Forward Fest 2026

Monday August 17, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT

Engineering Centers Building @ Engineering Centers Bldg, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

The program features a curated lineup of talks and discussions designed to be both inspiring and practical, covering topics such as:
• Lessons from experienced founders (“Chapter Zero”)
• The future of AI and agent-driven technology
• Real-world startup journeys—from bootstrapped to venture-backed
• What it actually takes to raise capital in today’s market
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.
The Summit also includes a VenFair and networking lunch, connecting attendees with valuable resources, partners, and fellow entrepreneurs.
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.

Hosted by100state

Event Organizers

Daniel G. Guerra Jr.

Monday August 17, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Engineering Centers Building

Category Bio / Health, Tech / Software, General
Interaction Type Conference, Workshop

11:00am CDT

SalesLab: A tech sales workshop

Monday August 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Event Organizers

Roberto Muñoz

Founder, Strategic Growth Group

Sales Coach and Consultant. I took what I learned in 25 years of selling telcom gear and now work with growing tech companies to build an impactful sales strategy. Goals: shorten sales cycles and build meaningful relationships with higher-ups.

Monday August 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
StartingBlock Madison 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Category Tech / Software, General, Business
Interaction Type Conference, Workshop

1:00pm CDT

How We Show Up Matters

Monday August 17, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

Technical expertise gets you in the room. How you show up determines what happens next.

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.

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.

Hosted by Yes...And LLC

This 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.

Event Organizers

Kim Walters

Owner | Cultural Engagement Specialist, Yes...And LLC

Kim Walters is the Owner and Cultural Engagement Specialist of Yes...And LLC, a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations build cultures of respect and belonging through leadership development and self-awareness. She partners with leaders and teams to strengthen communication... Read More →

Monday August 17, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual

Category Social Good, General, Cultural Competence
Interaction Type Workshop

4:00pm CDT

Forward Fest Happy Hour Kickoff Party

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

Category General
Interaction Type Happy Hour, Social

7:00pm CDT

Sweat Equity Sauna Happy Hour

Monday August 17, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm CDT

Saunaday @ 315 S Blount St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Ticketed, In Person (Sauna Happy Hour)

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

Hosted by Saunaday

Event Organizers

Roshelle

Founder & CEO, Saunaday

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
Saunaday 315 S Blount St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Category Bio / Health, General
Interaction Type Happy Hour

10:00am CDT

Design Workshop: Building a New Knowledge Stack

Tuesday August 18, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

TBA @ 315 S Blount St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

AGENDA
10:00 AM Welcome and Overview: Knowledge-as-a-service and Knowledge-Centered Service (KCS©) methodology and it's various applications.
10:30 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.
BREAK
11:00 AM Design Workshop: Participants will sketch their "2026 Knowledge Stack", creating a physical ARTifact to bring back into everyday operations.
With any luck, this session will inspire participants to build better service through designing and future-proofing your organization's knowledge.
12:00 PM LUNCH: Join an optional lunch with workshop participants to reflect together and enjoy the outdoors in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin. Location TBA.

LOCATION: TBA - if you have a recommendation, please contact Christina.
QUESTIONS? Contact Christina Libs at any time.

Session Detail:

Most 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.

If you're hearing:
🥔 "Our help center is a mess - it's a hot potato"
💸 "Customer support is is too expensive / too reactive"
😖 "My team is burning out answering the same 5 questions"
📈 "We need a more sustainable way to scale"

You have overwhelm. You likely have unharnessed knowledge that overwhelms and weighs you down.

Take a breath and join us to find better ways to work.

About Christina Libs:
Christina 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 🌱 🏒 🥏 🏄‍♂️.

Event Organizers

Christina Libs

Knowledge Strategy Consultant, Service Knowledge Operations

Questions? Contact Christina Libs at any time.
About Christina Libs:
Christina 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 i... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
TBA

Ticketed, Hybrid (Design Workshop)

Category Arts, Tech / Software, General, Customer Service, Knowledge Work
Interaction Type Workshop

10:30am CDT

Is the Government Your Next Growth Customer?

