BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:forwardfest2026 X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//Sched.com Forward Fest 2026//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T130000Z DTEND:20260817T200000Z SUMMARY:Badger Startup Summit DESCRIPTION:The Badger Startup Summit is Wisconsin’s premier gathering for entrepreneurs\, innovators\, and supporters of the startup ecosystem—and the official kickoff to Forward Fest 2026.\n\n Founded over 14 years ago\, the Summit brings together founders\, builders\, investors\, and community leaders for a full day of ideas\, insights\, and connection that set the tone for the entire week.\n\n The program features a curated lineup of talks and discussions designed to be both inspiring and practical\, covering topics such as:\n • Lessons from experienced founders (“Chapter Zero”)\n • The future of AI and agent-driven technology\n • Real-world startup journeys—from bootstrapped to venture-backed\n • What it actually takes to raise capital in today’s market\n This year\, the Summit will feature interactive programming designed to engage attendees more directly\, including opportunities for founders to share ideas\, get feedback\, and connect with peers and experienced operators in a more open\, collaborative format.\n The Summit also includes a VenFair and networking lunch\, connecting attendees with valuable resources\, partners\, and fellow entrepreneurs.\n Whether you’re launching your first idea\, scaling a company\, or supporting the innovation ecosystem\, the Badger Startup Summit is where Wisconsin’s startup community comes together to kick off Forward Fest.\n \nHosted by100state CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Engineering Centers Building\, Engineering Centers Bldg\, 1550 Engineering Dr\, Madison\, WI 53706\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:25993e6111543001387b6792f25a7e5d URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/25993e6111543001387b6792f25a7e5d END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T130000Z DTEND:20260817T134500Z SUMMARY:You Didn't Sign Up For This DESCRIPTION:You Didn't Sign Up For This\n\n A 1-hour session for founders who are building a business — not running errands for one\n \n You launched a startup to build something. Instead\, you're switching between 8 tools\, chasing invoices\, fixing shift schedules\, and wondering why your ""lean team"" still feels like chaos.\n \n This session is for founders who are done with that.\n \n In one hour\, we'll show you how fast-moving startups are collapsing their entire ops stack — CRM\, projects\, HR\, contracts\, billing — into a single platform\, cutting $3\,000+ a month in subscriptions\, and getting back to the work that actually grows the business.\n \n What you'll walk away with:\n - A clear map of which tools you can replace today\n - A live look at how OneHermes works in a real startup workflow\n - A 30-day plan to simplify your stack — no migration nightmare\n \n Format: 20 min talk · 25 min live demo · 15 min open Q&A\n \n Seats are limited. Bring your mess — we'll show you how to clean it up. \n\nHosted by OneHermes CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cdeafdf8d1cefb847b59292c37c64ad6 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/cdeafdf8d1cefb847b59292c37c64ad6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T140000Z DTEND:20260817T160000Z SUMMARY:Forward Fest Welcome Coffee DESCRIPTION:Join us for coffee and networking hosted by StartingBlock Madison to kick off the 2025 Forward Festival! Come at any time to say hello to fellow Festival-goers.\n\n*Note: if you purchased a Forward Pass with Swag\, your items will be available for pick up during this time. Attendance is not necessary\, pick up is available all week. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:StartingBlock Madison\, 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:30010f9f1adacf6a413993a6d11e1520 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/30010f9f1adacf6a413993a6d11e1520 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T160000Z DTEND:20260817T170000Z SUMMARY:SalesLab: A tech sales workshop DESCRIPTION:After several months and tens of pitches\, your MVP is done and ready for prime time. \; \;Entering the commercial stage of your business requires another adaptation: you need to ditch the pitch and learn to guide a conversation with your ICP. \; \;It's not about you anymore\, now it's about them. \; \;Who needs your product? ... for what\, when\, and how? \; \;Start developing a sales strategy that will lead you to find the answers and activate that much needed cash flow. In this interactive workshop you will discover a few insights to translate your features into crisp business messages for your client conversations. \; \;Drop by\, bring a pen\, and get ready to draft your next sales call. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:StartingBlock Madison\, 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8aa468588f44f6d2f8ce530148c29f20 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8aa468588f44f6d2f8ce530148c29f20 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T180000Z DTEND:20260817T200000Z SUMMARY:How We Show Up Matters DESCRIPTION:Technical expertise gets you in the room. How you show up determines what happens next.\n \n In this interactive session\, consultants will examine the attitudes\, assumptions\, and habits they bring into client and colleague relationships\, and how those choices shape trust\, collaboration\, and results. Through meaningful dialogue with peers\, you’ll uncover blind spots that may be limiting connection or effectiveness in your work.\n \n You’ll leave with practical tools and simple mindset shifts you can apply immediately to improve communication\, foster more inclusive relationships\, and create better outcomes for your clients and your business. Because in today’s marketplace\, how you work with people is just as critical as what you deliver.\n\nHosted by Yes...And LLC\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4290ee74507d72fea2512e6da81cf535 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/4290ee74507d72fea2512e6da81cf535 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260817T210000Z DTEND:20260818T000000Z SUMMARY:Forward Fest Happy Hour Kickoff Party  DESCRIPTION:Join us as we kickoff the 2026 Forward Festival with a free pint of the latest Forward Festive-Ale at Delta Beer Lab! A free SupraNet + John Kovalic pint glass and a pint of Festive-Ale will be provided for the first 75 attendees\, hosted by SupraNet Communications! \n\nHosted by SupraNet Communications\, Inc. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Delta Beer Lab\, 167 E Badger Rd\, Fitchburg\, WI 53713\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:036d50da486d0b2ac17aef4fb49a0cbb URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/036d50da486d0b2ac17aef4fb49a0cbb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T000000Z DTEND:20260818T020000Z SUMMARY:Sweat Equity Sauna Happy Hour DESCRIPTION:Sweat Equity Happy Hour is a reimagined alternative to traditional networking—designed for founders\, creatives\, and builders who want something more real than surface-level conversation.\n \n Hosted at Saunaday\, guests move through a guided thermal cycle:\n Steam → Sauna → Cold Plunge → Rest & Hydration\n \n Shared challenges—like heat and cold—naturally break down barriers and create space for more open\, grounded connection.\n \n What to expect:\n -2-hour\, open-format thermal contrast experience\n -Light guidance on the sauna + cold plunge cycle\n -Complimentary beverage\n -Tech-free\, presence-driven environment\n\nHosted by Saunaday CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:Saunaday\, 315 S Blount St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e1b4c81bbbfd39d770579739a72e8eeb URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/e1b4c81bbbfd39d770579739a72e8eeb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T130000Z DTEND:20260818T140000Z SUMMARY:Assets That Think: From Data to Decisions DESCRIPTION:Assess readiness\, connect your assets\, and use AI to turn data into real-world action. \; \;\n\nHosted by Source-Right Inc\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:2e63b573ff18507e4c883787a6045b50 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/2e63b573ff18507e4c883787a6045b50 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T133000Z DTEND:20260818T153000Z SUMMARY:First In Breakfast DESCRIPTION:First In Breakfast is a gathering designed to bring together founders\, investors\, and operators from across the Midwest startup ecosystem. The event is intentionally structured to maintain a strong mix of builders and capital providers\, creating an environment where meaningful conversations and real relationships can take shape. The format includes a short\, insight-driven discussion followed by open networking. \n\nHosted by Gateway Capital X Mastercraft Ventures CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Bandit - Tacos & Coffee\, 640 W Washington Ave\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:385fa2a619b207c718ad122f87bea397 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/385fa2a619b207c718ad122f87bea397 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T150000Z DTEND:20260818T170000Z SUMMARY:Design Workshop: Building a New Knowledge Stack DESCRIPTION:AGENDA\n10:00 AM Welcome and Overview: Knowledge-as-a-service and Knowledge-Centered Service (KCS©) methodology and it's various applications.