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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.
Hey folks! Jacob Miller here.
Wisconsin Tech Month starts today. The kickoff is in Milwaukee, Launch Wisconsin finals are on the 6th, +Venture North is on the 8th, Founder Factory's pitch night is on the 14th, and HackGB takes over UW-Green Bay on the 17th and 18th.
Then October 21 stacks up again: +Venture Health, the Biohealth Summit, Founder/Fest, Code + Brews, and two StartingBlock events in Madison.
Not sure where to start? Our Tech Month guide breaks it down by whether you're raising, building, or looking for your people.
All 94 events for October and November are below, in order.
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New on the blog
Wisconsin Tech Month 2026: A Founder's Guide to October
October is the busiest month on the Wisconsin tech calendar. The four themed weeks, where to go if you're raising, building, or looking for your people, and how the month got started.
Don't Have a Startup Idea? Founder Factory Has a Few Waiting for You
Founder Factory flips the pitch night. Milwaukee's research institutions pitch technologies that need a founder. How it works, who's behind it, and why you should be at the Lubar Center on October 14.
Launch Wisconsin 2026 Finalists: The Map Narrowed
In July, 29 of the 52 semifinalists came from outside Madison and Milwaukee. The judges cut the field to 12, and seven of those finalists are from Madison. Who pitches on October 6, and how the map changed.
Does Your Company Actually Want Venture Money?
Raising stopped being a decision and became a milestone. But the instrument you pick decides how your company ends, and the math in Wisconsin does not match the math on the coasts.
Dirac Labs Raised $1.8 Million for Quantum Navigation. Look at What Funded It First.
TitletownTech led a $1.8 million pre-seed into a Madison quantum navigation startup. Four non-dilutive funders got there first, and the order they came in is the part worth copying.
HackGB Needs Mentors, and Students Who Aren't Sure They're Ready
Two hundred students, four tracks, and 24 hours at the UW-Green Bay STEM Innovation Center. The mentor application has no student requirement, and the hacker application is open to students who think they aren't ready yet.
MKE Tech Hub Coalition Will Lead Summerfest Tech Into Its 10th Year
Going into the conference's 10th year, the MKE Tech Hub Coalition takes the lead on planning, programming, sponsorships, and marketing. What the expanded partnership changes, and why it matters outside Milwaukee.
→ See All Posts
Catch up on the podcast
EP 22
How CuroNow Brings Family Caregiving Into One Shared Place
Rukmini Banerjee, Co-Founder and CEO, CuroNow
EP 21
How Creative Destruction Lab Builds Startups Without Taking Equity
Kai Heineman, Venture Manager, Creative Destruction Lab
EP 20
How Forward BIOLABS Gives Wisconsin's Biotech Founders a Running Start
Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and Co-Founder, Forward BIOLABS
EP 19
Inside the Founder Forward Vision for UW-Madison
Jon Eckhardt, Pyle Bascom Business Professor, Wisconsin School of Business
EP 18
Fixing the Data Problem Slowing Down Life-Saving Drugs
Justin Byers, Founder and CEO, Axio BioPharma
→ See All Episodes
Upcoming Events
Filter these events by city and topic on our events page and see what's coming up.
October 2026 Events
WI Tech Month Kick Off
October 1, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
The official launch of Wisconsin Tech Month at the Milwaukee Public Market. A morning of community and connection to open a month of learning, collaboration, and opportunity across the state's tech ecosystem, under this year's theme, Connected Through Innovation.
Wisconsin Tech Month Kick Off Part 2: Happy Hour
October 1, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
Keep the Wisconsin Tech Month launch going with an evening happy hour at Saint Kate in Milwaukee. A relaxed chance to connect with tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators after the morning kickoff.
No More Cold Starts: Building Persistent AI Memory for Security
October 1, 6:30 PM [Madison]
Cybersecurity veteran Alex Minster of Belouve walks through CEREBRO, a persistent AI memory system built on free open source tools like Supabase, MCP, and Discord. See how security teams can keep context across AI sessions and models for threat intel, automated briefings, and tabletop exercises. Live stream available.
October Code & Coffee
October 3, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A relaxed Milwaukee coding meetup for developers of every level, from dev-curious to professional. Bring a laptop and work on your own project, team up on something collaborative, or just talk shop over coffee with a friendly local tech community. Drop in for a bit or stay the whole morning.
