Events

Events

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

To access Start In Wisconsin’s calendar of events for entrepreneurs, click here.

Event Date

Business Blueprint: Business Planning with the Business Model Canvas

SBDCMarch 26, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Stevens Point

Topic: Business Basics

"Business Blueprint: Business Planning with the Business Model Canvas" will take place on March 26, from 12 - 1 pm via Zoom.

Register at this link.

A UWSP representative will email you Zoom mee...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Communication & Delegation Skills

SBDCApril 2, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Whether you are communicating with your employees, customers, or suppliers your ability to express yourself well and understand others is a major factor of your success. For this course, you will have the opportunity to take the DiSC Personal Profile and use the results to better understand your ...

Details

Fee: $339.00



Tax Incentives Wealth Building Strategies

SBDCApril 3, 2025 | 4:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Stevens Point

Topic: Tax Planning

Business owners arguably have some of the best opportunities to legal limit their tax exposure. Taxes also can be one of the largest drags on business profitability. This presentation we'll focus on the following to limit the tax bill:

  • Investing in your business & tax deductions...
Details

Fee: No Cost



Raising Equity for Food Businesses

FFIApril 4, 2025 | 10:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Food Finance Institute

Topic: Financing

Raising Equity is designed to help food and farm businesses successfully raise money, both debt and equity. Instructed by FFI Founder and Innovative Finance Expert, Tera Johnson, this training helps companies raise money legally and effectively. Through four live virtual group sessions and two on...

Details

Fee: $500.00



Branding & Marketing for Food & Farm Businesses

FFIApril 8, 2025 | 9:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Food Finance Institute

Topic: Marketing and Sales

This workshop helps you to define, align, and activate your brand to stand out in the marketplace and maximize your business product line and net margin.

Topics Covered

Food, beverage, and value-added farm founders, entrepreneurs, or marketing leaders of all stages who want to defin...

Details

Fee: $35.00



Maximizing Your Leadership Potential

SBDCApril 9, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Maximizing Your Leadership Potential is a program designed to help you with practical to achieve lasting, sustainable results through people. This course will enable you to sharpen your skills in four fundamental areas of leadership: self-awareness, learning agility, communication, and influence....

Details

Fee: $289.00



Fearless Performance Management

SBDCApril 10, 2025 | 8:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

The performance management - or employee feedback - process can fill many managers and employees alike with a sense of dread. However, with the right skills and mindset, this process can become collaborative, two-way communication that reduces anxiety and sets everyone up for success.

This...

Details

Fee: $304.00



Hire Badgers: Student Staffing Opportunities for Small Business

SBDCApril 10, 2025 | 11:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Did you know that the UW-Madison Work-Study Program, previously reserved for on-campus and non-profit organizations, has been expanded to small businesses - and, as of September 2023, even covers 50% of the wages earned? Or that many UW-Madison students pursue internship opportunities as a way to...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Retail Success Series: Merchandising Techniques that Drive Purchasing Behavior

SBDCApril 15, 2025 | 10:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing a Business

This series covers essential topics for retail success, including considerations for opening a brick-and-mortar store, effective merchandising techniques to drive purchases, and creating impactful in-store signage. Each 30-minute session, followed by a 15-minute Q&A, will be held online with ...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Small Business Social Tools & Techniques

SBDCApril 15, 2025 | 2:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Marketing and Sales

In this presentation, you will learn how to engage your audiences and build your brand on popular social media platforms, and you will get tips for creating short-form videos.

Meanwhile, social media advertising can be a relatively inexpensive way to reach highly specific target audiences....

Details

Fee: No Cost



Positive Power Plays: Skills for Conflict & Negotiation

SBDCApril 16, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

All leaders experience conflict in one form or another. In this class, you will learn how to turn conflict into collaborations and reach win-win resolutions. You will see conflict to clarify roles, relationships, and heighten creativity. Learning how to reach beyond the impasse and find solutions...

Details

Fee: $289.00



Building Your Site + Connecting with Content

SBDCApril 22, 2025 | 10:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Marketing and Sales

WordPress provides software to self-host blogs and websites. This presentation will explain how to obtain a domain name, set up web hosting, set up email accounts, install WordPress and build a website. In addition, you will learn how to install plugins such as contact forms, e-commerce platforms...

