In January 2018, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will be leading a global trade venture to Mexico. Wisconsin companies, whether new to exporting or looking to expand their exports into Mexico, are invited to participate in this program. The cities included in the program, Guadalajara and Mexico City, are the two largest cities in Mexico. In each city, participants will be scheduled for one-on-one meetings with potential partners in the market. These partners are hand-picked for each participating company.

Each participant in the global trade venture will also receive a Mexico market assessment specific to his or her company, detailing considerations they should keep in mind when introducing their product or service into the market. WEDC has eyes and ears on the ground in Mexico, in the form of Wisconsin’s authorized trade representatives—thus making it easier for Wisconsin companies to find local partners they can trust, and taking some of the guesswork out of launching in a new market. With all your appointments arranged for you, you can focus on business rather than logistics and scheduling.

Register by December 18, 2018.

The work of the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences and how computer science is driving the Wisconsin economy will be explored at the Tuesday, Dec. 5 meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Appleton.

Guri Sohi, professor and chairman of the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences, will be joined by Jignesh Patel, a professor in the UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences, in talking about how the department can help industry in northeast Wisconsin and beyond.

Learn more and register online.

Premiere Night is a celebration of gener8tor’s latest class of innovative startups and entrepreneurship.

For the three months leading up to Premiere Night, gener8tor’s group of entrepreneurs have been validating their business models, attracting customers and preparing their pitches. Premiere Night offers an amazing opportunity for gener8tor companies, entrepreneurs and investors to commingle.

Each of gener8tor’s Milwaukee 2017 companies will give a five-minute pitch in front of a captive audience of investors, entrepreneurs and community members.

RSVP online.

The Edible Startup Summit is designed to provide you with the knowledge and connections to help launch a food business.

Hear from successful food entrepreneurs and business development experts, connect with government and non-profit resources, learn from panel, keynote, and small group discussions, and engage is discussion and networking to help your food business grow.

The Summit is focused on starting businesses that will sell food in retail and wholesale channels. The Summit is appropriate for entrepreneurs who are just getting started, for those who are growing, and for those who are diversifying.

Register online.

To be well prepared for jobs of the 21st century, today’s students must have access to hands-on experience and training, allowing them to put into practice concepts they have learned in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) courses. Increasingly, this type of learning requires equipment such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers and plasma cutters.

Through the Fabrication Laboratories (Fab Labs) Grant Program, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is helping to outfit public schools across the state with this type of equipment, which helps students master the skills that are in high demand in the job market. Collaboration is a key feature of these labs, with schools throughout Wisconsin and around the world communicating to share ideas.

WEDC will provide grants of up to $25,000 to eligible Wisconsin public school districts, or up to $50,000 to consortia of two or more public school districts, for the creation and/or expansion of fabrication laboratories within the school district(s). The funds may be used to purchase equipment used for instructional and educational purposes by elementary, middle, junior or high school students.

Learn more.