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!
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.
Hosted at Saunaday, guests move through a guided thermal cycle: Steam → Sauna → Cold Plunge → Rest & Hydration
Shared challenges—like heat and cold—naturally break down barriers and create space for more open, grounded connection.
What to expect: -2-hour, open-format thermal contrast experience -Light guidance on the sauna + cold plunge cycle -Complimentary beverage -Tech-free, presence-driven environment
Roshelle Ritzenthaler is the co-founder and CEO of Saunaday, Wisconsin's fist Nordic bathhouse. An architect and service designer by training, she previously led innovation and service design at UW Health before leaving healthcare to build one of the Midwest's most celebrated wellness... Read More →
Monday August 17, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm CDT Saunaday315 S Blount St, Madison, WI 53703, USA
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.
SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES - REGISTRATION OPENING SOON Free for Greater Madison Chamber Members and Forward Fest All Inclusive Pass Holders | $30 for Non-Members
Pressure 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This event is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs, women in business, creatives, side hustlers, and individuals navigating personal or professional reinvention.
Attendees will leave inspired, connected, and equipped with practical next steps to begin building intentionally, confidently, and purposefully.
I'm Tennisha Loggins, Founder & CEO of Loggins Family Business LLC, an entrepreneur, speaker, and storyteller. I help people turn ideas into income and purpose into action. Let's connect if you want to talk about entrepreneurship, food trucks, pop-ups, small business growth, coaching... Read More →
Thursday August 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT Leflore Accounting Services306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Hosted by SupraNet Communications, Inc. and Yahara Software
Wrap up an incredible week of innovation, connection, and community at the Forward Fest Closing Happy Hour hosted by 100State.
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.
Join us for a relaxed and welcoming environment where you can:
* Reconnect with people you met throughout the week * Share key takeaways and next steps * Strengthen relationships and spark future collaborations * Close out Forward Fest on a high note
Whether you attended one event or ten, this is your chance to be part of the collective energy that defines Forward Fest.
