University of Wisconsin - Extension

Governor Jim Doyle today announced the creation of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN), a partnership of the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the WiSys Technology Foundation, and the Agricultural Innovation Center, which is receiving $1 million from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. The investment is part of Governor Doyle’s pledge to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and will create an integrated statewide network to serve entrepreneurs.

"Wisconsin is home to many entrepreneurs who are critical to our state’s economic growth," Governor Doyle said. "To make sure their innovations translate into good, family-supporting jobs, we must have the right resources and infrastructure in place. This new network will help us achieve that goal."

The WEN partnership will build on the exceptional services offered at Wisconsin universities, technical colleges, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, and will link them to four new regional centers and a statewide network of intake centers. Regional center staff will continue the process of helping firms convert innovative ideas into market successes and act as a growth vehicle for their local economies.

The WEN regional centers will be located at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. Intake centers will be located in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Kenosha, Racine, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Superior, Whitewater, Fennimore, Appleton, Beloit-Janesville, Waukesha, Portage, Marshfield, Rice Lake, Rhinelander and Camp Douglas.

"Governor Doyle understands the vital importance of entrepreneurs and small businesses to the health and productivity of our local economies," said Department of Commerce Secretary Cory L. Nettles.

WEN represents the state’s first statewide assistance for small businesses at all stages of development and incorporates the services and resources of four leading organizations:

* University of Wisconsin-Extension - the UW System’s statewide small business outreach network, with 13 campus-based Small Business Development Centers;

* WiSys Technology Foundation - non-profit subsidiary of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, protecting and licensing inventions created by scientists at all UW campuses except the University of Wisconsin-Madison;

* Wisconsin Technical College System - the state’s network of 16 technical colleges, providing educational opportunities in over 300 occupational fields;

* Agricultural Innovation Center - the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s newly established hub serving agriculture-related entrepreneurs.

UW System President Kevin Reilly said WEN was established to integrate and link existing programs, services, opportunities, and connections for small business.

"WEN will provide programs and services to small and emerging businesses, resulting in job creation and retention, business start-ups, expansions and acquisitions, and strengthened linkages with the rich network of resources in the state, " Reilly said.

Key services at WEN will include one-on-one consulting, educational workshops, executive level programs, peer learning, and strategies to assess technologies and access capital. The funding will also provide WEN with the capability to expand its outreach in providing all of its programs and services into all regions of the state.

The Regional Centers will link entrepreneurs to other financial award programs under Wisconsin Act 255, the legislation through which WEN was proposed. One new program assists entrepreneurs or small businesses in obtaining professional services for business plan assistance, evaluation of a proposed startup or expansion, or other accelerated support purposes.

Beginning at the intake centers, counselors will assess clients’ intent to grow and their capacity to succeed. Promising clients will be referred to one of the regional centers, where their management team, market size, competitive advantage and other factors will undergo further evaluation.

"We don’t want brilliant ideas to wither on the vine because someone stopped watering the roots," said Dan Clancy, interim president of the Wisconsin Technical College System. "Once a small business takes off, we’ll use this new network to ensure continued support and attention throughout all the cycles of business growth."

The new network is expected to assist more than 10,000 people and contribute more than $500 million to the state’s economy in its first year of operation. Using a single client management system, WEN members will be better prepared to identify, prioritize, and assist businesses through multiple stages of development.

"WEN will allow WiSys Technology Foundation not only to find faculty and staff on the UW System campuses that are making inventions to help grow Wisconsin businesses, but WiSys will also evaluate the patentability of inventions from entrepreneurs across the state," said Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.