MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and University of Detroit Mercy President Antoine Garibaldi, along with University of Michigan Vice President of Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks and Wayne State University Vice President of Economic Development Ned Staebler, will discuss universities’ roles in driving and assisting urban innovation and business development Oct. 23 at the Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium at the College for Creative Studies.
Urban entrepreneurship refers to for-profit business innovation that produces needed products and services for urban communities, or makes a significant number of jobs available to urban residents.
“The addition of the authoritative voices of Michigan’s leading universities reflects the growing interest in urban entrepreneurship and the important role higher education plays not only in educating our future business and community leaders but in harnessing and directing the intellectual resources that our universities possess,” said W. David Tarver, founder and president of the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative and chief event organizer.
Major sponsors for the event include:
• Michigan State University – Eli Broad School of Business
• University of Michigan – Innovate Blue
• Wayne State University
• Comerica Bank
• Diplomat
• Fifth Third Bank
• InvestDetroit
• JPMorgan Chase
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
• mQrg, LLC
• New Economy Initiative (NEI)
• Rock Ventures LLC
Through expert panels and targeted business breakout sessions, symposium attendees will receive information and tools to assist in creating scalable, profit-making businesses that address important urban community needs. A complete agenda is available at www.urbanei.org.