Applicants for Pressure Chamber go through a screening process that may include presentations with prominent Wisconsin investors. From there, a select number of companies will be chosen to pitch to a panel of out-of-state investors, business executives and a live audience during Forward Fest. In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also get a reserved spot in the Chamber’s exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.

The Chamber is now accepting applications for this year’s Pressure Chamber startup initiative, which returns on Aug. 16 during Forward Festival, Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival.