Governor Jim Doyle recently pledged $2,000,000 for the Wisconsin Venture Center. What is the nature of the Wisconsin Venture Center? From the outside it appears to be a group whose job it is to educate investors on the benefits of the Act 255 program and to delegate Act 255 funds. For those who don’t know, Act 255 is a program in which investors receive tax credits for investing in high technology ventures. The vast majority of these investments would occur whether or not the credits were involved. The program uses state money to give to investors who hopefully will fund more ventures. Could this money be used in a different manner? Would it be possible to somehow shift this money to entrepreneurs? To allow public investment? University incubators? Entrepreneurship education? Thoughts?
Wisconsin Venture Center