Events & Speaking Engagements

Events & Speaking Engagements

Explore all of the CTC’s events around the state for prospective and current innovators looking to expand their skill set, receive guidance, network, or connect to the Wisconsin entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Seeking a speaker for an upcoming event? Our featured consultants are happy to travel throughout Wisconsin to help businesses along their innovation journey.

NIH SBIR/STTR: Proposal Preparation Intensive

July 10, 2025 | 8:00AM | UWM Innovation Center

For basic research advancing beyond the academic realm into product development, the NIH provides non-dilutive federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The NIH SBIR/STTR programs award over $1.25 billion in ...

Details

Fee: No Cost



SBIR 101 Webinar

July 24, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

$4.5 Billion dollars in product development is available, maybe to you! Learn more about how you might tap the largest seed fund in this brief overview (and how we can help for free).

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfe...

Details

Fee: No Cost



DOD SBIR: Proposal Preparation Workshop

August 7, 2025 | 9:00AM | CTC Workshop at Research Park-Madison, WI, MG&E Innovation Center, Room 50, Madison

This Department of Defense-focused workshop provides detailed instruction on preparing a proposal to meet the requirements of the DOD, including both technical and commercialization plans and navigating the submission process. Presented by DOD SBIR/STTR expert, Monique Branham, the program w...

Details

Fee: No Cost



NIH Presubmission Panel Review

August 12, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Do you plan to submit to NIH in April? Please register with CTC to participate in our free Presubmission Panel Review. CTC, in collaboration with a panel of expert reviewers, will simulate the NIH review process to help you improve your SBIR/STTR proposal ahead of the September deadline. This reg...

Details

Fee: No Cost



SBIR 101 Webinar

August 19, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

$4.5 Billion dollars in product development is available, maybe to you! Learn more about how you might tap the largest seed fund in this brief overview (and how we can help for free).

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfe...

Details

Fee: No Cost



SBIR 101 Webinar

September 16, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

$4.5 Billion dollars in product development is available, maybe to you! Learn more about how you might tap the largest seed fund in this brief overview (and how we can help for free).

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfe...

Details

Fee: No Cost



NSF Presubmission Panel Review

October 14, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Do you plan to submit to NSF in November? Please register with CTC to participate in our free Presubmission Panel Review. CTC, in collaboration with a panel of expert reviewers, will simulate the NSF review process to help you improve your SBIR/STTR proposal ahead of the September deadline. This ...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Statewide Online Events

Explore the following online business education options that can be accessed from anywhere.


Financial Foundations for Food Brands

July 14, 2025 | 9:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Food Finance Institute

Topic: Business Accounting and Budget

About Financial Foundations for Food Brands

Define, align, and strengthen the key elements of your business's financial foundations at Financial Foundations for Food Brands

This fundamental training helps food-focused entrepreneurs establish a solid financial founda...

Details

Fee: $250.00



Financial Foundations for Farms

July 15, 2025 | 4:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Food Finance Institute

Topic: Business Accounting and Budget

Establish a solid financial foundation for your farm or value-added agriculture business at FFI's fundamental training, Financial Foundations for Farms.

In this training, expert-led instruction, tools, and coaching combine to help you develop your marketing and financial management skills,...

Details

Fee: $250.00



FORWARD FEST: From Side Hustle to Small Business

August 18, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Overview

Have you been thinking about turning your hobby into a business, but aren't sure where to start? Do you have a side hustle that's grown and you want to explore next steps? Are you interested in learning more about how to explore a business idea you have? This session will teach ...

Details

Fee: No Cost



FORWARD FEST Leveraging the Library: Valuable Resources for Market Research

August 19, 2025 | 12:30PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Put this session on your Holds List, and "check out" some great resources from your local libraries

When taking your business from idea to reality, you'll likely have a lot of questions that need answered in order to get your business off to a strong start. For example: What do you need to...

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Fee: No Cost



Food Business Consultant Training

August 20, 2025 | 10:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Food Finance Institute

Join Food Finance Institute Innovative Finance Expert and FFI founder, Tera Johnson, for our Level 1 and Level 2 Consultant Training.

Take your food and farm business clients to the next level by attending FFI's Level 1 and Level 2 Consultant Training. Offered in two 2-day sets, this ...

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Fee: $500.00



FORWARD FEST: Demystifying the Pro Forma: Building Financial Projections

August 20, 2025 | 1:30PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Business Accounting and Budget

Session Description

In 40+ years of working with entrepreneurs, we have regularly observed that "the money part" of business planning is often what causes many business owners and would-be business owners alike the most anxiety and confusion. Yet the numbers don't have to intimidate you. I...

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Fee: No Cost



FORWARD FEST Is it the Real World? Or is it AI? An Entrepreneur's Introduction to Artificial Intelli

August 21, 2025 | 9:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing a Business

You've heard plenty about Artificial Intelligence being a "game changer" across industries - but what does that mean for your day-to-day work? We asked ourselves this question - and how AI could level the playing field for small businesses - and did some investigating.

We know that as a sm...

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Fee: No Cost



FORWARD FEST Mastering Strategic Pricing for Cash Flow Management

August 22, 2025 | 10:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Business Basics

This session provides practical strategies for determining the right pricing for your product or service to optimize profitability and sustain business growth. Participants will explore how to evaluate competitors, brand value, and customer segmentation to create pricing strategies that align wit...

Details

Fee: No Cost



FORWARD FEST: Business Taxes 101: Navigating Self-Employment and Small Business Taxes for Beginners

August 22, 2025 | 1:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Tax Planning

Stepping into the world of business ownership brings with it the critical responsibility of understanding and managing business taxes. Whether you're a fledgling entrepreneur, a freelancer transitioning to a formal business entity, or a small business owner, grasping the basics of business taxati...

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Fee: No Cost



SHRM Learning System Certification Course

September 17, 2025 | 6:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

You are the future. Invest in yourself with SHRM certification.

Are you looking for help to navigate the increased demands on HR professionals? Become the most qualified and valuable HR professional you can be with SHRM certification.

The SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP®) and ...

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Fee: $1450.00



Human Resources (HR) Basics for Non-HR Professionals (ONLINE)

September 25, 2025 | 8:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

THIS CLASS IS ONLINE

For most small business owners and managers, there is a wide gap between hiring your first employee(s) and bringing on an HR manager or team of HR professionals. Yet in the meantime, there are a lot of legal details and best practices to know to best p...

Details

Fee: $289.00



Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP)

October 2, 2025 | 5:30PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Start-up Assistance

ETP is an intensive business-planning training program designed to help participants who want to start a new business, grow an existing business, or make a substantial business pivot that requires viewing the business with a new perspective.

The focus of the program is to help you complete...

Details

Fee: $250.00


Featured Consultants

Wisconsin CTC’s expert business consultants are always willing to share their knowledge with current and prospective innovation entrepreneurs. These consultants speak regularly at Wisconsin entrepreneurship events around the state and at national conferences focused on entrepreneurship and technology. Consultants are always looking to help entrepreneurs along their journey in any part of Wisconsin, so tap us to speak at your event at no cost to your organization. (But we wouldn’t turn down a free meal.)