Companies of all stages are invited to apply to pitch their stories to investors at the in-person Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, set for Nov. 5-6 at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.
The 2025 conference will feature four pitch opportunities: the two-minute “Open Mic” Quick Pitches, five-minute Tech Council Investor Networks presentations, the 90-second Elevator Pitch Olympics and “Investor Intros,” which pair pre-selected companies with angel and venture investors for brief one-on-one meetings.
Instructions for how to apply for all or a mix of the investor presentation opportunities can be found at wisearlystage.com on the “ESS Application” tab.
The deadline to apply online is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Remember to register first AND to apply for a chance to present in a company forum. Here are the four company forums; companies may apply for one, two or all opportunities to be seen, heard and make a splash!
‘Open Mic’ Quick Pitches – Wednesday, Nov. 5:
Each founder will have two minutes to pitch, with no Q&A afterward, to get as many founders in front of the group as possible. Don’t yet have a formal company? No problem. Tell us what you’re thinking of launching.
Tech Council Investor Networks Track – Wednesday, Nov. 5:
More than 20 Midwest companies spanning industries such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, IT, artificial intelligence and mobile applications will be featured, each with the chance to showcase their innovations through five-minute presentations.
Elevator Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 6:
About 15 early-stage, often pre-revenue companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics, where entrepreneurs deliver 90-second pitches to conference attendees and a panel of investors. Judges will score presentations on a 1-to-5 scale based on whether they merit a follow-up meeting, offering immediate feedback. Top presenters will receive crystal awards.
Investor Intros – Thursday, Nov. 6:
Companies chosen for the popular Investor Intros will take part in pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with investors from Wisconsin and beyond. The format, similar to speed dating, gives both sides a chance to learn about each other and explore potential partnerships.
The Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium was held Nov. 5-6, 2025, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. More than 400 people registered to attend from across the state and beyond.
This year, 21 companies pitched in the Tech Council Investor Networks presentation tracks on Nov. 5. Twenty companies participated in the newly added Open Mic quick-pitch session. The event again featured the popular Elevator Pitch Olympics and “Investor Intros,” allowing entrepreneurs to introduce themselves and their ideas to investors, on Nov. 6. Congratulations to Datalily AI of Verona and Higher Ground of Madison on their EPO wins.
The symposium also featured informative and inspiring speakers. Chris Fernandez and Zach Halmstad spoke during the opening session on Nov. 5. Over lunch on Nov. 5, attendees heard from new Tech Council President Maggie Brickerman in an interview with Gary Frings and Mark Ehrmann. The morning of Nov. 6 featured a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate forum with six major candidates discussing their views on economic development and the high-tech economy.
The conference included panel discussions on day one; Office Hours sessions on both days; networking; and additional opportunities to present, formally and informally, and to meet with investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders. The winner of the Tech Council’s Excellence in Entrepreneurial Ecosystem award, following an audience vote, was Elaine Coughlin of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. The newest inductee into the Investor Hall of Fame was Ralph Kauten of Valency Fund.
Other 2025 highlights included:
• An exhibit hall in the Grand Terrace featuring Wisconsin companies and emerging firms.
• A first-night reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and additional networking opportunities.
The conference is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council and its partners and sponsors.
| WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5 | ||
| 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. | Continental breakfast & registration | |
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. | Keynote speaker or plenary panel TBA | |
| 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. | ‘Open Mic’ Quick Pitches Each founder will have two minutes to pitch, with no Q&A afterward, to get as many founders in front of the group as possible. Don’t yet have a formal company? No problem. Tell us what you’re thinking of launching. | |
| 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. | Networking & coffee break* | |
| 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Tech Council Investor Networks presentations (session 1) | |
| 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. | Mastering technical sales: Strategies to win over customers Turning your MVP into a market-ready product is one of the first milestones for an early-stage tech startup. The next challenge is selling it and generating revenue. A strong sales strategy depends less on features and more on aligning with a client’s priorities. This workshop will cover how to translate your unique advantages into the business language your buyers understand. Workshop leader: Roberto Munoz, Strategic Growth Group | |
| 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Bootstrapping and traction: Building smarter from the start | |
| 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. | Lunch, Maggie Brickerman fireside chat and Triple E Awards | |
| 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. | Investor only meeting | |
| 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. | Innovation Exhibitor Showcase | |
| 2:35 to 3:30 p.m. | Panel Tracks | |
| TRACK A | Building market validation without burning through cash Validating a market doesn’t have to drain a startup’s budget. This session will share practical, low-cost ways to test ideas, reach customers and refine a business model before raising capital. Attendees will hear from founders, professionals who have helped companies gain traction and an investor offering insight into what they look for in early-stage startups that are building momentum with limited resources. | |
| TRACK B | How to break into a difficult market Breaking into a tough or highly regulated market can be one of the biggest challenges for startups. During this discussion, founders who have successfully done it will share how they identified opportunities, built trust and navigated barriers to entry. Attendees will gain practical insights on persistence, strategy and creative problem-solving to help their own companies enter and grow in difficult markets. | |
| TRACK C | How to sell when you don’t have a sales team Selling without a dedicated sales team is a common challenge for early-stage startups. In this discussion, a founder, mentor, academic and PR professional will share strategies for reaching customers, communicating value and building early traction. Attendees will learn creative, low-cost ways to generate interest, strengthen messaging and drive growth before a full sales team is in place. | |
| 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. | Networking & coffee break* | |
| 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. | Tech Council Investor Networks presentations (session 2) | |
| 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. | What happens on the other side of the pitch? Ever wonder what investors really discuss once the pitch ends? This session will offer a candid look behind the scenes at how funding decisions are made. Learn what happens after founders leave the room, from due diligence to deal terms and how to strengthen relationships with investors beyond the initial pitch. | |
| 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. | The road to MVP traction: Building a strong ‘minimum viable product’ and navigating your market Learn how to design, test and refine your minimum viable product to gain early traction. In this workshop, an experienced advisor will outline practical steps for turning ideas into validated products, gathering meaningful feedback and adapting to market signals. Discover how to balance speed, quality and customer insight to build a foundation for sustainable growth. | |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. | Reception celebrating Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs | |
| sponsored by Michael Best and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation | ||
| THURSDAY, NOV. 6 | ||
| 8 to 8:30 a.m. | Continental breakfast & registration | |
| 8:30 to 10 a.m. | Governor candidate forum sponsored by SJL Government Affairs & Communications | |
| 10 to 10:10 a.m. | Networking & coffee break* | |
| 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. | Investor Intros | |
| 10:10 to 11:05 a.m. | From innovation to protection: Navigating intellectual property in an AI world | |
| 11:10 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. | What not to do when forming your company | |
| 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. | Buffet Luncheon | |
| 12:45 to 2 p.m. | Elevator Pitch Olympics Pitch competition sponsored by Business Fitness Awards sponsored by Madison Development Corp. | |
| *Networking and coffee breaks are generously sponsored by: | ||
| Husch Blackwell, University Research Park, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. |