How to Select a POS System for Your Retail Business
2023-04-13 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Are you about to launch a retail business and unsure of which point of sale (POS) to choose? Do you have an existing retail business and your current POS does not have the functionality you really need for your business?
Join TechTown Detroit on Thursday, April 13, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. for this free informative discussion with our special guest, Miranda Piersol, business development representative for Michigan Retailers Association.
This workshop is made possible with support from Bank of America, New Economy Initiative, and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest Hatch Off Finalists
2023-04-26 18:00 - 21:00 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Wednesday, April 26 | One night only!

Doors at 6 p.m. | Program at 7 p.m.

Join us at the Hatch Off to watch the FINAL FOUR finalists of the 2023 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest go head-to-head to compete for a cash grant to open up their brick-and-mortar retail business in the city. The finalists will make one last pitch, “Shark Tank-style,” in front of a panel of judges and attendees. Thanks to the support of Comerica Bank, one winning business will be awarded $100,000! We’ll make a dream come true, and you’ll have a front-row seat.
Tickets are $25 each. The event will feature a cash bar (all drinks $5) and complimentary small bites provided by Hatch alumni businesses.
This is a celebration of all things local in Detroit: food, music and fun!

ABOUT THE CONTEST
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown is a retail competition that gives savvy entrepreneurs the chance to win a cash grant and package of in-kind services to open up their brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park.

2023 Detroit Means Business Summit
2023-05-02 08:00 - 16:00 | Ford Field, 2000 Brush St, Detroit, MI, 48226
Detroit Means Business invites all aspiring and existing Detroit small business owners to join us for our annual Small Business Summit.
This one-day in-person event will offer tangible takeaways to strengthen your business, including resource opportunities, panels and workshops, and 1:1 expert consultations in the areas of:

Funding and Financial Readiness
Contracting and Procurement
Digital Business
Business Operations
City and State Regulatory Processes

When registering, please only register for one (1) ticket type that is applicable to you:

Detroit Small Business Owner (non-profit organizations/501c3 not eligible)
Small Business Support
Dignitaries and Honorees
DEGC Staff
Speakers, Moderators, and Panelists

If you are unsure which ticket type you should register for, please contact detroitmeansbusiness@degc.org. If you register for more than one ticket, any others registered for, will be cancelled.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Busineses Info session
2023-05-09 11:30 - 13:00 | Macomb Community College, 44575 Garfield Rd. University Center UC1 Building 112, Clinton Twp, MI, 48038
Are you ready to grow your business? Are you missing out on growth opportunities because you feel like you aren’t quite ready?
In partnership with Macomb Community College and The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, please join us for an information session where you will learn all about Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Our program teaches businesses owners with annual revenues between $75,000 and $20 million how to work on their business and not just in their business. If accepted into the program, tuition is fully paid for by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
Learn more about the program by visiting www.10ksbdetroit.com and by joining us on May 9th. This hybrid event will share application tips, curriculum details, and allow plenty of time for questions and answers!

This event will be available to participants who would like to join virtually. A zoom link will be sent to all registered participants a week prior to the event.

