Many loan, grant and financial programs are available to help businesses grow. Tap into these resources to start a business, make improvements or expand.

• Nearly 10 venture capital groups and angel networks help fund new companies in the Madison area.
• Dane County ranks among the top 100 counties nationwide for the amount of venture funding.
• Act 255, Wisconsin's Angel Investor and Venture Fund Tax Credit program, allows investors in early stage companies to apply for a 25% tax credit on their investments in prequalified companies.

State resources

Take advantage of Wisconsin's numerous financing programs. Assistance is available for start-up projects, training, technology development, environmental improvements and more. Wisconsin also offers financing tailored to women and minorities.

Other resources include:

• The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority,which provides small business and agricultural financing.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (which has a local office in Madison) offers a wide range of loan guaranty programs for businesses.
• Dane County is part of the Capital Ideas Technology Zone, a new initiative to promote the development and expansion of high-tech businesses in the area. It offers tax credits to eligible high-tech companies that locate or expand in this area.

Local financing

Madison provides several business financing options, including industrial revenue bonds, revolving loan funds and improvement programs.

Program details are available from the Madison Office of Business Assistance.

Other resources include:

• The Madison Development Corporation which offers loans for startup businesses and grants for technical assistance, including training and software.
• The Dane County Development Corporation provides funding for expanding or early-stage businesses.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation provides access to capital and business education for companies owned by women and minorities.

Venture capital

Wisconsin's venture capital firms help fund companies that have superior growth potential.

• Advantage Capital Wisconsin Partners I offers financing for early-stage life sciences and information technology companies plus later-stage businesses on the verge of profitability.
• Baird Venture Partners invests in early- to late-stage companies from three industries: applied technology, business services and life sciences.
• Cedar Creek Partners works with operating management teams to execute buyouts and recapitalizations of privately held companies.
• Frazier Technology Ventures is a venture capital partner that helps companies through all phases of development.
• Mason Wells is a middle-market private equity investor that helps entrepreneurs who need capital to start a business, acquire a business or grow.
• Venture Investors, LLC provides seed and early-stage funding for health care (biotechnology and medical devices) and information technology businesses.

MGE helps support the annual Wisconsin Life Sciences and Venture Conference. Selected biotech and life sciences companies seeking $2 million to $30 million can make presentations or offer exhibits. Nearly 50% of past participants have made contacts at the conference that have led to funding.

Angel investors

Wisconsin's network of angel investors provides early stage financing for technology-based businesses, life science companies and more. Angel investors serving southern Wisconsin include:

• The Wisconsin Angel Network's (WAN) mission is to build angel network capital capacity throughout Wisconsin, to increase the number and amount of seed stage equity investments in Wisconsin companies, which will create jobs and improve our economy.
• Silicon Pastures which provides seed and later-round financing and other business development services.
• Wisconsin Investment Partners which is a life science-oriented angel investment network that provides mentoring, strategic analysis, business planning and general financing assistance.

Grants

Federal grant programs help small businesses bring innovative technologies to market. Since 1983, Wisconsin firms have received more than $125 million from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.