2023 Forward Festival Sees Increase in New Event Organizers

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

(MADISON, Wis.)—Entrepreneurs, students, creatives, small businesses, tech folks and difference-makers will have the opportunity to make connections, share advice and collaborate at the 14th annual Forward Festival, which will take place Aug. 21-25 at various locations. The event will continue its five-day format, which will feature approximately 40 events, with nearly a dozen new event organizers.

“As we celebrate another year of Forward Festival, it continues to evolve and expand,” Laura Strong, festival board member and vice president of strategy and healthcare at DataChat Inc., said. “We’re excited to have so many new local organizations be a part of this experience. Beyond tech and venture capital, we even span into food, music, sports and now gaming/e-sports.”

This year features new events and new locations, including the first Power Up Wisconsin Gaming & E-Sports Summit, happening Friday, Aug. 25 at The Red Zone. In addition, Stoughton, Wis., will see its first event, Cut the Confusion Out of Your Advertising Decision, on Tuesday, Aug. 22, hosted by Innovation Center Stoughton.

The festival still features its annual events such as the Badger Startup Summit on Aug. 21 at the Discovery Building and the Doyenne Group’s 5x5x5 pitch event on Aug. 23 at the Pyle Center (and online). New events this year include a food entrepreneur showcase at Garver Feed Mill, a panel surrounding Fem-Preneurs at High Noon Saloon and multiple job design workshops (virtually).

Participants have three different options for the Forward Pass—a Free Events Forward Pass; the Forward Pass without Swag, which gives access to all virtual and in-person events plus access to the Forward Fest app and web platform; and the Friend of the Fest Pass, which includes paid and free events and adds the 2023 merchandise. New this year is that once participants buy a Forward Pass, they can RSVP to events with one click, get events synced to their calendars and an agenda emailed to them in advance.

Forward Festival is sponsored by Associated Bank, Fetch, Fine Point Consulting, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, M3 Insurance, MG&E, Neider & Boucher, Swink, Urban Land Interests, WEDC and the Wisconsin Union. Public relations support is provided by Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media.

For a detailed listing of events taking place during the Forward Festival, please visit www.forwardfest.org.

Resulting Media Coverage: