Chamber Announces Pressure Chamber Finalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 31, 2017)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced the five finalists competing in this year’s Pressure Chamber startup pitch event, which will take place Aug. 21 at the Overture Center during the Forward Festival, an eight-day celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Madison. In its three years, participating Pressure Chamber companies have gone on to raise more than $105 million from investors.

Pressure Chamber is a “Shark Tank”-style contest in which emerging companies will pitch in front of a panel of regional investors, business executives and a live audience. The winning company is decided based on a combination of judges’ scoring and audience votes.

The 2017 Pressure Chamber finalists are:

• Cardigan – The business card of the future, an app that enables you to more easily access, update and share your business card information with your connections.
• Curate – Scans public meeting data using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify cutting-edge marketing intelligence for construction firms and vendors, including early, reliable information about new manufacturing facilities, wastewater plant upgrades and renovations to city hall.
• DotCom Therapy – Answers the shortage of speech-language pathologists by providing therapy services to children across the country and around the world through live videoconferencing.
• SimpleMachines – Combines big-data analytics, AI and unstructured data processing into one chip and software framework to develop next-generation programmable chips for the AI era initially targeting the multi-billion data center industry.
• ThirdSpace – Software to help solve core business problems around employee engagement, onboarding and capturing workplace knowledge, all while delivering “Epic culture.”

“With talented startups like these dedicated to solving global challenges, the future of Greater Madison business looks very bright,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “These companies are great examples of the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that are flourishing in our region, and we are excited to see what they have in store at Pressure Chamber.”

In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also receive an all-expenses paid spot on the Chamber’s exclusive Madison-area startup delegation to San Francisco this October for meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms. In its first three years, each Pressure Chamber winner – Fishidy, bluDiagnostics and POLCO – has credited the initiative for helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice.

Pressure Chamber returns this year as part of neXXpo, a showcase of some of Greater Madison’s most exciting companies that includes attendee voting for the second annual Most Innovative Company (MIC) award. To register for these events, visit http://greatermadisonchamber.com/programs-events/nexxpo/

Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Lindsay Stone & Briggs, Rock River Capital Partners and Wisconsin Investment Partners.

Pressure Chamber finalists are available for interviews upon request.

For more information about Forward Fest, please visit http://www.forwardfest.org/

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

###

Youth Apprenticeship Interview Fair – Participating Companies

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce thanks the following companies for participating in the 2017 Madison Metropolitan School District Youth Apprenticeship Mentor Training & Interview Fair:

American Family Insurance
Attic Angel Community
Bell Laboratories
Capitol Mechanical
Cellular Dynamics International
Covance, Inc.
CUNA Mutual Group
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Functional Wellness and Chiropractic Center, LLC
Hottmann Construction
IBM
Iconica
Madison College
North Central Group
Oak Park Place
QBE North America
Senior Helpers
Sheraton Madison Hotel
Spherion
Strang, Inc.
TDS
UW Health
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Zimbrick, Inc.

Business Walk will Survey the Businesses on the Stoughton Road Corridor

Contact: Kennedy Turner; Blueprint Events, LLC; kennedy@blueprinteventsllc.com; 608-709-1915

Business Walk will Survey the Businesses on the Stoughton Road Corridor

Visiting up to 200 Businesses in Three Hours

On June 22nd, between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., teams of local business and civic leaders will take part in a walking tour (Business Walk) of the Stoughton Road Corridor business community. There is major construction potentially slated for Hwy 51 and could impact a large number of businesses. A Business Walk is an economic development initiative that, in a short amount of time, allows local leaders to get the pulse of how their business community is doing. The goal of the Business Walk is to help create a unified voice, build a stronger relationship between the business community and local government, as well as, target and assist companies at risk to help foster a more prosperous business climate.

During this a half-day blitz, teams made up of city leaders and small business supporters will visit up to 200 businesses. A Business Walk gathers responses from business owners and managers asking them how’s business, what do they like about doing business on Stoughton Road, and what can be done to improve doing business on Stoughton Road. The survey responses help to generate a simple, easy-to-read report that decision makers can use to help strengthen their local business community. This program will then hopefully be a model for other Business Walks in other parts of the city and state.

Date: June 22nd, 2017
Start/End Location: Madison Turners – 3001 S Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI 53716

Day of Timeline: 
7:30 a.m. – Registration/Breakfast
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Speakers/ Business Walk Tutorial
9:00 – 12:00 p.m. – Business Walk (Business Visits)
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch/Debrief Discussion

Presented by: City of Madison, Madison Gas and Electric

Supported by:Monona East Side Business Alliance, Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, Madison Region Economic Partnership, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce

Alder Denise DeMarb will be available the day of the event for questions and quotes.

About Blueprint Events, LLC: Blueprint Events is located in Madison, WI. We specialize in business and corporate event planning throughout Wisconsin. The Community Blueprint Series – “Business Walk” is an international award winning economic development program that was develop by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and Kennedy Turner.

###

Chamber Accepting Applications for 2017 Pressure Chamber Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 14, 2017)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today it is accepting applications for this year’s Pressure Chamber pitch event to be held during the Forward Festival, a celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Madison taking place Aug. 17-24. In its three years, participating Pressure Chamber companies have gone on to raise more than $100 million from investors.

“Pressure Chamber is a window into what’s next in Greater Madison’s economy,” said Chamber Vice President Kevin Little. “Whether your company is currently raising or planning to raise investment capital in the future, Pressure Chamber is a valuable platform to tell your story and make new connections across the country.”

Applicants for Pressure Chamber go through a screening process that may include presentations with prominent Wisconsin investors. From there, a select number of companies will be chosen to pitch in front of a panel of out-of-state investors, business executives and a live audience during Forward Fest. The winning company is decided based on a combination of judges scoring and audience votes. In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also receive an all-expenses paid spot on the Chamber’s exclusive Madison-area startup delegation to San Francisco this October for meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms.

In its first three years, each Pressure Chamber winner – Fishidy, bluDiagnostics and POLCO – has credited the initiative for helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice.

“With each year, the national awareness for this initiative and the number of investment partners has grown, yielding a positive return for both participating companies and Greater Madison,” said Little. “We’re excited to see what this year has to offer.”

Pressure Chamber is open to any industry, as long as the company meets the following requirements:

• Must be a member of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
• Must be located in Dane County or plan to locate to Dane County by August 21, 2017
• Must have raised at least $25,000, excluding personal investment by company founders
• Application must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The full application can be accessed at bit.ly/PressureChamber2017

Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Lindsay Stone & Briggs and Rock River Capital Partners.

For more information about Forward Fest, please visit http://www.forwardfest.org/

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

###

Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza Announces Kids Eat Free!

Mondays Kids Eat Free! 

One Free Kids’ Meal Per Purchase Of An Adult Entree, Valued At $6.49 Or More.  Kids 12 And Under Only.  A Kids Meal Is A Cheese or 1-Topping Pizza & A Drink.  Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offers Or Promotions.  In-Store Only.