Cut Through the Noise – Accelerate Your Next Quality Hire Struggling to find top talent fast? Discover proven hiring strategies that actually work. Get tools, insights, and real-world success stories. Join us – and hire smarter, faster.
Curious about AI but feeling overwhelmed by the tech lingo? This session is designed for small business owners who want practical, approachable ways to use artificial intelligence—no coding, no jargon, no prior experience needed.
In just 60 minutes, you’ll get a clear understanding of what AI is (and isn’t), how it fits into your day-to-day operations, and how to confidently begin using it. We'll walk through five easy-to-use AI tools that can help with tasks like content creation, scheduling, email writing, customer communication, and more.
You’ll learn:
How AI can work with you (not replace you)
What tools are worth trying first—and why
Live demos of each tool with real-world small business examples
Tips for using AI while keeping your voice authentic and human
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with simple next steps, no stress, and a better understanding of how AI can support your business today—not someday.
Amy Calder is the founder of Golden Innovation Group and a business optimization consultant who helps small business owners and solopreneurs streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and reclaim their time. Drawing from over two decades of corporate leadership in life sciences... Read More →
Tuesday August 19, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT Virtual
DevFest WI is an inclusivity-themed conference for any and all folks in tech. Now in our seventh year, we're returning again to the beautiful UW Memorial Union for a day filled with a wide variety of talks on topics related to building inclusive and accessible products, teams, and environments.
Join The Creative Company for an engaging and dynamic session where entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators come together to explore the cutting-edge strategies and tools that are shaping the future of entrepreneurship. This event is designed to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to elevate your business. Expect discussions on creativity, innovation, and actionable insights on how to scale your entrepreneurial venture. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your business to the next level, this event will provide the inspiration and resources you need. With interactive workshops and expert speakers, it’s an unmissable opportunity to grow, learn, and connect.
Madison Women in Tech is hosting our fourth annual job fair!
Join us Aug. 19th at the UW Memorial Union to explore opportunities with a wide variety of both Madison-based and national employers, everything from startups to corporations, including internships and entry-level positions.
Is your company hiring and interested in having a booth? Learn more and register at https://madisonwomen.tech/job-fair/employers.
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 is not your average tech talk. It’s a tactical team showdown where infrastructure breaks, and only the most prepared will rise.
What’s Going Down: Live AWS incident simulations with surprise chaos injected mid-game Teams of engineers racing against the clock to detect, triage, and restore systems Live commentary + big-screen action so the audience sees every decision unfold Post-battle breakdowns: What worked, what failed, and what to do better next time
Who Should Be in the Room: Cloud Architects • DevOps & SREs • Platform Engineers Tech Leads & Engineering Managers Career-transitioners and students hungry for hands-on exposure Builders, indie hackers, and curious tech folks who thrive under pressure
Why It Matters: When production is on fire, theory isn’t enough. Cloud War Games LIVE delivers the closest thing to on-call chaos without paging your team at 2am. Whether you’re playing or watching, you’ll walk away smarter, sharper, and ready for anything your infrastructure throws at you.
When taking your business from idea to reality, you’ll likely have a lot of questions that need answered in order to get your business off to a strong start. For example: What do you need to know about patents for the product you’re trying to create? What legal resources are available? What can local demographics tell you about potential customers? How strong is the industry you’re looking to enter? Who are potential competitors?
Luckily, there are FREE databases, resources, and specialized experts available to help you answer these and many other questions – all found in your local libraries! Want to learn more? Put this session on your Holds List, and “check out” some great resources from your local libraries.
Madison AI Meetup: Where Minds & Machines Connect Join the vibrant community of AI enthusiasts and professionals at Madison's premier artificial intelligence meetup! The Madison AI Meetup brings together diverse minds passionate about artificial intelligence and machine learning in a collaborative, welcoming environment. Whether you're a seasoned ML engineer, data scientist, AI researcher, or simply curious about how AI is transforming our world, this community is designed for you.
What to Expect:
Engaging Presentations from local industry experts and academic researchers sharing cutting-edge AI developments Hands-on Workshops covering practical applications of machine learning, deep learning, and AI tools Networking Opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals, potential collaborators, and mentors Accessible Discussions that bridge the gap between technical concepts and real-world applications
Who Should Attend:
AI professionals seeking community and knowledge exchange Students and academics interested in applied machine learning Business leaders exploring AI implementation strategies Curious minds wanting to understand AI fundamentals in a supportive setting
Our meetups typically feature a 30-45 minute presentation followed by Q&A and dedicated networking time, all in a relaxed atmosphere that encourages authentic connections.
SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Free for Greater Madison Chamber Members and Forward Fest Pass Holders | $30 for Non-Members
Pressure Chamber returns for its 12th year as emerging companies pitch for the coveted "golden suitcase" and a reserved spot in the Chamber's exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.
Participating companies will present in front of a panel of national investors and a live audience, with the winning company chosen based on a combination of judges' scoring and audience votes.
Optimist or pessimist? Architect or casualty? The world is changing—now—and creativity, branding, and identity will never be the same.
AIpocalypse is a bold, live-studio experience hosted by technologist and thought leader **Matt Boatright-Simon**, joined by a powerhouse lineup of visionary artists, strategists, futurists, and AI experts. Together, they explore the radical disruption—and unexpected possibility—AI brings to the creative world.
Will humanity be rendered obsolete? Will we unlock superpowers beyond imagination? Or are we entering entirely uncharted terrain?
From provocative demos to unscripted conversations, **AIpocalypse** dives into the cultural, economic, and existential stakes of Artificial General Intelligence.
https://www.mattboatrightsimon.com/
FOUNDER/CEO BIO
SPEAK.STUDIO founder and CEO Matt Boatright-Simon is a developer/coder, UX and UI designer, thought leader, entrepreneur, stage play & screenwriter, and filmmaker.
Boatright-Simon is a pioneer in experimentation & development... Read More →
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, and is hosted by AlphaTech Counsel, a law firm supporting emerging tech companies, and 100state, a coworking space fostering collaboration in a supportive community!
This 2-hour event is designed for entrepreneurs, creators, and aspiring founders attending Forward Fest with and without pitches. Many participants may be working on new ideas or navigating early stages of their ventures. In the high-stakes world of business pitches and product demos, this session offers a refreshing way to build confidence in the chaos. Participants will practice speaking off-the-cuff, rebounding from mistakes, and getting reps in for thinking on their feet culminating in pitches to the group from a few volunteers—all in a fun, low-stakes, high-energy setting. Those with active pitches or those wanting to develop their pitches are welcome. Attendees should be ready to participate in all activities.
Hello! I'm Ben, and I am a scientist and improviser. I've been performing improv, running side hussles, and conducting research for many years! I run Amalgam Improv, which is a new improv group in Madison, WI, focused on independent improv teams and fusing topics with improv, like... Read More →
Tuesday August 19, 2025 7:00pm - 9:00pm CDT Git Gud Lounge2841 Index Road-Madison,WI