\n10:30 AM Share your Story: We all have a (customer service) story to share - some good\, some bad\, and some extremely ugly. We'll share experiences from the real life and I'll share some gems from my time with over 100+ different customer service teams. \;\nBREAK\n11:00 AM Design Workshop: \;Participants will sketch their "2026 Knowledge Stack"\, creating a physical ARTifact to bring back into everyday operations.\nWith any luck\, this session will inspire participants to build better service through designing and future-proofing your organization's knowledge.\n12:00 PM LUNCH: Join an optional lunch with workshop participants to reflect together and enjoy the outdoors in beautiful Madison\, Wisconsin. Location TBA.\n\nLOCATION: TBA - if you have a recommendation\, please contact Christina.\nQUESTIONS? Contact Christina Libs at any time.\n\nSession Detail:\n\nMost teams are stuck when it comes to knowledge bases\, help centers\, AI chatbots\, and static documentation. They don't consider their knowledge as an asset - as the \;technological \;system \;that powers their delivered services. Understanding how you stack up AND how to distill your knowledge down will quickly show you customer insights and opportunities to grow efficiently. Just remember you're a human - and knowledge is a first and best technology naturally existing throughout your organizational network.\n\nIf you're hearing:\n🥔 "Our help center is a \;mess \;- it's a hot potato"\n💸 "Customer support is is \;too expensive / too reactive"\n😖 "My team is burning out \;answering the same 5 questions" \;\n📈 "We need a more sustainable way to \;scale" \;\n\n You have overwhelm. You likely have unharnessed knowledge that overwhelms and weighs you down.\n\nTake a breath and join us to find better ways to work.\n\nAbout Christina Libs:\nChristina improves accessibility and reusability in organizational operations. She is a fractional knowledge systems program manager for enterprise businesses. She's open to project-based contracts for any small (5-50) teams supporting large customer bases (100s-1000s+). \; She is a KCS® certified practitioner ♻️\, ex-Zendesk Engagement Manager and Manager of Proactive and Automated Support 💚\, ex-Epic Implementation Services and Post Go Live Support Program Manager ❤️\, and UIUC Graduate in Communication and Sociology  \;🎓. She lives in Madison\, Wisconsin and loves to 🌱 🏒 🥏 🏄‍♂️. CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:729c15250d3e4a1db51abae47f113232 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/729c15250d3e4a1db51abae47f113232 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T153000Z DTEND:20260818T173000Z SUMMARY:10x Faster Without the Burnout. Subtitle: How Laws of Energy accelerate growth and returns for Successful Entrepreneurs DESCRIPTION:Madison’s startup ecosystem operates under intense pressure to:\n • Accelerate timelines to market\n • Deliver strong financial returns\n • Compete for capital in a demanding investment environment\n \n However\, herein lies the problem:\n Financial results are not delivered through physical effort alone.\n More hours\, more hustle and more pressure often produce exhaustion not outcomes. \;\n \n Because money doesn’t just follow effort.\n Money follows energy.\n \n And without disciplined financial systems\, even high momentum turns into waste.\n \n The entrepreneurs who apply both the Laws of Energy and financial discipline will outperform the market. This event will guide them to that competitive advantage by introducing a new operating model for founders and growth leaders navigating today’s reality:\n \n A Dual Engine for Modern Growth\n • Applying the Laws of Energy → Drives productivity\, momentum\, and speed without burnout \;\n • Applying Financial Discipline → Drives measurable returns\, capital efficiency\, and investor confidence \;\n \n Presented by MJ Reiners\, Founder of Summerland Education and Victoria Thayer\, Founder of Novii CPA\, this session bridges the gap between:\n • Why growth is slower than expected\n • Why hard work does not create burnout and what does\n • And how to accelerate both execution speed and financial performance\n\nHosted by Summerland Education and Novii CPA CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:StartingBlock Madison\, 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:7c691b98365cba49cefccf1738dd7027 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/7c691b98365cba49cefccf1738dd7027 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T153000Z DTEND:20260818T173000Z SUMMARY:Is the Government Your Next Growth Customer? DESCRIPTION:A practical workshop for Wisconsin founders deciding whether government sales can become a real growth channel — and which path to pursue first.\n \n Agenda: \;\n The Wisconsin Opportunity Map\n What Wisconsin companies already sell to the government\, including defense manufacturing\, food/ag\, healthcare\, logistics\, construction\, technology\, and professional services.\n \n The Founder Decision Tree\n Should you pursue direct federal contracts\, subcontracting\, prime-supplier channels\, SBIR/STTR\, state/local contracts or hold on government contracting for now?\n Government Revenue Fit Canvas\n \n A hands-on exercise to map your customer\, end user\, buyer\, funding source\, channel partner\, compliance gaps\, and next test.\n \n The Readiness Check\n What you need before pursuing this channel: customer fit\, delivery capacity\, compliance\, registrations\, certifications\, working capital\, insurance\, cybersecurity\, and sales-cycle tolerance.\n \n How Deals Actually Happen\n A candid conversation with a founder/operator\, prime or supply-chain buyer\, procurement expert\, and capital provider.\n \n 90-Day Action Plan\n Each founder identifies one target customer segment\, one likely entry path\, three next steps\, and one thing not to waste time on yet. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f2172bf3e934aedf12a88c05fafae2e9 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/f2172bf3e934aedf12a88c05fafae2e9 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T173000Z DTEND:20260818T183000Z SUMMARY:Navigate Environmental Requirements with Confidence: Tools and Support for Wisconsin Entrepreneurs DESCRIPTION:Starting or growing a business comes with challenges\, including understanding environmental requirements. Fortunately\, help is available! Join this webinar to learn how Wisconsin DNR’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program helps entrepreneurs save time\, avoid compliance headaches and make informed decisions from the start.\n \n We will showcase free services\, practical tools and one-on-one assistance available to small businesses\, including a demonstration of the new Enviro-Nav tool that is designed to help businesses identify environmental requirements\, permits and resources relevant to their operations. Whether you are launching a new business\, expanding or simply looking for trusted guidance\, this session will connect you with resources built specifically for small businesses.\n \nHosted by Wisconsin DNR Small Business Environmental Assistance Program\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1d112904dffd7466fdec88832aff9bd5 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/1d112904dffd7466fdec88832aff9bd5 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T180000Z DTEND:20260818T210000Z SUMMARY:MadAI/IEEE - Engineering Software with AI DESCRIPTION:MadAI will be discussing engineering challenges of using AI code automation tools\, such as claude code and code\, to build and ship code bases which solve problems. \; \; \;We will first discuss a real world use case and then work together on building a solution to the use case in this session. \; \; \;Bring your laptop and a friend\, we are going to get our hands dirty and build. \n\nHosted by IEEE/MadAI CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Madison Public Library - Central\, 201 W Mifflin St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:62ccd7e75c4dc27b21ace17dae100b45 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/62ccd7e75c4dc27b21ace17dae100b45 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T200000Z DTEND:20260818T230000Z SUMMARY:Pressure Chamber 2026 DESCRIPTION:SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES -  \;REGISTRATION OPENING SOON\nFree for Greater Madison Chamber Members and Forward Fest All Inclusive Pass Holders | $30 for Non-Members\n\nPressure Chamber returns for its 13th year as the region's top emerging companies pitch for the coveted "golden suitcase\," which guarantees a reserved spot in the Chamber's exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall. Participating companies will present in front of a panel of national investors and a live audience\, with the winning company chosen based on a combination of judges' scoring and audience votes. \;\n\n Thank you to Presenting Sponsor \;Michael Best\; Supporting Sponsors \;State of Wisconsin Investment Board\, \;Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)\, \;UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement \;and \;Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation\; Reception Sponsor \;Fetch\; Voting Sponsor \;Associated Bank\; Student Sponsor \;Madison College – Center for Entrepreneurship\; Community Sponsors \;JP Cullen \;and \;The Gialamas Company\; Investor Sponsors \;HealthX Ventures\, \;Idea Fund\, \;Mastercraft Ventures\, \;Rock River Capital Partners\, \;Wisconsin Investment Partners\; and Venue Sponsor \;FPC Live. \n\nHosted by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:The Sylvee\, 25 S Livingston St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e90d3359e7c50fdb0807ad6e5e202559 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/e90d3359e7c50fdb0807ad6e5e202559 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260818T220000Z DTEND:20260819T010000Z SUMMARY:AI & Open Source Mixer DESCRIPTION:\nCloud Native Madison presents the AI &\; Open Source Mixer!\n\nFollowing a massive Agentic AI Summer\, we’re heading to The Rigby Pub for a night of technical networking focused on the real-world side of innovation. Talk shop with experts from Red Hat\, Solo.io\, and more while enjoying complimentary food and refreshments\, plus a drink ticket to get you started. We’re also giving away a $999 Ardan Labs Mastery Bundle (Go\, Rust\, and K8s) to one lucky builder. If you’re building\, engineering\, or interested in experimenting\, come hang out\, meet the community\, and become part of an ever-growing local ecosystem.\n \nAbout the Community\nCloud Native Madison is the official Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) chapter for Madison\, WI\, fostering collaboration\, innovation\, and community growth in cloud-native technologies. CNCF \;projects are the \;foundation \;of \;cloud native computing. As \;part \;of \;the \;Linux \;Foundation\, we provide support\, oversight and direction for fast-growing\, cloud native projects\, including Kubernetes\, vLLm\, kServe\, Kubeflow\, kagent\, and more. \;\n\nFind our LinkedIn\, CNCF Page\, and more on our \;Linktree. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:The Rigby Pub\, Grill\, and Event Venue\, 119 E Main St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8523d4e252c4c1dfcb67060eb606305b URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8523d4e252c4c1dfcb67060eb606305b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T000000Z DTEND:20260819T020000Z SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals DESCRIPTION:Interested in the basics of AI? \; \;This session will review some of the most popular tools available with demonstrations of their use with time to discuss tips & tricks and ask questions. \n\nHosted by Skapsmidja\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e00739ef3c22f1ef78802c8b86eb1966 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/e00739ef3c22f1ef78802c8b86eb1966 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T123000Z DTEND:20260819T141500Z SUMMARY:Tapping Trends: A step-by-step guide to assess trend relevance & brand fit DESCRIPTION:EVENT SUMMARY\n One of the biggest risks on social today isn’t missing a trend—it’s forcing one. By moving beyond chasing what’s popular and instead using trends as a strategic tool\, brands can strengthen relevance\, credibility and performance with intention\, not impulse.\n \n This session will offer a clear\, repeatable framework for deciding when to lean into a trend and when to sit it out\, so your brand shows up as culturally relevant without feeling forced or tone-deaf. You’ll leave empowered to confidently pursue the right trends and push back on the wrong ones\, grounded in audience insight\, brand fit and algorithmic impact.\n \n KEY TAKEAWAYS\n Reframe the role of trends from fleeting moments to a strategic lever that supports your broader social goals when used with intention\n Learn a fast\, repeatable way to evaluate trend fit so you can ensure audience relevance and brand alignment before investing time or resources\n Build confidence in your decision making\, allowing you to thoughtfully merchandise trends and clearly articulate when and why to pass\n \n \n ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS\n Kat Graham\, Account Executive\, PR\, Social & Content – Hiebing\n \n Chicago-area native Kat Graham has built her career around her multidisciplinary interests in storytelling\, digital culture and strategic problem-solving. She graduated from Gonzaga University in 2020 with a degree in public relations and has a certification in UX/UI design from Northwestern University\, bringing a user-centered lens to her social and content work.\n \n Kat joined Hiebing's PR\, Social & Content team in 2024\, leading and supporting social media strategy\, PR and content development and community management for national brands across the construction\, manufacturing and industrial industries. Her work spans paid social campaigns (including copywriting and ideation)\, influencer program support and long-form content—helping brands show up online with intention\, consistency and cultural awareness.\n  \;\n Outside of work\, Kat is active in the local music scene and creative community and is always finding inspiration at the intersection of art\, music\, history\, culture and digital connection.\n \n \n Erica Nasstrom\, Assistant Account Executive\, PR\, Social & Content – Hiebing\n \n Originally from Iowa\, Erica Nasstrom relocated to Wisconsin in early 2025 and joined Hiebing as an assistant account executive on the PR\, Social & Content team. An Iowa State University marketing graduate (roll clones)\, she supports integrated campaigns blending social strategy and storytelling for clients like CEFCU and Summit Credit Union.\n \n Erica enjoys working collaboratively across teams to support social content\, influencer efforts and brand storytelling. She values the connection between strategy\, creativity and culture—an interest shaped early on by her love of music and theatre.\n \n Outside of Hiebing’s walls (and green dome)\, Erica loves soaking in the energy that comes from good company and conversation. You’ll often find her socializing with friends and family or hunkered down catching up on the latest reality TV series.\n\nHosted by Social Media Breakfast Madison CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:StartingBlock Madison\, 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c2951022b688cf8cc4297a20b31e3ce0 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/c2951022b688cf8cc4297a20b31e3ce0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T133000Z DTEND:20260819T153000Z SUMMARY:Wisconsin Founders and Funders Breakfast DESCRIPTION:Join other founders\, investors\, and innovators in the Wisconsin ecosystem for breakfast with Hyde Park Venture Partners\, a Chicago-based early stage venture capital firm who invests in midwest-based companies\, for a community event focused on helping companies raise their first or second round of institutional venture capital.\n \n Know someone who would be interested in joining? Feel free to share this invite!