Web3: Privacy Solutions + Marketing Workshop
2023-05-23 18:00 - 21:00 | MI
Join us for an exciting evening of learning and networking with fellow blockchain enthusiasts! Enjoy dinner & libations provided by our sponsors, while learning from industry leaders about the most important trends & innovations in blockchain technology surrounding privacy & scalability. We are thrilled to be hosting two phenomenal speakers who will provide valuable insight & deep dive into the various technologies used to scale the Web3 ecosystem while protecting user privacy. And for the tech start-ups out there, we will also be hosting an engaging marketing workshop with a special focus for web3 companies!
Program Highlights
Saif Akhtar | Let’s Dive Into Privacy Protocols!
Head of Products, Panther Protocol
Saif Akhtar is a technology professional with over 18 years of experience working at building and scaling software solutions for global enterprises. He is currently Head of Products at Panther Protocol – a decentralized protocol that enables end-to-end privacy in DeFi using zero-knowledge proofs. Saif holds a bachelors degree in Maths and Physics, Masters degree in Computer Science and a Masters degree in Blockchain Technology from UNIC. Saif has served in multiple roles from being a developer early on to designing/architecting softwares and then taking over conceptualizing and building products while managing the outcomes. Saif is generally passionate about the role of technology in changing human and societal behaviors and loves to innovate and bring new ideas to fruition.
In this engaging talk, Saif will enhance your understanding of the most prominent protocols scaling the Web3 ecosystem while protecting user privacy. Learn the tech behind zero knowledge proofs and other protocols that enable secure and private transactions on public blockchains.
Faith Richardson | Workshop for Marketing Web3 & Tech Companies
Founder, Mitzi Development
Faith Richardson brings you the secrets and innovative strategies she and her team use in her digital marketing agency to make her clients more successful and grow their customer base. As an ambitious student entrepreneur at the University of Michigan – Ross School of Business, she is no stranger to innovation, the latest business marketing techniques, and high tech. She founded the up-and-coming Mitzi Development marketing agency, specializing in cross-platform social media content creation and marketing strategy, with expertise in web3 companies.
In this workshop, Faith will provide you with a solid understanding of Web3 marketing and the tools and techniques required to market decentralized applications effectively while instilling trust and transparency in your messaging.
Andrew Maurer | Let’s build on Semaphore!
Co-Founder and CTO of Rise Works Inc.
Andrew is Co-Founder and CTO of Rise Works Inc. with a life-long career in technology. As a versatile technologist and executive leader, Andrew has expertise in designing and building solutions for medium and large organizations along with several accolades in business leadership. Andrew brings a wealth of experience and passion as a builder and successful entrepreneur In web3.
His company, Rise Works, is a web3-enabled payroll & compliance solution. Offering an all-in-one solution with built-in KYC, compliance and contracts, and automated crypto and fiat payments that streamlines payroll, Rise could very well revolutionize global workforce management.
During this developer talk, Andrew will teach you all about using one of the newest and hottest open source protocols people are buzzing about in web3. Andrew will show you how easy it is to start using ZKSNARKS today with Semaphore. He will walk you through the use cases and provide you with an understanding of their SDK, so you can hit the ground running using ZKSNARKS in your own projects. Use Semaphore to coordinate what you’ve been waiting for: anonymous voting, mixers, whistle blowing, Anonymous DAOs, and off-chain for anonymous authentication. (Note Andrew is not affiliated with Semaphore, just very enthusiastic about the tech!)
Elizabeth Hansson | Your host and moderator
Blockchain CTO, community organizer, blockchain consultant, software engineer, University of Michigan Science alumnus, and one of our organizers here at the Michigan Ethereum MeetUp! Since 2017, Elizabeth has been leading the development of cutting-edge applications in the Ethereum Blockchain space. Here in Detroit, she’s helping to build community and support the growth and development of blockchain tech. She’s excited to meet each new face that attends our community MeetUp and strives to create an energetic and inclusive environment for all our attendees to learn, network, and be welcomed.
LOCATION: TBD

Offchain Detroit
2023-10-24 18:30 - 21:00 | Jolly Pumpkin (Royal Oak), 419 South Main Street, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Next OffChain Detroit gathering is Tuesday, October 24th at Jolly Pumpkin (419 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067) from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 pm. Come mingle with other Web3 professionals and enthusiasts. There is no entrance charge and attendees pay for their own drinks/food.
If you attend the event, you can look for Trip, the founder of OffChain Detroit, when you arrive: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tripdixon
You can join the OffChain Detroit WhatsApp group to stay in touch: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KqnBVRqg2xW77W91fKID9Y.
You can see more about the OffChain Global Community at: http://offchain.social
