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Category: Archived Press Releases

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Mission Impossible star at neXXpo

 Tom Cruise i8
Event teams with Forward Fest for a major Pitch Night & Happy Hour (and a Half)

MADISON – For 2015, neXXpo – the Chamber’s reimagined business-in-fast-forward expo – is back for a second year, with lots of new twists. Join us for two exciting pitch events, a huge Pitch Night party, a reveal stage with business and community members showcasing what’s next and not-to-miss networking all day and night long on Aug. 25 at Monona Terrace.

While Tom Cruise is not likely to be behind the wheel, when Ethan Hunt cruised up to a Mumbai party in Mission Impossible, his futuristic BMW i8 was the real eye catcher making the scene. At neXXpo, Zimbrick BMW has secured an i8 for showing—a hybrid sports car star in sustainable design innovation that can go zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. For neXXpo attendees who want to get up-close and personal with such an automobile, its sibling, the BMW i3, will also be in the house.

All across the exhibit hall floor will be businesses showcasing the future of their industry, products and services. Nearby is the Nex7 Stage where select exhibitors will be putting on a 7-minute show with a 7-minute interactive audience time to show off the latest trends from 3D printing to the future of education and cybersecurity.

Our neXXpo ’15 doesn’t end with the exhibition floor. Join us after hours for more networking and celebration at the summer’s must-not-miss happy hour (and a half) sponsored by Zendesk with appetizers and an open bar. Top off this amazing day with the excitement of our Shark Tank-style business pitch contest Pressure Chamber and the evening’s finale celebration of local business success in Startup Showcase.

On Aug. 25 at Monona Terrace, make more connections in one day than most people make in a year. Register to attend at www.neXXpo.com. One $20 ticket gets entrance in to all of the events below:

10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Expo Floor: Showcasing what the future holds – what’s next in products and services – for innovative greater Madison businesses.

11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Nex7 Stage: See what’s next for greater Madison businesses and our community in brief 7-minute talks with a 7-minute Q&A.

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pressure Chamber: Step aside Shark Tank. This pitch contest offers greater Madison’s most promising early-stage companies exposure to the region’s business community and top investors. Contestants compete for an all-expenses paid trip to pitch to investors in Silicon Valley.

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Zendesk Happy Hour (and a Half): This Pitch Night reception falls between two great pitch events, sponsored by Zendesk with a signature cocktail, open bar and appetizers.

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. StartUp Showcase: An evening of startup pitches from some of Madison’s most compelling emerging companies. A select group of rising startups will give a five-minute “demo day” style pitch showcasing their company. Co-hosted by Capital Entrepreneurs and Accelerate Madison, a program of the Chamber.

More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

BMW i8

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Pressure Chamber finalists announced

 

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Six local startups to compete in Shark Tankstyle pitch contest for a spot in the

Chamber’s delegation to visit top venture capitalists in Silicon Valley

MADISON – What do swallowing disorders, grocery shopping and fertility have in common? Innovative

solutions on all of these subjects, and more, will be presented at Pressure Chamber, the Greater

Madison Chamber of Commerce’s exciting pitch competition for the region’s most promising early‐stage

 

The six finalists will compete before a panel of out‐of‐state investors and a live audience for an all-expenses

paid trip to pitch to top global investors on an exclusive Chamber startup delegation to Silicon

Valley in October.

 

Pressure Chamber finalists are:

bluDiagnostics (Madison) – A biomedical device company that offers the first over‐the‐counter

test to measure fertility‐related hormones in saliva, with resulting data sent to a mobile

Fetch Rewards (Madison) – A mobile application that allows grocery shoppers to scan every

items as they shop, receive real‐time savings that automatically apply to eligible items, track

their spending and checkout with the scan of a single barcode on their phone.

Health eFilings (Madison) ‐ Proprietary software that offers a turn‐key, end‐to‐end solution that

enables physicians and healthcare organizations to comply with Medicare’s annual reporting

requirements of quality data, and thereby avoid significant penalties.

