Events

Fuel your entrepreneurial spirit at the Badger Startup Summit—an energizing launch to Forward Fest that brings together innovators, founders, and big ideas from across Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem. Start your day with a complimentary breakfast and dive into inspiring talks on innovation and entrepreneurship. Connect with local startups and leaders at the Venfair networking showcase, grab... ...

Cloud War Games LIVE: Real Teams. Real Chaos. In-Person Showdown. Join us in person for the ultimate test of cloud engineering skill, speed, and strategy. Cloud War Games LIVE is a hands-on, high-intensity competition where cloud pros battle real-world Amazon Web Services (AWS) outages in real time—on stage, in front of a live audience. This... ...

Calling all members of the startup community and local entrepreneurs! Come unwind and connect at our board game night with some friendly competition, exciting games, and a chance to socialize with peers from different organizations. It’s the perfect low-key opportunity to get out, meet new people, and enjoy a night of playing alongside fellow innovators,... ...

Join Flexion, a Madison leader in system modernization and human-centered design, for a live, interactive build where you don’t just watch innovation, you help create it. In this hands-on session, Flexion’s engineers, designers, and product experts will guide this session as we: 1. Decide, Collaborate, Kick off • Cast an up-front vote to choose our... ...

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... ...

The Future Self Mixer is a unique blend of high-level networking and personal development for ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders. You’ll connect with like-minded peers while stepping into the mindset, presence, and confidence of your next-level self. Through guided prompts and intentional conversations, you’ll build powerful relationships and gain clarity on who you’re becoming – professionally... ...

Restaurant experience provides the best stories to illustrate collaborative lessons. Join Twenty Minute Collaborations host, Gregg Potter at 100State for a live podcast recording illuminating collaboration skills from our restaurant experience. Guests will be two local restaurant veterans who will share a story. Questions will be asked by both host and audience to discover important... ...

Harness the power of storytelling! In this engaging workshop, we’ll transform your entrepreneurial journey—whether heart-wrenching, heroic, or humorous —into a compelling narrative that revisits your ‘why’ and reconnects with your audience. Open to all entrepreneurs! Perfect for small business owners and creative thinkers from all backgrounds who believe in building businesses with purpose. Inclusive and... ...

End your Forward Fest week on a high note! Join us for a relaxed, high-energy happy hour where founders, creatives, and big thinkers come together one last time to connect, reflect, and celebrate everything this week inspired. Whether you made new connections, launched new ideas, or just soaked in the energy—this is your moment to... ...