AI Code Jam: October 2026
October 3, 10:00 AM [Madison]
A six hour working session for building with AI instead of reading about it. Bring a laptop and a project, then use tools like Claude Code, Copilot, and local LLMs to push it forward. Drop in for an hour or stay all day, with an optional demo at the end. Space is limited to 50 people.
Wealth Building Through Business Ownership
October 3, 12:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An afternoon at UWM's Lubar Entrepreneurship Center on how business ownership can become a path to building wealth. A good fit for aspiring founders and anyone considering starting a business.
Elevating Humanity Summit
October 6, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
An intimate summit on what an elevated future could look like where leadership, wellbeing, and technology meet. Visionaries come together to work through what it means to elevate people, individually and collectively.
2026 Launch Wisconsin
October 6, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
The Early Stage Symposium is now Launch Wisconsin, a unified statewide brand uniting Wisconsin's leading startup competition, educational programming, investor engagement, and entrepreneurial community. Expect a full day of breakout sessions, an Elevator Pitch Olympics, investor intros, the Launch Wisconsin pitch finals, and plenty of networking.
Fruition Coworking Meetup w/ Sit By Me
October 6, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Fruition, hosted by Sit By Me founder Brad Steckart and friends. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
Data Day 2026: The Power of Local Data
October 7, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Milwaukee's annual local data conference, now in its 12th year, at Discovery World. Workshops cover using local data in grant proposals, communicating data visually, and navigating the Data You Can Use Hub, plus Ignite talks, a national keynote panel, and the Data Dream and Data Hero awards.
Wantable Wednesday Coworking Meetup
October 7, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Wantable Cafe, hosted by Melissa Gregory of Birddog Automation and the Sit By Me community. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
Introduction to Esports Industry of Wisconsin
October 7, 12:30 PM [Milwaukee]
A one hour introduction to Wisconsin's esports industry at the Magik4Gaming Hub in Milwaukee. Tour the venue, see where competitive gaming happens, and learn how esports is creating opportunities across the state, from careers and college programs to local business and community. Open to gamers, newcomers, and curious professionals.
NVNG Community Happy Hour
October 7, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
A happy hour at Pilot Project Brewing that opens Venture North, bringing together founders, venture investors, corporate innovation leaders, and ecosystem partners from Wisconsin and out of state. Local food, drinks, and introductions to new companies and allocators.
Advanced AI usage for Software Engineers
October 7, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
Engineers from local consulting firms and startups share how they are actually using LLMs and ML in their work, followed by open discussion among software engineers with one to ten years of experience. Topics include Claude Code skills and rules, cloud and managed agents, Cursor, and working LLMs into team workflows.
From Vacant Lot to Viable Project: A Live Development Intelligence Lab
October 7, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An interactive lab on how AI, local data, and community knowledge can move vacant and underused Milwaukee properties toward equitable development. Mecca Development walks through a live site analysis using Climate Lens, its development intelligence platform. In person or online.
+Venture North 2026
October 8, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Milwaukee's leading gathering at the intersection of venture capital, innovation, and Midwest industry. Presented by NVNG, it convenes investors, corporate leaders, founders, and operators to explore the technologies reshaping energy, manufacturing, logistics, and AI, and to spark new partnerships across the region.
Wisconsin Tech Advocacy Day: Building Wisconsin's Tech Future
October 8, 8:30 AM [Madison]
Tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners gather at the State Capitol in Madison to connect with policymakers and push a statewide policy agenda for Wisconsin's tech economy. Topics span innovation, infrastructure, talent, investment, and access. Part of Wisconsin Tech Month.
Thursday Haven Coworking Session
October 8, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Haven Cafe with the Sit By Me community. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
Introduction to the data build tool (dbt)
October 8, 12:00 PM [Virtual]
An online lunch-hour intro to dbt, the data build tool. Learn how dbt projects are structured, how materializations like seeds, snapshots, tables, and views work, how adapters and macros keep it portable across platforms, how AI can help with documentation, and what it looks like running thousands of models at scale.
AI & Rap: Bars Meet Bots
October 8, 1:00 PM [Milwaukee]
A session on using AI across the creative process for music without handing the writing itself over to it. Where the line gets drawn, and the reasoning behind it. Held at Canni MKE in Milwaukee as part of Wisconsin Tech Month.
Claude Stress
October 8, 6:30 PM [Madison]
A casual peer discussion at Madison's Central Library on how agentic AI coding tools are affecting developer wellbeing. Whether you run multi-agent workflows daily or are just starting to code with AI, bring your experience of how these tools have changed the way you program and how you feel about the work.
Sip & Sync in Milwaukee
October 9, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in Milwaukee area tech. Held at Colectivo Coffee in Wauwatosa.
Coffee & Connections
October 10, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A laid-back morning at BLK Coffee to meet Milwaukee's tech community over free coffee and pastries.
i.c.stars iOpener-HR Roundtable
October 13, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Tech executives, HR leaders, educators, and emerging talent dig into how to build the workforce as AI and automation outpace traditional career pathways. A half-day roundtable on the skills that matter most and how to close the gap between innovation and opportunity.
Emerging in Technology (EIT) Summit
October 13, 1:00 PM [Kenosha]
A signature Wisconsin Tech Month summit in Kenosha that brings the state's tech ecosystem together to explore AI, cybersecurity, workforce development, and more.
PINTS October: We Win With People, Fundamentals for AI Success
October 13, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
A people-first take on AI strategy, using the Brewers' winning season as the lens. The session asks what a well-run team can teach organizations about getting real results from AI, starting with the fundamentals. Held in Milwaukee.
AI for Small Businesses: Practical Strategies for Growth
October 14, 7:45 AM [Milwaukee]
A morning session on AI tools small businesses can actually put to work, covering ways to save time, streamline operations, improve service, and grow faster. Hosted at MalamaDoe in Milwaukee as part of Wisconsin Tech Month.
KINnected: MKE Tech Comes Together at KIN
October 14, 8:00 AM [Kenosha]
A full day of tech community at the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. It opens with a Founders Day coworking session, then moves into a Stand-In Pitch, a CPG panel, and a panel of local leaders on connected communities in Wisconsin.
You Have a Product Idea, Now What? Product Development 101
October 14, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
An idea is 1% of the work. This session at the UWM Prototyping Center walks through what comes next: the development and production pathways for turning a product idea into something real, and what to expect on the road to commercialization.
Founders Day at KIN
October 14, 9:00 AM [Kenosha]
A free full day for founders at the Kenosha Innovation Center, presented with Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood for Wisconsin Tech Month and Women in Tech Week. Open coworking, Stand and Pitch feedback from advisors, and a consumer products panel with Shark Tank winner Landon McKinnis and Ross Niemi of NESCO.
StartingBlock presents Let's Dive In: Website Accessibility
October 14, 12:00 PM [Madison]
Bekee Gibson walks through three accessibility checks anyone can run on their own website: an automated scan with axe DevTools, a keyboard-only test, and a screen reader pass. Accessible sites work better for every visitor, and you will leave knowing where your site stands and where to start fixing.
Founder Factory: Idea to Enterprise Pitch Night
October 14, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Eleven university technologies from Marquette, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Versiti, and UW Milwaukee, each waiting for a founder to build a company around it, spanning a Lyme disease vaccine, AI-enabled drug discovery, and secure AI for edge devices. Aspiring founders, operators, researchers, and investors in one room.
Global AI Milwaukee October Meetup (GitHub Dev Days)
October 14, 5:15 PM [Milwaukee]
The chapter's October slot is given over to GitHub Copilot Dev Days, part of a global series running through October. Two to three hours of hands-on work on real Copilot workflows in the app and the CLI, open to all developers, at WCTC in Pewaukee. Registration goes through Luma and space is limited.
Introduction to Spec-Driven Development with Antigravity & Gemini
October 14, 5:30 PM [Virtual]
An online codelab on spec-driven development with Antigravity and Gemini, led by GDG Madison technical director Naveen VK. Learn how to turn written specifications into dependable code with AI, working hands-on alongside other developers. No prior background needed, just bring a laptop.
Wish You Were Here: ITA Travel App Launch & Tech Month Mixer
October 14, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening mixer celebrating Wisconsin Tech Month and the launch of the International Travel Advisor app. Network with tech and travel folks, trade remote-work and living-abroad plans, and set some goals.
Experience Milwaukee Bourbon Club
October 14, 6:00 PM [Milwaukee]
A bi-monthly gathering of regional business and technology leaders over cocktails and conversation. Membership is required to attend, with details on joining at the club's site. Venue to be announced.
Find the Leak Before You Add Another Tool: A Small-Business Systems Repair Workshop
October 14, 6:00 PM [Virtual]
A hands-on virtual workshop for founders and small business operators. Map one real client journey from inquiry to onboarding, find where time, leads, money, or trust are leaking, and fix the system before buying another tool.
Thursday Haven Coworking Session
October 15, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Haven Cafe with the Sit By Me community. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
The Extra Step: How To Prompt
October 15, 1:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Most people get generic work out of AI because they ask for output before building context, then conclude the tools do not work for them. This one is about the step before the prompt. Held at Canni MKE in Milwaukee as part of Wisconsin Tech Month.
How AI Champions Educate Manufacturing Teams
October 15, 4:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Most manufacturers build AI tools, but few get their teams to actually use them. Emily Honor Hubbard and Robert Orozco share how to turn a few early adopters into an AI-capable team, with teaching strategies and their Problem-Solving Pyramid. Starts with a tour of Beyond Vision, which employs people who are blind and visually impaired.
Women in Biohealth: Networking Happy Hour
October 15, 5:00 PM [Madison]
A relaxed after-work happy hour at Grape Water Wine Bar for women across Wisconsin's biohealth community. No presentations and no structured networking, just a chance to reconnect with peers, meet someone new, or unwind over a drink. Come solo or bring a colleague, and stay as long as you like.
Content & Cocktails: Where Content, Technology and Strategy Connect
October 15, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An interactive marketing session for entrepreneurs and small business owners on where content, technology, and strategy connect. It features a fireside chat with content creator Katie Jackson and practical ideas for using tech to make content work harder.
Inspire 2026
October 16, 8:00 AM [Kenosha]
A premier one-day leadership experience in Kenosha, built to bring out the best in your work, your team, and your community. Spend a morning with national and regional speakers sharing practical, inspiring lessons on leading with courage and intention, and leave with new connections and fresh motivation for your leadership journey.
Sip & Sync in De Pere
October 16, 8:00 AM [Green Bay]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in northeast Wisconsin tech. Held at The Exchange in De Pere.
HackGB 2026: Day 1
October 17, 8:00 AM [Green Bay]
Day one of HackGB 2026, a 24-hour collegiate hackathon at UW-Green Bay's STEM Innovation Center. Check-in opens at 8:00 AM, the opening ceremony runs at 11:00 AM, and hacking starts at noon. Students form teams, pick a track, and start building alongside mentors and industry sponsors.
Get Set Summit
October 18, 12:00 PM [Kenosha]
A two-day, hands-on summit for Southeast Wisconsin entrepreneurs to get established, equipped, and growing, with experts doing the work alongside you. Walk in with an idea and walk out registered. Runs October 18 and 19 in Racine.
HackGB 2026: Day 2
October 18, 12:00 PM [Green Bay]
Day two of HackGB 2026 at UW-Green Bay's STEM Innovation Center. Hacking wraps at noon, followed by the judging and project expo, the closing ceremony, and prize announcements across every track. Open to university students and recent grads within 12 months.
Female Founders Meetup
October 19, 4:00 PM [Green Bay]
A meetup for female startup founders in and around Green Bay. The local startup scene is small and the women in startups scene is smaller, so this is a chance to connect and build the network. Held at The Nest Cowork + Club.
Fruition Coworking Meetup w/ Sit By Me
October 20, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Fruition, hosted by Sit By Me founder Brad Steckart and friends. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
Wisconsin's AI Future: Workforce, Innovation and Regional Competitiveness
October 20, 11:30 AM [Milwaukee]
A look at how AI will reshape Wisconsin's workforce over the next five to ten years, and what employers, educators, and policymakers need to do now to keep the state competitive on talent, innovation, and partnerships. Hosted by UWM, in person or online.
Madison's Geek Lunch
October 20, 11:45 AM [Madison]
A monthly lunch conversation for Madison area developers at The Thirsty Goat in Fitchburg, where the topic bounces wherever the table takes it. Think Algonquin Round Table with a tech emphasis. All are welcome regardless of where you land on any imaginary geek scale. Third Tuesday, 11:45 to 1:00.
The Osthelder Experiment: Rural Innovation in Action
October 20, 4:30 PM [Sheboygan]
A 148 year old rural bar brings its real operating challenges to the Wisconsin ecosystem in a reverse pitch format. Capital providers, ESOs, hospitality and startup operators, founders, and entrepreneurs work onsite to identify problems and build solutions together. Held in Sheboygan Falls.