Tuesday August 18, 2026 10:30am - 12:30pm CDT

TBA @ 315 S Blount St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

A practical workshop for Wisconsin founders deciding whether government sales can become a real growth channel — and which path to pursue first.

Agenda:
The Wisconsin Opportunity Map
What Wisconsin companies already sell to the government, including defense manufacturing, food/ag, healthcare, logistics, construction, technology, and professional services.

The Founder Decision Tree
Should you pursue direct federal contracts, subcontracting, prime-supplier channels, SBIR/STTR, state/local contracts or hold on government contracting for now?
Government Revenue Fit Canvas

A hands-on exercise to map your customer, end user, buyer, funding source, channel partner, compliance gaps, and next test.

The Readiness Check
What you need before pursuing this channel: customer fit, delivery capacity, compliance, registrations, certifications, working capital, insurance, cybersecurity, and sales-cycle tolerance.

How Deals Actually Happen
A candid conversation with a founder/operator, prime or supply-chain buyer, procurement expert, and capital provider.

90-Day Action Plan
Each founder identifies one target customer segment, one likely entry path, three next steps, and one thing not to waste time on yet.

Event Organizers

Babs Karney

Laura Strong

CEO, Valency Fund

Sponsors

Valency Fund

Tuesday August 18, 2026 10:30am - 12:30pm CDT
TBA

Category Tech / Software, General, Growth, Customer
Interaction Type Conference, Workshop, Networking

7:30am CDT

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

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

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

10:00am CDT

From Research to Revenue: Where Deep Tech Gets Stuck and Why

Wednesday August 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

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.

Designed for tech- and scientist-founders actively building at the earliest stages as well as investors and ecosystem partners working closely with them.

Hosted by Innovative Outlier

This 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.

Event Organizers

Adhira Sunkara

Wednesday August 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual

Category Bio / Health, Tech / Software, General
Interaction Type Workshop

11:30am CDT

Fireside Chat with WEDC Secretary John Miller and Maggie Brickerman

Ticketed, In Person (Fireside Chat WEDC)

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

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

1:30pm CDT

Demystifying the Pro Forma: Building Financial Projections

Wednesday August 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

This live-virtual introductory session – designed for new and prospective business owners in any industry – will help you understand:

▪️The purpose (and power!) of a pro forma in business planning, management and in accessing capital
▪️The fundamental “inputs” to building solid projections, including:
▪️Identification of your business models key revenue streams, and how to translate to your projections
▪️Synthesis of customer, competitive and industry knowledge into reasoned market size and share estimates
▪️The impact of pricing decisions, buyer behavior and capacity on projected revenue
▪️Types of key cost estimates needed for your projections
▪️Resources for pulling it all together!

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.

Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison

This 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.

Event Organizers

Heather Ferguson

Program Manager, UW-Madison SBDC

Sponsors

WEDC

Wednesday August 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Virtual

Category General, Financial
Interaction Type Workshop

3:30pm CDT

How Branding Matters

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

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.

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!

Hosted by IH Concepts

Event Organizers

Ibrahim Harun

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
100state 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7, Madison, WI, USA

Category General,
Interaction Type 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

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

8:00am CDT

How We Show Up Matters

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT

Aubergine: a Willy Street Co-op Community Space @ 1226 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Event Organizers

Kim Walters

Owner | Cultural Engagement Specialist, Yes...And LLC

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT
Aubergine: a Willy Street Co-op Community Space 1226 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Category Social Good, General, Communication
Interaction Type Workshop

9:00am CDT

Practical Tools for Kickstarting your Go-to-Market (GTM)

Thursday August 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Virtual @ 1226 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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?

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.

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.

