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Upcoming Events
Filter these events by city and topic on our events page and see what's coming up in April.
April 2026 Events
One Million Cups hosted by StartingBlock - MottoNote and EverOS April 1, 9:00 AM [Madison] Two student founders take the 1MC stage April 1. MottoNote helps VC firms organize institutional knowledge and decision history with AI. EverOS brings autonomous AI to environments without reliable connectivity.
Sip & Sync in Green Bay April 2, 8:00 AM [Green Bay] 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 in a laid-back atmosphere.
Building Real AI Apps at Work: Lessons Beyond Demos April 2, 12:00 PM [Virtual] In this talk, you will learn practical lessons from taking AI ideas from prototype to production, including architecture decisions, cost considerations, reliability, and integration into existing systems.
Coffee Club | Green Bay April 6, 12:00 PM [Green Bay] Coffee Club is a monthly Monday meetup by Startup Wisconsin for anyone building something in the Green Bay area. Bring a problem you're stuck on. Share an idea you want honest feedback on. Ask for an intro to someone who's been where you're headed.
Vibe Madness Showcase April 7, 5:00 PM [Sheboygan] The culmination of Vibe Madness! The top 8 startup ideas will be featured at an in-person networking event and startup showcase. Open to all.
April Code + Brews April 8, 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.
Midwest Founders Retreat April 9, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee] For people who can’t turn it off and want to chill with others who get it. The Midwest Founders Retreat is a small, intentionally designed 1.5-day experience for founders to step out of operator mode and invest in themselves — their health, relationships, mindset, and long-term capacity to lead.
Founder Finder April 9, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee] Join the Midwest Founders Community (MFC), in partnership with MKE Tech Hub and Mitobyte for our newest event, Founder Finder! A high-energy networking event designed to connect startup founders with potential co-founders and collaborators across key roles like software development, marketing, finance, and more.
Founder Finder April 9, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee] Connect with other founders in your area! Join the Midwest Founders Community (MFC), in partnership with Marquette University for the Founder Finder! A high-energy networking event designed to connect startup founders with potential co-founders and collaborators across key roles like software development, marketing, finance, and more.
Sip & Sync in Milwaukee April 10, 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 in a laid-back atmosphere.
Tech Exploration Lab Demo Night April 10, 5:30 PM [Madison] The Demo Night is the Lab's end-of-semester showcase highlighting student-led innovation across emerging technologies. Students will be hosting demo tables for hands-on experiences with new tech, sharing what they’ve developed this semester, and discussing how their ideas could shape the future of industry.
AgentCamp - Milwaukee April 13, 8:45 AM [Milwaukee] Join us for a free community event focused on AI, where you can learn from experts, network with peers, and explore the latest AI technologies and trends.
Brew City UX - Speed Networking at MSOE April 13, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee] First Brew City UX event of the year! This is a great opportunity for students and professionals to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships in a fast-paced, engaging networking format. We are looking for 20 professionals to join us!
MadJS Monthly Meetup: Roundtable Discussion April 13, 6:15 PM [Madison] Continuing with our happy hour format for a while. Just a handful of JS developers talking about what they're working on and what new frameworks and tools catch their interest.
Build it Right: HR & Payroll for Growing Startups April 14, 12:00 PM [Madison] Running a business means wearing a lot of hats -- and some of them fit better than others. StartingBlock's Lunch & Learn: Tactical Skills Series is designed to help you wear them all a little better.
414 Fashion Tech Summit April 14, 3:30 PM [Milwaukee] In celebration of Milwaukee’s annual 414 Day, Straight Lines AI will host the 414 Fashion Tech Summit, bringing together leaders in artificial intelligence, fashion design, and product development to explore how emerging technologies are transforming the way products are created.
KubeCon Recap + Forward Fest Kickoff April 14, 4:00 PM [Madison] We’re getting together to talk about the biggest takeaways from KubeCon Amsterdam, launch our summer event series, and start mapping out what our August Connect event looks like for this year’s Forward Fest.
2026 Madison Spring Tech Kickoff April 14, 5:00 PM [Madison] Madison's technology industry, including businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups, is poised for another successful year! Join the Forward Fest community and supporters to kick off the spring and gear up for an eventful summer at Spring Tech Kickoff.
Sip & Sync in Waunakee April 15, 8:00 AM [Madison] 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 in a laid-back atmosphere.
Sip & Sync in Appleton April 15, 8:30 AM [Appleton] 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 in a laid-back atmosphere.
Her Network - Finding Your People: How the Right Community Changes Everything April 15, 9:00 AM [Madison] Networking isn't a numbers game; it's a life skill that leads to real relationships.Chief Connection Officer, Susie Moon, cuts through the card-collecting and credential-chasing habits to get to what actually matters: finding the people who make you braver, more resourceful, and more yourself.