Women Leading in the AI Era: Innovation, Inclusion & Impact
October 20, 6:00 PM [Virtual]
A virtual conversation from Women in Data Greater Milwaukee on inclusive, human-centered leadership as AI changes how we work, lead, and build communities, featuring Dr. Nadiyah Johnson.
Sip & Sync in Cottage Grove
October 21, 8:00 AM [Madison]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in Madison area tech. Held at Grace Coffee in Cottage Grove.
+Venture Health 2026
October 21, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Wisconsin's premier venture and innovation event for healthcare, life sciences, biohealth, and medical technology. Hosted by NVNG in partnership with BioForward, it convenes venture capitalists, health systems, corporations, founders, and university researchers for a curated day of dealmaking, discovery, and connection.
StartingBlock's Her Network with guest Beth Ott
October 21, 9:00 AM [Madison]
A Her Network workshop with former teacher Beth Ott on judging your year by what you learned, not the metrics you hit or missed. Drawing on her time at a school with no grades, she leads quick reflection exercises to help you evaluate your growth and decide what is worth your time next. Bring a notebook or laptop.
Wantable Wednesday Coworking Meetup
October 21, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Wantable Cafe, hosted by Melissa Gregory of Birddog Automation and the Sit By Me community. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
StartingBlock presents: Lunch with Hudson Hollister, CEO of HData
October 21, 12:00 PM [Madison]
HData CEO Hudson Hollister opened his Series B raise in the middle of the SaaSpocalypse and watched investor expectations shift in real time. He shares how he planned and pitched the round, what investor feedback taught him, how the plan, team, and timeline changed with the number, and what he would tell founders raising now.
2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit - Day 1
October 21, 2:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Day one of BioForward Wisconsin's flagship biohealth summit opens in the afternoon with a startup showcase, a pharma keynote, and an evening networking reception, connecting scientists, investors, and industry leaders. An optional NVNG pre-summit experience runs earlier in the day for a deeper look at biohealth investment and commercialization.
October Code + Brews
October 21, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening Milwaukee coding meetup for developers of every level, from dev-curious to professional. Bring a laptop to work on your own project, collaborate on something new, or just talk shop over drinks with a friendly local tech community. All skill levels welcome.
Synergy Ghost Tour Event
October 21, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening at Shaker's Cigar Bar in Milwaukee pairing a first look at Synergy's AI-native business system with a guided Hangman's Tour through the building's history. Cigars, cocktails, and dinner included.
Founder/Fest
October 21, 6:00 PM [Milwaukee]
The Midwest Founders Community's signature social gathering for regional founders, at Penrod in Milwaukee. No panels or pitches, just founder stories from Ivan Rahman, Jorge Reyna, Stephen Pounds, and Anu Hoysniemi, plus food, drinks, and time with people who know what building is like. Free and open to founders.
Madison Area Software Developers Meetup Group Monthly Meetup
October 21, 6:00 PM [Madison]
A monthly gathering for Madison-area software developers to swap experiences and keep up with fast-moving tech. Conversation ranges across scripting and compiled languages, big data and microservices, mobile and IoT, web, and developer tooling, with a focus on lifelong learning and local networking. All levels welcome.
2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit - Day 2
October 22, 8:30 AM [Milwaukee]
Day two of BioForward Wisconsin's flagship biohealth summit is a full day of programming, from a cancer-treatment keynote to curated science, business, and tech hub sessions spanning organoids, clinical trials, quantum computing, and biohealth beyond borders. The day wraps with a closing keynote and reception.
Thursday Haven Coworking Session
October 22, 10:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Weekly coworking at Haven Cafe with the Sit By Me community. Bring a laptop, grab a coffee, and get work done alongside Milwaukee's tech community. New faces always welcome.
Wisconsin Technology Association: AI Governance Panel
October 22, 2:00 PM [Milwaukee]
The Wisconsin Technology Association's October meeting takes on AI governance. A panel shares perspectives on who owns AI, who regulates it, and what is and isn't working in real deployments. Held in Brookfield.
AI in Motion: Beyond the Technology
October 23, 8:00 AM [Kenosha]
Women in Technology Wisconsin's Southeast chapter puts the spotlight on the people side of AI over breakfast at UW-Parkside. Hear from leaders guiding teams through AI-driven change, dig into what happens when AI gets it wrong, and spend an hour building the human skills technology can't replace.
First Light: The Next Step Tech Lab Showcase
October 23, 4:30 PM [Milwaukee]
Watch Milwaukee youth take an idea to a 3D-printed product to a first customer in a single afternoon, powered by AI. A live showcase and preview of the Next Step Tech Lab cohort launching January 2027.
