MADISON – The annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest has always been a canary in a high-tech coal mine, chirping out alerts about the kinds of businesses emerging in the state’s economic sectors.
This year’s contest, in which the pool of entries has been trimmed to under 50 contestants, is no exception to the rule. The list of semi-finalists reflects efforts to solve market and social problems, big and small, while also signaling the increasing diversity of Wisconsin’s economy.
The survivors are a microcosm of Wisconsin innovation, with finalists pushing the envelope in traditional sectors – manufacturing and agriculture – as well as information technology, health care, transportation, public safety and more. Here are some examples:
