2025 Dates: Sep. 25 – Oct. 1
UW–Madison Innovate Week is designed for an audience of campus researchers, inventors, entrepreneurs, social impact innovators, and makers of impactful products. Dates are Thurs. Sep. 25 – Wed. Oct. 1, 2025 (a “non-traditional week” to avoid conflict with major Jewish holidays).
Event goals include highlighting the value and impact of entrepreneurship and innovation; providing inspiration, learning and networking opportunities; and raising awareness of programs, resources and opportunities for campus innovators (i.e., UW–Madison faculty, researchers, staff and students). Campus and affiliated units and programs (including student organizations) and eligible community entrepreneurial resource organizations* that offer programs or resources available to campus innovators can participate by hosting in-person or virtual events.
Potential event types include talks or panels with “how I did it” stories from successful entrepreneurs, researchers engaged in technology commercialization, and social impact innovators; thought leaders/experts who can speak to key trends and developments; fundraising, industry partnership or career development topics; and networking opportunities. Office hours from a program/service are also an option. Open Houses, resource overviews, “how to/101” topics, and other content that can be found easily on campus or on-demand have been less successful in attracting audiences. We welcome submission of and partnership with events that you may already be planning that are a fit for Innovate Week.
Events can be designed for specific campus audiences (e.g., students or researchers) and/or the broader campus. Events can also be open to alumni and the community as well as campus audience and promoted more broadly beyond campus. UW–Madison campus locations are recommended to attract a campus audience. The best day/time depends on your target audience. More successful event times have been weekday noon hour, 5 p.m. and after, and Friday daytime. Weekday breakfast events have also worked. (We do not have experience with events scheduled over the weekend.) It’s best to avoid cross-programming (scheduling on same day/time) as keynote events or other events geared towards same audience/topic.
Innovate Week will be coordinated and the overall event promoted by Discovery to Product (D2P) on behalf of the Innovate Network. Campus and community entrepreneurial resource organizations* offering events will coordinate and fund their events, secure locations, and handle event production, registration, and cross-promotion of their own events.
*Eligible community entrepreneurial support organizations are nonprofit, educational and government organizations or accelerators that support entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses through education, training, networking, technical assistance, financial or physical services.
How to Host An Event
Plan
- Consider your goals, audience, date, time, content, speakers, location or virtual platform, and registration details.
- Consult the Planning Calendar to see already-confirmed events.
- Discuss your event idea, audiences, timing with D2P staff. Contact Mary Carbine.
Submit your event idea (below) by July 9
- Once submitted, we will reach out to make sure your event is a great fit for the week. If all looks good, we will confirm you’re set to host, and provide next steps.
Finalize event logistics and details by August 1
- D2P will promote Innovate Week as a whole through UW–Madison’s Innovate Network, UW–Madison channels, and our campus partners. Event hosting organizations are strongly encouraged to promote their events as well. Finalizing key event details by August 1 and your cross-promotion are key to attracting an audience for your event.
NOTE: When your form is fully completed and submitted, you will receive an email confirmation. If you are having problems with the form, please email contact@innovate.wisc.edu.