Forward Fest 2026: Celebrating Wisconsin’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

By Daniel G. Guerra Jr., Executive Director, 100State

Every August, something special happens in Madison.

Entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, students, creatives, technologists, nonprofit leaders, researchers, and community builders come together to celebrate what makes Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem so unique. For one week, conversations spark new ideas, partnerships are formed, companies are launched, and friendships are built.

That week is Forward Fest.

Now in its 16th year, Forward Fest has become Wisconsin’s largest celebration of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, bringing together thousands of attendees across more than 40 community-led events. What makes the festival remarkable is that it isn’t owned by any one organization—it’s built by the community, for the community. (⁠Forward Fest)

At 100State, we couldn’t be more excited to once again serve as one of the festival’s hubs for innovation.

This year’s lineup reflects exactly what we believe makes entrepreneurship so powerful: diverse perspectives, practical learning, meaningful relationships, and a willingness to solve difficult problems together.

Kicking Off Forward Fest

We’re honored to launch the week by hosting the Badger Startup Summit, bringing together founders, investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders to explore the future of entrepreneurship in Wisconsin. Whether you’re building your first company or growing your tenth, the summit is designed to create meaningful conversations and lasting connections.

Learning from Our Community

One of the things I’m most proud of is that many of this year’s Forward Fest speakers are members of the 100State community. Their willingness to share their expertise reflects what makes this community so special—we don’t simply work alongside one another; we invest in each other’s success.

Throughout the week, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from several outstanding 100State members:

• Brett Hay – Ideate. Prompt. Prototype. Repeat. Learn how modern AI tools are changing the way entrepreneurs move from ideas to working products.
• Ibrahim Harun – How Branding Matters. Discover why a strong brand is about much more than logos—it’s about building trust, communicating purpose, and creating lasting relationships.
• Hollie Hollister – The “Anti-Burnout” Blueprint: Wellness for Solo Founders and Small Business Owners. Entrepreneurship can be demanding. Hollie will explore practical strategies for building sustainable businesses without sacrificing personal well-being.
• Lynn McMahon – Overcoming Gender Bias by Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset. An important conversation about leadership, resilience, and creating opportunity.
• Seth Alt (Flexion) – You Vibe-Coded an App… Now What? As AI dramatically lowers the barrier to software development, Seth will discuss what comes after the prototype and how founders move from a promising idea to a successful business.

These sessions represent exactly what Forward Fest does best: bringing together practitioners who share real-world experiences that others can immediately apply.

Looking Toward the Future of AI

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape every industry, creating tremendous opportunities while raising important questions for entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare leaders, nonprofits, and businesses of every size.

To close out the week of learning, 100State is proud to host the 100State AI Summit, led by our board member Nick Myer. The summit will bring together leaders from across industries to explore how AI is changing the way we build companies, serve customers, improve healthcare, educate learners, and strengthen our communities.

Our goal isn’t simply to talk about AI—it’s to have practical conversations about using these technologies responsibly and effectively to create opportunity.

Celebrating the Community

Every great week deserves a great ending.

We’ll wrap up Forward Fest by hosting the Forward Fest Closing Happy Hour at 100State. After a week filled with ideas, pitches, workshops, and networking, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the relationships that make Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial community so remarkable.

Because while businesses may begin with ideas, ecosystems are built through relationships.

More Than a Festival

At 100State, we often say that opportunity begins with community.

Forward Fest embodies that philosophy.

It reminds us that entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies. It’s about solving problems, creating jobs, supporting one another, and building stronger communities. Whether you’re a founder, a student, a remote worker, an investor, a nonprofit leader, or someone simply curious about innovation, there is a place for you at Forward Fest.

I hope you’ll join us throughout the week—attend a session, meet someone new, ask questions, share your story, and experience the incredible energy that defines Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

On behalf of everyone at 100State, thank you to the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and attendees who make Forward Fest possible each year.

We’ll see you at Forward Fest 2026.

Learn more about the full Forward Fest schedule and register for events at ForwardFest.org.