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Monday, August 18
 

8:00am CDT

Badger Startup Summit
Monday August 18, 2025 8:00am - 3:30pm CDT
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 a box lunch, and stick around for the high-energy MERLIN Pitch & Replay—where startups pitch and the audience plays along.

Hosted by 100state
Event Organizers
avatar for Kelly Pagac

Kelly Pagac

Community and Program Director, 100state
avatar for JJ Pagac

JJ Pagac

Executive Director, 100state
I am the executive director at 100state, Wisconsin's oldest coworking space located a block off the capitol square.  I also design/devleop wordpress websites, and am a parallel entrepreneur.  I have been involved in or have ran 8 startups.

Monday August 18, 2025 8:00am - 3:30pm CDT
TBA TBD somehwere downtown
  Free, In Person

9:00am CDT

Forward Fest Welcome Coffee
Monday August 18, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Event Organizers
LW

Leslie Weissburg

StartingBlock
Monday August 18, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
StartingBlock 821 E Washington Ave 2nd floor library, Madison, WI 53703
  Free, In Person

10:00am CDT

People First Hearts, AI Smarts
Monday August 18, 2025 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
AI is transforming business at breakneck speed-but the true winners won’t be those who simply automate or cut the workforce. The future belongs to leaders who harness AI to amplify human potential, foster innovation, and build organizations where people thrive.

Join our exclusive workshop, “People First Hearts & AI Smarts,” designed specifically for small business executives ready to future-fit their companies for the Intelligence Age.

You’ll discover:
• How to use AI as a strategy engine, not just a cost-cutter-unlocking new value by empowering your team, not replacing them.
• The six levers of a people-first mindset: purpose, leadership, engagement, well-being, opportunity, and appreciation-proven drivers of retention, innovation, and growth.
• Practical frameworks for integrating AI into your operations, HR, and customer experience while maintaining ethical, responsible practices.
• Actionable steps to build an “AI Factory,” launch an AI Academy, and create a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement.

Walk away with a roadmap to lead your business through change, outpace competitors, and ensure your organization is not just more intelligent, but more human.

Ready to lead the way? Secure your spot and future-proof your business-because in the age of AI, people are still your greatest asset.
Event Organizers

Monday August 18, 2025 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual

12:00pm CDT

From Side Hustle to Small Business
Monday August 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
This session is built for early-stage founders who want to set their startups up for long-term success. We’ll break down the essential accounting, tax, financial, and HR strategies you need to get right from the beginning—whether you’re gearing up for your first raise or just getting started. Learn how to build a back office that supports growth, avoids costly missteps, and earns investor confidence. Expect practical advice, real-world examples, and a chance to ask your burning questions.

Hosted by Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Madison
Event Organizers
avatar for Heather Ferguson

Heather Ferguson

Program Manager, UW-Madison SBDC

Monday August 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Virtual
  Free, Virtual

2:30pm CDT

VentureHome Pitch Day
Monday August 18, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
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
AS

Adhira Sunkara

Director of Strategy & Innovative Ventures, WiSys
avatar for Wilson Fay

Wilson Fay

Innovative Ventures Associate, WiSys
Monday August 18, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
WEDC 2352 S Park St Suite 303, Madison, WI 53713
  Free, In Person

3:30pm CDT

Venture Discovery Reception and Networking
Monday August 18, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Venture Discovery Reception and Networking hosted by UW Tech Exploration Lab + D2P
August 18 | 3:30–4:30 PM
1403 University Avenue | Open to All

Join the UW Tech Exploration Lab and Discovery to Product (D2P) for a casual networking reception celebrating student-led innovation and entrepreneurship at UW–Madison. Stop by to meet student teams working at the intersection of real-world problems and emerging technologies, and connect with others from the startup, business, and investment communities who are passionate about building Wisconsin’s innovation ecosystem.

This event follows a private Venture Discovery Salon hosted by the UW Tech Exploration Lab (2:30–3:30 PM), where select students will present their summer progress for feedback from invited mentors and advisors. The public networking reception at 3:30 PM is your chance to meet the teams informally, learn about the ideas being explored, and discover ways to get involved.

Light refreshments provided. No registration required for the 3:30–4:30 event.

Hosted by UW Tech Exploration Lab + D2P
Event Organizers

Monday August 18, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
1403 University Ave. 1403 University Ave.
  Free, In Person

4:00pm CDT

Forward Fest Happy Hour Kickoff Party 
Monday August 18, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Join us as we kickoff the 2025 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
avatar for Rachel Whitmore

Rachel Whitmore

VP of Strategic Business Development, SupraNet Communications, Inc.
Sponsors
Monday August 18, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Delta Beer Lab 167 E Badger Rd, Madison, WI 53713
  Free, In Person

7:00pm CDT

Music Industry Night – Forward Fest Edition 
Monday August 18, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Every other Monday night, something special happens at COPA — local musicians take the stage, the house band keeps the energy flowing, and artists, producers, and music lovers come together to share ideas, stories, and sounds. It’s not just a jam session; it’s a chance to jam with other musicians, meet the people behind the music, connect with others building creative careers, and be part of a growing community that supports each other’s work. Forward Fest gives us the perfect reason to turn up the volume, welcome new faces, and keep building something real — together. COPA exists to make space for artists and entrepreneurs, and Monday Industry Night is one of the ways we do it.

Community Organizations Promoting the Arts empowers community arts organizations and creative professionals by providing space that promotes programming for both youth and adults, so they can collectively advance missions, achieve goals, expand access to critical resources and create—together.  https://copamadison.org/

2841 Index Road, Fitchburg WI



Hosted by COPA (Community Organizations Promoting the Arts)
Event Organizers
DS

Dale Sticha

COPA (Community Organizations Promoting the Arts)
avatar for Naomi Shumway

Naomi Shumway

Git Gud Gaming Lounge
Monday August 18, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
COPA (Community Organizations Promoting The Arts) 2841 Index Road, Fitchburg WI
 
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