By Mike Harrison, Business Development Manager at BioForward
Wisconsin’s premier biohealth event is only a little over a month away!
500+ of Wisconsin’s biohealth leaders are going to gather at the Overture Center in Madison on October 2nd. Are you an entrepreneur who isn’t sure if you should go? Here are 5 reasons why startups and entrepreneurs can’t miss the Biohealth Summit:
- Get Inspired
With the frequent highs and lows of starting a business, it can be easy to forget why you do what you do. Rediscover your passion for this industry by listening to some incredible speakers! BioForward has lined up 3 fantastic keynote speakers, 2 panel discussions, and 6 fireside chats with hand-picked industry experts. Some sessions that may be of interest to entrepreneurs are:
- Hear from leaders of 5 young Wisconsin Biohealth Companies moderated by an experienced entrepreneur– The companies include Gregor Diagnostics, JangoBio, and Healthio, with a focused conversation on the process of how they got started and where they are going next.
- Learn how to receive government grants from the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) and two companies that benefited from CTC’s SBIR and SBIRAdvance Grants. This session will engage listeners with CTC’s approach to grant success, how they deliver matching grant funds, and how companies benefit.
- Find a Role Model
One of the keys to a successful startup is finding the right mentors and role models. The Biohealth Summit is attended by hundreds of the top biohealth leaders and innovators in the region, so whatever your experience level, you can find the perfect person to lend guidance and advice. In addition, during the Wisconsin Biohealth Awards ceremony, you will see two of the best role models our industry has to offer and discover their roads to success.
- Learn About the Industry!
You need to stay on top of current trends and pick up tips from key opinion leaders to continue to be successful in the rapidly-evolving biohealth industry. Get up-to-date by attending our first keynote of the day, one of two panel sessions, and two of six fireside chats. Topics include:
- New technology in brain health
- Science and Nutrition
- RNAi and CRISPR Technology
- Government advocacy in biohealth
- Skills
Shape your business and encourage the development of your employees by attending our professional development track. Attendees will have access to two fireside chat sessions sure to improve your approach to business in the biohealth industry. The first panel will feature the Women in Biohealth initiative and cover making allies in the workplace. The second panel will discuss how Millennials and Generation Z will change the workplace. We finish out the day with internationally-recognized keynote speaker and author, Ryan Jenkins, about how to work and lead across the generations.
- Get Connected
The number one way to succeed as a startup is to join with others in the community to form partnerships, share resources, and learn from each other. We have an incredible biohealth environment in Wisconsin, and you are sure to be introduced to some people or even whole communities that you have yet to meet and collaborate with. Enjoy the afternoon networking reception with the chance to meet with thought leaders and innovators over signature cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres in the grand Overture Hall lobby.
See the full event agenda and register today for the Wisconsin Biohealth Summit!
A special thank you to this year’s event sponsors: WEDC, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Illumina, GE Healthcare, Exact Sciences, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), Promega, Catalent, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics International, Mallinckrodt, AbbVie, University Research Park, PhRMA, Findorff, FUJIFILM TeraMedica, BIO, Hausmann Johnson Insurance, Aurora Research Institute, Eppstein Uhen Architects, UW Health, Park Bank, Covance, Yahara Software, Kraemer Brothers, UW-Extension MS Applied Biotechnology, SVA Consulting, Perkins Coie, Vogel Bros. Building Co., UW School of Medicine and Public Health MS in Biotechnology, Gilson, Aldevron, CAI, and the UW Office of Business Engagement.