Redox (Madison) – A connector to proprietary electronic health records systems used by

hospitals around the country, providing API access to applications those health systems

choose to work with.

SmartUQ (Madison) – Analytics software tool that helps companies reduce the complexity, time

and cost of design cycles across a wide range of industries.

Swallow Solutions (Madison) – A maker of both a medical device that delivers oropharyngeal

strengthening therapy to treat swallowing disorders and nutritional food products tailored to

the patient’s diagnosed level of swallowing difficulty.

 

Chamber President Zach Brandon noted the diversity and scale of problems being solved by the selected

companies are just the latest indicator of greater Madison’s growing startup ecosystem.

“The momentum is real. Greater Madison is a place where top talent solves big problems,” said

Brandon. “The pressure is certainly on for these startups but arguably more so for the judges and

audience who must pick a winner among such an exciting, high‐potential slate of companies.”

 

Pressure Chamber returns for a second year, this time joining with the Chamber’s neXXpo Business in

Fast Forward expo on Aug. 25  in the heart of Forward Fest, an eight day celebration of

Madison entrepreneurship.

 

“Come to our Business in Fast Forward expo during the day and stay for what is certain to be an exciting

pitch night,” Brandon added.

 

Pressure Chamber begins at 4 p.m. One $20 ticket gets audience admission to neXXpo, Pressure Chamber, a pitch night Zendesk‐sponsored

Happy Hour with open bar and appetizers, plus the evening finale celebration of local business success

in Startup Showcase, co‐hosted by Capital Entrepreneurs and Accelerate Madison, a program of the

Chamber. Startup Showcase will feature rising startups giving five‐minute “demo day” style pitches.

Get your tickets to be a part of the live voting audience, and access to all neXXpo events, at

neXXpo.com.

 

The Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin

Investment Board, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490

Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Lindsay Stone & Briggs, Three Oaks Venture Fund, Venture Investors and the Wisconsin

Alumni Research Foundation.

 

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging

from one‐person shops to corporations with more than 8,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison

area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting‐edge technologies to

distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s

entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Exclusive Wisconsin premiere of CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap

Exclusive Wisconsin premiere of CODE:
Debugging the Gender Gap

Documentarian Robin Hauser Reynolds visits Madison to show her Tribeca Film Festival hit that exposes reasons behind the shortage of women in programming

 

MADISON – On August 6 director Robin Hauser Reynolds will come to Sundance 608 to screen her acclaimed documentary, CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap. This exclusive showing of her film that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in April will feature a screening of the film, a networking reception and a dynamic panel discussion led by Ms. Hauser Reynolds.

Come to hear answers to CODE’s key question: Why aren’t more girls and people of color seeking opportunities in computer science and programming?  CODE aims to inspire change in mindsets, in the educational system, in the startup culture and in the way women see themselves.

 CODE explores the new “Rosie the Riveter” moment for our society and challenges complacency in the tech industry. Tech jobs are growing three times faster than U.S. colleges are producing computer science graduates. The film notes that by 2020, there will be one million unfilled software engineering jobs in the US.

Brought to you by title sponsor Smart Solutions and hosted by Accelerate Madison, a program of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, with additional support from Zendesk, Madcelerator, CUNA Mutual Group and Foley & Lardner.  Attendance is limited to the first 250 people, register today at greatermadisonchamber.com under events.

 Location: Sundance Cinemas 608

Address: Hilldale Shopping Center, 430 N Midvale Blvd, Madison

Date: August 6, 2015

Time:   4:30 p.m. Reception with hors d’oeuvres buffet

5:30 p.m. Screening, followed by director-led panel discussion

Cost: $25 for networking reception, movie screening & post-film discussion 

 

Contact: Melanie Conklin, Managing Director of Brand, (608) 443-1952 

 

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 8,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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CODE sponsors

Photo by Richard Hurd

Chamber joins 252 businesses nationwide in call to action on American Innovation Imperative


Action follows American Academy of Arts & Sciences report

 

June 23, 2015 – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce today joined scores of other organizations, as well as leaders of American business, industry, higher education, science and engineering in an urgent call to action for stronger federal policies and investment to drive domestic research and development.

