Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle addresses awards banquet attendees, emphasizing the importance of growing a culture of entrepreneurism in Wisconsin.

Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council welcomes a crowd of more than 300 to the Business Plan Contest awards banquet held during Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee in June.

Greg Lynch of Michael Best & Friedrich LLC, sponsors of the 2006 Business Plan Contest awards banquet, introduces Gov. Jim Doyle to banquet attendees.

Doyle presents Brian Thompson and Dr. John Kao of MatriLab, Milwaukee, 1st place winners in the Life Sciences category and Grand Prize winners of the Governor’s Business Plan Contest with a $50,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Brent Newport, Khaja Din and Curt Szymanski of GetIPIC, Madison and 1st place winners in the Information Technology category with a $10,000 cash prize. 

Doyle presents Magesh Thiyagarajan of Plasma Devices, Madison and 1st place winner in the Advanced Manufacturing category with a $10,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Nikolai Usack, Juli Kaufman and Steve Servais of Pragmatic Construction, Milwaukee and 1st place winners in the Business Services category with a $10,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents David Engsberg of Joral Devices, LLC, Waukesha and 2rd place winner in the Advanced Manufacturing category with a $5,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Heather Hilleren of GreenLeaf Market, Madison and 2rd place winner in the Business Services category with a $5,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Eric Antonson of U.S. Trailmaps, Inc., Wausau and 2rd place winner in the Information Technology category with a $5,000 cash prize. 

Doyle presents Robert Lowery of Salus Discovery, Madison and 2rd place winner in the Life Sciences category with a $5,000 cash prize. 

Doyle presents Roger Meads of New Type Milking System for Dairy Cows, Hortonville and 3rd place winner in the Advanced Manufacturing category with a $2,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Shane Krukowski of Project-Based Learning Systems LLC, Milwaukee and 3rd place winner in the Business Services category with a $2,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Brennan Pardee of GuestBridge, Inc., Milwaukee and 3rd place winner in the Information Technology category with a $2,000 cash prize.

Doyle presents Anthony Escarcega of Ratio, Inc., Madison and 3rd place winner in the Life Sciences category with a $2,000 cash prize. 

Doyle and Still share a light moment before the awards ceremony.

Trevor Twose of Mithridion, Madison and Grand Prize winner of the 2005 Business Plan Contest shares his success stories with biotech executive Frank Langley at the BPC awards reception held during the Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee.

Roger Meads of New Type Milking System for Dairy Cows, Hortonville and 3rd place winner in the Advanced Manufacturing category mingles with guests at the Business Plan Contest awards reception.

Doyle Chief of Staff Susan Goodwin looks on as Doyle presents Wisconsin’s newly christened entrepreneurs with, in many cases, their first seed capital. 

Brian Thompson of MatriLab, Milwaukee, 1st place winner in the Life Sciences category and Grand Prize winner of the 2006 Governor’s Business Plan Contest presents his plan to investors at the Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee.

Magesh Thiyagarajan of Plasma Devices, Madison and 1st place winner in the Advanced Manufacturing category presents his plan to a group of investors at the Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee. 

Juli Kaufmann, Steve Servais and Mikolai Usack of Pragmatic Construction, Milwaukee and 1st place winners in the Business Services category present their idea to a room of investors at the Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee. 

Khaja Din of GetIPIC, Madison and 1st place winner in the Information Technology category presents his plan to a group of investors at the Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee.