Nearly 10,000 of the world’s most successful young, diverse entrepreneurs representing More than 70 countries expected to attend the Detroit summit, which will be presented by Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage
CLICK HERE to download b-roll from Blake Griffin, former Forbes Under 30 recipient and current Detroit Piston.
DETROIT, February 26, 2019 – Forbes today announced it is bringing its flagship Under 30 Summit to Detroit for the next three years, a move that recognizes the important role entrepreneurs and innovators are playing in reinventing and reimagining the Motor City. The first Under 30 Summit in Detroit will take place October 27th-30th, 2019. The Summit will bring together the best minds across industries, venture capitalism, public policy and more to learn, network, collaborate, recruit and exchange ideas.
The Under 30 Summit Detroit is presented by Rocket Mortgage.
A talent center ripe with innovation, Detroit is giving rise to technology that will define tomorrow’s industries, including autonomous vehicles, FinTech, renewable energy, manufacturing, ecommerce, luxury goods, and much more. Under 30 Detroit is the centerpiece of Forbes’ Under 30 franchise worldwide, which also includes the Under 30 Global Women’s Summit in Israel, Under 30 Asia and Under 30 Europe.
“Detroit is a city on the move and a shining example of what can happen when entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, elected officials, students and entertainers come together to address challenges, create partnerships and jointly reimagine a city’s role on the world stage,” said Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer of Forbes and founder of the Under 30 Summit. “For six years, our Under 30 Summits have celebrated the people who are changing our world for the better, and we are proud to help focus the world’s attention on Detroit and its leaders who are demonstrating how entrepreneurial capitalism is a force for good.”
“For years, Detroit has been a hotbed of creativity and entrepreneurship, and I’m proud that Forbes is recognizing that innovative spirit,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “If we’re going to ensure Michigan’s success, we need to make our state a place where people come to for opportunity. Forbes choosing Detroit for its Under 30 Summit sends a strong signal to young, talented innovators across the country that Michigan is the place to be.”
“Detroit was built on innovation and we are seeing a resurgence of that entrepreneurial spirit as our city comes back,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Forbes’ decision to bring its Under 30 Summit here for the next three years is another great sign that Detroit is being recognized nationally and internationally as a place where ideas can be cultivated and developed to change the world.”
“We are proud that Rocket Mortgage will be the presenting sponsor for the Forbes annual Under 30 Summit for the next three years, right here in Detroit,” said Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Quicken Loans. “Working with Forbes and its outstanding executive team to bring this prestigious and well-attended summit to Detroit has been an inspirational experience. But it will pale in comparison to the excitement and energy the actual summit will bring to Detroit and all of Michigan.”
“I was humbled and proud to make the Forbes Under 30 list in 2019 and be featured on the cover of the magazine,” said Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons. “Just as I represent the great city of Detroit and its people while playing for the Pistons, Forbes represents entrepreneurs everywhere.”
“I’m honored to be part of the Forbes Under 30 community. This list changed my life in so many ways,” said Grace Hsia, Co-Founder & CEO, Warmilu, and Detroit-based Forbes Under 30 2016 honoree. “It’s opened doors and helped with introductions to important investors and advisors, resulting in additional funding. Every infant should have the right equipment at birth for the best chance at life, and thankfully Warmilu is helping to solve for this by providing more infant warming blankets and reusable heating packs. Today we serve 28 hospitals in nine countries, and we’re on the way to saving 7,200 infants in resource-scarce settings.”
Detroit’s status as a talent center is apparent in the numbers: Since 2006, the city has experienced more than $13 billion in new investments spanning 200 projects. It is the headquarters for world-renowned companies, and more than 1,300 firms from 38 countries have a strong presence in the region.
Celebrating Entrepreneurism in Detroit
The 2019 Under 30 Summit Detroit will include powerful content, a world-class music performance, a food festival with top chefs from around the world integrated through iconic Detroit landmarks and more. “In bringing together the world’s foremost entrepreneurs and gamechangers, our hope is to draw more investment and global attention to the region,” Lane said.
Detroit Pistons Player Blake Griffin most recently graced the cover of Forbes 2019 Under 30 issue in a piece titled “From NBA Great to Media Mogul.” Fifty-eight young entrepreneurs from Michigan since 2015 have made the Under 30 list.
Past speakers and participants have included Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Group; Malala Yousafzai, Co-Founder of the Malala Fund and Nobel Prize Laureate; U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Senator John Kerry; Steve Case, Chairman and Founder of Revolution; actor Jessica Alba and Founder and Chief Creative officer of The Honest Company; Olympian Michael Phelps; Adam Neumann, WeWork Co-Founder; Ashton Kutcher, Actor and Co-Founder of Sound Ventures and Kyrie Irving, Professional Basketball Player for the Boston Celtics. The 2018 Under 30 Summit in Boston surpassed all previous Under 30 Summits, attracting a record 9,100 attendees from 71 countries, including the most Under 30 listmakers for any Under 30 Summit to-date.
Forbes’ global Under 30 alumni network comprises more than 5,000 extraordinary individuals worldwide who exemplify Forbes’ longstanding reputation of spotlighting young entrepreneurs, revolutionaries and trailblazers who are poised to make a significant impact on the world. The Forbes Under 30 franchise is a global platform, championing young game changers all over the world and through live summits in the U.S., Asia, Europe and Israel. Forbes recently announced the first-ever Forbes Under 30 Global Women’s Summit, set to take place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, March 31-April 4, 2019. Forbes’ 2019 Under 30 list is available here.
To learn more, please visit here. To join the conversation on social, follow #Under30Summit.
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About Forbes
The defining voice of entrepreneurial capitalism, Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most-influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 120 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE events, custom marketing programs and 40 licensed local editions in 70 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. For more information, visit: https://www.forbes.com/forbes-media/.
About Quicken Loans / Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed nearly half a trillion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2018. In late 2015 Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Today, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology.
Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies employ more than 17,000 full-time team members in Detroit’s urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for the past nine consecutive years, 2010 – 2018, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past five consecutive years, 2014 – 2018.
Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2019 and has been included in the magazine’s top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 16 consecutive years. In addition, Essence Magazine named Quicken Loans “#1 Place to Work in the Country for African Americans.”