\n \n Hosted by Hyde Park Venture Partners CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Café Hollander Hilldale\, 701 Hilldale Wy\, Madison\, WI 53705\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:dda7e3a50fe1e76454326acae7803449 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/dda7e3a50fe1e76454326acae7803449 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T140000Z DTEND:20260819T210000Z SUMMARY:DevFest WI DESCRIPTION:DevFest WI\, https://www.devfestwi.com/\, is an in-person conference for all technologists\, organized by GDG Madison and volunteers from the Madison tech community. It will take place on Wednesday\, August 19 at the Memorial Union in Madison\, WI.\n \n Our conference theme is inclusivity: how to create development teams and software products that are welcoming to everyone.\n \n We are seeking presentations on a broad range of topics related to inclusivity in tech. We are particularly interested in talks on topics that you\, the speaker\, are excited about\, and that can be understood and appreciated by non-specialists. \;\n \n Here's a list of some options:\n \n * online privacy and security\n * accessibility\n * localization\n * web performance\n * diversifying teams\n * tech interviews\n * empathetic code review\n * mentoring and teaching\n * cross-cultural design\n * AI and ML\n * neurodiversity\,\n * tech talks / public speaking\n \n Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis\; submissions will be accepted until Wednesday\, June 17th.\n As a relatively small conference\, we are unable to provide funds for travel\, but we are excited to provide free entrance to the conference\, as well as a small speaker honorarium. (The exact amount depends on the year\, but we expect it to be $50 to $100.)\n\nHosted by UW Union CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:Memorial Union\, 800 Langdon St\, Madison\, WI 53706\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b60c9e3353fc2c5057e2fd4d928dbc40 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/b60c9e3353fc2c5057e2fd4d928dbc40 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T150000Z DTEND:20260819T160000Z SUMMARY:From Research to Revenue: Where Deep Tech Gets Stuck and Why DESCRIPTION:Early-stage deep tech companies rarely fail because the science doesn’t work. More often\, they stall in the gap between research and real market traction.\n \n This session is a candid conversation with founders who started as scientists and are now navigating the transition to entrepreneurship\, alongside the investors and funding partners who support them. We’ll unpack where things actually break—from misaligned funding strategies to weak customer signals and overbuilt technology.\n \n Rather than focusing on success stories\, we’ll dig into the messy middle: what goes wrong\, why it happens\, and how to better align funding\, product\, and market early.\n \n Designed for tech- and scientist-founders actively building at the earliest stages as well as investors and ecosystem partners working closely with them.\n\nHosted by Innovative Outlier\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1f2623c70aac99831c7231c758ef2da5 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/1f2623c70aac99831c7231c758ef2da5 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T163000Z DTEND:20260819T180000Z SUMMARY:Fireside Chat with WEDC Secretary John Miller and Maggie Brickerman DESCRIPTION:Join us for a fireside chat between WEDC Secretary John Miller and Tech Council President Maggie Brickerman. The conversation will focus on WEDC’s efforts to strengthen the Wisconsin’s innovation\, startup and venture capital ecosystem\, and the specific ways that innovators can leverage WEDC as a partner. CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:Madison Club\, 5 E Wilson St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ee565a37a2479de70f661665f18d36df URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/ee565a37a2479de70f661665f18d36df END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T170000Z DTEND:20260819T190000Z SUMMARY:Ideate Prompt Prototype Repeat DESCRIPTION:Ever had a product idea but didn’t know how to begin building it?\n\nThis live\, interactive session is for startup founders\, creatives\, makers\, and curious people who want to explore physical prototyping without needing deep technical experience or a big budget.\n\nBuilding on last year’s event\, we’ll start with a basic introduction to AI-assisted hardware prototyping\, then move into group ideation\, whiteboard brainstorming\, and a vote on which idea to pursue. From there\, we’ll use tools like ChatGPT or Claude to help plan the prototype\, choose affordable off-the-shelf parts\, figure out how to connect them\, generate code\, troubleshoot\, iterate\, and test the result live on real hardware.\n\nI’ll be bringing a variety of sensors\, electronic components\, microcontrollers\, displays\, motors\, lights\, and other parts so we can build and adapt on the fly instead of just talking about the idea. Think of the microcontroller as the “brain” of the prototype\, with sensors as the inputs and lights\, motors\, displays\, or other parts as the outputs.\n\nThis is not a polished engineering lecture. It is a live prototype build where the group helps shape the direction. Some things may work right away. Others may need debugging\, rethinking\, or a quick pivot. That is part of the process.\nAttendees will see how an initial idea can move from rough concept\, to hardware plan\, to wiring\, to code\, to live testing. The goal is to make hardware prototyping feel approachable\, creative\, and possible\, especially for people who have ideas but do not yet know how to turn them into a working proof of concept.\n\nYou’ll walk away with:\n-A clear example of how AI can help move from idea to prototype\n-Insight into early proof-of-concept hardware design\n-A better feel for sensors\, boards\, wiring\, code\, and live testing\n-A look at how messy\, iterative prototyping really works\n-Inspiration to start testing your own ideas with affordable tools and parts\n\nFrom zero to prototype. Experience it live with AI and real hardware.\n\nHosted by Quantum Ideation and Prototyping LLC\n\n CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:5337c7405d98c010ff38fe0234922355 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/5337c7405d98c010ff38fe0234922355 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T183000Z DTEND:20260819T194500Z SUMMARY:Demystifying the Pro Forma: Building Financial Projections DESCRIPTION:In 40+ years of working with entrepreneurs\, we have regularly observed that “the money part” of business planning is often what causes many business owners and would-be business owners alike the most anxiety and confusion. Yet the numbers don’t have to intimidate you. Instead\, understanding a clear financial plan for your business will give you the confidence to make educated decisions about the viability of your business idea\, access needed capital and actively manage cash flow as your business grows.\n \n This live-virtual introductory session – designed for new and prospective business owners in any industry – will help you understand:\n \n ▪️The purpose (and power!) of a pro forma in business planning\, management and in accessing capital\n ▪️The fundamental “inputs” to building solid projections\, including:\n ▪️Identification of your business models key revenue streams\, and how to translate to your projections\n ▪️Synthesis of customer\, competitive and industry knowledge into reasoned market size and share estimates\n ▪️The impact of pricing decisions\, buyer behavior and capacity on projected revenue\n ▪️Types of key cost estimates needed for your projections\n ▪️Resources for pulling it all together!\n \n By joining us for this overview session\, you will build a solid foundation of concepts that can help you understand how to put real numbers to your dreams and learn the path to projections. Whether you plan to seek funding from a bank\, determine the feasibility of your business idea\, or explore new directions for your business\, following the ideas we’ll cover in this session will help you build success based on knowledge.\n\nHosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1661a4a8b74679f15a4a636ffe009d64 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/1661a4a8b74679f15a4a636ffe009d64 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T190000Z DTEND:20260819T200000Z SUMMARY:Introduction to Patents for Entrepreneurs DESCRIPTION:A high level introduction to patenting innovations for entrepreneurs. Learn from a seasoned pro when patenting an innovation is or is not appropriate\, the different paths that can be taken to receive a patent\, and when is the right time to consult a patent practitioner. \;\n\nHosted by E Epstein Patent Agency\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:675dfeab8beb6ca64708cda7885ce483 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/675dfeab8beb6ca64708cda7885ce483 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T203000Z DTEND:20260819T220000Z SUMMARY:How Branding Matters DESCRIPTION:In today’s dynamic marketplace\, standing out is essential for success. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur\, a seasoned business owner\, or a creative professional\, a branding can be powerful in your organization. Join us for an immersive and interactive workshop designed to equip you with the tools and strategies to build a strong and compelling brand identity.\n \n Led by Ibrahim Harun of IH Concepts with 18 years of experience in branding and marketing\, this workshop will delve deep into the core elements of effective branding. Through a combination of an insightful presentations and collaborative discussions\, you’ll learn how what goes into a brand so you can hit the ground running.\n \n Whether you’re looking to launch a new venture\, bring more life into your business\, or simply refine your marketing strategy\, this workshop will provide you with the knowledge and insights you need to elevate your business and drive meaningful connections with your audience. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to new heights! \n\nHosted by IH Concepts CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:100state\, 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:32cd494cbfada6b4183e1876f7efe75b URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/32cd494cbfada6b4183e1876f7efe75b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T210000Z DTEND:20260819T220000Z SUMMARY:Stone Soup 101 DESCRIPTION:How did the long and twisted path of one man lead to a new product and \;business? By combining little bits of information and experience from \;each of his stops into something new and powerful. Have you ever \;asked yourself the "How did I get here" and "How will I ever use that \;chapter" questions?  \;Come hear how it has come together for one and be \;encouraged that "it" is coming together for you as well! CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cf8a2d12f1fe282673482c99e61fab4e URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/cf8a2d12f1fe282673482c99e61fab4e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T213000Z DTEND:20260820T003000Z SUMMARY:THE "ANTI-BURNOUT" BLUEPRINT: Wellness for Solo Founders and Small Business Owners DESCRIPTION:This dual-track workshop is designed to help attendees build a business that sustains them rather than breaks them.\n\nHollie H. Hollister and Ross Larson will co-facilitate this community learning exchange by bridging insights from Psychological Resilience and Heart-Centered Leadership.\n\n Solo founders and small business owners will learn how to scale their impact without the soul fatigue of misaligned growth. \; \n\n\nHosted by H Cubed Group\n\nSponsored by 100state CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:100state\, 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:9c2822f41ca316747017be3d0e7ae0c4 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/9c2822f41ca316747017be3d0e7ae0c4 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260819T220000Z DTEND:20260820T010000Z SUMMARY:Jazz with Venture Capitalists DESCRIPTION:Come enjoy a beautiful Wisconsin evening and engage in lively conversation about the Money for Minnows investment strategy and the future of venture capital in Wisconsin.\n\n Join us at the Jazz at Five performance on the King Street Walkway of the Capitol Square\, where Venture capital fund managers from eight Wisconsin-based funds will be in attendance. the Jazz at Five performance. The Badger Fund of Funds is sponsoring the event and will provide free pizza and beer for attendees.\n\nHosted by Badger Fund of Funds CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:On the King Street Walkway of the Capitol Square\, King St\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ec1e03fb4bffe99a6e00ad2b01ed74cf URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/ec1e03fb4bffe99a6e00ad2b01ed74cf END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T130000Z DTEND:20260820T150000Z SUMMARY:How We Show Up Matters DESCRIPTION:Technical expertise gets you in the room. How you show up determines what happens next.\n \n In this interactive session\, consultants will examine the attitudes\, assumptions\, and habits they bring into client and colleague relationships\, and how those choices shape trust\, collaboration\, and results. Through meaningful dialogue with peers\, you’ll uncover blind spots that may be limiting connection or effectiveness in your work.\n \n You’ll leave with practical tools and simple mindset shifts you can apply immediately to improve communication\, foster more inclusive relationships\, and create better outcomes for your clients and your business. Because in today’s marketplace\, how you work with people is just as critical as what you deliver.\n\nHosted by Yes...And LLC CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Aubergine: a Willy Street Co-op Community Space\, 1226 Williamson St\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:af822da02917a2b5955e6a7ab9cb600a URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/af822da02917a2b5955e6a7ab9cb600a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T140000Z DTEND:20260820T150000Z SUMMARY:Practical Tools for Kickstarting your Go-to-Market (GTM) DESCRIPTION:Have you reviewed your business from your customers’ point of view? Do you know your products or services inside and out\, but do not have formal sales experience? Are you new to finding customers\, but passionate about connecting your product or service with your customers?\n \n Practical Tools for Kickstarting your Go-To-Market (GTM) is a founder-focused guide to building and testing sales and marketing motions. Led by Joshua Steinberg\, Director of Strategy & Business Development at Hive\, the session breaks down core GTM concepts\, introduces proven sales methodologies\, and gives early-stage teams a clear framework for communicating value. Through real examples and interactive discussion\, participants learn how to understand customer pain\, articulate differentiated outcomes\, and build the foundation for strong product-market fit.\n \n Designed for entrepreneurs looking to turn insights into action\, the workshop emphasizes hands-on learning with exercises that guide founders in crafting value-based conversations\, developing discovery call scripts\, and asking smarter customer-driven questions. Attendees walk away with tangible tools they can immediately apply to customer discovery\, early sales efforts\, and strategic storytelling. With an open\, collaborative atmosphere\, the session empowers founders to confidently test assumptions\, refine their offering\, and accelerate their path to market traction.\n \n No prior knowledge needed to attend.\n\n Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c8c696b29ffea34d1b9f24c5297d2f66 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/c8c696b29ffea34d1b9f24c5297d2f66 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T140000Z DTEND:20260820T160000Z SUMMARY:LinkedIn Glow-Up Lab DESCRIPTION:This hands-on LinkedIn workshop is warm\, welcoming and fun. It walks attendees through the full ecosystem of building a powerful presence. Participants will learn how to optimize their profiles so they clearly communicate value\, attract the right audience\, and open doors—whether that’s landing a dream role\, growing a business\, or expanding influence.\n \n The session moves beyond setup into momentum: covering content strategy\, topic ideation\, and practical tools to create engaging posts without burnout. It also dives into the art of community-building—because LinkedIn isn’t just a platform\, it’s a relationship engine. Attendees will learn how to engage authentically\, build trust\, and turn connections into meaningful opportunities.\n \n Hosted by LinkUp Madison CATEGORIES:TICKETED LOCATION:Event Hall at Hydrate IV Bar\, 4707 Madison Yards Way\, Madison\, WI 53705\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8d51ac86111444750cfd02cafc744341 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8d51ac86111444750cfd02cafc744341 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T153000Z DTEND:20260820T163000Z SUMMARY:From Stage to Strategy: Voices & Dreams in Action DESCRIPTION:What happens after someone finds their voice?\n \n In this interactive panel and workshop\, Araceli Esparza and Aida Leflore are joined by graduates of the Voices & Dreams Academy to share how storytelling translates into real-world outcomes—from building confidence to generating income\, clients\, and community impact.