The Million Cups VenFair

Table 3   Fine Point Consulting LLC  provides a full accounting department to our customers so that you can choose from a menu of services, from everything to day-to-day bookkeeping to forward-looking CFO advisory services. Our goal is to give entrepreneurs more time to focus on strategy, market, and product by taking over your back office work for you, for less than the cost of adding a full headcount to your team.

Representing Fine Point:  Will Huepenbecker and Matt Loewi

Table 4   HealthX Ventures is a digital healthcare focused venture capital fund based in Madison, Wisconsin. HealthX Ventures supports early/seed stage, high-growth companies in all areas of digital health, including companies who are making healthcare safer, more efficient and more affordable. The firm is investing out of its flagship fund, and is led by experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts who have grown companies and led change across the healthcare system.

Representing HealthX:  Mark Bakken and Taha Jangda

Table 5  Cresa  is The world’s largest corporate real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants and buyers, never landlords or sellers, for truly conflict-free representation.

Table  8   Emelar Consulting Group is a full service sales force consulting firm specializing in intelligently refining business processes so you can leverage the full power of the

Salesforce platform.  From CRM to CPQ we have you covered.  Bottom Line:  Emelar makes Salesforce simpler.

Representing Emelar Consulting Group:  Jesse Theiler and Eric Dunnivant

Table 2   Atlas Providers is a network of local, specialized startup service providers who are passionate about entrepreneurship and have a proven track record of working with emerging companies. Our platform provides a digital community where entrepreneurs can easily search, review and connect with curated service providers in a transparent and simplified manner.

Representing Atlas Providers:  Nick Lombardino and Ryan Waite

Table 10   Since it’s inception, Bendyworks has focused on creating powerful software that drives business and gets results. Founded in 2009, Bendyworks teams up with corporations nationally to create and fix valuable business software. From Fortune 25 enterprises to startups, our deep and wide experience enables us to apply to our current clientele the myriad lessons we’ve already learned. We dedicate ourselves to delivering software that stands the test of time by being adaptable to changing business needs; indeed, the etymology of our name comes from this notion: that software should bend, not break.

Representing Bendyworks:  Ashley Powell

Table 6  The Wisconsin Technology Council is the science and technology advisor to the Governor and the Legislature. Launched in 2001, the Tech Council was created by a bipartisan act of the governor and the Legislature. It is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan board with members from tech companies, venture capital firms, higher education, research institutions, government and law.

Representing Wisconsin Technology Council:  Cassidy Wartenweiler and Bram Daelmans

Table 9  Anchor Bank, long a familiar part of the Madison banking scene recently merged with Old National Bank,  the largest financial services holding company headquartered in Indiana. Old National ranks among the top 100 banking companies in the U.S. and has been recognized as a World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute for six consecutive years. With combined assets of $17 billion, following the acquisition Old National will continue building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients. In addition to providing extensive services in retail and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management, investments and brokerage services.

Table 14  The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic (L & E Clinic) provides free legal services to nascent entrepreneurs and early stage companies through the work of law students supervised by faculty and private sector attorneys. In collaboration with Madworks Seed Accelerator the Clinic also connects entrepreneurs with mentoring and related resources in the entrepreneurial ecosystem who can help them launch.

Table 15  MERLIN is a free team mentoring service focused on helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of a startup venture.  MERLIN mentors are peer-reviewed volunteers who have masterfully started and managed new ventures. These mentors use their skills, experience and enthusiasm to guide emerging entrepreneurs in early stage ventures to boost the potential of business success.

Representing MERLIN:  Susie Younkle

Table 16   100State is Wisconsin’s largest co-working space by membership.  More than coworking, 100State serves as a community and home for problem­ solvers, creatives, and entrepreneurs designed to inspire collaboration and create connections that unleash Madison’s community potential.

Table 14   Horizon is a community workspace offering individuals and early stage startup teams a downtown hub to work and connect.  Matrix is a collaborative business facility located on Madison’s near West side offering workspace for business, arts and wellness professionals.  Matrix and Horizon members enjoy reciprocal access to both locations.

For Horizon:  Preston Austin

For Matrix: Tiffanie Mark

Table 16   Transcend is a student organization focused on providing invaluable resources and opportunities to students on campus who are interested in creating their own ventures. Our core concept is to inspire the Madison student community to create businesses and innovative ideas that will change the world. We hold an annual student run innovation competition where UW startups compete for various prizes.

Representing Transcend: Jordan Black

Table 15  Synergy Coworking is a social enterprise that provides flexible workspace, including private offices, coworking, meeting rooms, and DIY event space. We foster a diverse and professional environment and community of growth and collaboration through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, ideas, resources, and tools. We also facilitate strategic connections and provide coaching and guidance for utilizing Madison’s ecosystem of support for startups, small businesses, and professionals. We are committed to delivering development and accelerated growth opportunities to women and people of color.

Table 13  gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. Twice a year we invest up to $140K in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week program. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through our network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists.

Representing gener8tor/gBeta:  Nhi Le

Table 13   Doyenne Group is committed to challenging women to reach their fullest potential as entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.  Through our monthly meetings, learning groups, retreats, and other special events, we design social spaces where women can talk with each other about their experiences, get greater clarity on who they are and what they do as entrepreneurs, and push themselves outside their comfort zone as they work to build ventures that have impact.

Representing Doyenne Group:  Heather Wentler and Amy Gannon

Table 12   Discovery to Product (D2P) is a major partnership between UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) that is focused on entrepreneurship and building on a long history of collaboration by the University and WARF to move UW-Madison technology and innovation to market.

Representing D2P:  John Biondi

Table 12   Capital Entrepreneurs is a community group for Madison area entrepreneurs, and is the social fabric that ties much of the Madison entrepreneurial community together. Our members are dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship by bringing entrepreneurs together to create new connections and a community around the startups in Madison. CE focuses on social and networking events that include smaller scale monthly meetings, all the way up to large 400+ socials. CE has also initiated and organized a number of other entrepreneurial events throughout the ecosystem.

Representing CE:   Sam Farber