Innovation Starts Here
The UW Tech Exploration Lab is where emerging technologies meet real-world problems.
We help shape the next generation of startups coming out of UW–Madison by bringing students, alumni, and industry partners together around applied exploration. Turning curiosity into evidence, and ideas into ventures that are ready to move.
The Lab is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the Wisconsin School of Business, and partners across campus. It is not a classroom, an accelerator, or a consulting shop. It is a front-end venture engine designed for early-stage discovery, rapid experimentation, and disciplined learning.
Here, students don’t just learn about innovation — they practice it.
What We Do
Explore emerging technologies in context
Student teams work with applied AI and other frontier tools to investigate real industry and societal challenges, focusing on use cases, validation, and venture potential.
Run venture-ready experiments
Through short-cycle discovery sprints and venture builds, teams move from idea to evidence, testing assumptions, prototyping quickly, and learning what is worth building.
Connect campus to the real economy
Industry leaders and alumni bring live problems, perspective, and mentorship. Students bring creativity, technical talent, and momentum. The Lab becomes a shared workspace for building what comes next.
Who It’s For
Students
Whether you’re exploring emerging technology, building an early venture, or looking to work on real-world challenges, the Lab gives you a place to experiment, collaborate, and grow. Participation can be light or deep — from Open Labs and Build Nights to venture discovery and founder-led projects.
Industry Partners
Engage with student teams around applied problems, explore new ideas before they become expensive, and build early relationships with tomorrow’s talent. The Lab offers a low-risk environment for testing assumptions and surfacing opportunity.
Alumni & Innovation Leaders
Reconnect with UW–Madison in a way that is practical and hands-on. Mentor teams, bring a challenge, or engage with cohorts exploring applied AI and emerging technologies — grounded in building, not theory.
The UW Tech Exploration Lab is where exploration becomes action — and where the next generation of ventures begins.
Sandra Bradley
Tech Exploration Lab Executive Director and Wisconsin School of Business.
Kevin Ponto
Tech Exploration Lab Faculty Co-Director, WID Associate and UW faculty.
Page Moreau
Tech Exploration Lab Faculty Co-Director.