Executive chairman
BrightStar Wisconsin
Foundation | Milwaukee
Tom Shannon co-founded BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. in 2013 as a charitable organization with the mission of creating high-growth jobs through early-stage investment. The foundation has since funded 50 Wisconsin companies totaling $8 million. Previously, Shannon was CEO of biotech company Prodesse, which sold for $72 million. Since 2009, he has served as board chairman and a lead investor in the funding of Shamrock Energy Corp., Proxim Diagnostics, Somna Therapeutics LLC and Aver Informatics of Green Bay.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The future of your industry: “With 70 companies funded and with exits now occurring, the future should be a self-sustaining nonprofit fund, gaining assets and creating jobs.”
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Solve the root causes of crime here. It is tragic hearing about deaths from shootings or stolen car crashes on the morning news each day.”
One decision to do over: “Some companies are not going to be successful no matter how good the management team is if the raw materials are not there; one cannot always pivot. Entrepreneurial people stay too long trying to make things happen. At times I pulled the plug too late.”
Thing to learn this year: “To kayak. I need a new exercise and live on a small lake.”