Date: Jun 10, 2011 Source: WTNNews (
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A Madison company aiming to help passengers in buses, trains and other vehicles connect to the Internet was the grand prize winner in the 2011 Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest. WiRover has developed an end-to-end software platform to deliver high-bandwidth Internet services to moving vehicles, including buses, trains, emergency vehicles and automobiles.
The company is running pilot projects with Madison's Metro Transit System and with Van Galder Bus Co. Its intellectual property is being managed by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. WiRover won the contest's Information Technology category. WiRover Inc., a Madison company formed two years ago, is led by Suman Banerjee, a UW-Madison professor of computer sciences.
Other category winners were:
Insulete is an early stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Insulete discovered a genetic construct with the potential to cure Type I diabetes with monthly injections. Led by UW-Madison transplant surgeon Dr. Hans Sollinger, it won the Life Sciences Category.
Kinetic Performance Systems makes adhesive muscle support and pain relief products. Its products are easily applied directly by the consumer and have been designed and clinically tested using diagnostic ultrasound technology. This Nashotah company is led by Jeffrey Smith and won the Advanced Manufacturing category. The BugaBees offers a comprehensive line of interactive media, picture books and merchandise designed to teach kids how to manage both the physical and emotional consequences of living with food allergies. The Middleton company, which won the Business Services category, is led by Amy Recob.
The contest, produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, Wisconsin Innovation and Wisconsin Angel Network, offers a total of $200,000 in cash prizes and services.