 

Ten CEOs and 252 organizations signed “Innovation: An American Imperative,” a document aimed at federal decision makers and legislators.  It underscores the findings—and warnings—contained in The American Academy of Arts & Sciences report, Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream.

 

The CEOs who have signed on to the effort are:

 

  • Samuel R. Allen, Chairman & CEO, John Deere
  • Norman R. Augustine, Co-Chair, Restoring the Foundation
  • Wes Bush, Chairman, President & CEO, Northrop Grumman
  • Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman & CEO, Merck & Co., Inc.
  • Marillyn A. Hewson, Chairman, President, & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Charles O. Holliday, Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
  • Joseph Jimenez, CEO, Novartis
  • W. James McNerney, Jr., Chairman of the Board & CEO, The Boeing Company
  • Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft
  • Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers

 

According to Restoring the Foundation, “There is a deficit between what America is investing and what it should be investing to remain competitive, not only in research but in innovation and job creation.” The United States is failing to keep pace with competitor nations with regard to investments in basic research and development. America’s ascendency in the 20th century was due in large part—if not primarily—to its investments in science and engineering research.  Basic research is behind every new product brought to market, every new medical device or drug, every new defense and space technology and many innovative business practices.

 

Over the last two decades, a steady decline in investment in research & development (R&D) in the United States has allowed our nation to fall to 10th place in R&D investment among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD) nations as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

 

At this pace, China will surpass the United States in R&D intensity in about eight years.

 

These developments led a diverse coalition of those concerned with the future of research in America to join together in presenting the Innovation Imperative to federal policy makers and urging them to take action to:

  • End sequestration’s deep cuts to federal investments in R&D
  • Make permanent a strengthened federal R&D tax credit
  • Improve student achievement in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM)
  • Reform U.S. visa policy
  • Streamline or eliminate costly and inefficient regulations
  • Reaffirm merit-based peer review
  • Stimulate further improvements in advanced manufacturing

 

Details on these action items, as well as a full list of signatories, are included in the full document, which is linked above and posted on the websites of each of the following organizations:

  • American Academy of Arts & Sciences
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Association of American Universities
  • Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
  • Battelle
  • Coalition for National Science Funding
  • Coalition for National Security Research
  • Council on Competitiveness
  • Energy Sciences Coalition
  • Task Force on American Innovation
  • The Science Coalition

 

www.innovationimperative.us  #InnovationImperative

Contact: Melanie Conklin, Managing Director of Brand, (608) 443-1952 

 

 About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 8,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Chamber strengthens its Board of Directors

May 13, 2015

 

Chamber strengthens its Board of Directors


Announcing new board members, chair and officers for 2015

 

MADISON –The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced nine new members for its 2015 Board of Directors. The new members join the 37 current business and community leaders representing a broad cross-section of the greater Madison economy.

 

New 2015 board members are:

and vice-president, Lee Enterprises

 

Officers for 2015 are:

“Our board members bring expertise, experience and a passion that is instrumental in positioning greater Madison as a world-class place for business and entrepreneurialism,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “The new members add their perspectives to an impressive board comprised of diverse experiences from businesses big and small, who are collaborating to make our region more competitive, more attractive, more innovative and more prosperous.”

 

Paul Lenhart, Chamber board chair and president of Krupp General Contractors LLC, added: “This board brings together a broad range of leaders all committed to serving greater Madison businesses and our community and we are strengthened by the talent of our new additions. We are energized to build on our past successes, provide effective advocacy, explore new ideas and grow our regional economy.”

Click here for the full roster of the Greater Madison Chamber Board of Directors.

 

 About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 8,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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