Details

Fee: No Cost



SBIR 101 Webinar

CTCApril 22, 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



Wisconsin Tax Seminar for New Businesses

SBDCApril 22, 2025 | 1:30PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Tax Planning

In this New Business Seminar, hosted by The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) you will gain a basic understanding of Wisconsin's tax laws.

Topics may include:

  • Business tax registration
  • Withholding tax information
  • Sales and use tax information
  • Oth...
Details

Fee: No Cost



Protecting Your Business Partnership: Buy-Sell Agreements

SBDCApril 23, 2025 | 11:00AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing a Business

If you are in business with other people, the reality is that at some point, you will not be. As with any personal or professional partnership, communication is key. By working together to create a buy-sell agreement - before someone leaves the business - you can create a strong foundation for yo...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Retail Success Series: Creating Signs Customers Will Actually Read

SBDCApril 24, 2025 | 10:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Managing a Business

This series covers essential topics for retail success, including considerations for opening a brick-and-mortar store, effective merchandising techniques to drive purchases, and creating impactful in-store signage. Each 30-minute session, followed by a 15-minute Q&A, will be held online with ...

Details

Fee: No Cost



Digital Marketing & Social Media Conference

SBDCMay 8, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Marketing and Sales

In this all-day conference, you will learn how to engage your customers and prospects online through your website and social media and track your activities so that you know what is working and what needs to be adjusted. Join us to build your marketing toolkit and take a time-out to learn more!...

Details

Fee: $309.00



Launch Into Leadership

SBDCMay 15, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Taking on new supervisory responsibilities is a great opportunity and challenge. Many in supervisory roles have learned either by trial and error or by following what was done by their predecessor. In most cases, this is not a very effective strategy. This course will start you in the right direc...

Details

Fee: $289.00



SBIR 101 Webinar

CTCMay 20, 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

CTCJune 10, 2025 | 12:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Do you plan to submit to NSF in July? 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 regi...

Details

Fee: No Cost



From Ideas to Products (Virtual)

CTCJune 26, 2025 | 11:30AM | Online
Facilitated by: Center For Technology Commercialization

Topic: Start-up Assistance

You have an idea, you may have started the initial research on it, and now you're trying to see what's next?

Join us virtually to learn more about lean startup mechanics, the SBIR/STTR program, and the services that are provided by the CTC.

Agenda:

  • 11:3...
Details

Fee: No Cost



Biz Smart Sprint

SBDCJune 26, 2025 | 4:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Start-up Assistance

Biz Smart Sprint is your introduction into the world of entrepreneurship. In this live, virtual 6-week course, you will learn the building blocks you need to become a successful entrepreneur. Each week, you'll discover the key components you need to start a business, including the Business Model ...

Details

Fee: $239.00



Introduction to Financial Management

SBDCJune 30, 2025 | 4:00PM | Online
Facilitated by: Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison

Topic: Business Accounting and Budget

Whether you are starting a new business or looking to organize your current business' finances, accurate financial information is one of the most valuable tools you have to drive success. This course seeks to set participants on the right path by providing a "101" overview of financial bookkeepin...

Details

Fee: $259.00



NIH SBIR/STTR: Proposal Preparation Intensive

CTCJuly 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



Financial Foundations for Farms

FFIJuly 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



Positive Power Plays: Skills for Conflict & Negotiation

SBDCJuly 30, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

All leaders experience conflict in one form or another. In this class, you will learn how to turn conflict into collaborations and reach win-win resolutions. You will see conflict to clarify roles, relationships, and heighten creativity. Learning how to reach beyond the impasse and find solutions...

Details

Fee: $289.00



Maximizing Your Leadership Potential

SBDCAugust 6, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Maximizing Your Leadership Potential is a program designed to help you with practical to achieve lasting, sustainable results through people. This course will enable you to sharpen your skills in four fundamental areas of leadership: self-awareness, learning agility, communication, and influence....

Details

Fee: $289.00



DOD SBIR: Proposal Preparation Workshop

CTCAugust 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

CTCAugust 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



Communication & Delegation Skills

SBDCAugust 13, 2025 | 8:30AM | Wisconsin SBDC at UW - Madison, Grainger Hall, Madison

Topic: Managing Employees

Whether you are communicating with your employees, customers, or suppliers your ability to express yourself well and understand others is a major factor of your success. For this course, you will have the opportunity to take the DiSC Personal Profile and use the results to better understand your ...

Details

Fee: $339.00

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the relevant SBDC office or call 608-263-7794.