{"id":17878,"date":"2025-01-02T12:25:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T18:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/lubar-entrepreneurship-center\/?page_id=17878"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:24:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:24:15","slug":"2026-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/lubar-entrepreneurship-center\/events\/uwm-innovators-expo\/2026-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 UWM Innovators Expo coming May 1st, 2026!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \"2026\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

2026 UWM Design Open & Innovators Expo<\/h1>\n

Join us at the UWM Design Open and Innovators Expo, our annual celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship where the UWM community showcases prototypes, ideas, startups, and innovations. Experience the electric atmosphere as campus leadership, faculty, staff, donors, and Milwaukee community members gather to see what our innovators have accomplished over the past year.<\/p>\n Register Now →<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n

\n

Breakfast Bites & Networking<\/h2>\n

\n 9:00 \u2013 9:45 AM  \u00b7  Required for workshop attendees<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

\n The day starts here. Grab breakfast and coffee at the UWM Grind<\/strong> inside the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, listen to some music, and meet the people you’ll be spending the day with. Some of the best conversations happen before anything officially begins \u2014 don’t miss them.<\/em>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

“Design Open” Opening Remarks & Event Kickoff<\/h2>\n

\n 9:45 \u2013 10:00 AM  \u00b7  Required for workshop attendees<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

\n A brief welcome from LEC and campus leadership, followed by the ceremonial ringing of the LEC gong<\/strong>. The 2026 UWM Design Open begins.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Workshop 1: Design Your Life<\/h2>\n

\n 10:15 \u2013 11:15 AM  \u00b7  Capped at 32 spots<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

\n “Seeking alignment between the ‘musts’ and ‘wants’ of your life”\n <\/p>\n

\n Most of us are living lives shaped more by circumstance than intention. This session uses design thinking<\/strong> as a lens for something more personal \u2014 finding real alignment between what you have<\/em> to do and what you want<\/em> to do. A rare chance to slow down and think about the bigger picture.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n Break  \u00b7  11:15 \u2013 11:30 AM<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

Workshop 2: Design & Build Your Network<\/h2>\n

\n 11:30 AM \u2013 12:30 PM  \u00b7  Capped at 32 spots<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

\n “How to humanize your network so it’s people-centered, robust, and resilient”\n <\/p>\n

\n A network built on titles and transactions tends not to last. This session is about building something more durable \u2014 relationships rooted in people<\/strong>, not roles. Come away with a different way of thinking about who you know and how you show up for them.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n Lunch  \u00b7  12:30 \u2013 1:30 PM<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

Special Recognitions<\/h2>\n

1:30 \u2013 1:45 PM<\/p>\n

\n A moment set aside to acknowledge the individuals who have made a meaningful and distinctive mark on innovation and entrepreneurship at UWM.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Panel Discussion: Imperfectly Human<\/h2>\n

1:45 \u2013 3:00 PM<\/p>\n

\n “How to innovate through mistakes and failure”\n <\/p>\n

\n The most interesting innovations rarely follow a straight line. In this panel, experienced innovators open up about the failures, pivots, and hard-won lessons that shaped their paths. Moderated by Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer, Brian Thompson<\/strong>, the conversation centers on a question: what does it mean to be imperfectly human in 2026?<\/em>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Final Remarks & Innovators Expo Kickoff<\/h2>\n

3:00 \u2013 3:15 PM<\/p>\n

\n Closing words from the Design Open, and another ring of the LEC gong<\/strong> to mark the start of the Innovators Expo.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Innovators Expo & Networking<\/h2>\n

3:15 \u2013 5:15 PM<\/p>\n

\n A showcase of what’s being built, studied, and imagined across UWM \u2014 student startups, faculty research, programs like the Startup Challenge<\/strong>, and more. Disciplines collide here in the best way. Come see what your colleagues are working on.<\/em>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Interested in participating as an innovator?<\/p>\n Sign Up to Participate →<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
<\/i>
The 2026 UWM Design Open & Innovators Expo is anticipated for early May of 2026.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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