MADISON, Wis. – Ralph Kauten, who left his mark on Wisconsin’s biotechnology economy as an investor and an entrepreneur, will be honored Nov. 5 during the invite-only annual “Investor Hall of Fame” dinner at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
Kauten was an early backer, founder and executive in a handful of Wisconsin biotech sciences, including Promega, PanVera, Mirus Bio, Quintessence Biosciences and Lucigen. He is known for creating companies that reach successful “exits,” meaning they were sold or acquired by larger firms to the benefit of early investors and backers. PanVera and Mirus were sold; Lucigen was acquired.
He is the recent co-founder of the Valency Fund, a venture capital vehicle aimed at closing growth-stage funding gaps for Wisconsin companies, especially those in biotech or high-tech sectors.
Kauten sits on the boards and advisory boards of several private biotech companies, such as BellBrook Labs, and retains ownership or co-ownership stakes in other firms.
“Ralph brings commercial strategy, financial oversight and growth execution to science-led teams, bridging the gap between technical and academic innovation and market viability,” said Joe Kremer of the Tech Council’s Investor Network. “He has long been an active mentor and partner in Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
He joins past Hall of Fame inductees Dick Leazer, Wisconsin Investment Partners; the late George Mosher; the late Roger Ganser, Venture Investors; Jeff Rusinow, Silicon Pastures; the late Carl Gulbrandsen, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Tom Shannon, BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation; John Neis, Venture Investors; Jan Eddy, Phenomenelle Angels, Tim Keane, Golden Angels Investors; Bob Wood, Wisconsin Investment Partners; Joe Hildebrandt of Phenomenelle Angel Fund and the DaneVest Tech Fund; Andy Nunemaker, Golden Angels Investors; and Mark Bakken, HealthX Ventures.
Because the Early Stage Symposium attracts investors across early stage sectors, attendees may rub shoulders with principals from: Baird Capital, BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Chippewa Valley Angel Investors Network, CSA Partners, Gateway Capital Partners, gener8tor, Golden Angels Investors, HealthX Ventures, Idea Fund of La Crosse, Inventure Capital, Madison Development Corp., Milwaukee Venture Partners, TitletownTech, Tundra Angels, Valency Fund, Venture Investors, Winnow Fund, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Venture Debt Fund, Wisconsin Investment Partners, Wisconsin River Business Angels, WISC Partners, Yahara Ventures and Ziegler Link-Age Funds, among others.
Click here to register for the rest of the conference.
The conference will also feature:
- A Nov. 6 forum featuring gubernatorial candidates focusing on economic and technology development issues;
- Sixty-one companies pitching their ideas over the two days;
- Keynote speakers, targeted panel discussions and workshops featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors and others tied to the tech sector;
- An exhibit hall showcasing innovative Wisconsin companies; and
- A Nov. 5 conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities, including an investors-only dinner.
The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors thus far include: Advocate Aurora Health, Amazon, Apple, ATC, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, Business Fitness, City of Fitchburg, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Dairyland Power Cooperative, DeWitt, EUA, Exact Sciences, Findorff, Fine Point Consulting, First Business Bank, Foley & Lardner, gener8tor, Godfrey & Kahn, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Kimberly-Clark, KW2, M3 Insurance, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ Hey! Communications, Michael Best, Morgridge Institute for Research, Neider & Boucher, Novii CPA, One City Schools, Raven Software, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, RSM US, Silver Lining Foundation, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, SustainableHR PEO, Technology Entrepreneurship Office at UW-Madison, Technology Innovation Center – Milwaukee, University Research Park, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Center for Dairy Research, UW-Madison Dept. of Computer Sciences, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, VC3, Venture Investors, Versiti, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., WIPFLi, Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Wisconsin Historical Society, Yahara Software and Ziegler Link-Age Funds.
To learn more about sponsorship information, please reach out to Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.
