How the State’s QNBV Program Fared in 2020

WEDC

The State of Wisconsin’s Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) was launched in 2005 to incentivize investments in early-stage businesses in the state. These businesses must first register with the state, after which any entity investing in the QNBV-certified businesses are eligible to receive a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the amount of the equity investment.

A History of SWIB and the Wisconsin Private Equity Program

Introduction

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board, or SWIB, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. This alliance of policymakers and union officials works together to ensure a bright financial future for trust fund beneficiaries.

SWIB is responsible for running the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the State Investment fund and a few smaller funds based in Wisconsin.

Here’s a look at how SWIB was formed and its private equity program.

Where Sports and Venture Capital Intersect

Athletes are no strangers to the world of venture capital. Across the country, we have seen the likes of Serena Williams, Kevin Durant and Joe Montana make investments.

Wisconsin has seen its share of VC involvement in the world of sports. Most recently, former Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd teamed up with a lawyer to form TwentyTwo. It provides angel investments and mentorship but has not yet provided details on its first fund. Redd also is available as a guest speaker.

Wisconsin Startups See Recent Exits

Despite the pandemic, the United States venture capital liquidity market exceeded expectations last year, according to a report by PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor. In fact, aggregate exits gained most of their value later in the year, with $138.2 billion of the total $290.1 billion achieved in Q4 2020.

That momentum has carried into 2021 across the country, including in Wisconsin. Here’s a look at a few startups in Wisconsin that have seen recent exits.

A Look at SPACs in Wisconsin

Introduction to SPACs

Private companies today have the option to go public by merging with a SPAC, or Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation. This involves a group of investors who have a common acquisition in mind, but they do not reveal their target to avoid disclosures (hence why they are referred to as “blank check companies”), according to Investopedia.com.

A Look at the Fintech Industry in Wisconsin

Typically, when people think about top places to establish a financial tech startup, they think of Los Angeles, New York or Silicon Valley. However, there is one place being overlooked: Wisconsin. According to WisBusiness, Wisconsin is quickly becoming a leader in the fintech industry.

WisBusiness also reported that the COVID-19 pandemic provided a boost to many new fintech companies, as many payment systems became primarily virtual. For instance, Fiserv Inc., a global financial technology and services company based in Brookfield, saw its 2020 revenue increase 46% to $14.85 billion.

A Look at the Water Tech Industry in Wisconsin

As Wisconsin is bordered by the two largest lakes in the United States to the north and east, the Mississippi River to the west and more than 15,000 lakes in-between, it is no surprise that the state knows its water. In fact, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Wisconsin has established itself as a leader in effectively managing and protecting its water and is home to more than 300 water technology companies, with more than half in Milwaukee alone.