Community Calendar

Looking to land your next tech gig — or bring your talent back home? Tech Homecoming is the ultimate networking event for job seekers, featuring top local tech companies, free headshots, door prizes, and a relaxed, fun atmosphere with food and drinks. Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned pro, come see why Ann Arbor is the place to grow your career.

The 2026 summit will bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, and founders to explore investment trends and growth strategies and see pitches from 15 startups. Watch innovation in action as high-growth startups pitch for a chance at $50,000 investments in mobility, IT, and healthcare. Finalists compete for a bonus People’s Choice award — bringing the total prize pool to $200,000. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or tech enthusiast, this is your front-row seat to Michigan’s next big thing.

Celebrate Invention is an annual event that honors University of Michigan inventors and the growing impact of U-M innovations.

Event highlights include demonstrations from promising U-M startups, discussion panels featuring prominent inventors and alumni, networking opportunities and the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award presentation ceremony.

Event Schedule:

3-4pm: Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Presentation & Panel

4-6pm: Networking Reception

Brainstorm your ideal first job and leave with an action plan to start your career in Michigan's high tech economy.

‘Start Your Modern Career’ is a hands-on workshop distilled from our experience mentoring almost 500 interns in the Digital Summer Clinic. Learn how to make an immediate impact. Brainstorm your ideal first job leveraging your background and education. Leave with an action plan for resume building, networking, and beating AI screening bots. Coffee and lunch provided.

The FastTrack Awards recognize the companies and leaders shaping the future of the region through innovation, growth, and community impact. The annual FastTrack gazelle awards honor businesses that have achieved 20% or greater revenue growth over the past three years. New this year, two additional awards will spotlight outstanding small businesses and individuals whose contributions strengthen the community.

From high-growth companies to local changemakers, the honorees represent the talent, entrepreneurship, and leadership that drive the region forward. Attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements, connect with fellow business and community leaders, and hear a keynote presentation.

From lab bench to market launch, this event explores the full spectrum of life sciences entrepreneurship. Connect with researchers, executives, and investors shaping health tech and bioinnovation in Washtenaw County. Panels and speakers will tackle funding gaps, regulatory challenges, and emerging opportunities facing life sciences companies today.

A must-attend for life sciences professionals and innovators, the event also complements the following day’s MichBio Michigan Medical Device Summit, creating a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and deepen connections across Michigan’s life sciences ecosystem.

Advanced mobility is defined as technologies that enable the movement of people, goods, and information in safer, more sustainable, and more accessible ways. The Mobility Summit will highlight how sustained innovation is driven by integrated systems across industry, partnerships, and applied research. By showcasing regional capabilities and collaborative infrastructure, the summit aims to attract industry, talent, and investment to the region.

Designed to support and inspire leaders with higher-level career aspirations, this one-day, immersive conference is TALI’s signature convening that delivers a premier leadership experience – one that equips high-impact leaders with the tools, insights, and connections needed to lead boldly, innovate strategically, and navigate today’s most pressing challenges.

By leveraging TALI’s proven and trusted approach to leadership development and network of industry experts, leaders will have the opportunity to hear from dynamic speakers, participate in engaging workshops, and experience powerful networking opportunities.

This conference is ideal for aspiring leaders, seasoned professionals, and executives who want to ignite passion, expand vision, and inspire others to make a lasting impact.

The Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America will bring communications professionals together Thursday, Oct. 8, for a day examining the forces changing public relations, marketing and news media.

“The Future of PR: Trends, Tech & Trust” will feature speakers and panelists discussing the future of communications, the evolving relationship between paid and earned media, local influencer partnerships, ethical uses of artificial intelligence, public trust and Michigan’s changing media landscape.

The program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University Club of Michigan State University, 3435 Forest Road in Lansing. Admission includes a brunch buffet, breakout sessions, a journalist panel, networking and refreshments. APR professionals may earn 1.0 CEU credit.

Arts and crafts community event featuring 50 artisans with their homemade goods for sale. Show includes door prize drawings for customers, concessions, baked goods, face-painting and a kids craft corner. A portion of all proceeds are donated to Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti, MI