Pitch Night

Includes complimentary appetizers and drinks!

Please note, Pitch Night is included in Forward Tech Conference registration. 

Forward Fest Startup Showcase:

The Forward Festival Startup Showcase features an evening of startup pitches from some of Madison's most compelling emerging companies. A select group of rising startups will give a 5-minute "demo day" style pitch showcasing their company. In addition, over 15 Startup Showcase alumni from past years will take part in a lightning round of 1-minute update pitches highlighting their recent successes. The Startup Showcase is a high energy stage that celebrates and showcases what's next in Madison's startup ecosystem. Presented by Capital Entrepreneurs and Accelerate Madison.

neXXpo:

Want to see what’s next for Greater Madison’s economy? Join us for this year’s neXXpo, as we kick it up a notch with an evening event where you can vote for the most innovative business in Greater Madison. Check out creative, cutting-edge businesses at our “innovation hubs” to hear about their work to grow our regional economy with new products, services and ideas. Help yourself to complimentary appetizers, plus the “Make it a Double” Happy Hour courtesy of Zendesk, as you do some “nextworking” with a diverse crowd of entrepreneurs, small businesses and enterprise all in one location.

Pressure Chamber:

Pressure Chamber features a select number of companies pitching in front of a panel of out-of-state investors, business executives and a live audience during Forward Fest. The winning company is decided based on a combination of judges scoring and audience votes. In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also receive an all-expenses paid spot on the Chamber’s exclusive Madison-area startup delegation to Palo Alto in October for meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms.

Both the 2014 Pressure Chamber winner, Fishidy, and the 2015 winner, bluDiagnostics, closed successful funding rounds following their presentations at Pressure Chamber. The full application can be accessed here.

Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Fredrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures and Three Oaks Venture Capital.