Hudson's Detroit to host tech entrepreneurs and creatives
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The view along Woodward Avenue from the Hudson's balcony. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
An exclusive network of entrepreneurs, artists and executives is coming to Detroit next month for a conference at the new Hudson's Detroit building and other high-profile local venues.
Why it matters: The event, known as Summit Detroit, opens a window into Detroit's evolving reputation and the allure of its culture, past and present.
- It's also one of Hudson's first major events following the mayor's State of the City speech in March.
State of play: More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the "immersive ideas festival," taking place June 5-8 at a handful of locales, including Michigan Central, the Detroit Opera House, the Harmonie Club and Hudson's.
- The lineup of speakers includes Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, Sade Lythcott of the National Black Theatre, artist Shepard Fairey, author and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb and Mayor Mike Duggan.
- The talks focus on innovation and storytelling, and they are meant to spark creativity and personal connections between attendees.
Context: The Detroit event follows previous Summit Series gatherings, dating back to 2008, in places like Peru, Palm Desert, California, and Aspen, Colorado.
- At a 2019 conference in Los Angeles that focused on food sustainability, attendees met with Chief Raoni Metuktire to discuss efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest.
How it works: Membership in the Summit community, which boasts more than 30,000 members, is by application.
- Tickets to Summit Detroit start at $4,500.
What they're saying: Detroit's renaissance is the ideal backdrop for Summit's business leaders and entrepreneurs to forge new connections, organizers say.
- "There's a group of people that are operating at a really high level, that are connected by curiosity, that show up to build and dream and create together, which is inherently what the city has always had," Summit CEO Jody Levy tells Axios.
Between the lines: Food, music and mental health are also part of the programming, with strong local influences.
- Chefs from restaurants Barda, Baobab Fare and Takoi will be on hand.
- Detroit DJ and musician Moodymann and former U of M football player and investor Dhani Jones are on Summit Detroit's advisory board.
Jones said he's excited for attendees to experience the city's new Hudson's skyscraper, its "Michelin-quality cuisine" and the spirit of innovation across a wide range of professions and passions.
- "There's an infinite number of lines that can be drawn, but all those intersections sort of represent what Summit has been" for the last 17 years, Jones tells Axios. "What better place than Detroit?"