Business, Technology Leaders Will Gather at Detroit's Eastern Market for FutureMidwest Conference

DETROIT, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Michigan business and technology leaders will be sampling fresh perspectives at Detroit's Eastern Market next month as they gather for FutureMidwest, the region's largest digital business conference.  At the two-day event, April 28-29, corporate decision makers, entrepreneurs, marketers, brand managers, communication practitioners, technology professionals and students will network and explore the latest digital landscape with the region's top tech-focused business experts.

The conference will feature keynotes by Josh Linkner, founder and chairman of Detroit-based e-Prize, one of the world's most successful digital interactive promotions firms, and highlighting the April 28 evening will be a keynote by Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., who will speak about his vision for turning downtown Detroit into a technology hub.

In two conference sessions, led by digital and marketing professionals, participants will learn about emerging business technology trends and ways to incorporate digital strategies into their marketing and business operations.  A third session will be devoted to networking with professionals from the startup community, venture capital firms and other industries.

FutureMidwest, now in its third year, is designed to help participants understand the importance of the digital economy, its effects on their businesses, online tools they can use to connect with customers and stakeholders, and methods for analyzing and measuring their online efforts.

Associated with the event will be Funded by Night, a one-day competition that draws startups from around the nation to Detroit to compete for a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms, Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures.  The competition will take place on Thursday afternoon, April 28, in Shed 5, where the selected 25 companies will pitch their products to potential investors.

The Premiere conference sponsors include MRM Digital Agency, Airfoil Public Relations, Verizon Wireless, Cadillac Travel, Detroit Venture Partners, Ludlow Ventures, Mindfield, Quicken Loans, Logic Solutions, Green Sky Creative, Detroit Creative Corridor Center, ePrize and the Facility Matrix Group.

The conference focuses on five areas that are vital to the region and its economy: integrating digital platforms into marketing programs, improving the user experience, using mobile communications for information exchange, business intelligence/analytics, and regional growth derived from the application of digital technology.

FutureMidwest was founded in 2009 by Adrian Pittman, Jordan Wolfe and Zach Lipson. Today, FutureMidwest features presentations, group breakout sessions, relationship-building opportunities and influencers who are taking action to redefine business in the digital age.

Tickets to attend FutureMidwest, including the Funded by Night competition, are $250. Single tickets that provide admission to both Funded by Night and the FutureMidwest evening networking event April 28 are $25 for professionals and $10 for students.  To register or for more information about FutureMidwest and Funded by Night, please visit: http://www.futuremidwest.com/ and http://fundedbynight.com/, respectively.

About FutureMidwest

FutureMidwest is the Midwest's largest digital business conference.  Initiated in 2009, the two-day conference is designed for executive management and decision makers from corporate, small and midsized businesses, entrepreneurs, brand managers, marketing, communication professionals, students and professionals in the digital/technology spheres, offering advice on implementing digital strategies to engage their audiences and boost the profitability of their companies.  FutureMidwest conferences focus on the impact of technology in five areas:

• Integrated marketing — How to integrate digital platforms into a well-rounded marketing mix
• User experience — How to create an engaging experience across a variety of digital media
• Mobile — How it's impacting information exchange and user access and how to utilize it
• Business Intelligence/Analytics — How to define metrics that matter most and apply them
• Regional growth — How the Midwest is participating in the Information Age

The conference offers basic and advanced information in separate sessions that incorporate presentations, group breakouts, networking with professionals, and engagements with influencers who are redefining business in the digital age. For more information, please visit: www.futuremidwest.com.

About Funded By Night

Part of the FutureMidwest conference, Funded by Night is a one-day competition to fund technology startups, which will compete to win a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms, Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures.  While demonstrating products, the startup companies will have an opportunity to schedule one-to-one meetings with investors the following day. The entire application process will be administered online. All startups who would like to apply should register at www.fundedbynight.com. Companies from around the globe are encouraged to apply.

SOURCE FutureMidwest