Forward Fest 2026 with SBDC

Forward Fest 2026 with SBDC

The Forward Festival is Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival, attracting more than 5,000 attendees and serving as host for more than 40 events over 5 days every August.

The following SBDC sessions that will be offered as part of Forward Fest, which takes place from August 17-21.

• Demystifying the Pro Forma: Building Financial Projections 8/19/2026 (live virtual) 1:30 – 2:45pm – 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. Instead, understanding a clear financial plan for your business will give you the confidence to make educated decisions about the viability of your business idea, access needed capital and actively manage cash flow as your business grows.
• Practical Tools for Kickstarting Your Go-to-Market (GTM) 8/20/2026 (live virtual) 9am – 10am – Practical Tools for Kickstarting your Go-To-Market (GTM) is a founder-focused guide to building and testing sales and marketing motions. Led by Joshua Steinberg, Director of Strategy & Business Development at Hive, the session breaks down core GTM concepts, introduces proven sales methodologies, and gives early-stage teams a clear framework for communicating value. Through real examples and interactive discussion, participants learn how to understand customer pain, articulate differentiated outcomes, and build the foundation for strong product-market fit.
• From Side Hustle to Small Business 8/21/2026 (live virtual) Noon – 1:30pm – Thinking about turning your hobby into a business or growing your side hustle? This session introduces the Business Model Canvas—a visual tool that helps you map out key areas of your business and decide if you’re ready to go full-time. You’ll also get valuable resources and guidance for your next steps.
• Commercial Real Estate Leasing 101 8/21/2026 (live virtual) 10am – 11:30am – This class will familiarize you with the basics of commercial real estate leasing. Understanding the flow, what you need to know, and how to best prepare. No two deals are the same although there are fundamentals that are important to be aware of as well as expectations from both tenant and landlord. Topics include:
  • The commercial real estate process
  • The NNN Lease defined and what you need to know
  • Selecting the right firm/broker for you