\n \n Participants will hear directly from Latina and Black women founders who have used storytelling as a tool for outreach\, brand-building\, and economic mobility. Then\, through guided reflection and small-group activities\, attendees will begin applying these strategies to their own work.\n \n This session is designed for founders\, creatives\, and community leaders who want to build authentic outreach strategies that go beyond visibility and create lasting trust.\n\nHosted by Midwest Mujeres CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Leflore Accounting Services\, 306 E Wilson St #2e\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:944bb962057a16f283fcfdf6d04cc785 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/944bb962057a16f283fcfdf6d04cc785 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T160000Z DTEND:20260820T170000Z SUMMARY:Cup of Joe featuring Oscar Aguilar DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special Cup of Joe conversation featuring Oscar Aguilar\, founder of Novel Minds\, a Wisconsin-based technology consulting firm focused on innovation\, strategic leadership\, and custom technology solutions. Oscar will share his entrepreneurial journey—from building a business around problem-solving and technology to helping organizations turn ideas into action. We'll explore the challenges\, lessons learned\, pivotal decisions\, and opportunities that have shaped his path. As always\, Cup of Joe is an authentic conversation between entrepreneurs—no presentations\, no scripts\, just real stories from the trenches.\n\nHosted by \;WWBIC CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Black Business HUB - WWBIC\, 2352 S Park St suite 226\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a11c22acaeb1ab2d689bde1925e0e76c URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/a11c22acaeb1ab2d689bde1925e0e76c END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T170000Z DTEND:20260820T173000Z SUMMARY:Overcoming Gender Bias by Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset DESCRIPTION:As a woman with over 10 years of experience in the highly male-dominated engineering world\, I wish to share insights that have helped me stay. This field is\, at times\, unwelcoming or even outright hostile. A key to my success has been developing business acumen\, sometimes learned through entrepreneurial events including Forward Fest! Key topics:\n\n • Why gender bias is so sticky in fields like engineering and law\, and why we can't expect to solve this problem with more pipeline\n\n • How to get past broken rungs in the corporate ladder by thinking of yourself as if you were a one-person business\n\n • Develop your personal brand to bounce back from setbacks such as non-inclusive workspaces\, gatekeepers\, or reframe inappropriate attention. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:100state\, 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:89a79b4d2173a0c77f98d8b936e42772 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/89a79b4d2173a0c77f98d8b936e42772 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T170000Z DTEND:20260820T180000Z SUMMARY:The Becoming Experience: Healing\, Purpose & Entrepreneurship DESCRIPTION:The Becoming Experience is an interactive workshop and networking experience designed for entrepreneurs\, creatives\, and purpose-driven individuals ready to transform their story into impact.\n \n Hosted by entrepreneur\, speaker\, and founder Tennisha Loggins\, this experience blends authentic storytelling\, business strategy\, mindset transformation\, and practical tools to help attendees move from survival mode into purpose-driven entrepreneurship.\n \n Through guided reflection\, interactive activities\, networking\, and actionable business insights\, attendees will explore how healing\, identity\, and lived experiences can become the foundation for leadership\, confidence\, community impact\, and profitable growth.\n \n This event is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs\, women in business\, creatives\, side hustlers\, and individuals navigating personal or professional reinvention.\n \n Attendees will leave inspired\, connected\, and equipped with practical next steps to begin building intentionally\, confidently\, and purposefully. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Leflore Accounting Services\, 306 E Wilson St #2e\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1f278052925d571e891a327989add1bb URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/1f278052925d571e891a327989add1bb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T173000Z DTEND:20260820T193000Z SUMMARY:Bridging Generations at Work: Leading Multigenerational Teams Through Technology & Change DESCRIPTION:Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever before\, with six generations working side by side\, each bringing unique perspectives\, experiences\, and relationships with technology. \; \;While this diversity creates incredible opportunities for innovation and growth\, it also introduces real challenges\, especially when organizations are implementing new tools\, systems\, or digital strategies.\n \n Bridging Generations at Work is a dynamic\, beginner-friendly session designed to help leaders\, entrepreneurs\, and professionals successfully navigate generational differences while driving meaningful progress through technology. \; \;This session will explore how communication styles\, expectations\, and comfort with technology vary across generations\, and how these differences can either hinder or accelerate success.\n \n Attendees will gain practical strategies for leading multigenerational teams\, fostering collaboration\, and implementing technology initiatives in a way that brings people together rather than creating friction. \; \;We’ll also explore the power of mentorship (including reverse mentorship)\, inclusive leadership\, and cross-generational collaboration as key drivers of innovation.\n \n Whether you're leading a startup\, scaling a business\, or managing a growing team\, this session will equip you with actionable tools to strengthen your workforce\, improve adoption of new ideas\, and unlock the full potential of your team. \n\nHosted by NaviCu CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Delta Beer Lab\, 167 E Badger Rd\, Fitchburg\, WI 53713\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:290a218a76480b53c23dcb5120c4174b URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/290a218a76480b53c23dcb5120c4174b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T180000Z DTEND:20260820T193000Z SUMMARY:A Missing Opportunity—Bringing Agentic AI to UW-Madison DESCRIPTION:Agentic AI UW is a new club founded just this April. The purpose of the club is that there's a missing opportunity on campus. There are a lot of engineering clubs on campus that focuses on a single project where a team of engineers work together. However\, UW-Madison lacks that kind of project-based clubs for CS students. We're at a turning point in history where three things converge into one\, the massive amount of GPUs for compute\, the massive amount of image/text data on the internet\, and the innovational Transformer architecture. With the help of the Large Language Model (LLM) and Vision Language Model (VLM)\, the possibilities of AI becomes tremendous. AI agents is able to use tools inside your browser and inside your OS to help you complete the most boring/redundant tasks. Come here to learn about how Agentic AI is catalyzing in UW-Madison and what this club has done over the summer and is planning to do starting in the Fall. \n\nHosted by Agentic AI UW CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Engineering Hall\, Engineering Hall\, 1415 Engineering Dr\, Madison\, WI 53706\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8c10b0231c6e573be2d6beb00acd5d3b URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8c10b0231c6e573be2d6beb00acd5d3b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T180000Z DTEND:20260820T210000Z SUMMARY:Future of VC: Digital Assets & Policy DESCRIPTION:The venture capital landscape is being reshaped by digital assets\, tokenized equity\, and an evolving regulatory environment — and Wisconsin's entrepreneurial ecosystem needs to be part that conversation. Future of VC: Digital Assets & Policy is a forward-looking forum bringing together founders\, investors\, and policy advocates to explore how emerging digital asset frameworks are transforming capital formation\, fundraising strategy\, and startup growth.