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Startup Wisconsin is organized by Headway, a digital product agency based in Green Bay, WI.
Powered by our state sponsors, Nicolet National Bank and gener8tor.
Upcoming Events
Filter these events by city and topic on our events page.
April
UW Entrepreneur Meetup #10
April 3, 7:00 PM [Madison]
This meetup is the official bi-weekly community meetup of the UW-Madison entrepreneurship community. If you are an experienced Madison-area founder wanting to get tapped into the UW entrepreneurship ecosystem, a UW student looking to begin your entrepreneurial journey, or anything in between, you have come to the right place.
April Code and Coffee
April 5, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
This gathering is designed to foster connections within our local tech community. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a hobbyist, or just getting your feet wet in the world of coding, there's a place for you here.
SOCIAL: Lunch at Global Market and Food Hall
April 6, 12:30 PM [Madison]
Let's hang out and get some delicious lunch together from a variety of different vendors! All genders and kiddos are welcome. Women in Tech organizers will get there early to grab a table or two, complete with table tents so that y'all can find us!
Appleton Founder Stories - Jeff Geiger, Founder/CEO J. Geiger Consulting, Inc
April 7, 6:00 PM [Appleton]
Jeff will share his journey breaking away from the 9–5 to start his own IT consulting firm—serving clients across the U.S. by leveraging deep expertise in enterprise systems. He’ll talk about building a business on technical skill, leading large-scale projects, and what it takes to scale a service-based company in a competitive space.
Click - Special Book Pre-Release and Hands-on Innovation Event
April 8, 2:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Get early access to Click, two weeks before publication...plus a hands-on innovation keynote experience from the author, John Zeratsky!
SOCIAL: Board Game Night!
April 8, 5:30 PM [Madison]
Join Madison Women in Tech for a board game night. There will be a few games, but you're welcome to bring your own.
April Code + Brews
April 9, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
This gathering is designed to foster connections within our local tech community. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a hobbyist, or just getting your feet wet in the world of coding, there's a place for you here.
Women in Biohealth Leadership Teams: Reconnect & Reflect
April 9, 5:30 PM [Madison]
Join us for an exclusive Women in Biohealth Leadership Teams event, bringing together our dedicated leaders for an evening of connection, collaboration, and celebration.
StartingBlock Lunch & Learn: Tactical Skills Series - featuring Eagan Heath
April 10, 12:00 PM [Madison]
Learn the fastest and most effective ways to use pay-per-click (PPC) Google Search Ads to drive more leads and sales for your business. Eagan Heath is a digital marketing consultant, speaker, and trainer.
MadPy Social: Blue Moon Bar & Grill
April 10, 6:30 PM [Madison]
The Madison Python meetup group is hosting a social gathering at Blue Moon Bar & Grill on University Ave. We won't have a speaker or slides. Just friendly conversation. Whether you're an experienced software developer, someone interested to learn about the field, or just looking to meet new people, please join us!
3 for 3: Gaining Clarity, Confidence, and Direction During Unsteady Times
April 11, 7:00 AM [Appleton]
Discover how deepening your relationship with yourself can unlock new ways to communicate and build stronger, more collaborative connections in your personal and professional life. Led by the dynamic and engaging Heidi Metro.
Sip & Sync in Milwaukee
April 11, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
Join us for Sip & Sync - your casual networking meetup where meaningful connections happen over complimentary coffee. Drop in for relaxed conversations, share insights, or simply enjoy meeting fellow WIT members and friends.
MadJS Monthly Meetup: Roundtable Discussion
April 14, 6:15 PM [Madison]
Just a handful of JS developers talking about what they're working on and what new frameworks and tools catch their interest.
NMDSI Symposium - Navigating AI: Transforming Industries and Careers
April 15, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Explore AI’s impact on job automation in healthcare, finance, and education, featuring expert panels, keynotes, and networking opportunities.
Madison's Geek Lunch
April 15, 11:45 AM [Madison]
An engaging conversation with your geekiest friends—where the topic bounces around depending on what anyone wants to contribute.
2025 Madison Spring Tech Kickoff
April 15, 5:00 PM [Madison]
Join the Forward Fest community and supporters to kick off the spring and gear up for an eventful summer in Madison’s tech scene.
Panel on Artificial Intelligence with Manufacturers
April 15, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Local manufacturers discuss their current AI usage and how they’re improving AI adoption across their organizations.
Sip & Sync in De Pere
April 16, 8:30 AM [Green Bay]
Your casual networking meetup where meaningful connections happen over complimentary coffee in De Pere.
Startup Sales Strategy with Dave Zachman
April 16, 12:15 PM [Madison]
Topics include the founder's role in sales, CRM systems, sales pipelines, and when to hire your first sales rep.
FOUNDER/FEST
April 16, 6:02 PM [Milwaukee]
An experience that brings Midwest startup founders together to build community and hear stories from those who’ve built, scaled, and lost.
