them through our Biz Forge programs.
Here's a link to Tom's column: Milwaukee's culture for emerging companies is stronger than ever
Dan Steininger & Jacquin Davidson
President Executive Director
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"Dairy Done Different" is the slogan for 3D Dairy Foods, a startup Milwaukee business that was started by company President, Steve King, in mid-2012. King realized that consumers wanted more healthful food product options at their local stores. The result: a fresh dairy product of soft small cheese curds in flavored creamy sauce.
"We created these new products and brands to provide that healthful dairy-choice, instead of sugary and fatty processed snacks and desserts," says King. He goes on describing the product: "We start with the basics of good dairy nutrition in a fat-free, soft small cheese curd product. This is the base for low calories, calcium, and 15 grams of protein per serving, one of the highest levels of protein per serving of any product in the store; and, is gluten-free. We further fortify with natural vitamins A through E, to create a more dairy-nutritious product that we call NutriDairi™. Then add flavors in a smooth creamy sauce that will make you 'smile for goodness' in a dairy-nutritious choice."
King has utilized the already well-established dairy foods infrastructure we have here in Wisconsin - "from farm-to-fridge and everything in between, it all exists in our state" explains King. This includes working with a 111 year old Dairy Cooperative of local family dairy farms - Westby Cooperative Creamery in Westby, Wisconsin, about 25 miles southeast of La Crosse - as the Production Partner in 3D Dairy Foods.
Steve, 3D Dairy Foods and its CheeBrands™ have made enormous strides since presenting at the first BizStarts Investor Forum in December, 2012. Cheeserts™ NutriDairi™ Dessert and Cheenaks™ NutriDairi™ Snack are currently in all twelve of the Ballistreri owned-and-operated Sendik's Food Market stores in the Milwaukee-area. Their five year outlook includes the creation of nine new NutriDairi™ product categories for every meal occasion. With their product made entirely in Wisconsin, 3D Dairy Foods is asking consumers to "Smile for Goodness in a Dairy-Nutritious Choice™."
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BizStarts Featured Mentor: Dave Zachman
Dave Zachman has hit the ground running since beginning his relationship with BizStarts in September 2014, and has mentored two up-and-coming companies by utilizing his sales and product experience. By giving unique perspective and advice, he has helped these companies continue to progress.
Dave is a cardiovascular physiologist by training with a degree in Zoology from UWM and started his career administering the Cardiology Section of the Department of Medicine at the Old County Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin. After ten years growing the department and doing direct patient care and research, Dave went to work at Marquette Electronics and spent 15 years in every capacity imaginable, ending up in a sales role due to a particular propensity for selling as well as deep clinical product knowledge.
Viewing himself as a lifelong learner and with the attitude that teaching is twice learning, Dave has always enjoyed the teaching role and helping others: "I just find mentoring gratifying when I see a light go on."
At BizStarts we sincerely appreciate his help - thank you for all you do, Dave!
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 It was the wish of Richard and Ethel Herzfeld that, upon their deaths, their assets would be added to their Foundation dedicated to Wisconsin but with emphasis on the greater Milwaukee area. Since Ethel's death in 1997, the Foundation translated that wish into an investment of many millions of dollars in the community with more to come in the future.
Every year, The Herzfeld Foundation makes grants in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education, Arts Education and limited funding in Civic Improvements. It funds Wisconsin-based organizations, and emphasizes those that benefit the people of the Greater Milwaukee area. The Foundation is also a member of Americans for the Arts, Donor's Forum of Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Committee, Historic Third Ward Association and the Spirit of Milwaukee.
BizStarts is proud to have the Richard and Ethel Herzfel Foundation as a contributor to our success.
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When pricing products, you must set the price at a point that will both contribute to profits and compel customers to purchase. You also need to cover the direct costs of the product and your operating costs.
If you have designed a service with greater perceived value, you can charge a higher price. Experts report that professionals who charge fees in the upper range of the pricing bracket usually have a large client base and high profitability. Prices for services can be based on your reputation, years of experience, amount of competition, length of time as a service provider, and what the market will bear.
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BizStarts in the News
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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What's Happening?
Event Announcements for Entrepreneurs
 Wisconsin YES! - youth business plan competition
Deadline April 6th 5pm cst Click here for more information
 Is Milwaukee Ready for a Green Economy? Economic Development Forum hosted by Northwest Side Community Development Corporation - April 14th
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Used by BizStarts, created by Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
Here are 10 of the best digital tools to help you launch and grow your startup
A networking site for entrepreneurs, designed to help connect startups
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Recognition for
BizStarts' Sponsors
As the region's premier resource for entrepreneurs and emerging companies, BizStarts Milwaukee draws expertise from a wide range of service and professional specialties that collectively foster
Wisconsin's entrepreneurial spirit.
The BizForge Program enlists these experts to provide unique opportunities for training and development, market and/or product assessments, leadership planning and other consultations or services...available only to BizStarts engaged entrepreneurs and their businesses. Why is this model important? More innovation, more successful launches and more jobs in our community.
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Founder Level Sponsors
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Executive Level Sponsors
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| Director Level Sponsors |
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Anon Charitable Trust Foundation
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George and Julie
Mosher Family
Foundation
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Manager Level Sponsors
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Daniel Hoan Foundation
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