New tech businesses are thriving in Wisconsin — and your odds just got even better! Could your idea become the next Sonic Foundry or match.com? On March 4th at Monona Terrace, join us in welcoming TechStars Chicago to Madison.

TechStars Chicago’s co-founders are prominent entrepreneurs Troy Henikoff and Sam Yagan, co-founder of OkCupid and now CEO of match.com. TechStars, billed as “the world’s #1 business accelerator,” is a 12-week bootcamp program designed to provide promising startups with seed capital, intensive mentoring, infrastructure, and a chance to pitch angels and VCs. TechStars has a history of successful programs in Boston, New York, Boulder, Seattle and San Antonio, and now they have expanded to the Midwest through a combination with Chicago’s Excelerate Labs. This is an exciting opportunity to learn from and with some of the smartest and best-connected people in the high-tech industry.

Who should attend:

• Founders of startup tech businesses
• Entrepreneurs with new tech concepts
• Managers & professionals working in the digital sector
• Anyone involved with business growth in southern Wisconsin

Presenters include Monty Schmidt, founder of Madison’s Sonic Foundry; Sam Yagan, co-founder of OkCupid, CEO of match.com and co-founder of Excelerate Labs (now TechStars Chicago); and Matt Younkle & Preston Austin, co-founders of Murfie, serial entrepreneurs and TechStars alumni. The evening will include networking, a full explanation of TechStars Chicago, and a call for new businesses to apply to this excellent Midwest accelerator.

Learn more and register.

Event sponsored by Capital Entrepreneurs, Foley & Lardner, Supranet, MadREP, UW Office of Corporate Relations, and WEDC.

Wisconsin bioscience companies interested in attending the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) International Convention in Chicago, IL have an opportunity to apply for scholarships to attend. This scholarship program is sponsored by the Marshfield Clinic, Madison Gas & Electric, University Research Park, MadREP, WEDC and BioForward.

The Business Scholarship Program for BIO 2013 is designed to enable Wisconsin bioscience companies (health, agriculture, energy, medical device, etc.) to participate fully in the BIO 2013 International Convention to be held April 22-25, 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Over the past three years, 23 Wisconsin biotechnology companies were awarded scholarships to attend the BIO International Convention.

To receive funding, companies must participate in the One-on-One Partnering through BIO 2013’s Business Forum. A selection committee representing the sponsoring organizations will select the scholarship recipients. Applications are due by Friday, March 1, 2013 at 6:00 PM.

Visit the BioForward website for details on the Small Business Scholarship and a copy of the application.

The Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC) serving Sauk County, Wisconsin, is seeking an energetic and innovative Executive Director (ED) with at least five years of experience in the profession to lead and manage the organization, which is responsible for promoting and maintaining the diverse economic vitality of Sauk County and its individual communities. The ED must be skilled in all aspects of running a non-profit economic development corporation and will work with the 14 member Board of Directors in establishing, implementing, and maintaining policies and procedures to achieve the overall mission of SCDC while developing networks and partnerships with private and public stakeholders.

Applications must be received in the office by February 18, 2013.

See the full job posting.

Interested in learning more about how Sector Strategies and Career Pathway Initiatives are moving Wisconsin forward? Want to hear from national speakers and learn about best practices around the state on these initiatives?  Then plan to attend the Sector Strategy and Career Pathway Conference on February 25th and 26th, 2013 at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison.

Questions? Please email Sandy Schmit at the Wisconsin Technical College System Office, or call 608-266-1599.

Learn more and register.  

The 10th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is accepting entries online for the 2013 competition until 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2013.

The contest is designed to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into business plans, to prepare them to launch a company, to get feedback from judges and to interact with investors and other professionals. Contest categories include Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology and Life Sciences.

Finalists will share in more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. Since the contest’s inception in 2004, nearly 2,300 entries have been received and about $1.5 million in cash and services (such as legal, accounting, office space and marketing) have been awarded.

To enter, become a judge or a sponsor, visit www.govsbizplancontest.com.