Wisconsin Technology Council: WARF’s first chief venture officer to be introduced Nov. 7 at Early Stage Symposium

2018 Early Stage Symposium, THE place to find angel and venture capital

MADISON, Wis. – Michael Partsch, whose background in venture capital and start-up company development spans more than 25 years, will be introduced as the first chief venture officer for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Nov. 7 during the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

Partsch will join WARF Managing Director Erik Iverson and Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, for an on-stage conversation during a conference luncheon that will also feature unveiling of the Tech Council’s annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award.

Visit wisearlystage.com and click “Register Now” to attend the two-day conference at Madison’s Monona Terrace Convention Center.

Partsch will lead WARF’s efforts to invest in startup companies and product ideas tied to the UW-Madison. Such discoveries are often patented and licensed through WARF, which is an independent organization that manages intellectual property linked to the campus.

Established in 1925, WARF is one of the half-dozen largest intellectual property managers among American universities. Over time, it has provided more than $2.3 billion in grant funding to the UW-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research to feed the cycle of academic research.

Partsch comes to WARF from the San Francisco Bay area, where he has led AcceleMed Management for 11 years. Through AcceleMed, Partsch provides management for a portfolio of medical device startups. His venture capital experience spans four firms: Accuitive Medical Ventures, Versant Ventures, EDF Ventures and the CEO Venture Fund. Partsch has been a company founder, board member and investor.

He holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University, and spent two years as a Kauffman Fellow through the Ewing Kauffman Foundation.

The Nov. 7-8 conference features pitches by 40 young companies to a crowd that will include scores of angel and venture capitalists from Wisconsin and well beyond. The conference will also include:

Keynote speakers Aaron Kennedy, founder of Noodles & Company, and serial entrepreneur Kelly Fitzsimmons of Milwaukee’s Custom Reality Services.
A conversation with Terry Sivesind, the winner of the fifth “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award.
Six panel discussions featuring experienced investors, entrepreneurs and startup experts.
“Office Hours,” offering the opportunity to meet with subject experts on a variety of topics in small discussion groups or one-on-one.
A Nov. 7 evening conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities, including an investors-only dinner.
Tied to the event is the Nov. 6 WOMEN reception, featuring tech leader Demetria Menard.

Sponsors so far include: 100state, Aberdean Consulting, Accuray, ACS, Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance, American Transmission Co., AT&T, Aurora Health Care, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly,Barb Luhring Graphic Recording, BDO, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, BMO Harris, Boardman & Clark, The Burish Group – UBS Financial Services, Capital Newspapers, Carroll University, CGI, City of Fitchburg, Concordia University, Cresa Madison, Dane County Regional Airport, Dedicated Computing, DXC Technology, Enbridge, Eppstein Uhen Architects, Exact Sciences, Findorff, First Business Bank, Fluno Center, Foley & Lardner, Functional Biosciences, Godfrey & Kahn, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, JP Cullen, M3 Insurance, Madison College, Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Medical College of Wisconsin, Merchant & Gould, Michael Best, Midwest Prototyping, MOD Media, Morgridge Institute,Murphy Desmond, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, Northwestern Mutual, OneNeck IT Solutions, Perkins Coie, Quarles & Brady, Red Arrow Production, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, River Valley Bank, Skyward, Square 1 Bank, Sun Mountain Kegonsa, Tech Council board member Susan Healy, TASC, Technology Innovation Center – MKE, State of Wisconsin Investment Board,University Research Park, UW-Green Bay, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, Venture Investors, WEA Trust, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation,Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Health & Educational Facility Authority, Whitewater University Technology Park, WIPFLi,Wisconsin Investment Partners, Yahara Software and Ziegler.

The Tech Council produces the conference. Check out our past news releases and register at wisearlystage.com.

Contact: Tom Still or Laura Kaiser at 608-442-7557