DETROIT ? Eastern Market will serve up a gathering of entrepreneurs, corporate decision makers, tech professionals, students and more at the FutureMidwest conference April 28-29.
The conference will feature keynotes by Josh Linkner, founder and chairman of Detroit-based e-Prize, one of the world?s most successful digital interactive promotions companies, and highlighting the April 28 evening presentation will be a keynote by Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., who will speak about his vision for turning downtown Detroit into a technology hub. Gilbert was part of a group of angel investors who pumped $32 million into ePrize four years ago.
In two conference sessions, led by digital and marketing professionals, participants will learn about emerging business technology trends and ways to incorporate digital strategies into their marketing and business operations. A third session will be devoted to networking with professionals from the startup community, venture capital firms and other industries.
FutureMidwest, now in its third year, is designed to help participants understand the importance of the digital economy, its effects on their businesses, online tools they can use to connect with customers and stakeholders, and methods for analyzing and measuring their online efforts.
Associated with the event will be Funded by Night, a one-day competition that draws startups from around the nation to Detroit to compete for a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms, Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures. The competition will take place on Thursday afternoon, April 28, in Shed 5, where the selected 25 companies will pitch their products to potential investors.
The Premiere conference sponsors include MRM Digital Agency, Airfoil Public Relations, Verizon Wireless, Cadillac Travel, Detroit Venture Partners, Ludlow Ventures, Mindfield, Quicken Loans, Logic Solutions, Green Sky Creative, Detroit Creative Corridor Center, ePrize and the Facility Matrix Group.
The conference focuses on five areas that are vital to the region and its economy: integrating digital platforms into marketing programs, improving the user experience, using mobile communications for information exchange, business intelligence/analytics, and regional growth derived from the application of digital technology.
Tickets to attend FutureMidwest, including the Funded by Night competition, are $250. Single tickets that provide admission to both Funded by Night and the FutureMidwest evening networking event April 28 are $25 for professionals and $10 for students.
To register click on FutureMidwest.Com
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