Before your first pitch or prototype, there’s Chapter Zero—the hard lessons no one warns you about. In this honest and practical talk, founder Jason Weaver shares the mistakes, mindset shifts, and must-know truths that every first-time entrepreneur should hear before going all in.
Just like the rise of smartphones changed everything, AI Agents like ChatGPT and Gemini are about to transform how we interact with the internet. These tools will know your preferences, make decisions, and take actions on your behalf—changing commerce, content, and connection as we know it. Discover how agentic frameworks, tool calls, and the Model Context Protocol are reshaping the digital experience—and why businesses that adapt now will have the edge in the AI-powered future.
Michael Szewczyk & Karen Laing
Karen & Michael are the co-founders of Okkanti (Techstars ‘25), a startup building the operating system for better maternal health outcomes. They will share their stories of starting their earlier companies (two bootstrapped, and one with $12M raised) and how it has prepared them (and scarred them) for their new venture.
In this powerful and personal session, Anita Rodriguez Cordero shares what it means to start a business later in life—not from a place of hustle or proving, but from deep alignment with purpose, wisdom, and truth. With humor, honesty, and hard-won insight, she explores the inner work of reinvention: letting go of old identities, leaning into discomfort, and honoring the life experience that becomes the foundation for a meaningful enterprise. This is not a how-to—it’s a heart-to. For anyone navigating change, craving authenticity, or daring to start again—this talk is an invitation to build not just a business, but a life that feels like home.
What Are We Doing Here?? The 3 (k)NO(ws) of Starting a Startup
Startup life isn’t all pitch decks and pizza parties. In this candid and energizing session, Michael delivers a dose of real talk on what it actually takes to raise money in a world where funding is hard-earned, not handed out. Geared toward early-stage founders navigating the hype of accelerators and demo days, this talk breaks down the “3 (k)NO(ws)”, the tough truths you need to know to earn credibility with serious investors. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of what investors really care about, what they absolutely don’t, and how to stand out in a sea of hopefuls. It’s startup hard knocks with a ray of hope — because while the journey is tough, it’s not impossible.
Enjoy a free lunch and a vendor fair in the atrium! A great way to find valuable entrepreneur resources and a chance to network with fellow attendees.
Learn more about the VenFair.
Our signature event! This is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to practice their elevator pitches while gaining invaluable feedback from Merlin Mentors.
Learn more about the Pitch and rePlay.
Wrap up an incredible day with a final dose of inspiration from the organizers of the Badger Startup Summit — a chance to reflect, recharge, and head into your next venture with fresh momentum.
Registered Forward Fest attendees get a free pint of the latest Forward Festive-Ale at Delta Beer Lab! A free SupraNet + John Kovalic pint glass and a pint of Festive-Ale will be provided for the first 75 attendees, hosted by SupraNet Communications!