EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 2015 (reception immediately follows until 8 p.m.)

EVENT: The Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative’s second annual Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium will bring together business innovators, academics and community leaders to solve urban problems using for-profit business solutions.

The public symposium connects entrepreneurial leaders with students and members of the community to share expertise, information and tools to inspire entrepreneurs who wish to create innovative and profitable businesses that benefit the urban community.

The all-day event will feature keynote speaker Miguel McKelvey, co-founder and creative chief officer at WeWork Inc., which establishes innovative and collaborative working spaces, and has 17 venues in major cities across the U.S. After his talk, various experts will introduce community engagement strategies that have worked for them and will discuss how they created businesses that solve important urban problems.

During the luncheon program, leaders from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University will discuss their university’s role in urban innovation, including initiatives to advance urban quality of life. The afternoon session will focus on business models for entry-level employment—how certain businesses (e.g., Uber) have employed significant levels of low- to medium-level urban workers.

Attendees also can take part in several interactive problem-solving sessions on topics such as financing urban startups, technology, community engagement and more.

SPONSORS: Hosted by the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative, in cooperation with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

PLACE: College for Creative Studies, A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, 6400 Cass Ave., Detroit

REGISTRATION/COST: Tickets are $50 ($75 after Oct. 16). Students are free and transportation is available from Ann Arbor: myumi.ch/Jdv2K. Advance registration is required; purchase tickets online at www.urbanei.org.

INFORMATION: info@urbanei.org