Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Acquires Accelerate Madison

MADISON – Effective May 5, 2014, Accelerate Madison Inc. became a program of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. Combining the two organizations creates more efficient and effective collaboration focused on identifying, accelerating and celebrating business in Greater Madison while retaining a separate voice to advance the strategic role of technology.

“One of the roles of the Chamber is to identify and support the business trends and clusters growing and developing in our ecosystem,” said David Wittwer, Chamber board chair, Accelerate Madison member and president and CEO of TDS. “With Dane County ranking in the top 10 in the U.S. for information technology job growth, it is clear that technology is a booming sector that needs our additional attention.”

Effective immediately, Accelerate Madison members become members of the Chamber. The Accelerate Madison brand will remain intact with separate communications, events and networking for those Chamber members with a higher-level interest in the tech sector.

“We created Accelerate Madison in 2001 because we saw a unique opportunity to advance the strategic role of digital technology in business growth, economic expansion and job creation,” said James Jackson, co-founder of Accelerate Madison and CEO of GoStrive. “The organization was critical to increasing the success and national visibility of Madison’s then-emerging tech sector. We’re proud to be part of the next phase of uniting technology and business leaders as Accelerate Madison takes an even larger role in the business community.”

A significant membership and events overlap currently exists with both organizations.

“This consolidation does not change the focus of the Chamber’s mission of Building a Greater Madison, it actually formalizes what was already happening in the business ecosystem,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Existing Chamber members will now receive the additional opportunity to network and collaborate with tech entrepreneurs and learn firsthand how businesses of all sizes and sectors can benefit from each other.”

Brandon said the tech sector feeds new and existing businesses, create new jobs, grows new talent and develops community wealth in our region.

“A perfect example of innovation converging with talent, technology and tradition is the Constellation recently built on East Washington,” said Accelerate Madison Inc. Executive Director Mark Clear who will help guide the transition through 2014. “The Constellation – designed to house the talent being attracted by the tech sector – also secured Google to its second floor and provided opportunity for two respected and proven local entrepreneurs to open a novel coffee shop and Madison’s newest casual Asian restaurant.”

The Accelerate Madison board will remain intact and remain an important part of setting strategic direction as an advisory board to the Greater Madison Chamber board of directors.

“This consolidation takes two great organizations and makes them stronger and more unified in their mission to advance Greater Madison and showcase our innovative businesses to the rest of the world,” said Anne Ross, Accelerate Madison board member, managing partner at Foley & Lardner and Chamber member. “In today’s world, the distinctions between ‘technology companies’ and traditional businesses are becoming less relevant with every day that passes. Manufacturers, health care providers, insurance companies, and other major business sectors are heavily reliant on digital technology. This consolidation is just another step in our evolution as a business community.”

To celebrate the history of Accelerate Madison and its future with the Chamber, June 23, 2014 will be the first consolidated event. Watch for details about our event featuring Kaaren Hanson, Intuit’s vice president of design innovation. Hanson speaks nationally on Creating a Culture of Rapid Experimentation, and how businesses of all sizes and sectors should fall in love with problems, not solutions.

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 7,000 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.

Click here for pdf version of the press release.

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Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Joins New National Business Coalition on Federal Research Funding

MADISON – Recognizing that cuts to federal research budgets threaten innovation and economic growth, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced that it has joined with 32 other Chambers of Commerce to date from across the country to form “Business for Federal Research Funding,” a new coalition advocating for strong research funding growth in the federal budget.

“Federal investment in research is fueling the creation of jobs for millions of Americans and spurring key innovation and technological advances,” said Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. “We and other Chambers across the country believe that failure to invest federal resources in research will harm economic growth and diminish innovation in the U.S., allowing us to fall behind our highly-skilled competitors overseas.”

The FY’15 budget appropriations process is now underway. Beginning with this process, the coalition will argue that the federal accounts which are responsible for dispersing research funds should receive funding increases. These increases should be at a steady rate above inflation each year. The coalition will focus these increases on key agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Departments of Defense, Energy and Homeland Security.

Business for Federal Research Funding represents a strong cross-section of the nation’s business community, with broad geographic diversity among its members. Coalition members seek to bring increased focus on the critical impact that federal research dollars have on the long-term growth prospects of the nation’s economy. A full list of coalition members is available online along with additional information about Business for Federal Research Funding.

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 7,000 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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Click here for a pdf version of the press release.

Fishidy Wins Pressure Chamber Pitch Contest at neXXpo

Fishidy Secures Spot in the Chamber’s Summer Delegation to Silicon Valley to Pitch in Front of Nation’s Leading Venture Capital Firms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 25, 2014)

Contact: Jo-ell Carson, Communications Director, Greater Madison Chamber, at 608-443-1952 or 608-213-1799

Contact: Brian Jensen, President, Fishidy, at 608-836-1500 or 608-215-9743

MADISON – Fishidy won the first ever Pressure Chamber business pitch contest at the Alliant Energy Center Tuesday afternoon. The contest, similar to ABC’s Shark Tank, drew a crowd of approximately 250 people at neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward, putting the finishing touches on a day that showcased business innovation in Greater Madison.

