Summer & Fall 2025
The UW Tech Exploration Lab is a safe, flexible space where multidisciplinary students can experiment with emerging technologies — especially applied AI — and bold entrepreneurial ideas, while connecting directly with alumni and industry partners who help turn sparks into real-world impact.
Students here don’t just learn — they test, build, and collaborate across disciplines, shaping what’s next for AI and other frontier tech, right in the heart of campus.
Most of our events are open to everyone across campus — students, researchers, alumni, and industry partners alike.
See what’s bubbling in the Lab this summer — and get ready for even more this fall.
Weekly Open Labs
Every Thursday, 3:30–5:30 PM | 1403 University Ave
Drop in to see what student teams are building, pitch your own idea, or chat with others experimenting with new tech. No sign-up needed — just bring your curiosity and join the conversation.
AI Startup Hackathon & Pop-Up Sprint
July 9–10, 2025 | 1403 University Ave
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AI Startup Hackathon: Dive into a 24-hour AI build sprint starting on July 9 at 11:00. Food, fun, industry mentors, and drawings for prizes! Register here
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AI Startup Mixer: July 9, 5:00–7:00 PM — mingle with students, early founders, alumni, and industry. See prototypes in progress. Mixer RSVP
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Google and Campus Feedback Session (Invite Only): July 10, 9:00–10:30 AM — select teams present to Google and campus reps for live insights.
Executives & VCs in Residence Office Hours (virtual)
Meet virtually 1:1 with industry leaders through our Executives & VCs in Residence program:
Pat Reetz
Meet Pat Reetz, innovation advisor and former CTO, for practical guidance on building, scaling, and funding new ventures. LinkedIn
Singari Seshadri
Connect with Singari Seshadri, a seasoned corporate innovator and startup founder, to talk applied AI, emerging tech, and corporate partnerships. LinkedIn
Christian Kaczmarczyk
Sit down with Christian Kaczmarczyk, early-stage investor and deep-tech entrepreneur, for honest advice on turning frontier ideas into investable companies. LinkedIn
Read more about these alums with deep industry experience. More dates added throughout the summer — stay tuned! See Executives & VCs in Residence and subscribe to the Lab’s calendar to take part.
Workshop (virtual)
Is This a Thing? Turning Ideas Into Clear Next Steps
July 14, 2025 | 4:00 CT | Virtual
NYU advisor and entrepreneur Dana Mauriello will guide you through her 5-step method to test early ideas, stress-test assumptions, and decide what’s worth building (or scrapping) before you waste time. Hands-on, practical, and easy to apply. RSVP for this free event.
Venture Discovery Salon + Networking
August 18, 2025 | 1403 University Ave | During ForwardFest
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Salon (Invite Only): A deeper dive for select founders, alumni, and partners.
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Networking Reception: 3:30–5:30 PM — connect with alumni, industry, and campus collaborators as part of ForwardFest. RSVP for this event
Lab Fall Kickoff
September 10, 2025 | 5:30 PM | Deluca Forum, Discovery Building
For students: Meet the Lab team, learn about fall projects and opportunities, and sign up to get involved. Info & RSVP
Campus-Wide Startup Ecosystem Kickoff
September 12, 2025 | Campus-Wide | Details Coming Soon
For students: We’re joining forces with student orgs, campus partners, and the Madison startup community to spotlight every opportunity for student founders, builders, and early-stage teams to plug in and launch.
Student Orgs & Co-Innovation Lab Pop-Ups
This fall, look for pop-ups, sprints, and hands-on experiments with student orgs like WAISI, dotData, and WE. We also are working with partners and other forward-thinking companies to run Co-labs and sprints. We’re creating a flexible, safe space for students from across campus to test new tools, share ideas, and tackle real-world challenges — all in collaboration with alumni and industry mentors. Details dropping soon — bring your ideas and let’s solve big problems together! Contact us with questions.
Join Us
Most events are open to students, researchers, alumni, and industry friends — so jump in, bring your ideas, and see what’s possible. Subscribe to our email list or contact us with questions.