NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Save the date and plan to join a wide array of leaders for a conference on the seed stage funding and acceleration ecosystem, for a deep dive into what’s working and what’s next; locally, regionally and around the world. Seed stage impact investing and entrepreneurship tends to live in silos across geography as well as issue area — technology, financial inclusion, housing, consumer goods, health, cryptocurrencies, agriculture and food systems. We will break down the industry and geographic boundaries that tend to compartmentalize our selective and collective efforts.

This deep practitioner convening will allow for the exchange of winning strategies, and sharing of near and long-term development plans. Together, we will discuss gaps and opportunities in the sector, and push forward actionable concepts to evolve and augment the ecosystem that supports seed stage ventures. And, because no seed stage convening is complete without the thrill of high quality ventures, there will also be a curated showcase of exceptional entrepreneurs sourced from leading accelerators and investors.

Expert ‘fish bowl’ assessments, design labs, short form keynotes and plenaries, as well as product and practice demos, will be mixed in to ensure collaborative exchanges that honor that every attendee has expertise to bring to the convening, and that info delivery must be varied, creative and interactive. Space is limited to ensure high-quality idea exchange.