A Note From the President 
 
BizStarts role as a Sherpa to smart entrepreneurs

BizStarts works with four major clusters in this region:
  • Food and Beverage
  • MWERC Energy
  • The Water Cluster
  • Innovation Campus for medical devices
Each of these clusters produces great research that in turn creates disruptive technology.

As the brainiacs create unique technology they have scaled a mountain and created a much-needed product or service.

However, that's only half of the battle.

They are now required to scale a second mountain; which calls for creating an actual company that drives profitable revenues.  That means working with entrepreneurs to identify customers; drive sales to go to market strategy; assessing the quality of the team and connecting them to necessary funding.

Below is the diagram of the two mountains that all entrepreneurs everywhere must scale to succeed.

 

BizStarts is there to help them climb up mountain number two by giving them hands-on help every step of the way.

You might say that BizStarts acts like the Sherpa's who help mountain climbers get up Mount Everest.

Dan Steininger


 


A note from the Executive Director
 

February has been a fantastic PR month for BizStarts!

We had a great front-page article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel business section by Kathleen Gallagher, on my appointment as Executive Director, which featured a BizStarts entrepreneur success story.  Dan, Jim and I were freezing at a Lightweight Structures jobsite.

Jacquin Davidson returns to help grow companies at BizStarts 

BizStart's Milwaukee's Dan Steininger (from left) and Jacquin Davidson have worked with Jim Jendusa, founder of Lightweight Structures LLC, which has provided a composite framing system for a Good Harvest store.



Another BizStarts entrepreneur had a front-page feature in the business section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Guy Bolton, Lee & Jason Jaramillo of Forceout.

Both Lee with Forceout and Jim with Lightweight Structures have been with BizStarts through the BizForge Program and have gained guidance, professional advice and investment opportunities.

February + entrepreneurs = success!!

Jacquin Davidson

BizStarts Featured Company:    
Milwaukee Area Psychological Services (MAPS)
 

Milwaukee Area Psychological Services (MAPS) was created by co-owners Dr. Leslie Skaistis and Dr. David Phelps as a way to help people build skills and learn tools to help with everyday living. Leslie and David's private practice offers comprehensive mental health services for people ranging from late adolescence to older adulthood, providing individual therapy and couples counseling, group therapy, workshops, and psychoeducational seminars.


 


 

The therapists at MAPS have years of experience working with individuals and couples with a wide range of concerns, including depression; anxiety/panic; OCD; difficult life transitions; difficulties in relationships with others; enhancing self-worth; processing trauma; grief/loss, and changing addictive or problematic patterns of behavior. With such a wide variety of services and a central location in downtown Milwaukee at 401 E. Kilbourn Avenue Suite 402, MAPS is the place for those seeking deep, sustainable change in their lives.


If you would like more information, including a free 15 minute phone consultation, please contact MAPS at (414) 269-8660 or visit their website, www.MAPSwisc.com.

BizStarts Featured Mentor:  John Olin,
Chief Financial Officer, Harley-Davidson

John Olin has always been an entrepreneur at heart. Previously, he spent six years as an entrepreneur, which he still views as one of the most exciting, trying and rewarding parts of his career. John then spent 12 years within the consumer products industry with Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing. Since, he has spent the last 11 years with Harley-Davidson and is currently the Chief Financial Officer.
 

John became involved with BizStarts about two years ago. On the first day John stepped foot in the BizStarts office, he immediately met with an entrepreneur with a business in manufacturing and distribution of packaged food to local grocery stores. Since, he has also worked with two other start-ups in a mentor role. He is available to help in any way he can, but in particular to advise, coach, counsel, and push when needed. As a mentor, he has already experienced many of the barriers, risks and opportunities that present themselves to entrepreneurs, and hopes he can save them time, money and aggravation.
 

John says he decided to mentor because he loves it - "What's not to love? I get to share knowledge and experience with incredibly motivated, energetic and talented people that are trying to change the world with some very cool products and services." He enjoys the thought that his insights might help bring those products and services to market in a profitable way. This perspective on mentoring makes us very fortunate to have John as part of our Mentor Program.


Thank you John for all you do!

BizStarts Featured Sponsor:  
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
 
Founded as a full-service law firm in 1943, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. has always stayed trueto one primary focus:  their commitment to the success of each client.  WHD's legal experience is an 
essential component in their ability to deliver effective and efficient services.  However, theyrecognize this alone is not enough to provide the highest quality services to their clients in today's world.  This is why many of their 150 professionals have gone beyond the study of law and have eared graduate degrees in a wide variety of fields including engineering, medicine, business, technology, tax, political science and dispute resolution.

WHD's approach includes assembling the appropriate team of expertise and experience to meet the client's individual needs.  The commitment to service doesn't stop at just understanding the client's needs, but also servicing those needs promptly and appropriately.  WHD's extensive and diverse skills and perspective allows them to create practical business solutions for virtually any legal challenge.  With offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha County and Chicago, the administration and support staff routinely collaborate with the attorneys to ensure that the focus of the entire firm always remains where it belongs - on the client.
 

BizForge Program
ReadyReference: 
 Intellectual Property
  

Intellectual property is a term that refers to a right in an intangible asset in the form of a patents, trademarks, copyright or trade secret. Intellectual property rights determine the rights to make, use, sell, display and manufacture. These rights can be transferred, sold or licensed to others.


What is a Patent?

A patent is "the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling in the country in which the patent applies. For example, if you hold a U.S. patent, you can stop others from making your invention overseas and selling it in the U.S. Patents are very powerful forms of intellectual property because they can prohibit others from making inventions that do the same thing as your invention ("functional equivalents") as well as protecting products that precisely copy it.




Win up to $10,000 for your start-up from the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship at Marquette University
 
The Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship at Marquette University is now accepting applications for the 2015 ImpactNext Business Model Competition.  ImpactNext focuses on the development and validation of the business model canvas that will culminate in a keynote event on Tuesday, April 21.  The competition is open to Marquette University students, alumni, faculty/staff and Wisconsin community members.  The top business models will win prize money for their entrepreneurial ventures, including one grand prize of $10,000.

BizStarts in the News
 

 
Tools for Entrepreneurs

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
 

What's Happening?
Event Announcements for Entrepreneurs 

BizStarts Professional Program - March 5th featuring
Joe Miotke of DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C

Whether it is an invention or trademark, licensing or trade secret, DeWitt, Ross & Stevens S.C. can help clients safeguard their competitive edge and protect their intellectual property against theft and misuse. Their intellectual property attorneys regularly work with their clients to navigate the complex patent process, protect international rights, resolve disputes, and address countless issues often associated with business processes, innovation, ownership, know-how, and entrepreneurship. They stay at the forefront of what they do best so that you can concentrate on what you do best!

Click Here to Register



For more information on the Wisconsin Innovateher Business Challenge contact Kristin Niemiec at niemieck@gtc.edu
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.  
 
BizForge Resource Hub 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.  
Founder Level Sponsors








Executive Level Sponsors



 

 
Director Level Sponsors
Anon Charitable Trust Foundation
George and Julie
Mosher Family
Foundation
 

 

Manager Level Sponsors

Daniel Hoan Foundation 


 


 


 

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