Madison is known for innovation. The spotlight is often focused only on labs and laptops as we are a world class hub for tech and bio health for sure. This panel shifts the lens to the street level, where a new kind of entrepreneurship is thriving—one rooted in experience, expression, aspiration, and a deep connection to place.
Join us for a dynamic conversation with the storefront entrepreneurs, placemakers, and visionaries who are shaping the next chapter of downtown Madison. These are the small business owners and builders who are redefining what it means to innovate—not through code, but through culture. Many bring with them ideas and influences from outside the city—drawn here by Madison’s unique mix of values, workforce, lifestyle, and sense of community—and adapt those ideas to resonate deeply with the local identity.
This is a story of migration, cultural integration, and innovation grounded in belonging. Together, we'll explore how independent businesses are creating something greater than the sum of their parts: a downtown that’s soulful, aspirational, and driving our economic growth.
Hosted by SupraNet Communications, Inc. and Madison's Central Business Improvement District
