Venture 313 AI Buildathon: Hack Day
Join us for an action-packed day of learning, building and networking at NewLab! This full-day event brings together innovators of all skill levels to work on real-world AI mobility solutions.
Register for the Buildathon at
https://v313detroitbuildathon2025.devpost.com/
Access our Learning Repo: WNCP-AI/2025-v313-ai-buildathon
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | Breakfast & Registration
Location: i2c Building, 12C Atrium
Catering: Congregation
Kick off the day with breakfast from Congregation. Grab a bite and meet fellow builders before diving into the day's activities. Coffee, conversation, and community to start things right.
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | Welcome Remarks
Location: i2c Building, V313 Room
Speakers: V313 Team
Warm welcome from the Build313 team. We'll set the tone for the day ahead, outline the schedule, and get everyone excited about the Sky Market drone marketplace aligned with Michigan's Advanced Air Mobility Act.
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | City of Detroit Address
Location: i2c Building, Auditorium
Speaker: Justin Onwenu
Justin Onwenu - City of Detroit
Special address representing the City of Detroit, sharing insights on the city's role in advancing mobility innovation and how public-private collaboration is shaping Detroit's tech future.
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM | Commercialization (Tech Transfer) Panel
Location: i2c Building, Auditorium
Moderator: TechTown Team (Miles, Danryu, Matt Thomas, Tom Stewart, Riley A.)
Speakers: Desnor Chigumba, Taunya Phillips, Vikram Mohan
Two-part panel featuring industry leaders and mobility innovators. Hear insights on AI, infrastructure, and the future of drone tech in Michigan.
Desnor Chigumba - University of Michigan
Confirmed speaker for the Tech Transfer Panel, bringing academic and research perspectives to commercialization strategies.
Taunya Phillips - Wayne State University
Confirmed speaker contributing university expertise to the tech transfer discussion.
Vikram Mohan - Red Cedar Ventures / MSU
Confirmed speaker representing Michigan State University's venture and commercialization arm.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM | AI Trends & Tactics
Speakers: Damien Peters, Edo Williams
Join us for a cozy fireside chat with Damien Peters as he shares practical wisdom on "What Really Matters in AI Prototyping." Learn actionable tips and tricks from the trenches to accelerate your build process while avoiding common pitfalls. This interactive session will help you define a compelling product vision and provide frameworks for turning your mobility solution concepts into tangible prototypes.
Damien Peters - WNCP AI (ex-Facebook; ex-Citi)
Product leader specializing in AI implementation and rapid prototyping methodologies. With experience spanning venture-backed startups and enterprise innovation, Damien brings real-world insights on bridging the gap between ambitious AI concepts and deployable solutions.
Edo Williams - Gusto (ex-Amazon)
Software engineering leader and AI product expert with extensive experience at leading tech companies. Specializes in leveraging AI to build innovative solutions and optimize development workflows.
11:00 AM - 11:05 AM | Break & Transition
Location: Travel from 12C to TechTown Detroit
Short transition period between venues. Use this time to stretch, network, and get energized. Split into tracks based on your experience level.
11:05 AM - 12:15 PM | Workshop (Beginner & Developer Track)
Location: Auditorium
Track 1 (Beginner): Learn how to build functional UIs using Lovable, ChatGPT, and Supabase
Track 2 (Developers): Dive into backend logic, API design, IDE and deploy your app
Speaker Track 1: Damien Peters
Speaker Track 2: Additional Developer Track Leader
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Working Lunch / Support Block #1
Location: I2C, Atrium
Catering: Jets Pizza
Working lunch with open support hours designed for personalized guidance, debugging, and refining your build.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Workshop (Beginning & Expert Tracks)
Location: I2C, Auditorium
Beginner Track: Advance your UI and integrate backend services
Expert Track: Optimize performance, scalability, and deployment strategies
Speakers: Damien Peters, Tayo Koleoso
Continue developing your project with deeper technical guidance and learn on-the-go UI hacking during the final hour.
3:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Support Block #2
Location: I2C, Auditorium
Open support hours designed for personalized guidance, debugging, and refining your build.
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM | Detroit Drives: Gears and Grit Panel
Location: I2C
Speakers: Derrick Kennedy, Justin Kosmides, Demetris Coleman, Additional Panelist
Detroit and Michigan have always been where mobility is built — but today's startups are combining hardware, software, and AI to create the next generation of solutions. This panel brings together founders and engineers who are building in the heart of the mobility ecosystem.
Speaker Bios:
Demetris Coleman - CTO, MotMot
Demetris is the CTO of Motmot, a company that builds robots to inspect pipes that deliver drinking water to communities. He earned a doctorate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Michigan State University where he worked on underwater robots that serve as inspiration for Motmot's first generation of robots.
Derrick Kennedy - Just Air
Confirmed speaker bringing expertise in Detroit's mobility startup ecosystem.
Justin Kosmides - Bloom
Confirmed speaker contributing to the Detroit mobility innovation discussion.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM | Remarks & Nighttime Motivator
Location: I2C, Auditorium
Speakers: V313 Team
Quick recharge and inspiration session. Enjoy refreshments and a short breather to get you ready for the final push.
7:00 PM | Adjourn & Move to NewLab
For those who want to keep the momentum going, we'll transition to NewLab for an optional late-night hacking session. Bring your energy, ideas, and laptop—this is where the magic happens.