Inaugural Detroit Startup Week for Entrepreneurs Set for May

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Detroit Startup Week, a series of free events for entrepreneurs with sessions focused on topics such as technology, design, and civic innovation, will be held at locations throughout Detroit from May 23-27.

“Detroit Startup Week is all about celebrating and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem that’s growing in Detroit,” says Jill Ford, special adviser to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, and special advisor to Detroit Startup Week. “The talent here is second to none, and we’re committed to being a support system.”

Detroit Startup Week will offer nine learning tracks: technology, entrepreneurship 101, mobility, music, food-preneurship, design/art, civic innovation, neighborhood collaboration, and the Internet of things (IoT). In addition, the event will offer networking opportunities, concerts, and free headshots for entrepreneurs.

“Detroit, in the past, has defined what a great city can look like when entrepreneurship thrives,” says Kyle Bazzy, organizer of Detroit Startup Week. “So many people and organizations have been fighting to see a comeback that’s finally starting to emerge — we are looking forward to doing our part.”

Bazzy says the more than 100 events will be held at venues across the city including Detroit Design City, Grand Circus, Techtown, and Bamboo, among others.

Advisers to Detroit Startup Week are Aubrey Agee, senior program administrator of the Blackstone LaunchPad; Jake Cohen, a partner at Detroit Venture Partners; Marc Hudson, co-founder and CEO at Rocket Fiber; Paul Riser, managing director of Techtown; Ted Serbinski, managing director of Techstars Mobility; and Lisl Stanton, vice president of community sponsorships at JPMorgan Chase.