Wisconsin Tech Month returns on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with midwest-wide events to amplify opportunities, resources and innovation in Wisconsin as a regional tech hub.
Wisconsin Tech Month has been around for four years to celebrate the tech industry. It was started as an initiative declared by Gov. Tony Evers in 2021 and organized by The Milky Way Tech Hub and Latinos in Tech. The effort serves as a means to help Wisocnsin’s BIPOC communities navigate the growing tech industry through educational opportunities. This year’s Tech Month marks the inclusion of Detroit and Chicago to push the month-long celebration across the Midwest.
“This year, while we’re not necessarily focusing on increasing the number of events, but making sure that the events are quality and meeting our mark for increasing the access, the awareness and the education knowledge base around our being artificial intelligence and the future of work and education,” said Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Milky Way Tech Hub.
Wisconsin Tech Month has continuously scaled upwards throughout its four years. In its first run, it held 40 events, but the outpouring of support led it to increase the number to 80 the following year.
Last year saw around 100 events throughout Wisconsin. This year, the amount of events will remain around the same, but its efforts will pivot to ensure the highest quality possible.
Each week will have its own theme. The first week will be, as it is every year, Milwaukee Tech Week and Tech Policy Day. Wisconsin Tech Month will kick off a fireside chat with Johnson and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson as the two will speak on the importance of policy and advocacy to shape the city’s tech industry. A panel discussion will follow with Milwaukee Commissioner Layfayette Crump and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on economic growth and the development of tech talent in the workforce.
Week two will be the Future of Work and week three Community Empowerment. The third week will have an emphasis on women in tech. The final week will be Midwest Tech Week with Detroit and Chicago hosting its own events in its respective cities and Workforce Development.
“Wisconsin Tech Month is expanding our reach to the Midwest, which further solidifies Wisconsin’s role spearheading the innovation and technology space in the Midwest,” Johnson said.
While each week does hold its own dedicated theme, Wisconsin Tech Month has an overarching theme. Wisconsin Tech Month will continue last year’s overarching theme on artificial intelligence as the technology is still “a hot topic,” Johnson said.
A few new events will enter the mix this year. On Oct. 2, Wisconsin Tech Month will hold its Tech Innovators Pitch Competition that will feature entrepreneurs, startups and founders showing off their cutting-edge ideas and tech-driven solutions. Participants will compete for monetary prizes, resources and a special gift that will be revealed at the Pitch Competition.
Returning will be Wisconsin Tech Month’s key event, the Equity in Tech Summit. The focus will be on AI and the future of work and education where attendees will hear from tech industry leaders to promote equity and inclusion in the industry.
New to the summit will be its “AI for Community Hackathon.” Participants will use AI to create impactful solutions for their communities.
Wisconsin Tech Month will span Oct. 1-31. A full list of events can be found on Wisconsin Tech Month’s website.
