Wisconsin Department of Commerce: Technology Business Development - Are you interested in starting a technology based business?

There are a wide range of resources for technology-based businesses. The following programs are available through the Department of Commerce to help Wisconsin technology-based businesses grow.

Other Technical Business Resources:

If you would like more information about programs outside of the Department of Commerce, the following links are provided.

Forward Wisconsin has information on industry clusters such as Biotechnology, Medical Devices, and Information Technology.

Information Technology Association of WI (ITAWi) focuses on the growth and competitive strength of the Wisconsin IT sector.

For more information on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), visit the Wisconsin SBIR FAST page (click here). The SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $2.0 billion of research and development funding annually for technology-based small businesses to help commercialize innovations. Additional information on Federal funding opportunities for small businesses can be found on this Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network Factsheet.

The UW-Madison Technology Business Development Institute of the Small Business Development Center has produced two free videos on acquiring SBIR/STTR grants. Feel free to pass this message and link on to your network or membership.

An Introduction to Acquiring SBIR/STTR Grants with Pat Dillon, WEN (Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network) Regional Director. Dillon has been a SBIR reviewer for the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture, and was the Principal Investigator of an Office of Naval Research contract for the first ever SWIFT Tour (5-State SBIR Road Tour).

Using SBIR/STTR Grants to Help Fund Commercialization of Technology with Barbara A. Israel, Ph.D. founder and CEO, Echometrix LLC, Madison, WI, and founder, director and former CEO of Platypus Technologies, LLC. Platypus is privately held and has been awarded $17 million in Federal funds, including SBIR/STTR grants.

The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network (WEN) offers resources for any stage of business growth, including aspects such as marketing assistance, product development, intellectual property, or competitive research.