Collaborative 523 Inc

09/18/2026

Did you miss the AI workshops we hosted here in Cambridge?

Or maybe you attended one and thought, “Okay, this is useful. Now I want to go a little deeper.”

Here’s an opportunity to do exactly that.

The UW–Madison Small Business Development Center is offering AI 101: An Entrepreneur’s “101” Introduction to Artificial Intelligence on September 22.

This beginner-friendly, one-hour virtual session is designed specifically around the realities of small business. Rather than focusing on the latest shiny AI tool, the session covers practical ways to think about and use AI—including:

• How to understand the AI landscape
• Simple frameworks for deciding when and how to use AI
• Prompting basics to get better results
• How to use AI as a collaborator while keeping a human in the loop

You’ll leave with sample prompts, resources to explore, and a better foundation for figuring out where AI can actually fit into your business.

📅 September 22, 2026
⏰ 9:00–10:00 AM CST
💻 Live Virtual

If you missed our Cambridge workshops—or you're ready to take the next step—this is a great opportunity to keep learning.

Learn more and register:

In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll discover how to approach solving problems using AI in a small-business context. We'll cover simple, repeatable frameworks; demystify the AI landscape; explore prompt engineering basics; and demonstrate a "human in the loop" workflow.

09/18/2026

If marketing keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list, this might be a day worth putting on your calendar.

The UW–Madison Small Business Development Center is hosting its Digital Marketing & Social Media Conference on October 28 in Madison, and the topics are especially relevant for small business owners who are doing their own marketing.

The day includes four hands-on sessions covering:

• How to use your own business story to create marketing people connect with
• How to help your business get mentioned and recommended by AI
• How to simplify your marketing so you’re focusing your time where it matters
• How to use ChatGPT to help your business get found online

The goal isn't to give you 47 more things you should be doing. It's about figuring out what actually makes sense for your business and leaving with ideas you can put to work.

And if you're a Wisconsin business with fewer than 500 employees, the Main Street Bounceback Program may cover the cost of the course. Early registration is $277 through September 28.

📅 October 28, 2026
📍 Pyle Center, UW–Madison
⏰ 8:15 AM–4:00 PM

If you're a Cambridge business owner, this is the kind of professional development that can be hard to find time for on your own. Consider making a day of it and bringing a specific marketing challenge with you.

Learn more and register here:
https://sbdc.wisc.edu/digital-marketing-social-media-conference/

09/15/2026

We attended a roundtable event today hosted by Wisconsin Main Street and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

We enjoyed collaborating with other local communities in sharing ideas to promote economic growth. Cambridge was well-represented at the event with four attendees.

09/14/2026

📢 LAST CALL! 📢

📱 Does managing social media feel like a full-time job? Luckily, it doesn't have to!

Join us for Master Your Social Media in 20 Minutes a Day, a virtual workshop designed to help busy small business owners create a simple, sustainable social media routine that gets results.

📅 September 16, 2026
⏰ 1:00-2:00 p.m.
💻 Virtual

Learn how to:
✅ Create engaging content
✅ Connect with your audience
✅ Use analytics to guide your strategy
✅ Stay informed without feeling overwhelmed

Wisconsin for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees can register at no cost!
Register today and start making social media work for you, not the other way around: https://tinyurl.com/MasterYourSocialMedia

09/08/2026

Register to attend this upcoming workshop hosted by the Small Business Development Center at UW-Stevens Point.

Attendees will learn how to define their brand voice and build marketing that best reflects their business.

Free to attend. Register here: https://businessentrepreneurship.zohobackstage.com/OwnYourVoiceOwnYourMarketMSBB #/

09/03/2026

The second cohort of our Business Pitch Competition has concluded, and we're excited to announce the winner. Read on to see who took home the top prize and what's next.

Our final cohort of the competition will kick off later this year. Visit our website to learn more and apply.

Art Hub’s Jacy Eckerman takes top prize for “Who Arted? Clay Project Menus,” a business-to-business subscription poised to bring new revenue into Cambridge’s creative economy.

05/06/2026

https://www.collaborative523.org/events/collab-connect-business-leaders-social-073026

REGISTER NOW… Stay in touch by connecting with fellow Cambridge business leaders at our next Collab & Connect Social! Join us Thursday, July 30 from 4-6 pm at the Cambridge Area Lions Clubhouse for an evening of networking, updates, and good conversation.