PRIOR Speakers

past Speakers

Click on photos for speaker bios.

David R. Medina Álvarez

Founder

Livaq

Tu Le

Managing Director

Sino Auto Insights

Lily Li

Co-Founder

MinaRosa Technologies LLC

Erika Block

Sticky Lab

Dawn Batts

CEO

Milestone Growth Capital Institute

Katy Kelly

Founder and CEO

TRS

Jasmine Childress

Community Manager

Startup Zoo

Arabia Simeon

Founder, CEO

Politics on the Go (POGO)

Lauren Daniels

CEO

Digital Rich Technologies

Mike Klein

CEO

Genomenon

Shantonio Birch

CEO & Founder

ThermoVerse

Rishi Moudgil

Executive Director

Michigan Founders Fund

Sadoc Paredes

CEO

Vetr Health

David R. Livaq

Founder

Livaq

Moody Mattan

Founder & CEO

BrandXR

Mack Hendricks

Co-Founder

Detroit Hacker House

Paul Jaques

Managing Director, Venture Creation

Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Scott Shireman

Director, U-M Center for Innovation

University of Michigan

Ana Timoficiuc

Co-Founder

MinaRosa Technologies LLC

Kerry Duggan

Founder & CEO

ESP.earth

Jarrett Irons

Co-Founder & Owner

Omada Ventures, LLC.

Jasmit Kaur

Founder & CEO

Culturebie

Katie Kirsch

Co-Director

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Program (AMMP)

Lauren Bigelow

Managing Partner

Growth Capital Network

Sara Chen

Founder & CEO

Pangoo Apparel

Eric Wimbley

VC Managing Partner

Kalamazoo Forward Ventures

Irene Liu

Co-Founder & CEO

Chiyo

Wafa Dinaro

Executive Director

New Economy Initiative

Alex Pollock

Co-Founder

Reel Free

Da'ron Wright

CEO

Joystick INC

Grace Hsia Haberl, Ms.E.

CEO

Warmilu

Orletta Caldwell

Executive Director

Michigan Council of Women in Technology

Camille Hoisington

VP of Ecosystem Development

Traverse Connect

Zach Hite

Co-Founder & COO

Stocked

Kim Gamez

Founder & CEO

Sober(ish)

Justin Onwenu

Director of Entrepreneurship & Economic Opportunity

City of Detroit

Martin Dober

SVP & Managing Director

Invest Detroit Ventures

Michael Polk

Founder & CEO

Stock Pal, Inc.

Cindy Warner

Founder

360ofme

Prentice Keller

Partner, Business Development

gener8tor

Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine

Executive Director

Michigan’s University Research Corridor

Brandon Cooper

Co-Founder & CEO

Aphid

Jen Baird

Executive Chair

Culturewell, Co.

Elliot Smith

Founder

Motmot

Michelle Erikson

Advisory Board Chair

Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund

Raffaele Mautone

Founder & CEO

Judy Security

Tim Streit

Co-Founder & General Partner

Grand Ventures

Chris Powers

CEO

Reciprocity

Brad Garmon

Executive Director

Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Justine Johnson

Chief Mobility Officer

Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification

Marvin Yates

Regional Engagement Principal - Michigan

National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)

Yuktha Pulavarthi

Marketing, Communications, & Events Intern

Michigan Founders Fund

Better Together

2024 Speakers

Our speakers are dynamic leaders positioned to guide Michiganders to impactful careers and entrepreneurial successes state-wide.

Carla Walker-Miller

Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services

Charles Hudson

Board Chair, National Venture Capital Association

Dug Song

Founder & Funder, Song United

Sophia Bush

Actress, Producer, Activist, and Entrepreneur

Greg Schwartz

President, COO, and Co-Founder of StockX

Stacy Brown-Philpot

Founder & Managing Partner of Cherryrock Capital

David Woessner

Co-Founder and Partner at FutureOf

Peter Walker

Head of Insights at Carta

Marlin Williams

Founder and CEO, Marlin Williams Enterprises