More than 40 hybrid and in-person events are planned for Milwaukee Tech Week 2021, which will take place Oct. 25-31. It's designed to connect entrepreneurs with local resources, highlight the importance of startups to Wisconsin's economy, and showcase the technology and innovation happening around the state.
For the first time, the event is sponsored by the MKE Tech Hub Coalition. The group, which now includes more than 100 member organizations and was founded by Northwestern Mutual and Advocate Aurora Health in 2019, is celebrating its two-year anniversary on Oct. 25 with a virtual event and an in-person happy hour for members.
The weeklong tech event, which has been occurring since 2016, previously was known as Startup Milwaukee Week and led by the Wisconsin Startup Coalition.
Key events planned for next week include Meet the Meetups Oct. 25, the Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition Oct. 26, the Reverse Pitch MKE kickoff Oct. 27, and the MKE Tech Policy Roundtable and the Startup and VC showcase Oct. 28.
Meet the Meetups will be a chance for technologists to connect with local meetup and user groups including MilwaukeeJS and the Milwaukee Tableau User Group. At the Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition organized by BioForward Wisconsin's HealthTech MKE, startups will compete for a share of more than $30,000 in seed funding.
Reverse Pitch MKE is a competition where local companies invite startups and entrepreneurs to help solve their business challenges. At the kickoff next week, Northwestern Mutual, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation and West Bend Mutual Insurance will present their challenges. Entrepreneurs will have until Dec. 31 to assemble a team and apply to pitch a solution in February.
The MKE Tech Policy Roundtable will feature local officials including Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), Rep. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee), Milwaukee Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, Waukesha County executive Paul Farrow and Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan.
See the full list of Milwaukee Tech Week events.
Key events:
- Oct. 25: Meet the Meetups, 6 p.m. at Central Standard Craft Distillery
- Oct. 26: Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition, 6 p.m. at Wantable Cafe
- Oct. 27: Reverse Pitch MKE, 1 p.m. virtual event, 5 p.m. networking at Merriment Social
- Oct. 28: MKE Tech Policy Roundtable, 7:30 a.m. at the Global Water Center
- Oct. 28: Startup and VC showcase, 6 p.m. in at Husch Blackwell
- Oct. 28: Tech Noir: Wisconsin Tech Month Closing Night Party, 6 p.m. at Central Standard Craft Distillery
A previous version of the article incorrectly stated the organizer behind Startup Beloit Week and Startup Madison week.
