What is it?
UW–Madison has more entrepreneurship resources than any one student ever finds — clubs, funds, accelerators, makerspaces, mentorship programs, and courses spread across campus and the Madison startup community. The Kickoff puts all of them in one room, one night a year. Whether you're actively building a startup or just curious what entrepreneurship even looks like, you'll leave knowing exactly where to plug in.
Find Your Zone:
Get Funded: VC funds, grant programs, and pitch competitions that back student ventures.
​
Build Something: Makerspaces, prototyping labs, and design studios where ideas become real.
​
Get advice on my startup: Mentors, advisors, and clinics that help you figure out your next step
​
Join a Community: Student orgs where founders and future founders find their people.
​
Take a class / go deeper : Courses, certificates, and programs to build your foundation.
Program
5:00 — Doors open. Check in, grab food, and start exploring the tables.
​
6:15 — A short program: remarks from Transcend, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, and successful UW–Madison founders.
​
6:30 - 8:00 — Open fair and networking.
​
Free food and drinks while they last.
Are you a Madison organization that serves student entrepreneurs?
We have a limited number of tables remaining. Tell us about your organization and what students should come ask you about — applications close September 4.
​
FAQs
Who can attend? All UW–Madison students — any major, any year, no experience needed.
​
How much does it cost? Nothing. The event and the food are free.
​
Do I need to RSVP? RSVP is strongly recommended — it gets you through check-in faster and enters you in our founder dinner drawing.
​
What should I bring? Just yourself. If you're working on something, come ready to talk about it — every table is staffed by people who want to hear it.