Forward Fest 2026

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

1:00pm CDT

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

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

Free, Virtual

Category Social Good, General, Cultural Competence
Interaction Type Workshop

8:00am CDT

Assets That Think: From Data to Decisions

LIMITED

Tuesday August 18, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

Assess readiness, connect your assets, and use AI to turn data into real-world action.

Hosted by Source-Right Inc

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

Nita Ambedkar

Tuesday August 18, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Tech / Software, Manufacturing, IoT
Interaction Type Workshop

12:30pm CDT

Navigate Environmental Requirements with Confidence: Tools and Support for Wisconsin Entrepreneurs

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Virtual

Check out our Website

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.

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.

Hosted by Wisconsin DNR Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

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

Jennifer Feyerherm

Tuesday August 18, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Environmental Health and Compliance
Interaction Type Workshop

7:00pm CDT

Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals

FULL

Tuesday August 18, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm CDT

Virtual

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

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.

Hosted by Skapsmidja

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

Doug Neitzel

Tuesday August 18, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Tech / Software
Interaction Type Workshop

10:00am CDT

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

LIMITED

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

Virtual

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

CEO, Innovative Outlier

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

Free, Virtual

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

1:30pm CDT

Demystifying the Pro Forma: Building Financial Projections

LIMITED

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

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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

Free, Virtual

Category General, Financial
Interaction Type Workshop

2:00pm CDT

Introduction to Patents for Entrepreneurs

LIMITED

Wednesday August 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Hosted by E Epstein Patent Agency

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

Beth Epstein

Owner/Patent Agent, E Epstein Patent Agency

Wednesday August 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Bio / Health, Intellectual property
Interaction Type Conference

7:30am CDT

Pricing Model Mastery - Part 1: Turn Customer Perception Into Revenue (General Session)

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

Pricing Model Mastery - Part 1: Turn Customer Perception Into Revenue (General Session)

Your pricing determines customer perception before your marketing ever has a chance. In this interactive workshop, you’ll discover how pricing is more than just a number or three columns of options. The price tells customers what to believe about your offer, and whether it’s right for them.
We’ll share three surprising, proven pricing approaches that help businesses stand out from competitors and surpass expectations. When you identify the strongest pricing model for your product or service, customers receive the signals that help them buy without being sold. By the end, you’ll understand why pricing is your real strategic advantage.
For those serious about immediate application, also register for Part 2: Add-on VIP Session at 8:15 am

Hosted by Fortum Advisors & Free Bird Ventures

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

Michael Rampolla

Sponsors

Free Bird Ventures

Thursday August 20, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Tech / Software, General, Business and Entrepreneurship
Interaction Type Workshop, Personalized Review

9:00am CDT

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

LIMITED

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

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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

Free, Virtual

Category General, Marketing
Interaction Type Workshop

9:00am CDT

LinkedIn Glow-Up Lab

LIMITED

Thursday August 20, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual

Limited Capacity seats available

This 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.

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.

Hosted by LinkUp Madison

Event Organizers

Chantel Soumis

Thursday August 20, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual

Free, Virtual

Category Tech / Software
Interaction Type Workshop

3:00pm CDT

Certified Organic in Wisconsin & New Wisconsin Online Organic Directories

LIMITED

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

Giant Jones Brewing @ 931 East Main Street Entrance on, S Brearly St Suite 9, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

Understanding Certified Organic in Wisconsin

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.

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.

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.

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.

The 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.

Hosted by Wisconsin Organics and Giant Jones Brewery

Event Organizers

Noreen Mucha

Executive Director, Wisconsin Organics

Noreen Mucha is the Founder and Director of Wisconsin Organics-dedicated to building the digital and coordination infrastructure necessary for Wisconsin’s organic sector to thrive. With more than two decades of experience in global food systems and nutrition across 40+ countries... Read More →

Thursday August 20, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Giant Jones Brewing 931 East Main Street Entrance on, S Brearly St Suite 9, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Free, Virtual

Category Food, Tech / Software
Interaction Type Workshop

10:00am CDT

Commercial Real Estate Leasing 101

LIMITED

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

Virtual @ 931 East Main Street Entrance on, S Brearly St Suite 9, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

Lets face it, the world of commercial real estate is complicated and you’re lucky if you get a call back!
This class will familiarize you with the basics of commercial real estate leasing. Understanding the flow, what you need to know, and how to best prepare. No two deals are the same although there are fundamentals that are important to be aware of as well as expectations from both tenant and landlord.
Topics include:

The commercial real estate process
The NNN Lease defined and what you need to know
Selecting the right firm/broker for you

Bring your questions, leave with answers!

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

Free, Virtual

Category General
Interaction Type Workshop

12:00pm CDT

From Side Hustle to Small Business

LIMITED

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

Virtual @ 931 East Main Street Entrance on, S Brearly St Suite 9, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Limited Capacity seats available

Check out our Website

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