This session is being offered as part of Forward Fest 2025. To register, you will need to sign up for a FREE Forward Festival pass, and then add the session to your schedule! All SBDC-hosted sessions are included with this pass option; other events may charge to attend. Sign up instructions Forward Fest 2025.
Put this session on your Holds List, and “check out” some great resources from your local libraries
When taking your business from idea to reality, you’ll likely have a lot of questions that need answered in order to get your business off to a strong start. For example: What do you need to know about patents for the product you’re trying to create? What legal resources are available? What can local demographics tell you about potential customers? How strong is the industry you’re looking to enter? Who are potential competitors?
Luckily, there are FREE databases, resources, and specialized experts available to help you answer these and many other questions – all found in your local libraries! Want to learn more? Put this session on your Holds List, and “check out” some great resources from your local libraries.
Learning objectives:
- Understand Key Market Research Tools – Participants will learn how to effectively use library-provided tools such as Data Axel, Business Plans Handbook, Census Business Builder, Simmons, and IBIS for conducting market research on new or expanding businesses.
- Explore Intellectual Property Fundamentals – Attendees will gain a basic understanding of intellectual property types and what resources are available on UW-Madison’s campus to learn more.
- Identify Resources – Attendees will leave with knowledge of free and accessible library resources to help them with market research and to be able to identify next steps in their research process.
Registration for Summer 2025
Location: Online, Live virtual session via Zoom. Course link will be sent out shortly before the session.
Session date & time: August 19, 2025 | 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm CST
Fee: This Forward Fest session is being offered at no cost, thanks to the financial support of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) as part of the Main Street Bounceback Program.
To register, you will need to sign up for a FREE Forward Festival pass, and then add the session to your schedule! All SBDC-hosted sessions are included with this pass option; other events may charge to attend. Sign up instructions Forward Fest 2025.
Thank you to the Madison Public Library; UW-Madison Patent & Trademark Resource Center and the UW-Madison Wisconsin School of Business Library for sharing your expertise in this session!
Register for a free Forward Fest pass here to add this session to your schedule
Cancellation Policy: Due to program costs and space limitations for these programs, participants are expected to cancel their registration at least 24 hours ahead of the program. Cancellations that occur less than 24 hours prior to the start of the program will be considered no-shows and may be removed from future programming and/or charged a course fee.
Disability Statement: Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu to request accommodations.
Interested in viewing other Forward Fest events? Check out the full calendar here!
Presenters
- Martin Alvarado – Business Librarian, Madison Public Library
- Dave Bloom – Science & Engineering Librarian, UW-Madison Patent & Trademark Resource Center
- Peggy Smith – Reference & Data Librarian, Wisconsin School of Business