Finalists in Gov’s Biz Plan Contest offer ideas in ag and food tech, health, IT, more

31 Mar Finalists in Gov’s Biz Plan Contest offer ideas in ag and food tech, health, IT, more

Twenty-five entries representing broad sectors such as advanced manufacturing, business services, information technology and life sciences will compete in the finalist round of the 2025 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

The contestants have emerged after two rounds of judging in the contest organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council, its sponsors and volunteers. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is a major sponsor.

“Young companies such as those advancing in this year’s contest are examples of innovation that cuts across industry sector lines in Wisconsin,” said Gary Frings, chair of the 50-member board of directors for the Tech Council.

Advanced manufacturing plans include: Transforming discarded textiles into trendy, eco-friendly clothing; developing separator technology for high-performance rechargeable metal ion batteries; chemical technology to upcycle dairy food waste into tagatose, which is a low-calorie, FDA recognized sugar alternative; a patented process to produce bio-preferred acetaminophen from biomass; a soil sensor that leverages real-time electrochemical sensing to measure soil nitrate levels throughout the growing season; and a full-service solution for 3D-printed cement composites including design services, component production and custom material development.

Plans tied to business services are: Specialized food delivery service catering to people with swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia); a service that makes existing clothes easier to wear for people struggling with dexterity or mobility; a filtration that specializes in advanced carbon-based water filters engineered to remove PFAS from drinking water; a carwash and water treatment marketing agency that blends spotless design with high-performance digital solutions; a streamlined platform connecting traveling professionals to fully furnished monthly housing; and a healthcare service that addresses the need for accessible swallowing disorder diagnostics.

Information technology plans include: A company that automates domestic sales tax filings for Shopify merchants, thus replacing manual compliance; an integrated threat indicator and guidance system that detects a dangerous event, such as an active shooter or fire; an AI-driven, machine-learning software that provides service-line material recognition for water utilities to comply with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule; enterprise software that uses AI-driven automation bots to directly commit code to repositories without requiring engineer review or intervention; a voice AI simulation creation tool that allows learning directors at organizations to create scenarios for their learners to practice job-specific conversations for any role; and a company that helps retail investors confidently invest in the stock market.

Life sciences finalists include: A program that addresses a gap in occupational therapy care by providing temporary stabilization between initial evaluation and surgery; a firm that provides services to pharmaceutical companies developing cell therapy products and their subsidiaries; digitizing and unifying the fractured experience of finding pregnancy and post-partum support; a pet-activated grooming brush with integrated vacuum and connected the internet for pet monitoring; a patented nano-composite carbon-polymer wound dressing designed for chronic wounds in underserved markets; a low-cost bioactive medical coating technology for titanium implants; and a therapeutic to resolve H. pylori infections, a common bacterial infection in the stomach that causes peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.

Finalists will next submit a 15-minute pitch deck for review by a panel of about 70 judges. 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. Finalists are also encouraged to provide feedback from a potential or current customer.

The “Diligent Dozen,” which are the top 12 business plans announced in late May, will present live June 4 at the 2025 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, with winners announced June 5. Category winners, as well as the 2025 Grand Prize Winner, will be announced at the close of the Madison conference. More information will be available in coming weeks at www.witrepsconference.com.

Sponsors are contributing cash, office space, legal assistance, accounting, information technology consulting, marketing, event space and more. About $2.9 million in cash and in-kind prizes have been awarded since the inception of the contest in 2004.

In addition to WEDC, lead sponsors of the 2025 contest thus far include Michael Best; Novii CPA; Phil Ouellette, EOS Implementer; Pieper Properties; Quarles & Brady; SCORE Wisconsin; Spencer X Smith; University Research Park; Ward4.  Associate sponsors include Applied Management; Cap Times; Starting Block Madison; Wisconsin Technology Council; Additional sponsors are FocalPoint Consulting; Forward BIOLABS; Madison Gas & Electric; Makin’ Hey!; MKE Startup News;  Murphy Desmond; Palladium CPA; Sustainable HR PEO; UW-Madison Office of University Relations and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

Contact Julie Johnson at the Tech Council if you would like to become a sponsor.

Finalists are listed on page three of this release, in alphabetical order of the company or plan name. Reporters wishing to contact individual contestants may do so through the Tech Council by calling 608-442-7557.

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