Organizers behind Wisconsin Tech Month events have designated the last week in October as a time to foster connections between tech-focused organizations among neighboring states.
From the beginning, Wisconsin Tech Month was organized by Milky Way Tech Hub, a Milwaukee group focused on equitably growing the city's tech ecosystem, and Milwaukee's Latinos in Tech, established to connect Latino tech leaders. In time, the groups took over Milwaukee Tech Week, a separate program once known as Startup Milwaukee Week.
Milky Way Tech Hub is the social impact arm of Jet Constellations, the software development company founded by Nadiyah Johnson. Latinos in Tech was co-founded by Ben Juarez and Carlos Vasquez.
This year, October will launch with Milwaukee Tech Week featuring events focused on tech policy and advocacy in southeast Wisconsin, followed by a week focused on community engagement, with an emphasis on women in technology.
Week three focuses on STEM education and workforce development, and the fourth and final week will be Midwest Tech Week.
DOWNLOAD the free MBJ app for breaking news alerts on your phone
As a Black and Latino-led initiative, Wisconsin Tech Month is dedicated to increasing diversity in tech.
This year, organizers are making a dedicated effort to reach tech companies and leaders in northeast Wisconsin. That effort is exemplified by the month's launch event, the Wisconsin Tech Month Kick-Off Social being held at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton in conjunction with Women in Technology and Amplify Oshkosh.
Here are some of the events during Wisconsin Tech Month. See the full schedule.
- Sept. 24: NE Wisconsin: Wisconsin Tech Month Kick-Off Social, Appleton — 3 p.m.
- Oct. 1: Driving Tech Innovation, Policy, Advocacy and Economic Growth in Milwaukee, 3rd St. Market Hall — 9 a.m.
- Oct. 1: WI Tech Month Kick Off Happy Hour, Wall Street Stock Bar in Milwaukee — 6:30 p.m.
- Oct. 2: Tech Innovators Pitch Competition, Eagleknit Converge in Milwaukee — 5:30 p.m.
- Oct. 3: Tech Advocacy Day: Shaping the Future of Tech Policy, State Capitol in Madison — 1:30 p.m.
- Oct. 9: 2024 Equity in Tech Summit, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education in downtown Milwaukee — 12:30 p.m.
- Oct. 9: Founder/Fest XIV, Direct Supply in Milwaukee — 6 p.m.
- Oct. 16: Women in Technology: Engineering Opportunities & Solutions in Energy Technology, Diercks Hall at Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee — 8:30 a.m.
- Oct. 26: Tech Hackathon with Latinos in Tech, Seeds of Health in Milwaukee — 9 a.m.
- Oct. 30: Halloween Spooktechular – WI Tech Month Closing Party, Amorphic Beer in Milwaukee — 3:30 p.m.