\n \n Attendees will hear from practitioners at the intersection of venture capital and blockchain policy — examining how legislation like federal stablecoin bills\, SEC guidance\, and state-level digital asset law affect the way startups raise and deploy capital. Whether you're a founder navigating your first raise\, an investor evaluating on-chain opportunities\, or a policy stakeholder shaping Wisconsin's innovation landscape\, this event delivers the intelligence and connections you need to stay ahead. \n\nHosted by Awen\, Wisconsin Blockchain Business Council CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8cd00d7b52eb29590deac19b566d363e URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8cd00d7b52eb29590deac19b566d363e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T200000Z DTEND:20260820T213000Z SUMMARY:Certified Organic in Wisconsin & New Wisconsin Online Organic Directories DESCRIPTION:Understanding Certified Organic in Wisconsin\n \n Wisconsin is a national leader in organic food production—but for many consumers \; the certified organic system still feels opaque. “Understanding Certified Organic in Wisconsin” is a practical\, interactive session designed to demystify how organic really works in our state and to introduce new tools that make it easier than ever to find\, buy\, and support Wisconsin organic.\n \n This event is for anyone who cares about the future of our food system: shoppers\, chefs and retailers\, distributors\, institutional buyers\, farmers (certified or transitioning)\, and food system professionals who want a clear\, current picture of Wisconsin’s organic landscape. Together\, we’ll walk through the key facts and structures that define certified organic in the United States and Wisconsin—how certification works\, who the 1\,623 certified organic operations are\, where they’re located\, and how they fit into the broader value chain. We’ll unpack what “certified organic” really means in practice for crops\, livestock\, and processed foods\, and why local organic production is critical at a time when so much “organic” food on store shelves is imported and often less transparent.\n \n A highlight of the event is the public unveiling of Wisconsin Organics’ new three-part online directory ecosystem: a unified\, searchable directory of certified organic farms and handlers\; an emerging consumer-facing brands and products directory that will catalog an estimated 3\,000 Wisconsin organic products\; and a farm and garden input supplies directory mapping key supply-chain businesses—from seed and soil amendments to equipment and organic feed. Built on meticulously collected and cleaned data\, these HubSpot-based tools transform scattered information into an accessible\, navigable map of Wisconsin’s organic sector.\n \n Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the USDA national organic standards\, how certified organic works in Wisconsin\, where the opportunities and bottlenecks are across the value chain\, and how to use the new directories to source local organic products\, strengthen short supply chains\, and better align purchasing with their values. \n\nThe session will include a guided tour of the directories\, have some local organic producers in attendance with their products\, providetime for questions and live troubleshooting\, and space for attendees to share what tools and information they most need next—helping shape the future of organic market transparency in Wisconsin.\n\nHosted by Wisconsin Organics and Giant Jones Brewery CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Giant Jones Brewing\, 931 East Main Street Entrance on\, S Brearly St Suite 9\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:958b21bbaaba653a64da16b07328b358 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/958b21bbaaba653a64da16b07328b358 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T200000Z DTEND:20260820T213000Z SUMMARY:VentureHome Pitch Day DESCRIPTION:Ambitious founders have gone through the Level Up! Pre-seed Accelerator at a WiSys VentureHome location across Wisconsin. Whether you are an investor\, a founder\, or someone interested in entrepreneurship\, this pitch day will provide a sneak peek at Wisconsin's emerging tech startups. The pitches will each be 6 minutes\, followed by 4 minutes of questions from the audience. The event will be fast-paced\, captivating\, and open to anyone who would like to attend. \n\nHosted by WiSys VentureHome CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:43169423abe97e9e53e67c32226e1456 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/43169423abe97e9e53e67c32226e1456 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260820T220000Z DTEND:20260821T000000Z SUMMARY:High Tech Happy Hour 25th Anniversary Celebration DESCRIPTION:Join SupraNet Communications and Yahara Software for the 25th anniversary of High Tech Happy Hour! Raise a glass\, network and help us celebrate 25 years of connecting the Greater Madison community! \n\nHosted by SupraNet Communications\, Inc. and Yahara Software CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Memorial Union\, 800 Langdon St\, Madison\, WI 53706\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:9c9a2d0df93362737ab8eb589f77beb3 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/9c9a2d0df93362737ab8eb589f77beb3 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T130000Z DTEND:20260821T150000Z SUMMARY:You Don’t Have to be Rich to be a Philanthropist: Building a launchpad for your legacy DESCRIPTION:As entrepreneurs\, you work to build a better world. Forward thinkers and innovators have always been a key to social change and community well-being. Join one of Madison’s top rising philanthropists\, Dan Rashke\, Chairman of the Board at TASC\, to discuss innovative philanthropy. He will joined by a fellow philanthropist and financial advisor. \;\n \n This interactive session is led through the framework of the Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation 10-year matching gift to United Way of Dane County\, a first-of-its-kind gift that is structured to elevate the nonprofit sector and leverages giving on all levels across the community. This $10-$15 million commitment is not where Dan’s philanthropy started. It’s the culmination of a commitment to philanthropy and social change that is decades in the making.\n You’ll leave with concrete strategies to build a roadmap for designing and achieving your own ambitious philanthropic goals. This will include diverse strategies for giving\, examples of innovative investments\, and some tangible tips to identify which causes align with your passion. \;\n\n Hosted by United Way of Dane County CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:85d318196a0b3c79371776394213671e URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/85d318196a0b3c79371776394213671e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T140000Z DTEND:20260821T150000Z SUMMARY:AI in Community Building - Build together DESCRIPTION:Join the ASK (Actionable\, Support \, Knowledge ) platform online challenge \, join the zoom everyday 30 mins to work on your Claude AI prototype - 8:00 am with your community and assist each other.\n \n Meet in hybrid or in person to learn about ASK and showcase your work 8 /21 .\n Topics to choose\n My First ( App\, chatbot\, website)\n AI for cause ( Lonliness\, inclusive\, hunger)\n Ai for sales\n Anything else\n\n Hosted by Source-Right Inc CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ab43bd25e441b3aeac10b61ceb6c59f0 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/ab43bd25e441b3aeac10b61ceb6c59f0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T140000Z DTEND:20260821T180000Z SUMMARY:You Vibe-Coded an App. Now What? DESCRIPTION:AI can help you generate an application faster than ever. But once the demo works\, what comes next?\n \n Join Flexion\, a Madison leader in system modernization\, human-centered design\, and modern software delivery\, for a live\, interactive session where we take an AI-generated proof-of-concept application and move it closer to something real.\n \n In this hands-on session\, we’ll start by exploring the AI-generated starting point: a user-submitted product idea and the proof-of-concept app created from it. \; \;Flexion’s engineers\, designers\, product experts\, and attendees will work together to look at what the app already does well\, where it falls short\, and what it would need in order to become a real product. Along the way\, we’ll evaluate the prototype through the lenses of usability\, architecture\, code quality\, security\, scalability\, and delivery readiness.