UW Entrepreneur Meetup #11
April 17, 7:00 PM [Madison]
The official bi-weekly community meetup of the UW-Madison entrepreneurship community. Come connect and share your journey!
StartingBlock's Lunch with a Founder - featuring Kaiser Pister
April 22, 12:00 PM [Madison]
Part educational, part networking—learn from the founder of ALL3D about his journey scaling a tech-enabled product company.
'How To' Give the Perfect Pitch: Lessons from 300+ Presentations
April 22, 12:00 PM [Virtual]
Live AMA with RajNATION—master pitch storytelling, avoid mistakes, and win investors.
Hackreation (hackathon)
April 26, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Build something amazing, join a team, or get hands-on mentorship in this unforgettable hackathon experience!
HYBRID PRESENTATION: How to Accessibility From the Back-End of the Tech Stack
April 28, 5:30 PM [Madison]
A presentation for tech pros on building accessible coding environments for both users and teammates. In person and via Zoom.
Founders Day - April 2025
April 30, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A full day of free coworking, mentorship, networking, and more—designed for Milwaukee’s startup founders.
May
CRM of the Future - Where are We Meeting our Customers Next?
May 2, 12:00 PM [Virtual]
Join Kari Lessard, Salesforce consulting leader from Turnberry Solutions, and host Lisa Hayes, AVP Business Agility Transformation at Quartz Health Solutions for a look into the future of customer interactions and how your business may leverage these tools going forward.
May Code and Coffee
May 3, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
This gathering is designed to foster connections within our local tech community. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a hobbyist, or just getting your feet wet in the world of coding, there's a place for you here.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Week 2025
May 5, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
May 5–9! Milwaukee Central Library will host five energizing days of inspiring workshops, talks, and networking opportunities—plus a Thursday night party! Carefully crafted to spark innovation, foster connections, and celebrate the diverse voices of women in business.
StartingBlock Lunch & Learn: Tactical Skills Series, James Phetteplace
May 6, 12:00 PM [Madison]
Join us for SEO Best Practices with James Phetteplace. Learn critical skills to optimize operations, with deep dives on tech and strategic frameworks for startups and small businesses.
MadJS Monthly Meetup: Roundtable Discussion
May 12, 6:15 PM [Madison]
A relaxed meetup of JS developers chatting about new tools, current projects, and favorite frameworks. Come to share or just listen in.
May Code + Brews
May 14, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Grab a drink and chat tech! Perfect for devs, designers, and the tech-curious in Milwaukee. Laid-back, friendly, and fun.
Open Mic Night (Pre-Founder Day Event)
May 14, 6:45 PM [Madison]
Get 90 seconds to pitch your company, idea, or opportunity during Founder Day’s kickoff happy hour. A fun, fast-paced platform to be seen and connect with the community.
Founder Day
May 15, 1:10 AM [Madison]
Explore 20+ local startups, learn from top founders, and compete for $5,000+ in prizes at the pitch competition. Whether you're here to connect, learn, or launch—this is your day.
Madison's Geek Lunch
May 20, 11:45 AM [Madison]
Bring your lunch and geek out with friends. Tech topics vary week-to-week, depending on what the group brings to the table. No agenda, just great convo.
StartingBlock's Lunch with a Founder - featuring Victoria Thayer
May 20, 12:00 PM [Madison]
Hear from Victoria Thayer, Founder & CEO at Novii CPA. Learn what it’s like to build and scale a professional services startup in Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem.
Founders Day - May 2025
May 28, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Milwaukee Startup Founders – this is for YOU. Free coworking, mentorship, networking, and community celebration all day long.
Startup Accelerator Programs & Pitch Contests
gBETA Kenosha Spring 2025
Application Deadline: April 4th, 2025
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.
Summerfest Tech Pitch
Application Deadline: April 18th, 2025
Summerfest Tech is the place for startups to showcase their technology and network with tech and business leaders. Summerfest Tech Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their product or service to our audience of 400+ investors, corporations, and ecosystem supporters. The submitted product or service must have been launched no earlier than January 2022.
Level Set by StartingBlock
Enrollment for Winter, Spring, and Fall 2025 Cohorts Available!
StartingBlock's Level Set program is an intense 6 week program designed to help you build and validate a business model. Offered 6x per year, we help you explore the pros and cons of different business models, model revenue and get real world feedback on your ideas.
FOR-M Spring 2025 Incubator by MKE Tech
Application Deadline: TBD, Apply Now
FOR-M is your first step to creating a tech startup company in Milwaukee. Solidify the startup idea that’s been bouncing around in your head and understand your next steps. This program is limited to 25 founders and will begin accepting folks immediately…so apply soon!
gBETA Kenosha Spring 2025
Application Deadline: April 4th, 2025
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.
gener8tor Milwaukee Accelerator 2025
Application Deadline: April 27th, 2025
gener8tor Milwaukee invests in five high-growth startups per cohort. This is an industry-agnostic and business model-agnostic program. We accept ALL types of startups across ALL industries and business models.
gBETA Milwaukee 2025
Application Deadline: TBD (Rolling Applications)
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.
