Toasting Wisconsin’s angel and VC imagination

This is the kind of creative thinking needed to create new companies and new jobs at a time when traditional manufacturing companies have been scaling back.

Years ago, Wisconsin created the Act 255 angel tax credit legislation which spurred the formation of angel groups and investment AND company formation.

Now Wisconsin is taking a bigger risk and further ratcheting up its stake in new company formation for the state: Gov. Jim Doyle has a new plan to further boost investment in Wisconsin start-ups. This plan, called Accelerate Wisconsin, is an extension of Act 255. The original plan not only focused on angel investors but also venture capital funds.

Under the new proposed plan, angel investors would receive up to $4 million in tax credits, up from $1 million previously. Additionally, the state had previously allocated up to about $35 million in tax credits for certified venture funds, and about $30 million for angel investors. Under the changes, the former level would go up to $100 million, while the angel investor level would be increased to $87 million.

Michael Rosen

Full Story: http://wistechnology.com/articles/4603/