NOVEMBER 10, 2008 - "How Do You 'Future-Proof' Yourself and Your Enterprise?"
An Accelerate Madison collaboration with WTN Media
SPEAKER: Thomas Koulopoulos, founder of Delphi Group, author of eight books including "The Innovation Zone" (coming in 2009), and one of the leading thinkers and practitioners in the area of innovation.

WHAT: Tom Koulopoulos takes a look at the real issues that are moving us towards a future of uncertainty and dramatic change, and in the process explores the competencies you need to "Future Proof" yourself and your enterprise - including building an Innovation Zone.

OCTOBER 15, 2008 - "Ideas & Best Practices for High-Growth Enterprises & Entrepreneurs"
2 SPEAKERS:
Ralph Kauten, Chairman & CEO of Quintessesnce Biosciences, Inc.
Russ Smestad, CEO of Biotech Profiles LLC, and President of Mirus Bio Corporation for the past 5 years

WHAT: The Sept. 2008 acquisition of Mirus Bio (Madison, WI) by Roche (Basel, Switzerland) for $125 million is used as a case-study template as two of Madison's most successful serial entrepreneurs share their real-life experiences, knowledge and best practices important to any high-growth company. If you are responsible for helping bring together the resources to build an enterprise, refine a vision, set the goals, manage the milestones, and/or engaging in and crafting the successful exit opportunity, this program is for you.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 - "SOCIAL MEDIA: Measure & Monetize the Customer-Controlled Internet"
SPEAKER: Daniel Neely, founder & chief executive officer of Networked Insights
NO WEBCAST of this program (sorry) - Daniel Neely addressed only a live audience on 9/23/08 in Madison, WI.

WHAT: The Internet is no longer a walled garden, and if your enterprise is struggling with "what to do with social media?" you are not alone. Uncover new knowledge and opportunity which will help you gain and use customer intelligence to your advantage. How and why is social media important? How do you measure customer engagement, join the conversation and monetize the customer-controlled Internet? And, what are timely trends in social media?

JUNE 16, 2008 - "VIEW FROM the ROCKET: NAVIGATING UNCHARTED TERRITORIES and NEW 'WORLDS'"
SPEAKER: Kelly Jo MacArthur - strategist, lawyer and executive manager from Seattle, WA

WHAT: Cutting-edge technology businesses might create entire new markets for their own innovations. Disruptive technology businesses have the potential to not only change the business models of others, but to create transformative experiences for society. Not every great technology business will be disruptive, but every one will be impacted - soon - by disruptive technologies. Kelly Jo MacArthur has worked to create market-making businesses at the very cutting edge of technology, media and the law for over 15 years. She will encourage you to understand your own transformative potential and plan ahead for the future you envision - to anticipate and manage for the complexities of your business, to engage your employees and customers in new ways to shape your big ideas, to stay on top of the rapid pace of evolution in technology.

Kelly Jo was general counsel at Linden Lab, creator of the revolutionary virtual world "Second LifeŽ." Beginning in the mid-1990s, she helped position RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) at the forefront of the digital economy. She was general counsel and director of legal and business affairs at Compton's NewMedia, a Tribune Company subsidiary.

MAY 13, 2008 - "NEW WEB-BASED BUSINESSES, by 2 Serial Innovators in Wisconsin"
2 SPEAKERS:
Mark Gehring, CEO & co-founder of Sharendipity.com
Kelly Fitzsimmons, CEO & co-founder of ComicWonder.com

WHAT: Will new Web-based start-ups survive, thrive and be big in Wisconsin? What fuels the big ideas and bringing new business models to market? Companies of all sizes are trying to stay relevant and gain competitive advantages with new business models. More young people are entering the workplace armed with online habits and demands learned while growing-up in an era of rapid Web-based innovation. On May 13, Accelerate Madison hosts two of Wisconsin's young serial entrepreneurs who have built and sold several companies. Speakers Mark Gehring and Kelly Fitzsimmons and their respective teams are now building Web-based businesses - one in Madison and one in Milwaukee.

APRIL 3, 2008 - "MICROSOFT ACQUIRES JELLYFISH. Be Inspired."
SPEAKER: Brian Wiegand, CEO & Co-Founder of Jellyfish.com, a Microsoft Company
NO WEBCAST of this program (sorry) - Jellyfish.com's speaker addressed only a live audience on 4/3/08 in Madison, WI.

WHAT:Serial Entrepreneur Brian Wiegand told his tales of the amazing, fast-track journey of Jellyfish.com, from 2006 start-up in Madison to acquisition by the world's largest software company six months ago. Jellyfish.com has built a market against the best of Silicon Valley. How do Web 2.0 technologies make it easier to compete, regardless of where you're located? What does Microsoft's new presence in Madison mean for a thriving technology community? What fuels this young Wisconsin pioneer of start-ups to bring new business models to market? Accelerate Madison celebrated another milestone in building Madison's IT community on 4/3/08, along with a sold-out, standing-room-only, live audience.

FEBRUARY 7, 2008 - "ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT - IT Adds Value."
3 SPEAKERS: Christy Kaufman and Tom Schiesl, Virchow Krause & Company; AND, Steve Lipshetz, Alliant Energy

WHAT: What is enterprise risk management (ERM), and how does information technology fit into the ERM framework and add value? Why do we care? By identifying and proactively addressing risks AND opportunities, business enterprises protect and create value for their stakeholders. YOU are a stakeholder. Stakeholders in emerging start-ups to mature companies will find value in this Accelerate Madison program, geared to cover ERM objectives in strategic, operations, reporting, and compliance categories - emergent trends and relevant examples included.