The conference will take place at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium on October 9-10, and at Venue by 4M on October 11-12.
For the second consecutive year, Michigan Founders Fund is set to host Michigan Tech Week, a four-day event that spotlights the technological achievements and inventive spirit of the Great Lake State.
The conference will take place at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium on October 9-10, and at Venue by 4M on October 11-12. Over 70 speakers are expected to participate, including prominent figures like Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Mellia Butler, the founder and CEO of Detroit-based makeup brand, The Lip Bar, and Greg Schwartz, president, COO, and co-founder of StockX.
Michigan Founders Fund, a public charity dedicated to supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups, organizes this annual gathering to foster learning and networking opportunities for startups, tech industry leaders, students, investors, and anyone interested in Michigan’s tech landscape.
Trista Van Tine, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Michigan Founders Fund and Founding Organizer and Co-Chair of the Michigan Tech Week, expressed the desire to elevate Michigan’s status as a tech innovator on a national scale. She emphasized Michigan’s potential as fertile ground for startups and founders, fostering a sense of community engagement within the ecosystem.
Trista Van Tine highlighted the diverse mix of attendees, ranging from creators and startup entrepreneurs to academics and economic development professionals from various parts of Michigan. She emphasized that the conference serves as a unifying platform to celebrate the essence of what makes Michigan exceptional.
In addition to a lineup of speakers and panel discussions throughout the week, attendees can enjoy food and drinks, participate in happy hours, engage in networking sessions, join pitch competitions, and partake in various other programs. Notably, there is a total funding pool of over $260,000 available for startups, including free legal services and a $5,000 MiSpringboard grant from Varnum Law for first-place winners.
To conclude the week, Detroit will host its inaugural Black Tech Weekend from October 12-14 at NewLab at Michigan Central, showcasing the growing prominence of Black entrepreneurs and professionals in the city’s burgeoning innovation community.