The Catalyst
BizStarts Featured Entrepreneur:  
The Anokye Food Company

Workplace stress and anxiety is a big deal. These health challenges are especially common with people that are managing complex projects such as growing a business or performing scientific research in a fast-paced, high-tech world. Dr. Kwadwo Owusu-Ofori started The Anokye Food Company because he noticed a gap in the solutions available to manage workplace stress and anxiety.
 
"I'm scratching my own itch. I'm a pharmaceutical scientist by training, an operations manager by day, and a product developer by night. Sometimes I get stressed out. It happens. So I needed to find a way to manage my stress that wasn't a daily pill, and wasn't going to add one more task to my already busy day. I love Yoga and Meditation. They work. But there is also a nutritional aspect to mental health that I wanted to build products to address."
 
The Anokye Food Company has one very big mission: To help smart, creative people take care of their mental health while managing complex projects.
 
Anokye's Satori Latte Blends are coffee creamers that are enriched with vitamins and minerals that support mental health. The company focuses on the mental health of a niche market that is comprised of high-performers - entrepreneurs, research scientists, visual and performing artists, engineers, and business service providers.
 
"These types of people have to do 'deep dives' into very complex issues and solve problems on a daily basis. The creative process can be draining, and sometimes maddening. Drinking insane amounts of coffee during this process can add to the anxiety that people feel while working against a deadline."
 
Four years ago, Kwadwo was fresh out of graduate school at UW-Madison's Pharmacy School and working as a postdoctoral research associate at the UW-Madison School of Pathobiological Sciences. There he met Dr. Ankit Agarwal, CEO of Imbed Biosciences, who encouraged him to apply for a fellowship at the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship. He successfully pitched the idea for everyday foods that help people manage stress to the Foundation, and joined their Global Scholars Program where he studied business development at Kauffman Labs, team development at Harvard Business School, and product development at the Institute of Design at Stanford.

 Join us at:

December 2nd at the Harley-Davidson Museum ®



BizStarts Professional Program
   
As part of Mayor's Entrepreneur Week, BizStarts will host 2 events.  The first event is on
Monday, November 9th and will be an  Invitation Only - Speed Mentoring  event.  The second event will be on Thursday, November 12th and will be a session with Coby Skonord with Crowds.io as a follow on discussion to his presentation from our September Professional Program.

For more information on the professional programs please contact Martha Cannon at mcannon@bizstarts.com.

Meet the Mentor:  Jonathan Zuckerbrod

BizStarts Mentor Jonathan Zuckerbrod is the Manager of Business Strategy and Platform Development at Milwaukee Bucks. Jonathan shares his take on encouraging motivation and what his biggest influences are.

Q.  Tell us a little bit about your own background and then why you decided to help others by mentoring. What do you get out of it/enjoy most about it?

A.   I moved to Milwaukee from the Northeast in September 2014. Prior to my time with the Milwaukee Bucks I worked in a variety of roles at venture-backed startups in New York City. I'm excited to mentor because I'm curious about all that's going on in the Milwaukee community and I hope I can be a resource to some individuals.

Q.  If you want to encourage innovative ideas, how do you go about it?
A.  Ask a ton of questions and then give people the confidence to go out and execute an idea.
If you want to create an environment where motivation can thrive, what's the first thing you would do?
Set very clear goals whereby each individual knows exactly how their participation helps achieve the goals of the group.

Q.  Who has been a major influence on you?
A.   Without a doubt, a major influence on me in the last 18 months has been Milwaukee Bucks President, Peter Feigin. His leadership has turned around our franchise, galvanized the city, county, and state communities and has set a clear path for success both in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. I'm not sure I'd be where I am today without his guidance.

Q.  What advice would you give to your younger self?
A.  Don't sweat the small stuff!

Q.  What did you want to be when you were a child?
A.  A NBA player!

At BizStarts we sincerely appreciate his help - thank you for all you do, Jonathan!


TAKE THE CHALLENGE:  This competition is for entrepreneurs in the state of Wisconsin who create products or services that have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families, has the potential for commercialization, and fills a need in the marketplace.


On October 15th BizStarts met with  Ukrainian Delegation to discuss entrepreneurship and how we work with entrepreneurs, as they look to build their own business incubator  

BizStarts Featured Sponsor:  
With excellence as the benchmark of each day's work, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority is helping people and communities realize their hopes and dreams.

WHEDA was created in 1972 after the Wisconsin Legislature saw an increasing need for affordable housing financing. Later in 1983, the Legislature expanded WHEDA's purpose to include financing for the expansion of business and agricultural activity in Wisconsin. However, WHEDA is not a state agency, but rather an independent authority that receives no tax dollars for its programs and operations.

By providing affordable housing and business financing products, WHEDA carries out its mission to stimulate the state's economy and improve the quality of life for Wisconsin residents. As a lender, the authority has over $3 billion in assets.

WHEDA understands the value of teamwork and works closely with lenders, developers, local government, nonprofits, community groups and others to implement its low-cost financing programs. They believe their success depends on their partners and their ability to help them succeed and meet their mission - that way, we all can reach our highest potential. 

T ools 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
 

BizStarts Executive Team

President
Dan Steininger 
Executive Director
Jacquin Davidson

 
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.  

Presenting Level Sponsors

HerzfeldFoundation

Diamond Level Sponsors

GMF 2016 Logo RGB Web Frederick E. Beals Fund

Platinum Level Sponsors

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Harley-Davidson
Milwaukee7
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bakertillyx

Gold Level Sponsorship

Godfrey&Kahn
US Bank
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wedc

Silver Level Sponsorship

Anon Charitable Trust Foundation

Daniel Hoan Foundation

George and Julie Mosher
Family Foundation

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Siegel-Gallagher
Top Floor

Bronze Level Sponsors

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
Graef
Manpower Right Management
Summit Credit Union
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