Madison Area Software Developers Meetup Group Monthly Meetup April 15, 6:00 PM [Madison] Come and share your experiences as a software developer in the Madison area! We strive to keep developers informed about the constantly changing technologies necessary to succeed and innovate.
From Amazon PM to Venture-Backed Founder: Lessons from Fundraising Failures to Series A April 16, 12:00 PM [Madison] In this candid talk, Eric Steege will share his journey from being a Technical Product Manager at Amazon Alexa to launching a startup while still employed, finding the right co-founders, navigating early fundraising failures, getting into Techstars, and ultimately raising a successful Seed and Series A.is
Priority Labs: The Showcase April 19, 6:00 PM [Madison] UW-Madison students will showcase 9 days of raw progress at StartingBlock. No pitch competition — just real momentum from founders, engineers, musicians, and creatives. Come find Madison's next wave of change makers.
Sip & Sync in De Pere April 21, 8:00 AM [Green Bay] 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 in a laid-back atmosphere.
Madison's Geek Lunch April 21, 11:45 AM [Madison] If you've never been to a Geek Lunch, it's an engaging conversation with your geekiest friends, where the topic bounces around depending on whatever anyone wants to contribute. All are welcome regardless of where you lie on any imaginary geek scale. Think "The Algonquin Round Table" with an emphasis on tech.
StartingBlock presents: Accountability Groups April 22, 9:00 AM [Madison] Show up, share out what you're working on, and how we can best hold you accountable. Let's crowdsource strategies to overcome procrastination, and utilize best practices in goal setting.
Welcome to MKE Tech April 22, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee] Welcome to MKE Tech is an intentional gathering designed to welcome new tech employees into the Greater Milwaukee region, connecting them with the people, companies, and opportunities shaping our growing tech ecosystem.
MKE Tech Member Meeting: Lightning Keynotes April 23, 3:00 PM [Milwaukee] This MKE Tech Hub Member Meeting features a fast-paced Lightning Keynote format: three inspiring leaders, each delivering a focused, 20-minute keynote designed to challenge how you think about technology, leadership, and organizational change.
It's Not Just an IT Problem: Building Cross-Functional Incident Response April 23, 5:30 PM [Madison] Tabletop exercises are often treated as IT or security-only activities, but true incident response requires coordination across the entire organization. This session explores the importance of expanding tabletop exercises beyond technical teams to include stakeholders such as legal, HR, communications, and executive leadership.
The Workshop - Wisconsin Startup Mentorship April 28, 3:00 PM [Milwaukee] A drop-in mentorship group connecting ambitious founders with experienced operators who have built, scaled, and exited. No commitments needed. Apply to learn more.
Milwaukee Founders Day April 29, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee] This is a day of free resources for Milwaukee's growing startup founders. We've got open coworking, mentor office hours, coffee, snacks, and a networking happy hour. Come for part of the day or the entire thing!
Leading Through A.I.: Building an Ownership Culture April 29, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee] A 3-hour leadership workshop on building a team culture that embraces AI purposefully. Learn to guide adoption, empower experimentation, and keep high performers engaged. For managers, team leads, and HR pros.
2026 Wisconsin Tech Summit - The AI Shift April 30, 8:30 AM [Oshkosh] The one-day summit will highlight four key sectors: health care, financial services, agriculture and energy, and manufacturing, offering insights into how AI is shaping innovation and competitiveness statewide.
May 2026 Events
May Code & Coffee May 2, 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.
Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit 2026 May 5, 9:00 AM [Madison] Fusion energy promises to be a reality in the next decade. To leverage the enormous potential this new industry will create, the Great Lakes region needs to begin preparing now. Learn more at this premier Fusion Energy Week event.
Bound for Success: Important Contracts to Protect You and Your Startup May 7, 12:00 PM [Madison] Running a business means wearing a lot of hats -- and some of them fit better than others. StartingBlock's Lunch & Learn: Tactical Skills Series is designed to help you wear them all a little better.
Entrepreneur & Innovator Resource Fair May 13, 12:00 PM [Milwaukee] Are you an entrepreneur or innovator in need of resources? Are you dreaming of starting your own business? The Entrepreneur and Innovator Resource Fair aims to connect local entrepreneurs with valuable resources, support, and opportunities to foster growth and innovation within our community.
Founder/Fest - Open Mic Night (Pre-Founder Day Event) May 13, 5:00 PM [Madison] This Founder/Fest will be a little different, as we are bringing back the popular "Open Mic" format. 20 Founders will each have 60 seconds to pitch their company and make a community "ask". Its a great way to quickly learn about 20 startups in your community.
