BrightStar Announces New Investments and Board Members
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BSW 15-06-02 news release final.pdf
BrightStar Announces New Investments and Board Members
MILWAUKEE, June 2, 2015 – The BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. today announced that its investment committee has authorized funding for three additional early-stage Wisconsin companies.
The companies receiving BrightStar investments are Pinpoint Software Inc., Whitewater; Beekeeper Labs Inc., Madison; and GoHitList Corp., Milwaukee. The addition of these companies brings to seventeen the number of investments in the foundation’s portfolio. These three latest investments total $350,000, bringing the total invested by the foundation since it started in February 2014 to more than $2.4 million. All three companies participated in the accelerator program run by gener8tor, a Milwaukee- and Madison-based company that works with early-stage entrepreneurs.
“This is a great example of what can get done when two of Wisconsin’s premier early-stage organizations work together,” said Troy Vosseller, co-founder of gener8tor. “It’s a relationship that will continue fostering the ecosystem while attracting and developing talent and opportunity within the state. We couldn’t be more excited for the continued partnership.”
BrightStar also announced the election of two new members to its board of directors. Reed E. Hall, the CEO and secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., and Adam M. Berger, partner and vice president of sales for Doering Fleet Management and Doering Leasing Co. Both joined the board on May 1.
“BrightStar was formed for the purpose of assisting WEDC in its mission to create family-sustaining jobs in Wisconsin,” said Anthony Handzlik, an attorney with Reinhart Boerner and a BrightStar officer. “The appointment of Reed Hall to the BrightStar board underscores the strength of the partnership between the two organizations and the importance of our common mission. We look forward to Mr. Hall’s insights and direction.”
“I have known Adam Berger for a number of years as an innovative Wisconsin business owner,” Mr. Handzlik said. “As a Babson College graduate and active in their entrepreneurial ecosystem, Adam is well positioned to extend the relationship Babson has fostered with the Milwaukee community.”
About the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc.
BrightStar is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation created to facilitate job creation and increase Wisconsin’s economic activity by deploying donated funds into
equity stakes in early-stage, rapid growth companies. This new approach will enable the formation of new investment capital in Wisconsin through charitable donations to the foundation. Contributions to BrightStar are tax deductible.