ASUG Wisconsin Chapter Fall Meeting & Social
October 26, 9:00 AM [Madison]
A day of peer learning and networking for SAP teams, focused on speeding up S/4HANA transformation and putting AI to work across the enterprise. Meet local SAP users and partners, swap best practices, and close the day with a social at Monona Terrace.
Create AI Agents with Claude to Grow Your Small Business
October 26, 6:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening workshop on the three disciplines that move AI from demo to deployed: prompt, context, and harness engineering. Aimed at small business owners who want agents doing real work. Hosted at MalamaDoe in Milwaukee.
Women in Data Fall Connections: Conversations That Matter
October 27, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
A guided networking evening from Women in Data Greater Milwaukee where everyone takes part, built around conversations that go beyond small talk.
sySTEMnow Conference: 23rd Annual
October 28, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
Southeast Wisconsin's STEM education and talent conference, now in its 23rd year. Business, K-12, higher ed, and community leaders gather for keynotes, breakout sessions, and the STEMMY Awards to build the region's STEM talent.
Executive Breakfast: A.I. as a Strategic Thought Partner
October 28, 8:30 AM [Kenosha]
A free, interactive session for leaders on using AI as a strategic thought partner, not just a task automator. Live demos and exercises cover strategic planning, competitive analysis, and building an AI-powered virtual advisory board. Held at the Kenosha Innovation Center.
Founders Day
October 28, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A free day of resources for Milwaukee founders at MKE Tech. Drop in for open coworking, casual mentor office hours, coffee, and snacks, then stick around for the networking happy hour. Come for an hour or the whole day.
The Workshop: Milwaukee Mentorship Session
October 28, 3:00 PM [Milwaukee]
Small-group mentorship for early-stage founders. Each founder gets focused time at a table with experienced operators to work through a real challenge, get candid advice, and make connections in the Milwaukee startup community. Apply to join the session.
Fireside Chat with Aaron Towns
October 28, 5:00 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening conversation with Aaron Towns, Director of Commercial Banking at BMO and a newly appointed WEDC board member, on founders and how they spend their time. Hosted by The Workshop right after its Milwaukee mentorship session.
Hackreation 2026
October 31, 8:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A one-day hackathon at Penrod in downtown Milwaukee, built around collaboration, creativity, and community. Organized by Mitobyte with community partners as part of Wisconsin Tech Month.
November 2026 Events
The Workshop: Madison Mentorship Session at StartingBlock
November 4, 3:00 PM [Madison]
Small-group mentorship for early-stage founders, hosted at StartingBlock. Each founder gets focused time at a table with experienced operators to work through a real challenge, get candid advice, and connect with the Madison startup community. Apply to join the session.
Women in Biohealth: Leading Through Experience
November 4, 5:00 PM [Madison]
Five short, TED-style talks from biohealth leaders on the experiences that shaped how they lead, from career pivots and setbacks to stepping into new roles, finding their voice, and balancing competing priorities. Followed by Q&A and networking with women across Wisconsin's biohealth community at University Research Park.
MDEV 26: Day 1
November 6, 8:00 AM [Madison]
The Wisconsin Games Alliance's eighth annual games industry conference, back at the Alliant Energy Center for two full days of expert-led panels, speakers, workshops, and networking, plus a showcase where developers demo their games. Open to the public, drawing indie and AAA developers, industry professionals, students, and players.
Sip & Sync in Kenosha
November 6, 8:30 AM [Kenosha]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in southeast Wisconsin tech. Held at Anna's on the Lake in Kenosha.
MDEV 26: Day 2
November 7, 8:00 AM [Madison]
The Wisconsin Games Alliance's eighth annual games industry conference, back at the Alliant Energy Center for two full days of expert-led panels, speakers, workshops, and networking, plus a showcase where developers demo their games. Open to the public, drawing indie and AAA developers, industry professionals, students, and players.
November Code & Coffee
November 7, 9:00 AM [Milwaukee]
A relaxed Milwaukee coding meetup for developers of every level, from dev-curious to professional. Bring a laptop and work on your own project, team up on something collaborative, or just talk shop over coffee with a friendly local tech community. Drop in for a bit or stay the whole morning.
