21 May Digital health panel will launch agenda at Wisconsin Entrepreneur’s Conference
A panel of four experts from the worlds of venture capital, medicine and digital health will set the tone for a two-day discussion of Wisconsin’s innovation assets on June 2 at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison.
The 13th annual event, with a theme of “Nurturing Entrepreneurial Roots,” will be held June 2-3 at the Alliant Energy Center. Learn more and register at www.witrepsconference.com.
“Driving quality up and costs down: Health IT in the age of accountability” will feature Mark Bakken of HealthX Ventures, a Madison-based fund focused on health care investments; Dr. Frank Byrne, the former president of St. Mary’s Hospital and a national leader in patient care innovation; Dr. Sanaz Cordes of healthfinch, a Madison-based digital health firm; and Ben Robbins, who focuses on digital health investments for Google Ventures in Boston.
The discussion will begin at 8:45 a.m., immediately following welcoming remarks by Christal Sheppard, director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Midwest office in Detroit, Mich.
“Health care in the United States is changing rapidly due to a host of factors, which range from the Affordable Care Act to cost constraints to how patients communicate with their medical professionals,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council and the panel moderator. “Those factors also include health information technology, which investors and providers alike see as a pathway to enhancing the quality of care while holding down costs and improving patient and provider satisfaction.”
Panelists will discuss the importance of Wisconsin’s health-tech industry, as well as trends and challenges facing the industry and its benefits for people, communities and health-care institutions at home or abroad.
“Along with other hot-spots in Wisconsin, the Madison area has become a hub for health technologies – especially health information,” Still said. “We’re seeing innovation from a range of health IT, device and products companies that will help save lives and money, while improving delivery and quality of care.”
Produced by the Tech Council, the conference is one of the largest events of its kind in the Upper Midwest. More than 500 people are expected to attend the two-day conference, to be held June 2-3 at the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, just off Madison’s South Beltline. Other highlights include:
- A keynote presentation by Jerry Jendusa, co-founder and former CEO of EMTEQ and now a principal with STUCK LLC
- The 2015 Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” award recipient Jim Berbee, founder of Berbee Information Networks Corp.
- Fifteen panel discussions for emerging companies on how to “Launch, Grow and Succeed,” including a special June 2 plenary session to be announced
- Diligent Dozen: Top 12 finalists from the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off
- Innovation Showcase featuring more than 45 companies from around the state
- Plenty of chances to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors over food and refreshments