The seventh annual Summerfest Tech event kicked off Monday at the Aurora Pavilion at Henry Maier Festival Park on the downtown Milwaukee lakefront.
Summerfest Tech, being held June 24 through June 27, supports Wisconsin’s growing reputation as a tech hub. The event is free and is available virtually as well. See the attached photo gallery for scenes from the opening day programs.
The 2024 conference will focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning and Wisconsin’s regional Tech Hubs, including biohealth, renewable and sustainable energy and cybersecurity.
Slideshow: Pickleball and a 'Top Chef' highlight first day of 2024 Summerfest
"Wisconsin’s Secret Sauce: The Power of Relationships in Business and Creativity" was the panel discussion on Monday that kicked off the event. Members of the panel included Cordero Barkley, a partner at TitletownTech in Green Bay; Steven Brown, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Molson Coors Beverage Co.; Matt Adamczyk, a Microsoft technologist in residence at TitletownTech; and Hugh Forrest, chief programming officer for SXSW (South by Southwest).
The panel was moderated by Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
Upcoming events include the Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition, produced by Young Enterprising Society in partnership with Molson Coors. Eight startups will be pitching in person on June 26 in the main event center at Potawatomi Casino Hotel.
The companies participating in the pitch competition on Wednesday are:
- Liff Happens Inc., Chicago;
- Zinacare, South Africa;
- RoddyMedical, Wauwatosa;
- Atomix, Cudahy;
- Athlytic, Detroit;
- Econofi, Chicago;
- REACH Pathways, Chicago; and
- Lotza, Menomonee Falls.
