Forward Technology Festival | August 18-27, 2011, Madison, WI
Join fellow entrepreneurs, nerds, designers, geeks, hackers, and creative professionals from the Midwest in a 10-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship. The 2011 Forward Technology Festival provides the rare opportunity to interact with professionals across a wide range of disciplines. Network at events like High Tech Happy Hour, interact at events like BarCamp, and learn at the Forward Technology Conference.
Whether you’re already plugged into the Midwest tech scene, or you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to sample what the area has to offer, Forward Technology Festival is about bringing the technology and start-up communities together to learn, share, and have some fun.
Keep scrolling to read more about the exciting event line-up!
Event Summary
Aug 18: High Tech Happy Hour
Aug 18-20: Madison Ruby Conference
Aug 22: Capital Saving and Raising
Aug 23: Madison Meta Meetup
Aug 24: Capital Entrepreneurs Event
Aug 25: 94labs Launch Event
Aug 26: Forward Technology Conference
Aug 26: FTF Reception
Aug 27: Madison Barcamp
Keep scrolling for more details!
Festival Kickoff: High Tech Happy Hour | August 18, Memorial Union
Celebrate the special 10th Anniversary of High Tech Happy Hour with 500 local business professionals and enjoy FREE drinks and appetizers, all overlooking beautiful Lake Mendota. This is High Tech Happy Hour’s big annual event, so come prepared to meet new people, enjoy live entertainment, and take part in their outstanding prize giveaways!
Madison Ruby Conference | August 18-20, Overture Center
Madison Ruby Conference is a more than one track conference committed to bringing together two great communities. The conference will showcase to locals the assets of the Ruby community and allow visitors to Madison a chance to experience one of the best, brainiest, and least expensive places in the US to live and work.
Capital Saving and Raising at the Brink | August 22, Downtown Madison
Using an interactive format, attendees of Capital Saving and Raising at the Brink will talk about cool ideas they’ve used to stretch the dollar and share best practices and horror stories with regard to raising funds. This fun event will wrap up with a happy hour when individuals and groups will be allowed 2 minutes to crowdsource an issue or pitch their ideas or requests.
Madison Meta Meetup at Sectory67 | August 23, 2100 Winnebago Street
Sector67, Madison's first hackerspace, is hosting Madison's first technology meta meetup. Anyone who is interested in technology/entrepreneurship or has attended any of Madison's many tech focused meetups is invited to enjoy a bbq, beer and networking with some of the most interesting people in Madison. Our goal is to bring all of the disparate meetup groups together for a fun evening where you can get to know people who go to the other meetups.
Captial Enterpreneurs Open Social | August 24, Brocach Irish Pub
Capital Entrepreneurs is a Madison networking organization formed by founders of fast-growing businesses for founders of fast-growing businesses. Meetings are typically reserved for members, but anyone interested in start-ups and entrepreneurship is invited to this month’s open social in concert with the Forward Technology Festival. RSVP is required.
94labs Launch Day | August 25, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
94labs helps emerging entrepreneurs launch software companies. Their Seed Incubator Program gives emerging entrepreneurs access to early stage funding, hands-on guidance and a network of mentors and funders. This launch day event will showcase the debut of 12 new startups emerging from the 94labs incubator.
Forward Technology Conference | August 26, Memorial Union
The 2011 Forward Technology Conference represents the summer’s best opportunity to spend a day networking with some of the area’s top entrepreneurs and hearing from experts on a wide range of topics relevant to your technology business. Whether you’re thinking about launching a startup business or you’re an experienced entrepreneur, you’ll find this conference relevant and insightful. Reception to follow on the Terrace.
Barcamp Madison | August 27, Capitol Square
MadCamp is a casual gathering of creatives & business-types in a friendly environment where they can discuss passions, ideas and new-found knowledge. The event is a BarCamp -- an open-format conference (an unconference) where the attendees are the presenters. Subject matter will be directly tied to what ideas people bring to share with the community.
Graphic and web design courtesy of Swink