The Forward 20: Celebrating Michigan's Innovation Ecosystem
The Forward 20 Showcase
One defining night of Michigan’s future in the room.
Friday, October 9, 2026
Doors Open: 3:00 PM
Showcase Experience: 4:00–7:00 PM
Newlab at Michigan Central | Detroit, Michigan
Black-Tie Attire
Strolling Dinner and Cocktails Included
The Forward 20 Showcase is an elevated black-tie gathering created to place Michigan’s most promising founders in the room with the people, capital, and opportunities capable of accelerating their growth.
Twenty high-potential founders will gather at Newlab at Michigan Central alongside investors, economic developers, corporate executives, procurement leaders, civic partners, media, and entrepreneurial ecosystem decision-makers.
Capital will meet opportunity. Corporate leaders will discover companies ready for pilots and strategic partnerships. Economic developers will connect with founders choosing Michigan as the place to build. Investors will gain early access to ventures developing solutions across some of the most consequential sectors in today’s economy.
Guests will move throughout the space for an immersive evening of founder discovery, curated introductions, cocktails, and a beautifully presented strolling dinner. Each founder will showcase their company, share the traction behind their growth, and identify the investment, customer, pilot, procurement opportunity, or strategic connection that can advance their next stage.
From healthcare, mobility, and artificial intelligence to deep tech, fintech, media, consumer technology, and climate innovation, The Forward 20 represents the talent, ambition, and economic potential rising across Michigan.
The Evening Experience
Black-Tie Arrival and Reception
Arrive beginning at 3:00 PM for cocktails, early founder discovery, and connections with leaders from across Michigan’s business, investment, civic, and innovation communities.
The Forward 20
Meet all 20 founders, explore their companies, and hear directly from the entrepreneurs building solutions across nine high-growth sectors.
Curated Strategic Connections
Intentional introductions will connect founders with investors, customers, procurement leaders, corporate partners, economic developers, and ecosystem champions aligned with their next stage of growth.
Strolling Dinner and Cocktails
Enjoy an elevated strolling dinner experience designed to encourage movement, conversation, and meaningful engagement with founders throughout the evening.
Founder Forward Honors
Celebrate the founders, ventures, and leaders demonstrating exceptional vision, progress, leadership, and commitment to Michigan’s entrepreneurial future.
Who Should Be in the Room
The Forward 20 is curated for leaders working across:
Venture capital, angel investing, and family offices
Economic development and business attraction
Corporate innovation and strategic partnerships
Procurement and supplier diversity
Banking, lending, and founder capital
Government, civic leadership, and public policy
Healthcare, mobility, technology, and advanced industries
Media and Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
If you deploy capital, influence purchasing decisions, activate corporate pilots, lead business-attraction initiatives, develop strategic partnerships, or shape Michigan’s economic future, your presence can create a defining opportunity for a growing company.
Come prepared to discover emerging ventures, build high-value relationships, and meet the founders driving Michigan forward.
About Founder Forward
Founder Forward is a year-long founder attraction and business acceleration program designed to strengthen Michigan’s innovation economy.
Its mission is to attract, retain, and accelerate high-potential founders by connecting them with the capital, infrastructure, mentorship, visibility, and strategic relationships needed to build and scale in Michigan.
The 2026 cohort includes 20 founders. Twelve are growing ventures already rooted in Michigan, while eight have relocated from across the country to build their companies here.
Throughout the year, founders receive:
Relocation or business-growth capital
A 12-month membership at Newlab at Michigan Central
Curated mentorship and expert advising
Strategic connections across Michigan
Founder education and growth support
Corporate, investor, and procurement exposure
Opportunities to increase their visibility and market access
The Forward 20 Showcase is the culminating celebration of their year—bringing the cohort’s progress, potential, and next stage of growth into one powerful room.
Founder Forward is powered by the MEDC, Michigan Women Forward, Femology, Verdigris, and Michigan Central.