Contact: Beth Gehred, Slow Money Wisconsin, [email protected] 920-541-3208
Madison, WI. Slow Money Wisconsin announced its nine featured food and farming businesses for the 2014 Slow Money Wisconsin/Madison Local Investment Opportunities Network (LION) Business and Investor Showcase, taking place in Madison on Thurs, March 27 and Fri, March 28.
The nine businesses include start-ups as well as regional powerhouses. They include The Underground Food Collective, Blue Vista Farm of Bayfield, MobCraft Brewing, JRS Country Acres, BeePods LLC, Simply Native Foods, Badger Kraut and Pickle, Bryant Family Farms and Posana Organics.
“These businesses caught our attention,” Tera Johnson, director of the Food and Finance Institute, and an evaluator for Slow Money Wisconsin said. “They had that spark of passion that got them chosen.”
Entrepreneurs will present the story behind founding their businesses, their successes, and their plans for the future in ten-minute slide format. The intention is to introduce the breadth and diversity of Wisconsin’s food and farm business scene to an audience that is interested in supporting local food entrepreneurs.
The event is open to the public, and registration is going on now on the group’s website, slowmoneywisconsin.org.
“The Showcase is just that,” Jim Gage, Slow Money Wisconsin volunteer, said. “A chance to showcase what some local food and farm businesses look like, act like, and need to thrive, to an audience that is supportive of their success, whether as customers or more.”
In addition to the entrepreneurs, an alumnus from last year’s showcase will give updates on his business. Over 30 entrepreneurs applied to present through Slow Money Wisconsin, a volunteer organization whose purpose is to support community-centered investment in resilient and healthful food systems. From these applicants, Slow Money Wisconsin will select eight; the chosen entrepreneurs will be announced in late February.
The goal of the reception and showcase is to open a space for entrepreneurs and investors to explore what investment means in the 21st century. Attendees consider if an investor’s personal values can be a part of the equation when considering an investment’s return. Entrepreneurs will have a chance to showcase their products and visions for the future growth of their business as well as the benefit to the regional food system.
Local food is served throughout the event, which is open to the public. Any questions can be directed to Beth Gehred at 920-541-3208.
The reception is being held Thursday evening, March 27 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm in the Murphy Desmond Law SC Lounge, 5th Floor of the Park Bank Building, 33 E. Main Street, Capitol Square. The showcase will be Friday, March 28, 9 am - 3 pm, at the Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison.
Sponsors of the event include Kailo Fund, the Organic Processing Institute (OPI), MG&E Foundation, Murphy Desmond Lawyers SC, Incredible Edible Investment Club, Blue Farm, and Sustainable Edible Economic Development (S.E.E.D).