May Code + Brews May 13, 5:30 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.
Founder Day 2026 May 14, 10:00 AM [Madison] Join us at Founder Day 2026! Learn about 20+ startups in your community with Open Mic Night. Learn from top founders and compete for $5,000+ at the pitch competition. Whether you’re looking to connect, learn, or pitch—this is where founders grow. Don’t miss it!
Founder Factory Kickoff May 28, 6:00 PM [Milwaukee] Come understand how Founder Factory works, how founders are selected, and how you can step into the pipeline -- whether you bring an idea or adopt one ready to launch. Founder Factory is a new regional consortium designed to move founders from concept to investment readiness through structured programming, mentorship, and milestone-based funding.
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 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!
gener8tor Madison invests in six 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.
Founder Stories: Justin Turk of ConStrat AI Repeat entrepreneur Justin Turk addresses financial instability in construction businesses with ConstratAI, transforming his industry expertise into fintech solutions tailored for blue-collar enterprises.
Letter AI Raises $40M Series B Chicago startup expanding its AI platform for modern revenue thanks to fresh capital injection.
Understanding startup capital: What is convertible debt? Convertible debt is a funding instrument used by startups to raise early-stage capital with the option to convert that loan into equity later, typically at the next qualified financing round.
Gov. Evers announces $778K state fusion grant Gov. Tony Evers, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) recently announced that a $778,000 Ignite Wisconsin grant to the Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition will help establish Wisconsin as a national hub for fusion energy commercialization.
KIN launches weekly office hours for founders The Kenosha Innovation Center launched KICstart Office Hours to give early-stage founders access to operators, investors and technical experts.
Lay of the Land - 241 Chad Delligatti of InnoSource Chad Delligatti of InnoSource shares his journey on the Lay of the Land podcast with Jeffrey Stern of the O.H.I.O. Fund. On leadership and how they leverage AI to enhance their delivery.
AI Adventure helps kids learn AI skills AI Adventure, founded in 2025 by Anu Höysniemi, introduces elementary-age students to AI through interactive games, storytelling and hands-on activities.
The Invisible Tech Changing How We Connect Russell From on building WayFi Wireless, fixing cellular dead zones with carrier-funded wifi, and scaling from MVP to 10,000+ deployments across the world.
Art sales platform artVested makes debut Maureen Ragalie and John Brogan are launching an online platform called artVested. The product is designed to help visual artists retain more revenue from their work.
UW–Madison students launch OpScribe AI to automate surgical documentation OpScribe AI, founded by UW students Noah Kalthoff and Ruffin Bryant, is developing software designed to analyze video footage of surgical procedures and generate a structured post-operative report that surgeons can review and finalize.
Virtual Reality Gaming in Southeast Wisconsin The growth of in-person entertainment is reflected in two gaming businesses in Milwaukee, according to James Hermann of the Midwest Founders Community.
Wisconsin Candidate For Governor Joel Brennan On His Vision For Tech and Innovation NOTE: This article is not an endorsement for Joel Brennan. The purpose was to have a conversation about his vision for technology and innovation for the state. I have asked all eight Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates at this time to join me on this platform for the same conversation and coverage.
Building Belonging in Startup Communities Angela Damiani on building NEWaukee, starting Midwest Founders Community, and why Wisconsin investors need more risk tolerance.
Have questions? We've got you. Ask away! jacob@startupwi.org
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Startup Wisconsin Newsletter
Get updates on new events happening every month.
Helping tech founders, startups, investors, and talent get connected and discover events and programs across Wisconsin since 2017.
Episode 17 now available! Ep 17 - Angela Damiani, CEO & Co-Founder, NEWaukee Building Belonging in Startup Communities Founders have almost nowhere to say "I don't know if this is going to work." Angela Damiani helped build a place where those conversations can happen and feel heard. You can't express doubt in front of your team. They're looking to you to lead. You can't say it to your investors or your board. And you're probably not going to put it on LinkedIn. Angela started NEWaukee 17...
Episode 16 now available! Ep 16 - Russell From, President & Co-Founder, WayFi Wireless The Invisible Tech Changing How We Connect Russ From spent years at Verizon flying to data centers around the world. He kept noticing the same problem... There are still places where cell phones just don't work (and they should). The traditional fix costs a hundred grand or more. Turns out there's a technology called Passpoint that's been around for over a decade, and hardly anyone knew it existed. WayFi...
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. New on the podcast Learn about Wisconsin's growing tech scene through stories of startups, founders, investors, and the incredible people making it happen. The Startup Wisconsin Podcast is presented by Valency Fund EP 13How This Website is Helping Solve the Mental Health CrisisBen Camp, CEO & Co-Founder, Recovery.com EP 14Helping...