Forward Fest 2026

4:00pm CDT

Monday August 17, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm CDT

Delta Beer Lab @ 167 E Badger Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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!

Hosted by SupraNet Communications, Inc.

Event Organizers

Rachel Whitmore

Vice President, SupraNet Communications, Inc.

Sponsors

SupraNet Communications, Inc.

Monday August 17, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Delta Beer Lab 167 E Badger Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA

Free, In Person

Category General
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social

8:30am CDT

First In Breakfast

LIMITED

Tuesday August 18, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am CDT

Bandit - Tacos & Coffee @ 640 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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.

Hosted by Gateway Capital X Mastercraft Ventures

Event Organizers

Lamarr Banks

Venture Associate, Gateway Capital

Mason Cook

Managing Director, Mastercraft Ventures

Pre-seed startup investor.

Tuesday August 18, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am CDT
Bandit - Tacos & Coffee 640 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, In Person

Category Social Good, Tech / Software
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social, Short discussion and open networking

3:00pm CDT

Pressure Chamber 2026

LIMITED

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

The Sylvee @ 25 S Livingston St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

Hosted by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.

Event Organizers

Rylee Gaber

Alanna Thiede

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce

Sharla Rowe

Events Manager, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce

Sponsors

Associated Bank

Fetch

JP Cullen

Madison College - Center for Entrepreneurship

Michael Best

The Gialamas Company

WEDC

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
The Sylvee 25 S Livingston St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Ticketed, In Person

Category Bio / Health, Social Good, Tech / Software, Business
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social, Live Pitches

5:00pm CDT

AI & Open Source Mixer

LIMITED

Tuesday August 18, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

The Rigby Pub, Grill, and Event Venue @ 119 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Cloud Native Madison presents the AI & Open Source Mixer!

Following 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.

About the Community
Cloud 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.

Find our LinkedIn, CNCF Page, and more on our Linktree.

Event Organizers

Ryan Etten

Senior Architect & Team Lead, Red Hat

Ryan Etten builds cloud-native systems and rebuilds the communities that run them. A Senior Architect and Team Lead at Red Hat, Red Hat Certified OpenShift Architect, global speaker, and certification exam developer, he leads secure cloud-native digital transformations across the... Read More →

Sponsors

solo.io

Tuesday August 18, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
The Rigby Pub, Grill, and Event Venue 119 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, In Person

Category Tech / Software
Interaction Type Social

7:30am CDT

Tapping Trends: A step-by-step guide to assess trend relevance & brand fit

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 7:30am - 9:15am CDT

StartingBlock Madison @ 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

EVENT SUMMARY
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.

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.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Reframe the role of trends from fleeting moments to a strategic lever that supports your broader social goals when used with intention
Learn a fast, repeatable way to evaluate trend fit so you can ensure audience relevance and brand alignment before investing time or resources
Build confidence in your decision making, allowing you to thoughtfully merchandise trends and clearly articulate when and why to pass

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Kat Graham, Account Executive, PR, Social & Content – Hiebing

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.

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.

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.

Erica Nasstrom, Assistant Account Executive, PR, Social & Content – Hiebing

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.

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.

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.

Hosted by Social Media Breakfast Madison

Event Organizers

Social Media Breakfast - Madison

Social Media Breakfast Madison is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization with a focus on social media education and professional industry networking. Our monthly events are FREE, and engage an ever-growing group of diverse professionals from a variety of industries including: academic... Read More →

Sponsors

DreamBank

Wednesday August 19, 2026 7:30am - 9:15am CDT
StartingBlock Madison 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, Hybrid

Category Tech / Software, General, Networking and Marketing
Interaction Type Social, Breakfast, Networking, Education

8:30am CDT

Wisconsin Founders and Funders Breakfast

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am CDT

Café Hollander Hilldale @ 701 Hilldale Wy, Madison, WI 53705, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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.

Know someone who would be interested in joining? Feel free to share this invite!

Hosted by Hyde Park Venture Partners

Event Organizers

Caroline McManus

Wednesday August 19, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am CDT
Café Hollander Hilldale 701 Hilldale Wy, Madison, WI 53705, USA

Free, In Person

Category Tech / Software
Interaction Type Social

9:00am CDT

DevFest WI

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT

Memorial Union @ 800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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.

Our conference theme is inclusivity: how to create development teams and software products that are welcoming to everyone.

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.

Here's a list of some options:

* online privacy and security
* accessibility
* localization
* web performance
* diversifying teams
* tech interviews
* empathetic code review
* mentoring and teaching
* cross-cultural design
* AI and ML
* neurodiversity,
* tech talks / public speaking

Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis; submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, June 17th.
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.)

