Sturgeon Bay companies make Business Plan Contest finals

Two Sturgeon Bay companies are among 23 finalists in the annual Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

Ann Hippensteel of Solar Flair, who designed a photovoltaic sculpture, and Van Krzywicki of Pea Pod Homes LLC are competing for more than $175,000 in cash and prizes. Prize winners will be announced at the annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference in Milwaukee June 9–10.

The contestants have survived two rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Innovation Network, the Wisconsin Angel Network and other statewide affiliates. The contest began in late January with about 250 entries statewide.

“The business plans in the final round reflect some of Wisconsin’s core technology strengths, as well as the fact that entrepreneurs can be found in all corners of the state,” said Mark Bugher, chairman of the Tech Council.

The 20 plans selected to compete in the final round have been joined by plans created in two university-based contests and one regional contest. Contestants submitted a 20-page business plan for review by a panel of 57 judges established by the Tech Council, the independent, non-profit and non-partisan science and technology adviser to the governor and the Legislature. Each plan describes the core product or service, defines the customer base, estimates the size of the market, identifies competition, list members of the management team and provides key financial data.

Ideas from this year’s crop of finalists include products or services in energy generation or conservation, “green” building, medical devices, nanotechnology processing, drug research and production and water treatment technology. Other novel ideas in the final round include software to notify people when mail arrives in a rental box, solar-powered camping gear, a running shoe for over-40 athletes and photovoltaic sculpture that generates electricity and doubles as an outdoor ornament.

The finalists’ executive summaries as well as those filed by semi-finalists are available for inspection by accredited investors through the Wisconsin Angel Network, which has 25 member angel networks, private equity funds or corporate strategic partners.