No prior knowledge needed to attend.

Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison

This 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.

Event Organizers

Heather Ferguson

Program Manager, UW-Madison SBDC

Sponsors

WEDC

Thursday August 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Virtual

Category General, Marketing
Interaction Type Workshop

10:30am CDT

From Stage to Strategy: Voices & Dreams in Action

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

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

12:00pm CDT

Overcoming Gender Bias by Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Thursday August 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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:

• 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

• How to get past broken rungs in the corporate ladder by thinking of yourself as if you were a one-person business

• Develop your personal brand to bounce back from setbacks such as non-inclusive workspaces, gatekeepers, or reframe inappropriate attention.

Event Organizers

Lynn McMahon

Thursday August 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
100state 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7, Madison, WI, USA

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

12:00pm CDT

The Becoming Experience: Healing, Purpose & Entrepreneurship

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

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

1:00pm CDT

A Missing Opportunity—Bringing Agentic AI to UW-Madison

Thursday August 20, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Engineering Hall @ Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by Agentic AI UW

Event Organizers

Evan Liu

Thursday August 20, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Engineering Hall Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Category Tech / Software, General
Interaction Type Conference

1:00pm CDT

Future of VC: Digital Assets & Policy

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

TBA @ Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, 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

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

3:00pm CDT

VentureHome Pitch Day

Thursday August 20, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT

TBA @ Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by WiSys VentureHome

Event Organizers

Allee Marti

Thursday August 20, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
TBA

Category Bio / Health, Tech / Software, General, Agriculture
Interaction Type Pitch Event

5:00pm CDT

High Tech Happy Hour 25th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday August 20, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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

Event Organizers

Rachel Whitmore

Vice President, SupraNet Communications, Inc.

Sponsors

SupraNet Communications, Inc.

Yahara Software

Thursday August 20, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Memorial Union 800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Category General
Interaction Type Happy Hour

10:00am CDT

Commercial Real Estate Leasing 101

Friday August 21, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

Virtual @ 800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Buying or selling a commercial property can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t understand the process and terminology.

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.

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.

Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison

This 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.

Event Organizers

Heather Ferguson

Program Manager, UW-Madison SBDC

Sponsors

WEDC

Friday August 21, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Virtual

Category General
Interaction Type Workshop

10:00am CDT

Maintaining One's Humanity in an Age of AI

Friday August 21, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm CDT

Madison College - Goodman South Campus @ 2429 Perry St, Madison, WI 53713, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Time:
1000-1230p

Location:
Goodman South Campus, Madison College
2429 Perry Street
Madison, WI 53713

Event Organizers

Victor Johnson, PhD

Madison Area Technical College

Friday August 21, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm CDT
Madison College - Goodman South Campus 2429 Perry St, Madison, WI 53713, USA

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

12:00pm CDT

From Side Hustle to Small Business

Friday August 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT

Virtual @ 2429 Perry St, Madison, WI 53713, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison

This 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.

Event Organizers

Heather Ferguson

Program Manager, UW-Madison SBDC

Friday August 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Virtual

Category General
Interaction Type Workshop

1:30pm CDT

Fuel Your Growth: Define Your Market to Build Awareness and Attract Customers

Friday August 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

TBA @ 2429 Perry St, Madison, WI 53713, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Event Organizers

Amber Sandall

Friday August 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
TBA

Category General, Business Strategy
Interaction Type Conference, Workshop

2:30pm CDT

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

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

Sahab Aslam

Angel Investor, Sukun Ventures

Friday August 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
StartingBlock Madison 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Category General, Angel Investing, Raising pre-seed capital
Interaction Type Social, Semi-Panel, roundtable style with open Q/A

5:00pm CDT

Forward Fest Closing Happy Hour

Friday August 21, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by 100state

Event Organizers

Daniel G. Guerra Jr.

Friday August 21, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
100state 17 South Fairchild Street fl 7, Madison, WI, USA