UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming events.
Our events are exclusively for startup founders, unless otherwise noted. If you’re an aspiring founder, or founder curious, you’re more than welcome. But we ask that you be considerate when registering for an event to ensure that those who most need access to our resources can secure a spot.
SaaS Club: Manufacturing + Frontline Innovation Showcase
Connecting the Region’s Innovators!
The 6th Annual Great Chicago Food Bash!
Chicago’s most delicious startup tradition is BACK – and it’s the tastiest way to kick off the year!
Join us inside the Hoste cocktail venue, a modern industrial cocktail taproom in the heart of Pilsen, for a high-energy night of food, drinks, and community as we showcase Chicago’s rising food & beverage startups.
You’ll sample some of the city’s finest bites and sips, meet the founders behind them, and hear a fireside chat with a special guest who knows what it means to serve up success.
Enjoy a premium welcome cocktail (Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Negroni, or Martini) courtesy of Hoste. Then make your way around the festival floor sampling delicious bites and sips from 15 different exhibitors.
Sample Bites & Sips like:
Quesabirria tacos
High-protein savory dips
Gluten-free snacks
Premium finishing salts
Waffle & dessert bar
Alcohol & N/A spirits
Cane sugar sodas
Functional wellness shots
Hot chai
and more!
Enjoy a sit-down conversation with TOP CHEF COMPETITOR, CHOPPED CHAMPION, JAMES BEARD NOMINEE, AND CHICAGO RESTAURANTEUR CHEF ZUBAIR MOHAJIR.
This is lively conversation with old friends and new friends.
This is energy worthy of getting out of the house on a cold January night.
The 6th Annual Great Chicago Food Bash is the place to be.
NOTE:
This is our largest event of the year and we are likely to reach capacity. Don't delay on getting your tickets!
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Want to be an exhibitor? Apply to exhibit no later than January 4th to showcase your product to 100+ new people. Exhibitor spots are limited and we prioritize earlier applications, so get your app in ASAP.
Past exhibitors have gone on to receive distribution at Costco, Whole Foods, and other major retailers, win grants, and raise large funding rounds.
UW-Green Bay Pre Accelerator Showcase
Join us for the 2026 UW-Green Bay Pre-Accelerator Showcase, a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional impact. This special event will feature remarks from Chancellor Michael Alexander of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, who will share his vision for supporting founders and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast Wisconsin.
We’re also honored to welcome Alan Peters, Economic Development Executive at UW-Green Bay, who will speak about the importance of building community partnerships and resources that help early-stage startups thrive.
Following their remarks, the five founders from the inaugural Pre-Accelerator cohort will pitch their startups, showcasing the progress they’ve made and the potential ahead. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with founders, mentors, and supporters of the local startup community while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate the creativity and drive of emerging entrepreneurs in our region.
November SaaS Club: Inside the 2026 Corporate Technology Roadmap
What will corporate technology leaders be prioritizing in 2026—and how can startups align to meet those needs?
Startup Career Fair
Founders, students, early-career professionals are invited to come together for a reverse-pitch style career fair.
Founder Finder: KICback Social
KICback Social is a new monthly event at the Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC) showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship across our region. Our first guest is Kevin Ziegler from the Midwest Founders Community, who will bring his Founder Finder event to Kenosha. The Founder Finder helps entrepreneurs connect with others who have the skills needed to advance their startups.
NVNG Community Happy Hour
For our fall F(o)under Forum, in partnership with NVNG’s Community Happy Hour sponsored by CG Schimdt, you’re invited to join the Midwest Founders Community at Pilot Project Brewing the evening of October 8th. Attended by founders, VCs, corporate innovators, and other NVNG partners from across the nation, this is an excellent way to meet new companies and allocators! We look forward to seeing you at Pilot Project.
FOUNDER/FEST
Join the Midwest Founders Community (MFC) for FOUNDER/FEST at Hoffman York!
An experience that brings Midwest area startup founders together to build a community of support and celebration. Founders come to network as well as to hear stories from those who have built, scaled, and lost businesses in an informal, party-like setting.
Digital Product Management for Startups
Startups don’t begin with product managers, they have founders doing the job without the title. In this session, we will share how to think like a PM, even if you’re building solo, including:
- How to sell before you build
- What to prioritize (and what to ignore)
- When the founder should hire an experienced product manager.
B2B SAAS Club
We’re hosting our next B2B SaaS Club meetup at Wantable Cafe in Milwaukee!
Founder Finder
Founder Finder is 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/Fest
For our next FOUNDER/FEST, we’re teaming up with Founder House in Chicago to kick off summer in style! Join us for an evening of good food, drinks, and a DJ set on an outdoor terrace.
F(o)under Forum
This session will feature a mix of expert insights, candid discussions, and peer learning, providing founders and funders alike with practical strategies for navigating one of the most critical phases of the startup lifecycle.
'How To' Give the Perfect Pitch: Lessons Learned from 300+ Presentations
Join us for an interview & AMA with Startup Hypeman Founder and Chief Pitch Artist Rajiv 'RajNATION' Nathan!
FOUNDER/FEST
Join the Midwest Founders Community (MFC) for FOUNDER/FEST at Penrod!
An experience that brings Midwest area startup founders together to build a community of support and celebration. Founders come to network as well as to hear stories from those who have built, scaled, and lost businesses in an informal, party-like setting.
Thank you to our Founder Spotlights!
Thank you to this event's sponsors:
Complimentary beverages and pizza will be provided.
Please share on your social media and help us build up our community:
Let's Taco 'Bout Entrpreneurship
This is a night that you are NOT going to want to miss!
Visit @3sheepsbrewing for drinks, free tacos, a great opportunity to make connections, and a chance to win up to $500 for bringing your ideas! 💡
To pre-register your idea to pitch, click below.
Founders Day
Founders Day is back! In 2024, Founders Day brought in over 400 founders and mentors, with a combined total of nearly 1,300 hours of networking, mentoring, and coworking. Join anytime 9am-5pm on Wednesday, March 26th for the next session! Come for part of the day or the entire thing!
FOR-M Tech Startup Incubator
The FOR-M Tech Startup Incubator is underway and seeking coaches to help guide the newest founders’ journeys! Coaching doesn’t require any level of experience or skill. It’s about asking questions, providing general guidance, and making new network connections. The first 60-minute virtual coaching session is on March 17th.
Midwest Founders Retreat
The Midwest Founders Retreat is an exclusive two-day experience nestled into the grounds of the wintery landscape of the Wingspread campus in Racine, Wisconsin. Our curated guest list is designed for the top Midwest startup founders, creating a haven for those who seek a reprieve from the daily grind of building their companies among a group of peers looking for growth, connection & a bit of relaxation. The programming is both inspiring and completely optional - allowing founders to take what they want from the experience & to create spaces for the exchange of ideas, strategies & visions for the future.
Location: Wingspread Retreat Center
Dates: February 20 - 21, 2025
Price: $175 - This is all-inclusive of meals & accommodations.
Why Founders Attend:
Exclusive Access: Join a select group of founders and investors in a setting that fosters intimate, high-level networking and collaboration.
Tailored Insights: Engage in meticulously crafted sessions that address the nuanced challenges of scaling and sustaining high-impact businesses.
Luxury at Every Turn: Experience the pinnacle of comfort with luxurious accommodations, world-class cuisine, and personalized service.
Strategic Reflection: Take a step back from the daily grind to focus on the bigger picture with the guidance of industry luminaries and peer feedback.
Legacy Building: Connect with a community of leaders who are not just shaping companies, but defining industries.
What to Expect:
Curated Experiences: The retreat offers a bespoke "choose your own adventure" format, allowing each participant to engage in sessions and activities that align with their personal and professional aspirations.
Mastermind Workshops: Dive deep into advanced strategies with workshops focused on scaling, market expansion, and leadership. Led by industry veterans, these sessions are designed for those ready to take their ventures to the next level.
Intimate Networking Events: Foster meaningful relationships through exclusive dinners, private receptions, and curated social events that encourage organic connections in an elevated setting.
Personalized Mentoring: Access one-on-one mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, offering tailored advice and actionable insights for your unique journey.
Wellness & Renewal: Balance business with well-being through private yoga sessions, mindfulness workshops, and serene nature walks, designed to rejuvenate the body and mind.
Exclusive Pitch & Feedback Sessions: Present your business in a supportive yet challenging environment, receiving in-depth feedback from a panel of esteemed peers and mentors.
Fireside Dialogues: Join intimate discussions on the future of industries, leadership, and innovation, facilitated by thought leaders and pioneers in the entrepreneurial space.
This event is co-hosted by the Midwest Founders Community and the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalitionand generously sponsored by The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread.
Founder/Fest
An experience that brings Midwest startup founders together to build a community of support and celebration. Founders come to network as well as to hear stories from those who have actually built, scaled, and lost businesses, all in an informal, party-like setting.
Our event series
We're all about connecting, collaborating, and celebrating outside of the work.
How To
A virtual event series that showcases our partners and provides them with a platform to share their areas of expertise amongst other founders and entrepreneurs.
Launchpad
A pitch competition for innovative ideas in Wisconsin, offering monetary prizes. The event aims to showcase ideas, gain exposure, and help founders secure funding.
founder funder forum
An exclusive event for founders to learn about venture capital and network with investors. It provides education, connections, and valuable guidance for fundraising, while building a bridge between startups and capital.
Founder Supper Club
With the support of HubSpot for Startups, we will create a new private event series for targeted startup founders to dine in small groups with members of the HubSpot for Startups team to allow for deep relationship building and to increase the awareness of theunique offering of the HubSpot.
Product/market riff
An open space for stalled founders to talk to people who really understand the highs and lows of being in the startup industry. This program opens the door to venting, connecting, discovering a market fit, workshopping new ideas, and testing products among like-minded founders.
The Retreat
The Midwest Founders Retreat is an exclusive two-day experience designed for the top Midwest startup founders, creating a haven for those who seek a reprieve from the daily grind of building their companies among a group of peers looking for growth, connection & a bit of relaxation. The programming is both inspiring and completely optional - allowing founders to take what they want from the experience & to create spaces for the exchange of ideas, strategies & visions for the future.
Saas Club
A coalition designed to facilitate partnerships between B2B SaaS startups and Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), and Chief Innovation Officers (CIOs) of mid-to-large corporations. We aim to enable B2B SaaS startups to build successful pilot projects with established enterprises, fostering innovation and driving business growth.
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. Whether you’re building something new or looking to join an early-stage venture, this is your chance to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and startup supporters.