The Catalyst
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Sometimes a great company gets its start from a hobby.
 As two big sports fans originally from Rockford, Illinois, co-founders Phil Sklar and Brad Novak began
collecting bobbleheads in the early
2000's. Brad began working for Rockford's minor league baseball team just as they began using bobbleheads as a promotion. When both Phil and Brad came to Milwaukee
to attend UWM, they began attending bobblehead give-away sporting events and soon their collection started growing into the kitchen of their condo. This sparked an idea: Phil was working in the corporate finance world and had recently finished his MBA with an emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship. This helped him piece together the idea for a brand dedicated solely to bobbleheads. Realizing the brand could also create custom bobbleheads for customers, it all came together: the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum was born.
 Phil and Brad began by building a website, conducting market research, generating custom bobblehead business, building the business plan and test marketing - all while working in their full time jobs. After about six months, they both realized there were on to a significant opportunity. They gave up their former jobs to devote themselves full time to developing and growing their new business.
Their passion has its roots in something simple: bobbleheads are all about fun. They are excited to bring a fun, unique attraction to Milwaukee for locals and visitors to enjoy. On the custom bobblehead side of their business, they find it exciting to pitch ideas and show companies how they can use bobbleheads to help exceed their objectives.
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SAVE THE DATE 
December 2nd at the Harley-Davidson Museum
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BizStarts Professional Program
Join us on
October 23
for our Professional Program on The Business Cycle: Creating the Path to a Successful Company
Starting or acquiring your business was a big step, now it's time to make sure you are on the path to success.
SVA Certified Public Accountants
uses a proven process that begins with exploring your current and future needs. In this workshop presenters Joel Nettesheim (CPA) and Nancy Mehlberg and will discuss the importance of software selection, financial reporting and analysis, process and procedure implementation, critical components of value building, and everything in between.
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Meet the Mentor: Dan Gramann on taking risks early and the role of self-fulfillment in the workplace.
BizStarts Mentor Dan Gramann has a talent for scaling businesses.
After starting and succeeding in his own home service franchise, Dan began teaching others how to do the same all over the country. Dan eventually started Brew Your Skill and now coaches and inspires leaders and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your own background.
A. I own a Corporate & Small-Business Skill Training company based out of Chicago, IL. Before building my businesses, I started out in the franchise world. I owned a successful painting franchise in New Berlin, WI where I learned how to own and operate my first business. From there, the franchise company asked me to apply my success to building the network by recruiting talented business owners so I could train and develop them to be successful entrepreneurs. A decade later, I knew I had to branch off on my own to share these skills with the entrepreneurial community. It was the best decision I have ever made. I have a blast teaching core business skills across the US. Our corporate training branch allows me to be creative and disrupt the traditional way corporations train their employees. We innovate fun and engaging ways to transfer soft skills to corporations.
Q. If you want to encourage innovative ideas, how do you go about it?
A. If I want to encourage innovative ideas, I start by breaking down the walls of "normal." When thinking outside of the box, you need to think as if money isn't an issue, as if building a rocket could be one of your options. Your mind has to be open to any possibility. First, list off everything you have every thought or dreamt of and get it on paper. You can make decisions after that.
At BizStarts we sincerely appreciate his help - thank you for all you do, Dan!
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BizStarts Featured Sponsor: Summit Credit Union
 As the #1 SBA lender amongst all credit unions in Wisconsin, Summit Credit Union works with business owners to accomplish their dreams. So whether you're an entrepreneurial newbie or a seasoned vet, Summit Credit Union has the right account to put business goals within reach. Summit helps small business owners with growth, acquisitions, capital retention and more, every single day. Their business lenders will help you with the advice, connections and insights you need to help you run your new venture and grow your business or non-profit.
More about Summit Credit Union:
Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative open to anyone in Wisconsin. Summit holds $2.3 billion in assets and has more than 147,000 members with 31 locations throughout the Milwaukee and Madison areas. For more information, visit
www.summitcreditunion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 1-800-236-5560.
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What's Happening?
Event Announcements for Entrepreneurs
 Artists & Entrepreneurship
WWBIC Luncheon Microlending...Macro Impact - December 1 
BizStarts BizBash - December 2
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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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BizStarts Executive Team
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President
Dan Steininger
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Executive Director
Jacquin Davidson
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Recognition for
BizStarts' Sponsors
As the region's premier resource for entrepreneurs and emerging companies, BizStarts draws expertise from a wide range of service and professional specialties that collectively foster
Wisconsin's entrepreneurial spirit.
The BizStarts 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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Presenting Level Sponsors |
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Diamond Level Sponsors |
 Frederick E. Beals Fund |
Platinum Level Sponsors |
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Gold Level Sponsorship |
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Silver Level Sponsorship |
Anon Charitable Trust Foundation |
George and Julie Mosher
Family Foundation |
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Bronze Level Sponsors |
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Daniel Hoan Foundation |
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