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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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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Local, Regional and National Investors Heat Up Pressure Chamber

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced a growing list of investors that will participate in Pressure Chamber, a new pitch contest for early-stage Madison-area companies. Pressure Chamber, a concept similar to ABC’s Shark Tank, launches April 8 at neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall.

“The attention and support we have received from the global investment community is a validation of our region’s reputation as a place of innovation and a home for startups,” said Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon.

Pressure Chamber applicants will first be screened by contest partners, including local investors. The highest-rated candidates will then go on to the April 8 live pitch contest starting at 4 p.m. in front of a panel of judges that includes these respected regional and national investors:

• Chris Olsen – Drive Capital; Ohio
• Ned Hill – Mercury Fund; Texas
• Benedict Rocchio – Baird Capital; Illinois
• Greg Robinson – 4490 Ventures; Wisconsin

The national exposure continues for the live contest winner, who will join a summer delegation with four other Madison-area startups to pitch representatives from a growing list of top Silicon Valley firms, including:

• Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
• Mohr Davidow Ventures
• August Capital
• Foundation Capital
• Emergence Capital Partners

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 and Capital Entrepreneurs.

“Access to prominent local, regional and national investment firms is a unique opportunity for our growing community of startups,” said Brandon. “We have the talent and now a visible platform to share our stories with the world.”

Companies have until March 10 to apply. To be eligible, the company must be located in Dane County and have raised at least $25,000 from private sources. The application and instructions for companies interested in competing in the Pressure Chamber along with tickets to be in the live voting audience can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com/programs-events/pressure-chamber/.

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 the press release.

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Letter to City of Madison alders opposing energy benchmarking ordinance

Dear Common Council member:

A recently introduced ordinance, Legistar #32255, would establish energy benchmarks for businesses in Madison that meet certain size requirements.  The Greater Madison Chamber Board supports efforts to educate businesses about ways to reduce their energy footprint but must oppose this ordinance.  Requiring businesses to annually report energy usage is cumbersome, costly and ineffective.  The energy analysis received will not provide information that isn’t already available to the business.

The ordinance requires commercial buildings of 15,000 square feet or larger and multi-family buildings with at least 35 dwelling units to annually report electric, gas and water usage on the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager web page.  Every three years, the data must be certified by an energy service professional who is on the city’s approved credentials list.  Failure to comply will result in a daily forfeiture between $50 and $250.

Businesses know that finding ways to reduce energy costs saves them money and is good for the environment.  Implying otherwise is insulting.  Building improvements and equipment replacement can have significant costs which the business compares to potential energy savings and then determines what they can afford to do.

Instead of mandating business participation, the Chamber supports an educational effort similar to the Better Buildings Challenge being used by Milwaukee and other cities.   Milwaukee’s public and private sectors have joined the challenge and undertake retrofits and changes to reduce energy use, in some cases with incentives through the Milwaukee Energy Efficiency Program.  If Madison decided to participate in this type of program, the Chamber would be delighted to be an active partner in outreach to the business community.  Just as we were a supporting partner in the Clean Air Coalition, a voluntary public/private effort to help businesses and government reduce air emissions.

Education and partnership is the right path forward, not unnecessary mandates aimed at shaming businesses into making building and equipment improvements.

Please contact me if you would like to know more about the Chamber’s position or the ordinance.

Sincerely,

Delora

Delora Newton
Vice President, External Relations
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
615 E Washington Avenue
PO Box 71
Madison WI  53701-0071
608-443-1947 direct line
608-256-8348 general line
dnewton@greatermadisonchamber.com

Greater Madison Business Leaders Invited to White House to Give Local Perspective on National Issues

MADISON – On Dec. 9 Greater Madison business leaders attended a four-hour White House Business Council Briefing. The invitation to the briefing grew from strategic partnerships with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, the White House Business Council and Business Forward.

“This was a unique opportunity for Chamber members large and small to deliver feedback from our local business community to the highest levels of the federal government,” said Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon. “The Greater Madison region was invited to the national stage to share our story. It is exactly where we want to be.”

The briefing included presentations from the U.S. Chief Information Officer, the Special Assistant to the President and Director of Private Sector Engagement, the Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy, the Senior Policy Director for Immigration and the Assistant Secretary for Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as other high level White House officials.

Chamber members attending the trip were:

• Wayne Harris, President, 6AM Marketing
• John Rainbolt, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Alliant Energy
• Jack Salzwedel, Chairman and CEO, American Family Mutual Insurance Co.
• Scott Seymour, Vice President, Gov’t Affairs/Compliance, American Family Mutual Insurance Co.
• Diane Ballweg, Vice President, Endres Manufacturing
• Marsha Lindsay, CEO, Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Inc.
• Mary Turke, Office Managing Partner, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
• Zach Brandon, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce

The briefing covered topics such as small business investment, the Affordable Care Act, tax reform, immigration, exports and more.

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 6,000 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, Madison businesses vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at www.greatermadisonchamber.com.

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

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Click here for pdf of the press release.