Hosted by UW Union

Event Organizers

Naveen VK

Tech Director, nvisia LLC

Sponsors

Wisconsin Union

Wednesday August 19, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Memorial Union 800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Ticketed, In Person (DevFest)

Category Tech / Software
Interaction Type Conference, Social

11:30am CDT

Fireside Chat with WEDC Secretary John Miller and Maggie Brickerman

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm CDT

Madison Club @ 5 E Wilson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Event Organizers

Julie Johnson

Operations Director, Wisconsin Technology Council

Wednesday August 19, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm CDT
Madison Club 5 E Wilson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Ticketed, In Person (Fireside Chat WEDC)

Category Bio / Health, Family, Food, Tech / Software, Games, General
Interaction Type Social, Panel discussion with audience Q&A, networking, lunch

4:00pm CDT

Stone Soup 101

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

TBA @ 5 E Wilson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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!

Event Organizers

Jesse Barry

Owner, Higher Ground dba ColdSpell Cooling garments

I have designed a Cooling garment that outperforms all of the commercially available Cooling products currently available. Based on the technology used in hospitals and the military i have brought definitive care Cooling to the job site, sideline and community center.

Wednesday August 19, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
TBA

Free, In Person

Category Bio / Health, Social Good
Interaction Type Social, Workshop

4:30pm CDT

THE "ANTI-BURNOUT" BLUEPRINT: Wellness for Solo Founders and Small Business Owners

Wednesday August 19, 2026 4:30pm - 7:30pm CDT

100state @ 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7, Madison, WI, USA

This dual-track workshop is designed to help attendees build a business that sustains them rather than breaks them.

Hollie H. Hollister and Ross Larson will co-facilitate this community learning exchange by bridging insights from Psychological Resilience and Heart-Centered Leadership.

Solo founders and small business owners will learn how to scale their impact without the soul fatigue of misaligned growth.

Hosted by H Cubed Group

Sponsored by 100state

Event Organizers

Hollie Hollister

Founder, H Cubed Group

Hollie H. Hollister is a pragmatic visionary who aspires to combine the personal with the professional to bring fresh thinking, unique insights and holistic solutions that help heart-based small business owners grow their businesses and themselves (all without stifling who they are... Read More →

Wednesday August 19, 2026 4:30pm - 7:30pm CDT
100state 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7, Madison, WI, USA

Free, In Person

Category Bio / Health, Food, Social Good, General
Interaction Type Social, Workshop

5:00pm CDT

Jazz with Venture Capitalists

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

On the King Street Walkway of the Capitol Square @ King St, Madison, WI, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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.

Hosted by Badger Fund of Funds

Event Organizers

Larissa Yenkey

Analyst, Badger Fund of Funds

Wednesday August 19, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
On the King Street Walkway of the Capitol Square King St, Madison, WI, USA

Free, In Person

Category Food, Music
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social

10:30am CDT

From Stage to Strategy: Voices & Dreams in Action

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Leflore Accounting Services @ 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

What happens after someone finds their voice?

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.

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.

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.

Hosted by Midwest Mujeres

Event Organizers

Araceli Esparza

Thursday August 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Leflore Accounting Services 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, In Person

Category Food, Social Good, General
Interaction Type Social, hybrid panel with audience participation: we will also help them shape their stories.

11:00am CDT

Cup of Joe featuring Oscar Aguilar

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Black Business HUB - WWBIC @ 2352 S Park St suite 226, Madison, WI, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by WWBIC

Event Organizers

Emily Schmitzer

Regional Director of WWBIC's South Central Office

Thursday August 20, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Black Business HUB - WWBIC 2352 S Park St suite 226, Madison, WI, USA

Free, In Person

Category Tech / Software, Business and Entrepreneurship
Interaction Type Conference, Social

12:00pm CDT

The Becoming Experience: Healing, Purpose & Entrepreneurship

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Leflore Accounting Services @ 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Event Organizers

Tennisha Loggins

Founder & CEO, Loggins Family Business

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 Services 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, In Person

Category Family, Food, Social Good, General, Kidpreneurship: From Lemons to Lemonade Entrepreneurship Experience
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social, Workshop

1:00pm CDT

Future of VC: Digital Assets & Policy

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

TBA @ 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

Hosted by Awen, Wisconsin Blockchain Business Council

Event Organizers

Ian McCullough

Sponsors

Stand with Crypto

Thursday August 20, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
TBA

Free, In Person

Category Social Good, Tech / Software, General
Interaction Type Social

2:30pm CDT

The Traction Trap: How Angels Are Pricing Themselves Out of Their Own Asset Class

LIMITED

Friday August 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

StartingBlock Madison @ 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

We will explore:

Why entry timing may matter more than signal density in early-stage portfolio construction
How evolving diligence norms may be pushing angels into late-seed economics with early-stage risk
What pre-traction conviction actually looks like in practice and how experienced investors form it
How founders with high potential are interpreted before traditional metrics exist and what that means for access to capital

A practitioner-led discussion on timing, access, and whether current angel investing standards still align with the return profile they are meant to achieve.

Event Organizers