262 Founder Pitch
November 10, 4:00 PM [Kenosha]
Tech founders from Southeast Wisconsin pitch on the KIC stage to investors, industry leaders, and mentors. Three categories: intelligent manufacturing, biohealth, and local impact, with $3,000 for first and $1,000 for second in each.
November Code + Brews
November 11, 5:30 PM [Milwaukee]
An evening Milwaukee coding meetup for developers of every level, from dev-curious to professional. Bring a laptop to work on your own project, collaborate on something new, or just talk shop over drinks with a friendly local tech community. All skill levels welcome.
The Lakehouse Gamble: Design Patterns & Real-World Pitfalls
November 12, 12:00 PM [Virtual]
An online lunch-hour session on designing Microsoft Fabric lakehouses that scale. Real-world case studies cover proven architecture patterns and common failures, when to use notebooks, pipelines, or warehouses, how to scale governance, and where OneLake shortcuts and data mesh fit. Useful for beginners and experienced builders alike.
Quantum Talent Pipeline: Developing Skills that Meet Industry Demand and Drive Economic Growth
November 12, 1:00 PM [Kenosha]
Two panels on building the workforce for Wisconsin's quantum future. Industry leaders and the Chicago Quantum Exchange cover current and emerging talent needs, then faculty from Gateway, Carthage, UW-Parkside, and MSOE share how higher ed is responding, with a focus on the region's logistics and supply chain strengths. Reception follows.
Voices on AI: From Student to Professional to Practice
November 13, 8:00 AM [Appleton]
Women in Technology Wisconsin and the New Digital Alliance explore how AI is changing classrooms, careers, and communities. Keynotes from Elaine Stephens of Google and Michelle Schuler of Microsoft, plus breakouts on AI in education, upskilling, instructional design, entrepreneurship, and the always-on workplace.
Madison's Geek Lunch
November 17, 11:45 AM [Madison]
A monthly lunch conversation for Madison area developers at The Thirsty Goat in Fitchburg, where the topic bounces wherever the table takes it. Think Algonquin Round Table with a tech emphasis. All are welcome regardless of where you land on any imaginary geek scale. Third Tuesday, 11:45 to 1:00.
Sip & Sync in Appleton
November 18, 8:00 AM [Appleton]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in northeast Wisconsin tech. Held at Copper Rock in Appleton.
Sip & Sync in Waunakee
November 18, 8:00 AM [Madison]
A casual morning networking meetup from Women in Technology Wisconsin, with coffee on them. Drop in for relaxed conversation with WiT members and friends, or just to meet other people working in Madison area tech. Held at Grace Coffee in Waunakee.
Baum Spirit of Entrepreneurship Summit Presented by Marcus Corporation
November 18, 2:00 PM [Milwaukee]
A free afternoon summit on entrepreneurship and innovation in southeastern Wisconsin. Hear MIT's Bill Aulet keynote, a panel of Wisconsin corporate innovation and startup leaders, and meet early-stage founders at a networking reception, then watch student founders from up to 10 schools compete in the Marquette Invitational Pitch Competition.
Madison Area Software Developers Meetup Group Monthly Meetup
November 18, 6:00 PM [Madison]
A monthly gathering for Madison-area software developers to swap experiences and keep up with fast-moving tech. Conversation ranges across scripting and compiled languages, big data and microservices, mobile and IoT, web, and developer tooling, with a focus on lifelong learning and local networking. All levels welcome.
Founder Friendsgiving
November 19, 4:00 PM [Milwaukee]
The Midwest Founders Community's end-of-year gathering at The Howie in Milwaukee. A relaxed evening of drinks, light bites, and conversation with fellow founders, built around looking back on what you accomplished this year and strengthening the relationships that got you there.
Startup Accelerator Programs & Pitch Contests
Programs
Founder Factory
Open Enrollment for 2026
A two-stage pre-accelerator that matches founders with patented research from Milwaukee's universities and health institutions, with structure, support, and up to $50K in funding to get to investment readiness.
Level Set by StartingBlock
Open Enrollment for 2026
StartingBlock's Level Set program is a free, 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.
gener8tor Madison Accelerator 2026
Application Deadline: Rolling Applications
An industry and business model agnostic investment accelerator that backs six high-growth startups per cohort with capital and hands-on programming.
FOR-M Incubator by MKE Tech
Application Deadline: Rolling Applications
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. The six week program is free, hybrid, and built to fit around a day job. Spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis.
Wisconsin Tech News
See the latest here
Have questions?
We've got you. Ask away!
jacob@startupwi.org
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