Inside Wisconsin

In April 2023, Wisconsin will host a national gathering of about 4,000 collegiate researchers who will descend on Eau Claire to present their ideas, to network with peers and mentors, and to meet with corporate and graduate school recruiters.

Karen Renee’s background as a professional court reporter alerted her to a recurring problem and a promising solution: Scheduling of court reporters and videographers can be a hassle for many in the justice system.

Tracie Rotter may not fit whatever image is rolling around in your head when you think of a veteran tech industry matchmaker.

For an economy to flourish and constantly refresh itself, new ideas, products, and companies must rise to take the place of the old. It’s a phenomenon economists call “creative destruction” and it has driven the American and Wisconsin economies for generations.

Sooner or later, we must all emerge. You probably understand that deep down, but there may be a part of you that has become so emersed in the COVID-19 swing of things that you’re nervous — even afraid — of a return to “normal.”

Few are surprised to learn that Madison and Milwaukee are hubs for tech-based innovation involving young companies. What may be surprising to some people is the extent to which young companies are springing up in places outside the state’s largest urban centers. Two statewide events illustrate the point.

Leading up to the news of a proposed $100-million state investment in a venture capital fund, the Wisconsin Technology Council informally surveyed a small group of early-stage investors about the “demand” side of the equation.

As 2021 unfolds, it’s time to draw some conclusions about how the state has performed over time — and what that means for a future temporarily sidetracked by COVID-19.

“Go Toward the Heat” trumpeted the Feb. 2 headline in the New York Times business section, which led into a story about Miami, Florida’s success in luring tech companies and investment firms migrating from New York’s Wall Street and California’s Silicon Valley.

If you’re a business owner wondering if you can require employees to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, the answer is a qualified “yes.”