Whitewater Innovation Center showcase set for Dec. 18

December 16, 2013

Area entrepreneurs will present their new business ventures at the annual Innovators' Showcase on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Whitewater University Technology Park Innovation Center, 1221 Innovation Drive.

"The showcase is opportunity for people to get an exclusive look at business incubation that is happening in the community," said Denise Ehlen, director of Research and Sponsored Programs at UW-Whitewater. "Ideas born here have the potential to have a strong impact on the economic marketplace. In some cases, these products and services carve out new niche markets."

Speakers at the 2013 Innovators' Showcase include:

Richard Telfer, UW-Whitewater Chancellor
Beverly Kopper, UW-Whitewater Provost
Jeff Vanevenhoven, Co-director of Launch Pad and iMentor
Hunter Rojas and Austin Kadulski, Launch Pad Scholars
Dan McGuire, iFellow
Choton Basu, iFellow
Linda Reid, Global Freshwater Seed Accelerator and iMentor
William Dougan, Blackthorne Capital Management and iMentor
Jeff Knight, Whitewater Community Development Authority
Rob Olson, iButtonLink

Presentations will be followed by a reception and open house, featuring opportunities to meet with several regional innovators. The showcase is free to attend, but registration is required. Attendees must register at http://bit.ly/InnovShowcase2013.

Since its inception, the Innovation Center has served to address the economic development needs of the region by leveraging advanced technologies, enhancing employee opportunities, training and developing new enterprises to grow the economic base of the region.

"Our focus is on accelerating the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem and new companies -- particularly start-ups -- through an array of business outreach, support resources, and services," Ehlen said.

For more information, visit: http://www.whitewatertechpark.org/