A Note From the President

I am pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of BizStarts has approved the appointment of Jacquin Davidson as our
Executive Director.

The timing could not be better.

She has worked for us for over six months as our Entrepreneur Director and has earned the respect and admiration of the entrepreneurs
coming to us for help.

Just as important, when we launched BizForge in April we expanded the services we offered gazelles, to small and medium sized businesses as well - those we refer to as deer. That caused our deal flow of entrepreneurs to jump by 300%.

Jacquin and I are the leadership team of BizStarts. We will continue to expand our reach to all entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes who need help growing their businesses and make certain we deliver quality services

to everyone coming to us for help.

Please join me in congratulating her on becoming the second Executive Director since the founding of BizStarts in 2008.

Dan Steininger

A note from our new Executive Director

It has been a great year at Bizstarts! We have tripled our intake of entrepreneurs coming to us for help with their businesses at different stages of development. BizStarts BizForge Resource Hub has connected entrepreneurs with mentors, education, planning, construction, real estate, intellectual property protection, product development, marketing, funding, financial solutions, team development and sales. BizStarts has entrepreneurs in our programs from every zip code in the M7 Region, every race, gender, and age groups from 18-82. What a great success! Click here to view the complete year end Impact Report

I want to thank the entrepreneurs for trusting us and working with us toward their success in business - creating jobs, keeping business in Wisconsin and securing economic stability in our region.

Thank you to all of our sponsors and donors for making this success possible.

Here's to 2015!!!

Jacquin Davidson

BizStarts Featured Company: The Scholar's Choice

You would never purchase and maintain - and ask your employees to learn to use - 13 software systems to manage your business. So why should a school district? U.S. teachers counselors, and administrators spend more time today managing data than teaching students; the result is that U.S. students trail students in other developed countries. The Scholar's Choice solves this problem by making educational data work for students and teachers. The Scholar's Choice replaces 13 educational software packages with a single, Cloud-based platform and lets teacher get back to what they are meant to do - teach.

BizStarts Featured Sponsor:

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. is one of the top ten largest law firms in Wisconsin, with an additional office in Minnesota. It has more than 100 attorneys practicing in Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee and Minneapolis, Minnesota in a variety of legal areas and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. Its clients include large corporations and family owned businesses, employers, associations, individuals, municipalities and others who seek their advice in more than 30 different areas of the law.

Nominated by peers as top lawyers nationally and locally, its lawyers are known for their experience in several areas including corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, government regulations, health care, litigation, real estate, tax, estate planning, family law, personal injury, intellectual property, patents,

trademarks and copyright law.

BizForge Resource Hub's ReadyReference:

Minority & Women Owned Businesses

If you are minority or woman-owned business, you may qualify for certifications that can increase marketing opportunities for developing supplier relationships with larger companies in the public sector.

Business Certifications

Many governments have programs for certifying minority and emerging businesses as qualified to participate in disadvantaged business enterprise programs. Many of these entities will promote business opportunities and provide technical assistance and capacity building resources to small firms.

HubZone

The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program establishes preferences for awarding federal contracts to small businesses located in a HUBZone.

For more information on organizations that have certification programs visit our website: http://bizstartsmilwaukee.org/resource-directory/minority-entrepreneur/

BizStarts in the News

Innovate or Die: Set goals to drive innovation in your company

BizStarts President, Dan Steininger, sheds light on the importance of managing change within a successful company.

Innovations: Wall and floor framing system provides energy efficiency at low cost

Jim Jendusa, an entrepreneur working closely with BizStarts, looks to transform the construction industry

What's Happening?

Event Announcements for Entrepreneurs

2015 Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest is now open for entries.

Deadline for entries is 5 pm, January 31, 2015. Since its inception in 2004, more than 2,900 entries have been received and about $1.8 million in cash and services such as legal, accounting, office space and ma

rketing) have been awarded. Contest categories are Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology and Life Sciences. To participate create an account at www.govsbizplancontest.com

Wisconsin Super Angel Fund to outline investment targets, trends at January 8th WIN-Milwaukee meting

Tom Schuster, managing general partner of the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund, will talk about his firm's investment priorities, the industries they are targeting, and the success they have syndicating investments.

Tools for Entrepreneurs

The DE Toolbox

Used by BizStarts, created by Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

10 Best Digital Tools for Entrepreneurs

Here are 10 of the best digital tools to help you launch and grow your startup

goBIGnetwork

A networking site for entrepreneurs, designed to help connect startups

Recognition for

BizForge Resource Hub

Sponsors and Partners

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. Please join us in thanking our sponsors and partners.