A conference that brings business leaders from major cities such as New York City and Los Angeles to emerging cities to meet and connect with local artists and entrepreneurs will be in Detroit this weekend.
“We were blown away by the vibe, energy, and opportunity (in Detroit) and wanted to share it with our group,” says Graham Cohen, co-founder of Breakout, the organization hosting the event. “We want to show how the city is emerging as an inspiring, cool, and revitalized place full of creatives and entrepreneurs.”
About 125 participants from cities across the nation will fly to Detroit and will bike through the city, visit the Heidelberg Project, and have dinner at Eastern Market’s Shed 5.
Participants will also meet with local entrepreneurs such as Amy Kaherl, director of the monthly dinner that funds creative projects, Detroit SOUP; Amy Peterson, co-founder of the jewelry company, Rebel Nell; Sebastian Jackson, owner of The Social Club Grooming Co.; and Tiffany Ashley Bell, executive director of the Detroit Water Project, which allows homeowners to crowd source their unpaid water bills, among other speakers.
Attendees include leaders at companies such as Microsoft, NBC, and Jericho Capital.
Breakout has visited New Orleans and Miami, and has plans to hold conferences in Baltimore, Nashville, and Memphis, among other U.S. cities.
The conference will be held at the Greektown Casino Hotel from Friday to Sunday.
