G. Steven Burrill déjà vu...

It's investment in startups — all over again.

Only, this time, it's in Wisconsin and it's not just for biotechs.

The Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee says G. Steven Burrill plans to team with former Wisconsin Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel to create "an angel investing group" that will invest in startups.

"The group will invest $50,000 to $500,000 in each company," Journal Sentinel reporter Kathleen Gallagher writes. The details sound very familiar because that's the kind of investment plan that had been announced for the Elk Run biobusiness park in Pine Island, Minnesota.

As the self-imposed September 2, 2010 building construction deadline looms for Tower Investments, Inc., it's interesting that Burrill, CEO of Elk Run backer Burrill & Company, has announced another, similar fundraising project (albeit not one tied to biotech). For Elk Run, Burrill has said he plans to invest $1 billion (about half in the form of venture capital to draw startups to the region and half for infrastructure).  

But the Great Recession has gotten in his way, like it's gotten in nearly everybody else's way. I have made a request to speak with Burrill and we'll see what he has to say.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel