In its fifth year, Summerfest Tech will be a two-day event at venues across Milwaukee, the event organizer Milwaukee World Festival Inc. announced Tuesday.
The innovation-focused event will take place Wednesday, June 29, and Thursday, June 30, at locations including Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, the new BMO Tower, the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network’s new location in the Third Ward, and at Henry Maier Festival Park during Summerfest. Programming may also be accessed virtually.
As in years past, the event will include a startup pitch competition facilitated by the local startup accelerator program operator Young Enterprising Society in partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Co. This year, the prize money will be doubled to $50,000 and distributed across eight winners, Milwaukee World Festival said. Applications to participate in the pitch competition are due April 10.
New this year, Summerfest Tech will provide an opportunity for founders of color to meet one-on-one with investors that specifically focus on underrepresented founders, through a partnership with an organization called VC MKE.
Also new in 2022, Summerfest Tech will include WARF Innovation Day in partnership with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) to highlight innovations coming out of local universities.
Summerfest Tech started in 2018 and has had a slightly different format every year, ranging from a half-day in-person event in its inaugural year to a two-day event in 2019 to a fully virtual program in 2020. Last year, it was a one-day hybrid event with a $25,000 pitch competition.
