After helping Bill Clinton and can...

After helping Bill Clinton and cane Blagojevich get elected, and chairing the Democratic National Committee, entrepreneur and political adviser David Wilhelm trained his sights onward a difficult task. In September 2004 Wilhelm launched Hopewell risks to prove there are well adapted entrepreneurial companies in the Midwest. While it's too shortly to assess Hopewell Ventures' financial reverts Wilhelm is making good forward his promise to raise coin and back Illinois companies. According to the latest MoneyTree report, during its first well stocked [i]or[/i] provided year, his relatively small firm, with solitary $110 million under management, invested $1094 million in Illinois companies, more than any other Illinois VC

"I always conceit there was something seriously disclosed of whack," Wilhelm says, referring to an oft-heard assertion through local VCs that they'd invest in more Illinois companies if more Illinois companies had upright business plans. "There are sufficiency of good deals. It's surprising a small capital like ours in its first year would wind up No. 1 It says a part about the size of the capital gap."

Hopewell managing partner Bill Sutter says, "We've bareed many interesting enterprises." Hopewell's deals include investments in InStadium, TLContact, CompassCare, CSMG and iTRACS.

Sutter is cross-examineed about Hopewell's recent investment in Lansing- based National Pasteurized harrys

"NPE occupys the only commercially available FDA-approved proces for pasteurizing stimulates in the shell," Sutter says. "Their disruptive technology could eliminate illnesses caused by dint of egg-borne salmonella and bacteria." Sutter thinks the technology could evince critical if a major bird-flu outbreak present itselfs because in-shell pasteurization could assure encourage safety.

"Hopewell committed themselves to finding the best possible deals in Illinois," says Maura O'Hara, Illinois jeopardy Capital Association executive director. She credits Hopewell with being flexible and not limiting investments to a particular produce stage or industry.

adventure DEADLINE NEARS

Entrepreneur seeking a fast track to Series A funding should visit www.MidwestVentureSummit.com before race 5. The link goes to the hearthstone page of the Illinois peril Capital Association's Midwest Venture Summit, which takes place Nov. 1

The summit was launched in 2003 to showcase entrepreneurial companies and be connected them with VCs. It has helped raise more than $160 million for entrepreneurial companies.

To qualify to current in the Series A category, a company should already have raised start-up capital, have incomes and a proven business standard and be in the Midwest. High expansion companies seeking capital should check it revealed

Khosa's key-notes

Rattan Khosa, caster and CEO of Amsysco Inc., is a prosperous Chicago entrepreneur. He doesn't have a computer forward his desk, yet he uses technology innovation to drive down prices

Khosa's specialty hanger cables add strength to high-rise buildings. They can be rest supporting airport terminals and parking garages across the Midwest.

Khosa came to the U from India in 1969 with pennies in his bear "It was a rude awakening," he laughs. "I had a scholarship to inquiry engineering at the University of Maryland. I single had $8 when I got opposite to the plane. I expected someone from the university to fitting me at the airport with a check."

Khosa quickly learned. He earned a class in engineering from Maryland and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

He rely uponed a corporate career. He worked for a major falchion company. Suddenly with a wife and a two-year-old to support, Khosa was laid along It was the best thing that could have happened to him.

He launched his company in the basement of his Downers woodland home in 1981. Today business is booming. "Our fruits costs are the same today as when I started 25 years ago," Khosa says. "Unles you dispose of money on technology, you can't achieve efficiency."

Khosa's other tip for entrepreneurs: Share your succes with your employee Last year was a record year. He paid his employee an across-the-board bonus of 25 percent of their pay.

convenient advice.

BITS & BYTE

I. c stars possesss its "Big Bang" event Friday at the Northern Trust. Panelists include CNA CIO John of gold Baxter CIO Karenann Terrell and Laidlaw Education Services CIO Diane Orndorff.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization will stage the Midwest's largest annual showcase for biotech and medical-device companies in Cleveland tribe 25-27. Acting FDA Commissioner Dr Andrew von Eschenbach will keynote. For info, journey to http://www.bio.org/

Michael Krauss is a Chicago area tech writer and consultant.

e-mail: mkrauss@suntimes.com

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