Summerfest Tech Celebrates 10 Years Announces 2027 Dates and Keynote Speaker
Milwaukee, WI (November 12, 2026) – Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF) and MKE Tech Hub are excited to announce the dates and first keynote speaker for the milestone 10th annual Summerfest Tech, the Midwest’s premier tech conference. Since its launch in 2018, the conference has provided a national platform for thousands of businesses and technology professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to connect, collaborate, and showcase the region’s growing reputation as a technology hub.
Summerfest Tech returns Tuesday, June 22 through Friday, June 25, 2027, with programming hosted at various locations throughout downtown Milwaukee, including The Westin Milwaukee, Discovery World, and Henry Maier Festival Park. Registration is now open at Summerfest-Tech.com.
For a limited time, attendees can purchase an All-In Badge for just $99 through December 31. The All-In Badge which regularly retails for $130, includes full conference and kickoff program access, admission to all nine days of Summerfest, exclusive VIP Deck access at Summerfest on June 24, access to the June 25 networking event, and more.
Highlighting the 2027 program will be Sarah Baldeo, “The Brain Futurist,” an AI neuroscientist, bestselling author, and globally recognized speaker. Her Summerfest Tech keynote, “Existential Call to Action: Upgrading Human Cognition in the Age of AI,” explores the secrets of upgrading the human brain and neural potential to thrive in the midst of change and the unknown.
As Summerfest Tech celebrates its 10th year, the 2027 conference will build on that legacy with a focus on innovation and growth. The event will spotlight the people, ideas, and technologies that have defined its first decade while looking ahead to the opportunities shaping the future of the industry.
The 10th anniversary of Summerfest Tech also marks the start of a new partnership with MKE Tech Hub Coalition, which was announced in August 2026. The collaboration will bring even more intentional networking opportunities, programming shaped by the region’s year-round tech community, and a larger national platform to showcase the area’s innovation ecosystem. For MKE Tech Hub’s 140+ member organizations, it means a direct connection to the annual flagship tech event and new opportunities to showcase their talent and work to thousands of attendees from across the country.
“Summerfest Tech has spent a decade showing the country why people choose to build here, stay here, and thrive here,” said Joe Poeschl, Executive Director of MKE Tech Hub Coalition. “Through our expanded role in Summerfest Tech, MKE Tech Hub Coalition gets to help tell that story on an even bigger scale. We’re proud to stand alongside Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. for the 10th year and can’t wait to bring our community into the room for what comes next.”
“For the past decade, Summerfest Tech has brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to advance technology and innovation,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “As we celebrate this milestone year and partnership with MKE Tech Hub Coalition, we’re creating an even stronger experience that expands opportunities for attendees, reinforcing Milwaukee’s place on the national tech stage.”
Popular programs returning for Summerfest Tech include Corporate Innovation breakout sessions and workshops, Entrepreneur Alley programming led by BMO, and extensive networking opportunities throughout the week.
All Summerfest Tech attendees will receive FREE admission to a networking luncheon at Henry Maier Festival Park during Summerfest on Friday, June 25, and FREE admission to the music festival following the conference activities. For further details, visit Summerfest-Tech.com.
Additional information regarding speakers, agenda programming, pitch competition application timelines, and professional accreditation and certification opportunities will be announced in the coming months.
Registration is now open with a variety of badge levels, offering accessible options for attendees. Visit Summerfest-Tech.com for the latest conference information and updates.
About Sarah Baldeo
Sarah Baldeo is a Canadian AI neuroscientist, bestselling author, and global keynote speaker helping leaders answer one of the defining questions of the AI era: how do we protect human judgment, attention, confidence, and cognitive strength as intelligent systems become embedded in work and life? Recently featured in TIME and invited into conversation with Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Podcast, Sarah brings a rare blend of neuroscience, executive strategy, data governance, and public credibility to the global conversation on AI and the future of human cognition.
Her research and advisory work examine how professionals use generative AI, how cognitive offloading shapes confidence and decision-making, and how organizations can design AI adoption strategies that strengthen rather than weaken human agency.
With more than 1,400 stages across North America and Europe, and leadership experience spanning Deloitte, CGI, entrepreneurship, and neurotechnology, Sarah advises institutions on responsible AI adoption, cognitive resilience, leadership performance, and the human side of technological transformation.
A recurring guest expert on NBC, CBC, CTV, BBC, and other major media platforms, Sarah is known for translating complex ideas about the brain, AI, and behavior into practical strategies for executives, teams, and organizations navigating accelerated change. Her work centers on a single mission: To help leaders future-proof the human brain in the age of AI
About Summerfest Tech
Summerfest Tech began in 2018 with the goal of leveraging the Summerfest brand to showcase technology and provide a forum for attendees from the tech and business community to network, educate, and celebrate the evolution of technology. Summerfest Tech continues to champion the regional business community, while shining the spotlight on Wisconsin’s growing reputation as a tech hub, highlighting the growth and opportunity in the region. Programming from local, regional, and national speakers, as well as a cash-prize pitch competition, connects the tech community around relevant topics. For more information, visit Summerfest-Tech.com or Facebook, Instagram, and X @SummerfestTech.
About Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is an independent, private 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1965 that produces Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance, a three-weekend music festival featuring hundreds of artists across 12 stages. Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. also maintains and improves Henry Maier Festival Park, located on 75 acres on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI. In addition to Summerfest, Henry Maier Festival Park hosts a variety of ethnic and cultural festivals, concerts, walks, runs, and other special events, attracting over one million annually. The mission of the organization is to promote an understanding of different ethnic cultures, the histories and traditions of various nationalities, harmony in the community, civic pride as well as to provide a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation for the public and employment opportunities for the youth of the community. For more information visit MilwaukeeWorldFestival.com or Summerfest.com, or Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok:@Summerfest.
About MKE Tech Hub Coalition
MKE Tech Hub Coalition is a nonprofit coalition connecting southeast Wisconsin’s technology ecosystem across 140+ corporate member organizations spanning corporations, startups, educational institutions, and civic leaders. Through programs including Synapse (AI advisory services), Catalyze (enterprise tech leadership development), FOR-M (early-stage startup incubation), and the FUSE AI Bootcamp (collegiate AI literacy), MKE Tech activates leaders, connects the ecosystem, fosters talent, accelerates AI and innovation, and amplifies the region’s tech story. Learn more at mketech.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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