MADISON - Twenty contestants from 15 communities will compete as finalists in the second Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest, contest producers announced Friday.
The finalists include Online-Kiosks.net of Eau Claire, run by entrepreneur Mike Strand.
Finalists were picked this week from a field of 49 semi-finalists by a panel of independent judges organized through the Wisconsin Technology Council, which is producing the contest in conjunction with its membership subsidiary, the Wisconsin Innovation Network Foundation, and other statewide affiliates.
"The quality of competition supports my belief that Wisconsin has the ideas and the entrepreneurs necessary to succeed into the 21st century economy. This contest will help ideas grow into companies and to create jobs, "Gov. Jim Doyle said. The winners will be announced at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference, June 7-8 in Milwaukee.
More than $100,000 in prize money and "in-kind" prizes are at stake. In late January, 200 plans from 138 individuals in 54 communities were submitted.