TEDxDetroit Celebrates Sweet 16: A Day of Innovation, Inspiration, and Connection on September 18 at Wayne State Field House
TEDxDetroit, the electrifying annual event that brings together the brightest minds in Michigan, is back for its 16th year on Wednesday, September 18 at Wayne State Field House. This year’s event promises to be bigger and bolder, showcasing cutting-edge ideas and featuring a dynamic lineup of speakers who are reshaping the future of their fields. Tickets are on sale now for this must-attend event.
TEDxDetroit welcomes thousands of attendees from around the region for a one-day celebration of storytelling and the human experience. The TEDx format features inspiring, short talks from dozens of creative minds all designed to spark fresh thinking and collaborations.
“Michigan is a hub for creativity and innovation with more engineers, more artists, and more entrepreneurs dreaming up the future,” said Charlie Wollborg, curator of TEDxDetroit. “This whole day is designed to spark all of us to put our ideas into action.”
Previous TEDxDetroit events have highlighted flying cars, medical innovations, and groundbreaking technologies alongside a host of poets, performers, and community leaders. This eclectic mix of speakers and performers is something only seen at TEDxDetroit.
“TEDxDetroit has celebrated the hallmarks of forward progress: ideation, innovation, and inspiration for 15 years,” said Terry Bean, TEDxDetroit Executive Producer. “After every event I think ‘there’s no way it can get better than this,’ and I’m looking forward to being proven wrong once again on September 18.”
Confirmed speakers for this year include
- Steve Acho – Business Owner, Author, Speaker, Singer/Songwriter
- Charity – Artist, Singer & Songwriter
- Jen Brace – Chief Futurist, Ford Motor Company
- Al Bettis – Singer, Songwriter & Speaker
- Crystal Brown – CEO & Co-Founder, CircNova Biotechnology
- Zachery Dereniowski – Content Creator, Onefluent (MDMOTIVATOR)
- Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi – Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- JoJo Dries – Founder, On The Wings of Angels
- Jennifer Dukarski – Shareholder, Attorney & Engineer, Butzel
- Darrick Ervin II – Comedian, Okay To Laugh & Mortgage Banker
- Tim Finkel – Comedian & Educator, Cengage Learning
- Joel Fluent Greene – Poet, Author & Event Producer
- Kimberley Hanke – Founder & CEO, Elm Park Labs
- Nikunj Jain – Cleantech Founder, Thought Labs
- Neil Jones – Video Game Developer & Founder, Aerial Knight
- Tom Kuntzleman – Assistant Professor of Teaching – Chemistry, Wayne State University (“Tommy Technetium”)
- Chris Lambert – Founder & CEO, Life Remodeled
- Anthony Lee – Painter & Muralist, will be our artist in residence creating live works of art on site
- Imani Ma’at – Dancer, Artist, Filmmaker & Educator, Flip the Switch 529
- Beth Mach – Chief Operations Officer, Spacely
- José Maldonado – Founder & CEO, Pink Teddy AR
- Brandon Martin – Founder, Reaction Technologies
- Jalen Martin – Co-Founder, Reaction Technologies
- Scott Monty – Speaker & Communications Strategist, Scott Monty Strategies
- Anna Przybylski – Content Creator & Author, “Keep it Up, Cutie” (@akprzy)
- Michelle Red – Ad Exec & World Traveler, Multicultural Musings
- Randy Roberts – Founder, Auraloids
- Nick Seluk – Author & Illustrator, The Awkward Yeti
- George Tait – Storyteller, Mentalist & Deception Expert, Mind Tapped Productions
- Elizabeth Toye – Educator, DPS
- Rhonda Walker – News Anchor & Philanthropist
- Joshua Wilde – Magician & Owner, The Wunderground Magic Shop
- Asim Williams – Technology Leader & Educator, Ahdeah Labs & Google Code Next
Another interesting facet of the event is TEDxLabs, showcasing homegrown tech, art, and small businesses. It’s part business expo, part art gallery, and part science fair. Attendees can demo new tech, sample local cuisine, buy from local artisans, and meet the speakers in between sessions during TEDxDetroit.
“TEDxLabs is a vibrant ecosystem where AI, immersive technologies, and human creativity collide, sparking innovation. It’s a testament to the power of the diverse minds in our community,” said Anu Gopalakrishnan, TEDxDetroit Labs Director and Executive Producer. “The energy is pretty contagious when you see these ideas interweave, creating a tapestry of new startups that’s nothing short of magical.”
Tickets for TEDxDetroit 2024 are now on sale on the TEDxDetroit website via Connect.Space.