The Lab doesn’t end at graduation.
Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned professional, the Tech Exploration Lab is a place to stay connected, give back, and keep building. You’re welcome here — at events, in the space, and in the work.
Start Here: Join the Technology & Innovation Circle
The Technology & Innovation Circle is the easiest way to stay plugged into the Lab. It’s a warm, on-demand network of alumni, industry leaders, and innovation practitioners who stay connected to what the Lab is building and learning.
As a Circle member you’ll hear about Lab programs, student ventures, and emerging needs as they develop. We’ll reach out when there’s something worth sharing or a way you can help — a student team that could use your perspective, an event worth attending, or a challenge in your space. You choose how and when to engage.
Participation is free, flexible, and designed to fit around your schedule.
→ Contact us to join the Technology & Innovation Circle
Ways to Get Involved
Mentor, Advise, or Join as Executive-in-Residence
The most direct way to give back is to share what you know. Work with student teams as a mentor, hold office hours, advise a specific cohort, or take a deeper role as an Executive-in-Residence. If you want to come in and work alongside students in the space, you’re welcome to do that too — the Lab is open and alumni are always part of the community.
Have a look at some of the Lab’s recent student ventures and innovation projects to see what sparks interest.
Guest speaker at a Build Night? Office hours for a venture team? We’ll find the right fit for your time and expertise.
→ Complete this form if you are interested in mentorship and advisory roles
Bring a Project or Venture
Have a problem you want to explore or a venture you’re working on? Alumni can engage with the Lab the same way industry partners do — bringing a real challenge to a student team to explore, prototype, and pressure-test using AI and emerging technologies. Engagements are scoped and priced based on your requirements and interests.
→ Contact us to bring a project
Give to the Lab
Your gift directly fuels student innovation — supporting venture programs, industry-defined projects, Build Nights, hackathons, and the tools students need to move ideas into action.
→ Make a gift online (specify the Tech Exploration Lab Fund – 112170239)
To discuss gifting options, contact Caitlin Gates, Managing Sr. Director with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, or Sandra Bradley, Executive Director of the Lab.
Come Find Us
The Lab is open. Alumni are always welcome to drop in, attend events, work in the space, or just see what students are building. Build Nights, Open Labs, Fourth Wednesday mixers, Demo Night — all of it is open to you.
The best way to stay plugged into events and other things happening in the Lab is to subscribe to our email list and subscribe to our calendar. You can also email us with questions.
About the Tech Exploration Lab
The Lab, led by the Wisconsin School of Business in collaboration with the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, is co-located with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub. The Lab serves as a campus-wide activation resource for turning ideas and emerging technologies into real-world innovation and ventures.