\n \n From there\, we’ll improve the product together. We'll collaborate to refine the user experience\, prioritize the most valuable enhancements\, and move the app beyond demo-quality functionality. Using AI-assisted development alongside proven engineering practices\, the group will iterate on the product live.\n \n Finally\, we’ll focus on building for quality and scale. The team will strengthen the application’s architecture\, refactor and improve the codebase\, and apply practices from agile delivery\, Lean UX\, ensemble collaboration\, and cloud-first development to move the prototype closer to a production-ready solution.\n\nHosted by Flexion\, Inc CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:100state\, 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8d28dee50de1263cd878fcdef0ebc3c2 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/8d28dee50de1263cd878fcdef0ebc3c2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T150000Z DTEND:20260821T163000Z SUMMARY:Commercial Real Estate Leasing 101 DESCRIPTION:Buying or selling a commercial property can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t understand the process and terminology.\n \n This session cuts through the noise and gives you the clarity you need to make smart decisions. You’ll understand the full sales process\, what really drives value\, and how to prepare so you don’t lose time\, money\, or opportunities.\n \n Whether you’re purchasing your first small building or considering selling a long-held asset\, this class gives you the fundamentals to move forward confidently.\n\nHosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:30997ae38f77e9b472dd2bdc7b67891e URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/30997ae38f77e9b472dd2bdc7b67891e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T150000Z DTEND:20260821T173000Z SUMMARY:Maintaining One's Humanity in an Age of AI DESCRIPTION:While we should all strive to retain the skills and attributes that characterize us as being authentically human\, it is easy to surrender control to technology that makes our lives easier-- but at what cost? Join two experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and psychology as they lead a presentation through conversation\, games\, and team activities that explores our reliance on technical automation and AI. We'll identify the possible pitfalls that we may stumble into which arise from an over-reliance on the technology. Ultimately\, we will introduce a process that one can use to identify when to use artificial intelligence and when to rely on our own native intelligence. This event is suited for anyone who may have roles in the creation of products and services\, analysts and technicians\, management\, medicine\, and education.\n\nTime: \;\n1000-1230p\n\nLocation:\nGoodman South Campus\, Madison College\n2429 Perry Street\nMadison\, WI 53713 CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Madison College - Goodman South Campus\, 2429 Perry St\, Madison\, WI 53713\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e879514528b730a67a1c4c5368f8a381 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/e879514528b730a67a1c4c5368f8a381 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T170000Z DTEND:20260821T183000Z SUMMARY:From Side Hustle to Small Business DESCRIPTION:Have you been thinking about turning your hobby into a business\, but aren’t sure where to start? \; \;Do you have a side hustle that’s grown and you want to explore next steps? Are you interested in learning more about how to explore a business idea you have? \; \;This session will teach you how to use a visual business planning tool call the Business Model Canvas. This tool will help you understand how 9 functional areas of business work together to create a model of operation that can help you determine whether it is time to take the leap to full-time. \; \;The class will also give you information about resources and next steps. \n\nHosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison\n\nThis is a virtual event. For those who are logged in and have RSVP'd\, the streaming link will appear on this page starting 10 minutes before the session. \; CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:Virtual\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:089441228fc3ffdc12a2577c3ec23b2a URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/089441228fc3ffdc12a2577c3ec23b2a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T183000Z DTEND:20260821T200000Z SUMMARY:Fuel Your Growth: Define Your Market to Build Awareness and Attract Customers DESCRIPTION:You have the big idea\, the technical expertise or know-how\, and a product or service you believe in and excites you. But if you feel like you haven’t unlocked the same level of excitement and awareness from potential buyers\, you’re not alone. Understanding how you can apply principles of marketing strategy in your business could be the missing puzzle piece to fuel the next level of your company’s growth. During this session\, you’ll get an actionable crash course in marketing strategy\, including understanding what a “market” is and how to define your target audience and create personas\, how to conduct a competitor analysis and define your differentiators in order to develop your unique positioning\, and more. After the session\, you’ll be able to apply marketing strategy principles to connect more often and more authentically with your right-fit potential buyers. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:TBA\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:39c293358f97f7bc3acb14f6564c2687 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/39c293358f97f7bc3acb14f6564c2687 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T193000Z DTEND:20260821T203000Z SUMMARY:The Traction Trap: How Angels Are Pricing Themselves Out of Their Own Asset Class DESCRIPTION:As angels apply more rigorous diligence standards to pre-seed and seed deals\, conviction is arriving later in the cycle. The issue is that the very signals investors wait for\, revenue\, growth rate\, retention\, are the same signals that attract institutional capital and reprice the round. By the time they appear\, much of the upside has already been compressed\, leaving angels with institutional-style pricing on early-stage risk.\n \n This panel argues that entry timing is the most underappreciated driver of angel returns. When traction becomes the primary filter\, angel investing quietly shifts into a different asset class\, with mismatched risk and return.\n \n We will explore:\n \n Why entry timing may matter more than signal density in early-stage portfolio construction\n How evolving diligence norms may be pushing angels into late-seed economics with early-stage risk\n What pre-traction conviction actually looks like in practice and how experienced investors form it\n How founders with high potential are interpreted before traditional metrics exist and what that means for access to capital\n \n A practitioner-led discussion on timing\, access\, and whether current angel investing standards still align with the return profile they are meant to achieve. CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:StartingBlock Madison\, 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor\, Madison\, WI 53703\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cba6fba8665a41824d4b7e1936497979 URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/cba6fba8665a41824d4b7e1936497979 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260612T221026Z DTSTART:20260821T220000Z DTEND:20260822T010000Z SUMMARY:Forward Fest Closing Happy Hour DESCRIPTION:Wrap up an incredible week of innovation\, connection\, and community at the Forward Fest Closing Happy Hour hosted by 100State.\n \n After five days of events\, ideas\, and new relationships\, this closing gathering brings together founders\, builders\, and supporters from across the ecosystem for a final opportunity to connect\, reflect\, and celebrate everything that makes Wisconsin’s startup community special.\n \n Join us for a relaxed and welcoming environment where you can:\n \n * Reconnect with people you met throughout the week\n * Share key takeaways and next steps\n * Strengthen relationships and spark future collaborations\n * Close out Forward Fest on a high note\n \n Whether you attended one event or ten\, this is your chance to be part of the collective energy that defines Forward Fest.\n\nHosted by 100state CATEGORIES:FREE LOCATION:100state\, 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7\, Madison\, WI\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:293c2c6a830ec76cd8ca400b2a90c25a URL:http://forwardfest2026.sched.com/event/293c2c6a830ec76cd8ca400b2a90c25a END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR