+Venture North

October 8, 2026

Hosted at Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Register Here Get on the waitlist

 

See some of our 2025 highlights here!

About +Venture North

+Venture North returns in 2026 as the leading gathering in Milwaukee at the intersection of venture capital, innovation, and Midwest industry. Bringing together investors, corporate leaders, founders, and operators, the event is designed to spark the partnerships, ideas, and opportunities shaping the next era of economic growth across the region.

Presented by NVNG Investment Advisors, +Venture North 2026 will explore the trends and technologies transforming critical industries – from energy, infrastructure, logistics, and transportation to financial systems, advanced manufacturing, automation, AI, and the evolving consumer economy. Through conversations with leading venture capitalists, corporate innovators, and entrepreneurs, attendees will gain insight into where industries are heading and how collaboration between venture and corporations is accelerating that future.

Attendees will hear insights from venture capitalists, corporate innovators, successful founders, and operators leading the charge.

The full agenda and speakers will be announced soon.

Additional events from NVNG during this week include:

Wednesday 10/7

+Venture Match Day in partnership with MKE Tech Hub: For Wisconsin and visiting corporations to learn more about one another, and to engage with venture-backed startups and globally-focused venture capitalists aligned with the Midwest region’s core industries. Location to be shared with attendees.

Wednesday 10/7

NVNG’s Community Happy Hour: Our annual happy hour will take place on October 7, kicking off +Venture North.  Join us if you’re in town! Milwaukee – Pilot Project. 

Featured Sessions

 

  • The Fintech Evolution and the Next Wave of Financial Infrastructure
  • Energy, Power & Infrastructure as Venture Platforms
  • Sustainability // Climate Tech That Works in the Real Economy
  • Generations of Growth: Family Businesses Investing in What’s Next
  • The Workforce of the Future: Automation, AI & Skilled Labor
  • Building the Physical AI Economy: Competing and Investing in a New Industrial Era
  • AI in Action: Startup >< Enterprise Case Studies
  • Logistics in Flux: Building the Next Global Backbone
  • The New Consumer Economy: How the Next Generation Shops, Scrolls, and Spends
  • The Innovation Wishlist: What Corporations Need Next
  • Annual Builder’s Showcase

Speakers & Session Details Coming Soon!

Featured Sessions

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Grady Buchanan

Managing Director at NVNG Investment Advisors

Andrew DeGuire

Keyes Dean of Business Administration at Marquette University College of Business Administration

AM Panels

The Fintech Evolution and the Next Wave of Financial Infrastructure

Mike Sias

Vice President – Corporate Development and Venture at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures

Ty Griffin

Managing Partner at Restive Ventures

Ishan Sachdev

General Partner at Deciens Capital

Kristian Marquez

Founder & CEO of FinStrat Management, Inc.

Beyond the Grid: Energy, Power, & Infrastructure as Venture Platforms

Reliable energy has become one of the defining competitive advantages of the modern economy. As artificial intelligence, electrification, advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure drive unprecedented demand for power – utilities, startups, and investors are working together in entirely new ways. Titanium Ventures, WEC Energy Group, AILIT Rail, and Energize Ventures will explore how innovation, venture capital, and industrial partnerships are modernizing the grid, accelerating electrification, and building the resilient infrastructure needed to power the next generation of economic growth. From venture investment to real-world deployment, this session examines why energy infrastructure has become one of today’s most dynamic areas of innovation.

Abhinav Jain

Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Titanium Innovation Investments

Sustainability at Scale: Climate Innovation That Works in the Real Economy

Julia Davourie

Co-Founder & General Partner at Convergent Ventures

Jordan Swisher

Chief Science Officer at Amber Industrials

Patrick Hogan

Chief Business Evolution Officer at Black & Veatch

Kalle Marsal

Partner at GigaClimate

Generations of Growth: Family Businesses Investing in What’s Next

Family-owned businesses have long been the backbone of the Midwest economy. Family capital is now playing an increasingly important role in venture investing, but not all families invest for the same reasons. Many of those same families are becoming influential investors in emerging technologies and the next generation of entrepreneurs. Join leaders from Starframe Ventures, Palermo’s Pizza, SkaraVC, and Blue Sky Capital for a conversation on how family capital differs from traditional venture investing, how operating businesses create strategic value beyond writing checks, and why patient, multigenerational capital is uniquely positioned to help build the Midwest’s next era of innovation.

Jasper Fallucca

Vice President of Corporate Development at Palermo Villa Inc.

Will Gray

Co-Founder and General Partner of Starframe Capital

Madison Hamman

Joey Mullick

Managing Director at SkaraVC

Reshaping America’s Talent Engine: AI, Automation, & the Workforce of the Future

The future of work will be shaped by more than artificial intelligence. It will be defined by how effectively we prepare people to build, adapt, and thrive alongside rapidly evolving technologies. With leaders from Waukesha County Technical College’s Applied AI Lab, Manpower, ARTT, and Conduit – we’ll dive into a conversation on how education, industry, and entrepreneurship are reimagining workforce development for the AI era. From technical training and lifelong upskilling to skilled trades and advanced manufacturing, this session explores how the next generation of talent will power the future economy.

Sarah Buszka

Executive Director, Applied AI Lab at Waukesha County Technical College

Jacob Martin

CEO at ARTT

Daniel Pereira

CEO at Conduit

Keynote: Unlocking the Future of Human Data: The Future of Technology Starts Under the Surface

The next generation of artificial intelligence won’t simply rely on better software, it will depend on richer, real-world data captured directly from the human body. Rich Yang, CEO of Biolinq, will be joining us for our keynote exploring how wearable biosensing, metabolic health, and next-generation medical technology are transforming healthcare while creating entirely new opportunities at the intersection of AI, hardware, and personalized data. Following his presentation, Rich will be joined by Tristan Hunt, Partner at Averin Capital and one of Biolinq’s early investors, for a fireside conversation on building a category-defining company, navigating regulated healthcare innovation, and why the future of technology may begin beneath the surface of the skin.

Rich Yang

CEO at Biolinq

Tristan Hunt

Partner at Averin

PM Panels

Building the Physical AI Economy: Where Intelligence Meets Industry

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond software, and it will be deployed across factories, fleets, warehouses, job sites, and critical infrastructure that powers the global economy. Leaders from Ironspring Ventures, Oshkosh Corporation, Caterpillar Ventures, and Dynamo Ventures will explore how Physical AI is reshaping industrial operations, accelerating automation, and creating new opportunities for startups and established manufacturers alike. From venture investment to corporate adoption, this session dives deeper into what it takes to transform intelligent technologies into scalable solutions for real industries.

Ty Findley

Co-Founder & General Partner of Ironspring Ventures

Mike Mahan

Director at Caterpillar Ventures

Kyle Petersen

Corporate Development Manager at Oshkosh Corporation

AI in Action: Startup >< Enterprise Case Studies

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how financial services are built, delivered, and scaled. Join leaders from Restive Ventures, Deciens Capital, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, and FinStrat Management for a conversation on how AI is transforming financial infrastructure, accelerating startup growth, and changing the way corporations identify, adopt, and invest in innovation. From enterprise adoption and regulation to venture investing and the future of trust, this session explores what comes next for the systems powering the global economy.

Gabriel Bayomi Tinoco Kalejaiye

Founder & CEO of Openlayer

Matt Wyman

CEO & Co-Founder of Okareo

Logistics in Flux: Building the Next Global Backbone

Burak Cendek

Managing Director at Autotech Ventures

Jamie Hess

VP Operations Engineering & Digital Portfolio at KBX Logistics

Ryan Soskin

Co-Founder and CEO of GoodShip

The New Consumer Economy: How the Next Generation Shops, Scrolls, and Spends

Lisa Dodd

CMO at ARK Invest

Ezra Galston

Managing Partner at Starting Line

The Innovation Wishlist: What Corporations Need Next

Builders Showcase

Closing Remarks

NVNG

Reception Speaker

Please join us at for a reception at the Marquette University Business School Lobby

Matteo Arena

Executive Associate Dean at Marquette University College of Business Administration

Session Speakers

Abby Nawrocki

Founder & CEO at Stock

Abhinav Jain

Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Titanium Innovation Investments

Alex Taylor

Founder of Orb Aerospace

Andrew DeGuire

Keyes Dean of Business Administration at Marquette University College of Business Administration

Autumn Siudzinski

Enterprise Customer Success Director at GenLogs

Burak Cendek

Managing Director at Autotech Ventures

Daniel Pereira

CEO at Conduit

Erik Hammer

Managing Partner at Marquee Ventures

Ezra Galston

Managing Partner at Starting Line

Gabriel Bayomi Tinoco Kalejaiye

Founder & CEO of Openlayer

Hudson Hollister

Co-Founder and CEO of HData

Ishan Sachdev

General Partner at Deciens Capital

Jacob Martin

CEO at ARTT

Jamie Hess

VP Operations Engineering & Digital Portfolio at KBX Logistics

Jasper Fallucca

Vice President of Corporate Development at Palermo Villa Inc.

Joe Poeschl

Executive Director at MKE Tech Hub Coalition

Sponsors

Premier Sponsor

Venue Host

Sustaining Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

FAQs

Do I need to register to attend +Venture North?

Yes, registration is required for all guests, and capacity is limited. Registration will be available soon.

Will a hotel block be available?

While we do not have room blocks set aside for this event, we do have a few hotels nearby that we recommend:

Hyatt Place Milwaukee Downtown
800 W. Juneau Avenue
414-808-3880
Website

Brewhouse Inn & Suites
1215 N 10th Street
414-810-3350
Website

Hilton Milwaukee
509 W. Wisconsin Avenue
414-271-7250
Website

Will parking be available?

Yes. More information on parking can be found here.

Will food be served?

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and snacks, coffee, and water will be available throughout the day. Please remember to stay for the reception immediately following +Venture North, where appetizers and beverages will be served.

About the Organizer

Our long-time experience and diverse set of talents span decades of work in the institutional investment, technology transfer, venture capital, and startup company industries. We operate as a disciplined guide and experienced connector intent on serving an engaged and mutually beneficial community of active investors, venture capital funds, and underlying portfolio companies.

Grady Buchanan

Managing Director

Carrie Thome

Managing Director
Marina Rostein headshot

Marina Rostein

Head of Platform