Networking to Nurture Start-Ups in the State

This entry is courtesy of Susie Falk, vice president of public relations at Blue Horse.

I met the most amazing group of people the other day. These were inventors and entrepreneurs, brought together by the MMAC for networking purposes. I understand entrepreneurs – I’m surrounded by them at the agency every day -a smart, scrappy bunch for sure. I don’t encounter “inventors” very often – these folks fall into a whole new category of brilliance.

This group of about 70 had come to hear me talk on the topic of marketing on a shoestring budget. I was glad I presented first. My lecture was much less interesting than the people who had come to hear me. After my talk, the group went around the room introducing themselves and their ideas – many at the embryonic stages, others ready for pubic consumption. They all were looking for tips and advice on how to establish their products in the marketplace.

Many of their ideas were truly brilliant. One guy had invented a screen shield that wraps around a hot tub when it’s windy – or when there’s the need for privacy. His product was ready for market – he was looking for suggestions on communicating with hot tub distributors. Another guy had a patent on a puppy pooper picker-upper. He’d already found success with the pooper p-u and was looking to hatch another idea. One woman I spoke with was trying to find an audience for a new method of teaching kids with autism and ADD. Yet another woman was working on a project that studied the development of the brains of children. I had hoped that these two women had the chance to meet each other at the networking event.

Hats off to the MMAC for coordinating this group. It is the MMAC’s intention to help these types of people to keep them here and home in Milwaukee where they can grow their businesses and help improve our local economy.

In June, Blue Horse will be addressing a similar group of inventors and entrepreneurs at the Wisconsin Technology Council’s Entrepreneurs Conference. The WTC is also working to hatch and keep successful businesses in Wisconsin. Each year at the Entrepreneur’s Conference, Gov. Jim Doyle announces the winner of his business contest – a contest set up by the state to nurture start-ups. Our agency recently announced it will donate $30,000 in marketing communications services to the winner of the business contest.

Kudos to the MMAC, the WTC and the State of Wisconsin for their efforts to grow good ideas and businesses. Blue Horse is proud to be a part of these initiatives.