Brian Jensen, the president at Fishidy said he is looking forward to the opportunity to represent Madison and its entrepreneurial community. “I love this community, and I love the underdog mentality of the entrepreneurs here, said Jensen. “I am excited to head to California and pitch our company to the venture capitalists and shed more exposure on Wisconsin.”

Chamber President Zach Brandon said Fishidy will be a great addition to the Chamber’s meetings with Silicon Valley investors. “Fishidy has a great story and innovative product with a huge market in Wisconsin. We’re excited to provide a national platform to promote their work as well as promote all of the exciting things happening here in Greater Madison.”

The winner was decided by a combination of investor judges and live audience voting. Along with the opportunity to pitch in front of prominent venture capital firms in California, Fishidy also won tickets to the prestigious Brandworks University.

“While only one company could win, the remaining finalists enjoyed the opportunity to pitch in front of top regional and national investors on today’s judges’ panel,” said Brandon. “I look forward to seeing their continued success and growth here in Greater Madison.”

Other Pressure Chamber finalists included:

GoStrive – Mobile search app for community activities

Intuitive Biosciences – Turn-key protein analysis tools for the life science industry

Murfie – Online marketplace of music, which make CDs and vinyls digitally viable

OpenHomes – Discount brokerage directly connecting buyers and sellers through an online platform

Thalchemy – Technology to enable smartphones to sensory process information like a human brain

Pressure Chamber was presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Accelerate Madison, Capital Entrepreneurs, 4490 Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Kegonsa Capital Partners, Lindsay Stone & Briggs, 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 more than 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 7,000 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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neXXpo Keynote Luncheon Sold Out (On-site Registration Available)

On-site Registration Available Tomorrow for Seminars, Pressure Chamber,
Exhibition Floor and Hospitality Rooms

See original press release here

What: neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward will be an experience of what’s happening next in
business. Who’s emerging… what’s being created… the business trends in the making.

When: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, Madison

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Educational Seminars:

• Google: What Tomorrow Might Look Like

Brandon Jung – Google

• Sustainability 3.0: Beyond The Triple Bottom Line

Kathryne Auerback – Edgewood College; Tommy Thompson – Teel Plastics

• Going Global: If You Have a Website, You Already Are

Lora Klenke – Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation;
Nick Quint – Yahara Bay Distillers; Ryan Huber – Context Clothing

• Working with Emerging Talent

Claudio Diaz – Wipfli LLP; Jenna Weber – SVA

11:30 – 1 p.m. Keynote Luncheon: J.B. Pritzker

1:00 – 5 p.m. Exhibition Floor
A showcase of businesses that are emerging and products that are being created in five key sectors: Manufacturing, Startup, Technology, Sustainability and Talent.

1:30 – 3 p.m. Plenary Seminar: Scott Aughenbaugh
Seven Revolutions: Scanning the Business Horizon Out to the Year 2035 and Beyond

4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pressure Chamber

5:00 – 7 p.m. Happy Hour Networking

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 7,000 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 www.greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Pressure Chamber Finalists Announced for Live Pitch Contest Debuting at neXXpo on April 8

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today the finalists for Pressure Chamber. The new business pitch contest will be held during neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward, on Tuesday, April 8, at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall.

Pressure Chamber finalists include:

• Fishidy – Map-based social platform for fishing aficionados of all levels
  Brian Jensen, President
• GoStrive – Mobile search app for community activities
  James Jackson, President & CEO
• Intuitive Biosciences – Turn-key protein analysis tools for the life science industry
  Shawn Guse, CEO
• Murfie – Online marketplace of music, which make CDs and vinyls digitally viable
  Matt Younkle, Co-Founder & CEO
• OpenHomes – Discount brokerage directly connecting buyers and sellers through an online platform
  Kelda Roys, CEO
• Thalchemy – Technology to enable smartphones to sensory process information like a human brain
  Andrew Nere – Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer

The presenting companies will compete for an assortment of prizes, including tickets to the prestigious Brandworks University and an invitation to join the Chamber’s summer delegation with four other Madison-area startups to pitch representatives from several prominent venture capital firms in Silicon Valley.

Chamber President Zach Brandon said the finalists reflect the high caliber of Greater Madison’s entrepreneurial community. “When looking at our finalists, you see innovations in software, hardware and bioscience,” said Brandon. “Each company presents a compelling business proposition and has the potential to scale… right here in Greater Madison.”

The live pitch competition begins at 4 p.m. in front of a panel of judges, comprised of respected regional and national investors, and a live voting audience. Pressure Chamber is supported locally by Michael Best & Friedrich, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, 4490 Ventures, Kegonsa Capital Partners, Venture Investors, Lindsay Stone & Briggs, Accelerate Madison, Capital Entrepreneurs, Great Oaks Venture Capital and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

“One thing Pressure Chamber and this field of finalists guarantees is that the voting audience and our judges will have a tough task ahead of them,” said Brandon.

Tickets to attend neXXpo and be part of the live voting audience can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com/programs-events/neXXpo/.

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 7,000 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.

Contact: Jo-ell Carson, Communications Director, at 608-443-1952 or 608-213-1799

Click here for a pdf-version of this press release.

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