Ignite Startup Accelerator
Application Deadline: TBD (Applications Now Open)
The Ignite Startup Accelerator is an 11-month collaborative startup accelerator to assist founders and entrepreneurs in commercializing their new venture. Ignite’s goal is to provide passionate entrepreneurs who have a strong business idea and have completed customer discovery, with the tools, resources, and connections to accelerate the commercialization of their ventures and get to revenue growth.
Wisconsin Tech News
Reinventing the Heartland: A conversation with Nicholas Lalla on innovation, inclusivity, and Milwaukee’s future
In Reinventing the Heartland, Lalla shares insights from his time leading Tulsa Innovation Labs.
Applications are open for Summerfest Tech Pitch
Applications are now open to participate in the Summerfest Tech Pitch competition to take place during the Summerfest Tech AI, held June 23-26 in Milwaukee.
DeliverHealth, Google Cloud to Partner
DeliverHealth and Google Cloud are partnering to provide technology that allows healthcare providers to document patient care through voice.
Milwaukee School of Engineering is building a new engineering center focused on AI
AI, robotics, will be the focus of Milwaukee School of Engineering new building and AI education
Meet Taylor Hughes, co-founder of Hypernatural AI
Hypernatural AI, a startup at the forefront of generative AI-powered video creation, was founded in 2023 by Rebecca Kossnick and Taylor Hughes.
WARF Neurotech Challenge Now Accepting Submissions
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Nexus NeuroTech Ventures are partnering to launch the WARF Accelerator Neurotechnology Challenge Grant.
Testimony of Shayna Hetzel Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Assembly Committee on Small Business Development
Shayna Hetzel Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee for the opportunity to speak to you today about how Wisconsin can support and grow innovative new businesses. Small businesses and high-growth startups are both essential to our economy, but they have very different needs.
NIH Funding Fuels Innovation, Economy in Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Universities of Wisconsin, along with industry, university, hospital and health system partners, are urging Wisconsin's Congressional leaders to protect funding for the National Institutes for Health (NIH), which drives groundbreaking research, life-saving treatments and economic growth in the state.
This Milwaukee software company is one of Forbes' Best Startup Employers for 2025
Ranking 317th, the company was the only Wisconsin business to make Forbes' list.
Tykr: Startup makes investing more accessible
Tykr is an algorithm-driven platform designed to help retail investors make more informed stock market decisions.
Sun Prairie is first Wisconsin municipality to achieve 100% renewable electricity for operations
The milestone means that all city buildings and municipal infrastructure are powered entirely by clean energy.
Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood: Revitalizing a Legacy of Economic Growth
Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN), is a transformational project aimed at fostering economic growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Week returns with “Radiate ‘88” theme
Women’s Entrepreneurship Week (WEW) returns to Milwaukee for its ninth year, running May 5-9, 2025.
BrightStar Invests in Optical X
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announced recently that it invested in Optical X, a company that provides technology to eyecare providers.
What's driving Wisconsin's emergence as a data center hot spot?
Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes, the state's top economic development official, discussed multiple reasons — including cool weather — for why the state has emerged as a hot spot for hyper-scale data centers and why she predicts more such projects.
Qolab Secures Series A Investment
Qolab received a Series A investment from Applied Ventures, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, the company announced today.
ImageMover Expands Colon Cancer Screening Program
ImageMover is expanding its colon cancer screening education program nationwide following the success of a yearlong pilot, the company announced recently.
WEDC Distributes $1.3M in Entrepreneurship Grants
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation today announced the eight recipients, including four in Madison, that received a total of $1.3 million.
WPS adds more solar power to Wisconsin’s grid
Wisconsin Public Service has announced the 250-megawatt (MW) Darien Solar Energy Center is up and running – now providing power to customers.
Dr. Jim Cook on drug development and the business of innovation
Dr. Jim Cook is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UW-Milwaukee.
Gesund Health Data brings AI-powered insights
Scott Coller founded Gesund Health Data to tackle the overwhelming amount of electronic health data and its inconsistent interpretation.
ProsperityEHR Launches to Support Behavioral Health Orgs - Startup and Tech News
ProsperityEHR, an electronic health record (EHR) platform designed specifically to help behavioral health organizations by enhancing financial stability, streamlining operations and improving patient care, launched in March.
TitletownTech Launches FutureTech Forum To Galvanize Industry Through Emerging Technology
Against the backdrop of historic acceleration in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and embodied autonomy, TitletownTech has launched the FutureTech Forum, an invitation-only community of innovation executives.
Have questions?
We've got you. Ask away!
jacob@startupwi.org
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